"Hey!" Cassim growled, struggling furiously against the grip of his attackers, eyes darting around until they landed on Aladdin, who was tied up and sobbing through a gag, "GET WAY FROM HIM! DON'T TOUCH HIM!"

As he himself was gagged, the carpet was tied around a tree.

"I'm afraid you've worn out your welcome Prince Cassim…" Jafar crooned, slamming his staff down on the ground in front of Cassim, "… make sure never of them are found."

Cassim protested as Jafar left, struggling furiously against the grip of the guards holding him still. There was a sharp pain on the back of his head, and then there was nothing.

…..….

When he next woke up, there was a boulder being tied to his legs as Aladdin was tied up to him, and they were both thrown from a cliff, into the sea. Their mouths were still gagged, and Cassim's lungs were starting to burn.

There was a chance Aladdin had already succumbed.

The lamp had floated out of his pocket and was now sinking into the sand.

As he struggled to reach it, he felt his mind go fuzzy, blackness encroaching on his vision. Seconds before he passed out, he felt the lamp slide into his grasp, prompting him to muster up just enough energy to rub It slightly before fully blacking out.

"Never fails. You get in the shower and there's a rub at the lamp." Genie sighed, before turning to Cassim… and yelping at the sight of the two limp bodies, "Cassim! Al! Come on, speak to me!"

Silence.

"Come on! You can't cheat on this one! You have to make a wish, you have to say 'Genie, I wish for you to save our lives!'. Come on!"

He shook Cassim's shoulders, wincing as the man's head just lolled around limply.

"… I'll take that as a yes." Grabbing his lamp and the two bodies, Genie propelled them up to the surface, dropping them on the docks, before starting on the CPR for little Aladdin

Thankfully, the little boy managed to cough up most of the water and wake up slightly before Cassim totally came to his sense. Upon seeing that his son was alright, Cassim pulled the tiny, shivering body closer.

"Don't you ever do that to me again!" Genie scolded, using his magic to warm them up slightly, "I was so worried!"

Cassim nodded weakly, "Genie… thank you."

Picking his lamp off the ground and handing it over to Cassim, Genie returned the smile, "Hey…. What are all powerful Genies for?"

….

Jasmine hummed happily as she brushed her hair, catching sight of her door opening in the mirror, revealing her Father standing in the doorway.

"Jasmine- "

"- Oh Father! I've just had the most wonderful time! I'm so happy."

"You should be…" The Sultan's voice sounded monotone and fake, "…I have chosen a husband for you."

"What?"

"You will marry Jafar."

The second door to the room was pushed open, to reveal the smug-looking advisor.

As Jasmine gasped, Jafar stepped into the room and gently took her hand, ""You're speechless I see… a fine quality in a wife."

Jasmine scowled and wrenched her hand away, "I will never marry you!" She then turned her attention to her Father, "Father, I choose Prince Cassim!"

"Oh…" Jafar was clearly faking the disappointed look on his face, "… I'm afraid Prince Cassim and his little… darling have already left."

"Better check your crystal ball again Jafar."

Everyone spun around, to see Cassim standing near the balcony curtain, little Aladdin wrapped up in his cloak in his arms.

"Prince Cassim!"

"Why don't you tell them the truth Jafar?!" Cassim snarled, storming up to the other man, "You tried to have me and Aladdin killed!"

Jafar rolled his eyes and moved away from Cassim, sauntering up to the King, "Such ridiculous nonsense Your Majesty…. He's obviously lying."

"Obviously… lying."

"Father, what is wrong with you?!"

As Jasmine grabbed her Father's shoulders, desperately trying to get through to him, Cassim spotted something interesting. Placing Aladdin on the ground, he suddenly darted forwards and grabbed Jafar's staff from his hands. "I know what's wrong!" he smashed the staff against the floor, shattering the ruby red crystals within.

As soon as he did, the Sultan stumbled back with a sharp gasp, the vacant look disappearing from his eyes as he shook his head, as if trying to get rid of something in his mind.

"Your Highness…" Cassim started, showing the Sultan the broken staff, "… I believe Jafar has been controlling you with this."

"W-what?!" The Sultan examined the staff for a few moments, before turning his attention to Jafar, anger written all over his face, "Y-Y-YOU TRAITOR!"

"Your Highness…" Jafar started to back away, "… all of this can be explained!"

"GUARDS! GUARDS!"

Jafar looked as though he was going to protest again… and then he spotted something in the lining of Cassim's hat. Before he could lunge forward and grab it, two guards suddenly grabbed him by the arms and started to drag him away.

"Arrest him! Take him away!"

"Unhand me!" Jafar struggled for a few moments more, before managing to pull something out of his pocket and smirking at Cassim, "This isn't over yet!"

And with that, he disappeared in a cloud of red smoke, leaving the guards behind to grapple with each other.

"Find him!" The Sultan ordered the panicking guards, "Search everywhere!"

As the Sultan started to rant about being betrayed, Cassim turned to Jasmine, who had stepped in front of Aladdin almost protectively… the sight made him smile warmly. "Are you okay?"

Before Jasmine could reply, the Sultan came charging back, still ranting. "And to think, I trusted him! And he was plotting against me the whole time!" He then spun around, eyes at the sight of Jasmine and Cassim huddled so close together.

"Can this really be happening?" The man whispered, "My daughter has finally chosen a suitor?!"

As Jasmine nodded, the Sultan whooped in glee.

"Thank Allah!" He rushed over to Casism and frantically shook his hand, "I could kiss you… but of course, I'll save that for my daughter." The Sultan then lifted Aladdin into his arms and kissed him on the cheek instead (much to Aladdin's surprise), "Oh, yes! You two will be married, and you'll be happy and prosperous. You already have an heir and you my boy, will be Sultan!"

The implication that Aladdin was now his heir stunned Cassim… it meant that he was next in line to the throne.

He was going to be Sultan.

He needed to tell Jasmine the truth.

…

"We've gotta get out of here…" Iago zipped into the hideout, "… we're done Jafar, completely done! We need to get out of here, we need to travel light…. Should I take this picture, I think I'm making a weird face in it."

Iago paused when he heard Jafar start to cackle, turning to face the sorcerer in confusion as the other man started to bang his fist against the door in his mania.

"Oh boy…" Iago muttered, "… he's cracked. He's gone nuts."

He flew over to Jafar, flying in front of the other man's eyes, "Jafar, JAFAR! Get a grip!"

Suddenly the laughter stopped, and a hand wrapped around the parrot's throat, tightening before he could even think about escaping. "Good… grip."

"Prince Cassim is that street rat that went into the cave! How did I not see it before?!" Jafar ranted, "He has the lamp!"

"Why that miserable- "

"- But you are going to relieve him of it!"

"I am?"

…..

Cassim groaned as he desperately searched the room.

He knew he shouldn't have left the lamp alone.

After receiving the news that he would likely be the next Sultan, Cassim and Aladdin had made their ways back to their rooms, where the Genie had whooped and cheered for them. Cassim had then vowed that after telling Jasmine the truth, he would be back to set the Genie free.

But the lamp was now gone.