~Chapter 38~
Noella
Just like we planned, we got Rajah outside the gates and Jasmine told him to distract the guard patrol of the main gate. How she talked to a tiger and he understood, I'll never know. As Rajah went into prowler mode, Jasmine and I watched him and waited for him to make the guards move from their posts. However, I heard a high pitched noise of something moving toward this direction. When I glanced up, I saw Joel and Aladdin slam down on the ground with a puff of smoke breaking their fall.
"Thanks Genie." Aladdin said as Genie returned to the lamp.
"Maybe next time we could have a softer landing?" Joel said rubbing his backside.
Jasmine and I looked on surprised, but we both exchanged looks of relief. Jasmine quickly called Rajah back to us.
"Ali!" Jasmine cried before running to him.
I walked up to Joel and threw my arms around his neck.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine, but I could have done without the desert excursion." Joel replied.
"What happened?" Jasmine asked.
"Jafar happened. I want him out of this palace, away from Jasmine, Noella, and anyone else he dares to hurt."
"Let me speak with father alone… it'll be easier coming from me." Jasmine said quickly parting from Aladdin.
"I'll go too." Joel said, "You need someone to back up your claim and maybe you can tell him the truth about us as well."
"Yes, you're right." Jasmine agreed.
Joel pulled away from me squeezing my hand as we pulled apart before he dropped it.
"I'll be right back. Promise." He nodded.
"You had better." I replied.
As Joel and Jasmine walked quickly back toward the palace, I turned toward Aladdin and he looked sad kicking the ground with his shoