The Tides Go Out

by Regiss

Four months later, the war between Maleficent's Heartless and Braig's Nobodies threatens to consume all worlds. In the middle of the conflict, Sora, Xion, and their friends continue the search for Riku while also dealing with Vanitas, who will stop at nothing to get Ven's heart. Sequel to Remember the Tides.

15. Are You In or Out?

Chapter 15: Are You In or Out?

The first thing Kairi noticed about the cave was the sheer size of it. The ceiling was so high up that it was cloaked in shadows, with only the hanging stalactites visible as tiny droplets of water fell from their tips and caused ripples in the water below. Sitting in that water and littering the floor were rumbling ruins and shattered stone arches decorated in rusting metals and dirt-covered jewels.

Kairi slid off of Carpet and landed in the ankle-deep seawater, scaring off some of the small fish that had gotten trapped inside when the cliff walls shut tight. "What is this place?" she asked softly, running a hand over some of the stone ruins.

"Who cares?" Iago responded from above. "I wanna get in, get out, and go home!" He looked around at the dark shadows cast by the few torches along the stone walls. "…Actually I wouldn't mind skipping right to 'go home.'"

Aladdin, Donald, and Abis Mal followed Kairi off of Carpet and the group made their way to the edge of the shallow pool. When Carpet rose higher to hide in the shadows, a grumbling Iago lifted off and flew down to join with the group. As they continued through what little sand there was faded away to hard stone floors, and they had to rely on wet footprints from the horses to navigate the tunnels. The stone ruins were becoming decidedly more polished and pristine the deeper they went, to the point that Kairi had to grab Iago and keep him from admiring his reflection in some of the gold plating. She turned around after that only to find Donald stuffing rubies and emeralds into his pockets.

Donald caught Kairi glaring at him and laughed, dropping the gems onto the floor. She caught him stashing a few under his hat and sighed before turning to Aladdin, who was looking around with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Something on your mind?"

Aladdin turned to her. "It's just a lot like the Cave of Wonders, is all."

"The what?"

"It's a long story," he said with a chuckle. Kairi shrugged; probably just another part of Sora's adventures in this world, then, because Donald didn't press the question so Kairi figured he must have known.

The hollow clatter of falling metal made Kairi freeze and she spun on her heel with wide eyes, worried that the Forty Thieves had caught them. Instead, however, Abis Mal stood over a pile of dropped gold and assorted pieces of silver. He glanced down at it and whistled innocently before hurrying to catch up with the group.

"Keep quiet," Al whispered harshly to the thief. "We can't let them know they've found us."

"R-Right, whatever you say," Abis Mal said with a nervous salute.

"Iago's right—we're way out numbered," Al continued. "So we're going to have to go about this a different way than charging at them head-on. Kairi, Donald, do you two have some kind of magic that locate my father?"

Kairi and Donald glanced at each other. "Sorry, not me," the girl said, holding out a hand. "I've only really trained for healing and fighting spells."

Donald rubbed his head. "I might have something." He muttered under his breath to himself while patting his clothes down and digging through pockets, searching for something on his person. "Genie's clothes-changing spell moved everything around… Aha!" Donald pulled out a book, which was evidently rather old judging by its yellowing pages.

"A spellbook?" Kairi leaned over his shoulder to investigate.

Donald shook his head and waved the book in the air. "Better! It's my old Junior Woodchuck's Guidebook from when I was a boy!"

"Guidebook?" Aladdin asked.

"Yeah!" Donald licked his fingers and flipped through the old pages of the book. "There's everything in this! Let's see… 'If you're ever trapped in a magical cave with an army of thieves, the first thing you should do-'"

"I'm waiting for an answer, Cassim!"

"Wak!" The sudden deep, growly shout caught Donald by surprise and the book slipped from his grasp. It landed open and face-down in one of the few remaining puddles, soaking the pages until they were unreadable. Donald picked it up and sighed. "The first thing you should do…is not do that. The boys wouldn't have this much trouble."

"We'll just have to get around them the old-fashioned way, then." Aladdin pressed up against the wall and glanced around the corner. Kairi and Donald followed, while Iago and Abis Mal lingered behind.

The grey-skinned member of the Forty Thieves was arguing with the King of Thieves. He pointed a finger threateningly and continued. "What do we have to show for it, hmm? Your plan with the Oracle was a fool's errand from the start!"

"At least we know it's there. We will get it next time." The King of Thieves spoke calmly, though sternly. The tone of his voice was like the one a parent would use when their child had an outburst.

"Will there even be a next time after this failure, Cassim?"

"Are you questioning my leadership, Sa'luk?" His voice grew cold and the thirty-eight other thieves murmured. Sa'luk backed up, but then bared his teeth and took a step forward, raising his fist which had a golden claw weapon attached.

"I am."

"'Cassim'?" Aladdin repeated quietly.

"Very, well then." Cassim (why did that name seem to bother Aladdin?) drew his sword and the crowd of thieves stepped away from him and Sa'luk. Kairi found herself doing the same, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Abis Mal sneaking way with Iago close behind.

"Hey!" she whispered sharply. The two looked at her and grinned innocently. Kairi shook her head and turned back to Cassim and Sa'luk.

Sa'luk struck first, swinging his fist at Cassim's neck. Cassim brought his sword up and locked the blade between the two claws, directing Sa'luk's hand downward. Sa'luk next punched Cassim with his weaponless hand, meeting his pale fist to the other man's face. Cassim stumbled backwards and struck at Sa'luk's bare shoulder. The thin red line appearing on his skin just seemed to anger the larger man, and he struck with his clawed fist once more. The gold claws sliced through Cassim's blue mask, tearing it off and revealing a middle-aged man with graying hair and a short black beard. He looked familiar to Kairi, but where had she seen him before…?

The next thing Kairi knew, Aladdin broke into a sprint and flew from their hiding place into the middle of the duel. She, Donald, Abis Mal, and Iago stared in shocked silence as he broke the two fighters apart and held Sa'luk back from Cassim.

"What is this?!" Sa'luk growled.

"Go, I'll cover you!" Aladdin shouted to Cassim, who was just as shocked as the rest of them.

"You're the groom from Agrabah," he said, recognition dawning on his face.

Aladdin didn't confirm it. "Dad, run!" Kairi started in surprise and stared closely at Cassim. Yes, she remembered now—that was the face that the Oracle had revealed to them. But…Aladdin's father was the leader of the Forty Thieves? The Oracle said he was trapped-

"And who do we have here?" Kairi felt tough, calloused hands wrap around her wrists and pin her hands together behind her back. Next to her, Donald and Abis Mal were held captive by members of the Forty Thieves in a similar way while Iago was shoved into a rusty bird cage. Kairi looked over her shoulder and glared at her captor, a man with a thin mustache and goatee. "A pretty lady such as yourself shouldn't go wandering around near where the big boys play." His gaze lowered from her face and lingered just a bit too long. Kairi suppressed the urge to vomit but couldn't keep herself from shuddering.

Ugh, Genie. Your outfits are causing nothing but trouble. She could use magic to get out of this, sure, but with Aladdin surrounded by all those angry (if surprised) faces, antagonizing them more wouldn't be smart. He had to get out of there first, and to dot hat she needed to remind him of the situation he was in."Aladdin!"

"Kairi?" Aladdin spun around and nearly dropped his scimitar in shock. "Oh no! Kairi, Donald!" He moved to go after them, just as Kairi hoped, but Cassim placed a hand on Aladdin's shoulder.

"She called you Aladdin… Could it be, are you really my son?"

Aladdin looked from their group to Cassim, then back to them, and lastly back at his father. His shoulders drooped. He reached for the dagger on his belt, the one that was a gift from his father. Cassim's eyes widened as Aladdin raised the dagger up hilt-first, showing the golden hand emblem to Cassim. It matched the one holding his cloak together.

"Cassim, what is this?" Sa'luk asked with impatience.

Cassim took the dagger and stared at it as if he believed it would vanish at a moment's notice. "I…gave this to my wife when I left Agrabah, to give to our son… Our son Aladdin." He looked up at Al with an expression matching the one he had given the dagger. "You're alive?"

"You're the King of Thieves?" Aladdin asked with not a little anger in his voice.

Before Cassim could answer, Sa'luk shoved him aside and stepped forward. "Cassim's son, eh? Well what a happy family reunion…but he still broke the rules! Cassim, no one is allowed to find our lair. He and his friends must be punished."

Cassim looked between Aladdin and Sa'luk, and Aladdin looked over his shoulder at Kairi and the others.

"The price of finding the lair of the Forty Thieves is death." Kairi felt her blood run cold at Cassim's words. "But…he could undertake the test."

Sa'luk raised an eyebrow. "Certainly, he could. But what of the child and his other companions?" Cassim looked over to them with some surprise, evidently not noticing them until now. He rubbed his chin in thought and was about to speak up but Aladdin spoke first.

"I'll take your test," he said firmly. "Whatever it is. And if I pass, then me and my friends stay unharmed."

"What?!" Sa'luk roared. "That is not how things are done!"

Cassim raised a hand to silence Sa'luk. "It's unprecedented… But I'm the King of Thieves, Sa'luk. And I agree to Aladdin's terms."

Sa'luk growled. "Fine then. But I will be the one to give the boy the test." Kairi could just feel the hushed worry that rippled through the crowd of the Forty Thieves, which even caused her captor's grip to loosen somewhat.

Cassim smirked. "I would have it no other way." He turned to Aladdin. "You realize, of course, that your friends will not be allowed to help you in this?"

Aladdin crossed his arms and smirked. With both of them wearing identical expressions, Kairi could really see the family resemblance. "Fine. I got by for years on my own, any test you throw at me I can handle."

"And you will only be allowed one weapon."

Aladdin's smug expression faltered slightly. "Weapon?"

Sa'luk grinned and leaned in close. "That's the test, boy. A fight to the death. And if you win, you join the Forty Thieves."

"Death?!" Donald shouted in horror, and Kairi matched his sentiments. "Al, you can't! Don't risk your life!"

"You should listen to your companion, Aladdin," Sa'luk taunted with a sneer. "Are you in or out?"

Aladdin glanced down at his scimitar and tossed it to the ground. Sa'luk grinned in victory and Kairi let out a sigh of relief, but then Aladdin held out his hand to his father. Cassim smiled and handed over the dagger, which Aladdin removed from its sheathe. It sparkled in the torchlight.

"I'm in."

Kairi and Donald glanced at each other nervously, and then she turned to Abis Mal who was sweating profusely.

Cassim backed off and the thieves followed, expanding the ring of space for Sa'luk and Aladdin to move around. Aladdin had only the dagger and Sa'luk his fist weapon. One of them wasn't going to survive this fight, and if Aladdin fell then there would be four more deaths following his own.

Al crouched low, holding the dagger out before him, while Sa'luk stood tall and raised his fists almost like a boxer would. The two stared at each other for a few tense, exceedingly long seconds before Aladdin darted forward, moving quickly and slashing across Sa'luk's chest. Sa'luk moved his left fist – the one without the claw weapon – in an uppercut and struck Al in the gut, knocking him up into the air.

Aladdin flipped around in the air and planted his thin feet on Sa'luk's muscular shoulders. He leaned over and grinned when Sa'luk glared up at him, then jumped off and somersaulted to the ground behind the grey-skinned man. He swung his foot out behind him to trip Sa'luk up and then slashed at the tumbling man's back with his dagger, tearing his vest and leaving a bright red streak of blood to compliment the one on his shoulder that Cassim had given him earlier.

Sa'luk roared and spun around, backhanding Aladdin across the face with the clawed hand. Kairi winced at the trio of identical scratches that now marked the young man's face, just barely missing his eyes. Aladdin thrust the dagger into Sa'luk's bicep at an angle and fled, running a hand over his injured face as he did so. A furious Sa'luk pulled the dagger out and hurled the blood-soaked blade at Aladdin. It missed him by centimeters, slicing off some of his hair and sticking into a wooden post against the wall.

Aladdin retrieved the dagger and ducked just in time to avoid another swing from Sa'luk. He swung his head low, punched Sa'luk in the chest, and then kicked him in the torso. Sa'luk staggered backwards, approaching the edge of the stone that fell off into a black abyss. But he regained his footing on the uneven surface and charged forward, unleashing a series of powerful punches on Aladdin.

When a break in the onslaught presented itself, Al took the opportunity and jumped behind the post. A swing from Sa'luk's clawed hand shattered the wooden post, bringing the remnants of some stone ruin it had been holding up crumbling down on the two of them. Aladdin rolled out of the way and Sa'luk attempted to follow, but a large chunk of stone slammed hard on his shoulder and his arm fell limp.

"Wretched little street rat!" Sa'luk roared, swinging out with his good arm—his dangerous claw was still usable. "You're in trouble now!"

Aladdin leaned back to avoid the slice. "You're only in trouble if you get caught!" Sa'luk charged at Aladdin and slammed his shoulder into him, knocking Aladdin back. He wrapped his large hand around Aladdin's wrist and lifted him up. Aladdin grinned nervously. "I'm in trouble."

Unfortunately for Sa'luk, Aladdin's free hand was the one with the dagger. He sliced the sharp blade across Sa'luk's wrist and Sa'luk cried out in pain as his grip released. But that didn't last long and he swung out another powerful punch, which knocked Aladdin over to the ledge Sa'luk had struggled on just a minute before. Aladdin flung his arms out and tried to catch his balance as he looked over his shoulder at the blackness below.

He slipped and fell backwards.

"Aladdin!" Kairi and Donald shouted in horror.

"No!" Cassim cried out at the same time.

Kairi could only see Aladdin's hands and head as he clung onto a rocky outcropping on the ledge. Sa'luk approached with slow, deliberate steps, chuckling darkly. He crouched down, resting a hand on his knee, and smirked at Aladdin. "You still have a chance to forfeit."

Aladdin glanced down at the darkness below him and then up at Sa'luk. "So do you." He let go of the rock and quickly grabbed at Sa'luk's leg before he fell. Sa'luk's eyes widened and he pulled backwards before Aladdin could drag him down, but that action also pulled Aladdin back up out of the pit. Sa'luk brought his claws down on Aladdin, but Al rolled out of the way. Climbing to his feet, he lunged forward and stabbed the dagger into Sa'luk's chest—right through his heart.

Sa'luk let out a soft choke as his breath caught in his throat. He stared down at the blood dripping down his chest and up at Aladdin. The young man's eyes were wide with horror as he pulled the dagger out of Sa'luk's grey skin. Sa'luk stumbled backwards and fell into the pit, taken by the darkness.

Kairi found herself shivering, and her mouth felt like cotton. She had just seen someone die violently. That's not something any sixteen-year-old girl should have to see.

The Forty Thieves reacted almost immediately, closing in their circle and approaching Aladdin. Kairi felt her captor's hands loosen and she clenched her fists, focusing on heat and sparks. Electricity flared to life on her skin, shocking the man holding her and releasing her from his grasp. "Aladdin!" She couldn't see him behind the crowd.

She didn't need to worry, though. Suddenly Aladdin was lifted up by the thieves with welcoming cheers, and over in the corner Cassim was grinning. He looked over to Kairi and raised a hand. "Let Aladdin's companions go. We had a deal." Kairi looked behind her to see Donald, Abis Mal, and Iago set free.

"Congratulations, kids!" One of the thieves exclaimed, walking up to Kairi and shaking her hands.

"You've joined the club!" another said to Donald.

A third put a hand on Aladdin's shoulder. "And everybody here agrees. We got the finest blend of nearly-honest men, Welcome to the Forty Thieves!"

Iago grinned and approached a pile of gold, only to be stopped by a thief throwing daggers at him. "Only Cassim's son is welcome to our loot," he warned.

"Aheh… Got it," Iago said with a salute.

Abis Mal looked around. "I don't suppose I could take the, erm, test?"

Cassim laughed loudly. "You?! After what I saw of you at the wedding? A bumbling little man wouldn't last long in the Forty Thieves!" Abis Mal grumbled and Cassim turned to his son. "Isn't this great, Aladdin?" he asked, taking him aside. "Together we're the perfect team. Larceny is in the genes. Dare to share the family dream?"

Aladdin shoved Cassim away and narrowed his eyes. "We'll see," he said dangerously.

Cassim took in a deep breath through his nostrils and shook his head. "Very well. Well, follow me. I have something I'd like to talk to you about…" He glanced at Kairi and Donald. "In private."

"My friends stay with me."

Cassim and Aladdin shared a long moment staring each other down before the older man smiled. "So they do. Come with me then."

Kairi and Donald glanced at each other while Iago landed on her shoulder. "Think we can trust them?" Kairi asked.

Donald shrugged. "I think we have to right now."

"Right…"

Cassim and Aladdin were already walking down a dark tunnel, so Kairi and Donald hurried to catch up. The torches grew fewer as they traveled and the floor once again became flooded with ankle-deep seawater. Cassim picked up a torch from the wall and held it in his hand as they moved. Eventually the ruined stone vanished completely and the only source of light was Cassim's torch. Kairi watched a scorpion scamper over some of the stones sticking out of the water.

"I find my son and I lose my enemy! You did your old man proud, Aladdin." Cassim's voice echoed through the tunnel.

"I was just doing what I had to, to survive," Aladdin snapped.

"And it's a good thing, too! You fight or you die. That is the code of the Forty Thieves."

Iago flew over to Cassim and landed on his shoulder. "Does this code have any rules that don't end in death?"

"It's a strict code."

Kairi glanced at Donald to find him giving her an identical look. She rubbed her arm nervously. "I feel like we should say something."

He shook his head and held up a hand. "Remember rule one, Kairi: no meddling!"

Kairi felt a frown tug at her lips. "Somehow I don't think this is what that means."

Donald chuckled nervously and laughed. "Really I think this is a family thing, you know?"

"Is that what happened to you?" Aladdin asked Cassim. Cassim's face hardened and his mouth drew into a narrow line.

"I had my reasons for leaving."

"Yeah, I'm sure you did."

"Al…" Kairi began, intending to ask him to calm down. She didn't finish voicing her concerns, though, because they reached the end of the tunnel. An extravagant design was carved into the wall, at the center of which was the same hand design that she had come to associate with Cassim. He took golden medallion from his cloak and placed it in the carving. The wall rumbled and slid open, revealing a hidden chamber behind it.

In contrast to the chambers above, there was less treasure in this room. Most of the decorations were statues and tapestries, and a map of the world (or Kairi assumed it was a world map, anyway) hung on the far wall. A window opened out over the ocean, showing them that it was still a pitch black knight.

"I did have a good reason for leaving you and your mother, Aladdin," Cassim continued. "I wanted a better life for you. I didn't want you to grow up like I did, living day by day. Being called street rat!"

"Yeah, good job there," Aladdin said bitterly. Kairi had resolved to stay quiet. She didn't know what to do to or say; she wasn't as used to helping people with their problems as Sora was.

"I told myself I wouldn't go back until I had what I want. But weeks turned to months turned to years, and I never found it." Cassim sighed as he lit several oil lamps in the room with his torch. "I went back to Agrabah one day, but my house had been destroyed. I thought you and your mother were lost forever. And that moment I would have traded anything to get you back."

Aladdin crossed his arms and glared down at the floor. "We never wanted gold…" he mumbled.

"What are you looking for?" Donald asked.

"There is a treasure," Cassim began. "A treasure which, compared to this or even the legendary Cave of Wonders, a sultan's tomb is like a pauper's grave. The munny of a king's ransom is nothing!" Donald was grinning widely and Iago had begun rubbing his wings together greedily. "And I am this close to finding it." He held his fingers barely apart for emphasis.

Iago wiped drool from his beak. "That's tantalizingly close. So what's it called?"

"Tell us!" Donald added with a hasty nod of his head.

"It's on an island that is never in the same place twice—the Vanishing Isle. It is said that anything it touches turns into solid gold." Cassim grinned and leaned in close to the two captivated birds. "The Hand of Midas."

Aladdin lowered his arms to his side and kept his glare leveled at Cassim. "That's just a myth." Kairi did have to admit she found that pretty unbelievable—too good to be true. She lightly bonked Donald on the head to snap him out of his munny-filled fantasies.

"It's not a myth!" Cassim said adamantly. He pointed out the window, to the dark waves. "Just look there!"

Aladdin didn't, but Kairi's curiosity was piqued. She leaned over the crumbling bricks and stuck her head out, her red hair blowing in the sea breeze. "I don't see any… Oh!" The clouds up above parted, and as the moon cast its light over the ocean something began sparkling. A solid gold boat was sitting against the rocks and sparkling in the moonlight. At Kairi's gasp the others joined her, and she saw awe dawn on Aladdin's face. Everything Cassim had said had been true.

"The Vanishing Isle was here, at this very location, and the Hand of Midas with it," Cassim continued. "It turned that ship and its entire crew to solid gold."

Aladdin glanced down at the ship once more, then around the room, before settling on Cassim. He ran a head through his thick black hair. "We never wanted gold," he said, repeating what he said earlier but more softly. "Or a fortune. We wanted you. I wanted a father." He smiled and put a hand on his father's shoulder. "Dad, please come to my wedding? With an invitation this time."

"Aladdin…" Cassim said, but Aladdin cut him off.

"I won't leave until morning. At least think about it?" He walked off, presumably to find a place to sleep, and Kairi ran after him. Her sandaled feet splashed against the shallow stream flowing through the tunnel as she and Aladdin walked out into the torch-lit darkness.

"I know it's not my place to say," she said softly, "but I really think you did a good job, Aladdin. I know I wouldn't handle learning all of this so well."

"Thanks, Kairi. That actually means a lot." He smiled softly and leaned in, examining her sandy and salty hair. "You need a bath, I think."

Kairi brought a hand up to her mouth and giggled. Despite all that had just happened, a little light-heartedness to a situation never hurt. "I think I agree. I have no idea where to find one out here, though."

Aladdin looked down the tunnel. "I would think there's a pool of water here somewhere, maybe at the end of the stream." He shrugged. "Even thieves have to bathe, right?"

Kairi smiled. "Yeah, you're right. I'll go check down there." She paused. "Can you wait here? Just in case there isn't a pool."

"Sure, I won't be going anywhere."

"Okay, see you soon!" Kairi started making her way down the tunnel, walking beside the stream, but as she started to leave the range of the torchlight behind a thought made her pause. She looked over her shoulder at Aladdin, silhouetted against the flames, and wrinkled her brow in confusion and maybe a bit of concern.

Where had Abis Mal run off to?

x-x-x

Donald watched as Cassim slumped down into a chair in his private chamber. Iago was perched on the top of the chair's back, admiring the golden statues and casting a glance every now and then out the window to the sparkling ship. Donald could hardly blame him. The mere thought of something that could turn anything into solid gold! He wanted this Hand of Midas badly.

"I could try to go to the wedding, but it just wouldn't work," Cassim said suddenly, breaking the silence. "I don't belong in his world."

Donald sighed. "Oh, don't say that! You're Al's father; you gotta be there for his wedding!"

Iago grinned and fluttered down to Cassim's shoulder. He leaned in conspiratorially. "The Oracle doesn't belong in his world either. It belongs in the hands of an enterprising treasure hunter."

Donald narrowed his eyes at the parrot. "Hey, what are you saying?"

Cassim waved Iago away and stood up. "The Oracle… Probably just another dead end."

"Actually," Donald said slowly, "it's how we found you."

"Yeah! It works!" Iago smiled at Donald, and Donald grumbled. He couldn't believe he was agreeing with Jafar's lackey parrot. "It knows everything!"

Cassim stopped, his eyes widening ever so slightly. "It works…?"

Iago's grin was smug. "And I know where they stashed it."

"We're talking about the wedding of your only son," Donald said warily, reminding Cassim of the real reason to go to Agrabah. "Though…maybe after that…"

Iago nudged Cassim in the shoulder. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity!"

Cassim smiled and looked out the window at the golden ship. "How could I pass it up?"

x-x-x

"I wonder how the others are doin'," Goofy said. Xion looked behind her, watching him walk through the nighttime streets of Agrabah. Sora and Genie were in front of the group as Genie led them out to the barrier to check on it.

"I'm sure they're fine." She was worried too, though. They had been gone nearly twelve hours now.

"I wouldn't worry about Al," Genie said happily. "If he was in trouble, he'd just have to rub the lamp and wish himself out!"

Sora raised an eyebrow. "Genie, I have your lamp, remember? You gave it to me when I helped you guys the first time."

Genie deflated—literally, he deflated like a balloon and was lying flat as a pancake on the sandy road. "Oh. Well then we may have a bit of a problem." When he inflated back up to normal his voice was high-pitched, as if he had inhaled a lot of helium. "Well, I'm sure he's safe anyway! As long as Donald and Iago don't tempt him to do something stupid, that is."

Goofy chuckled. "Gawrsh, Donald isn't like that!"

Xion grimaced. "Though Iago might be." A soft wssh sound caught her attention and she paused, looking down a dark alley. It sounded like a corridor of darkness opening. Xion raised an eyebrow and strained her eyes to see through the shadows, but when no Heartless jumped out to attack her she shrugged. Maybe she was just hearing things.

The group continued to the barrier.

x-x-x

Abis Mal pressed himself up against the stone walls of the nearby building as the Keyblade kids moved away. He let out a sigh of relief and then shivered in the cold. He never liked using corridors of darkness, but they were certainly handy for an escape. And much quicker than wandering the desert for hours, as well.

The sound of heavy footprints turned Abis Mal's attention to the other end of the alley. A large figure, the familiar hat giving him away as one of Agrabah's guards, approached. Abis Mal chuckled somewhat nervously.

"You!" Razoul said, approaching Abis Mal with a sneer. "You are the one who called me here?"

"That's me." He hoped Razoul didn't notice his fear. "You're alone, right?"

Razoul's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I am. What information could you possibly have about the King of Thieves? Weren't you out in the desert hunting the street rat's father down?"

"I was," Abis Mal confirmed with a nod. "At first. But what would you say if I told you the King of Thieves was coming back tomorrow? And you could be the big hero who captures him?"

Razoul's smile revealed his missing tooth. "I'd say keep talking." Abis Mal smiled, but before he could speak Razoul continued. "And I'd want to know what's in it for you?"

"I'd just sleep better knowing he's off the streets." Before Razoul had a chance to refute that obvious lie, Abis Mal continued. "Look, just listen, okay? We went out searching for Aladdin's dad…we found the King of Thieves! Doesn't that say something to you?"

Razoul scratched his head for a moment before a light seemed to click on in his head. He chuckled darkly. "The street rat's old man, eh? I'm listening."

Abis Mal smiled a smile to match Razoul's own. This would teach Cassim to reject him.

x-x-x

"Ugh… Nnh…"

"Wakey-wakey, bucko. You took quite a fall."

Sa'luk sat up, rubbing the top of his bald head. He waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, but after a while nothing changed. He was sitting in perfect blackness, untouched by any other color… Well, that wasn't exactly right. A figure in grey stood in front of Sa'luk with his hands on his hips.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

Sa'luk growled, his anger bubbling as memories of what happened to him rose to the surface. "When I get my hands on that no-good street rat, I…" He frowned. "I…" As quickly as his anger had come, it faded away. There was only a hollow memory of rage left.

Sa'luk looked down at his body. His skin seemed paler. A wound on his chest caught his eye, still fresh but no longer bleeding. "How is it I yet live? I was stabbed-"

"Through the heart, yup." The stranger smiled and his single golden eye seemed to glow faintly. "But don't worry. I took care of your heart problem." He extended a hand, clad in a black glove, to Sa'luk. "I have an offer for you. Are you in or out?"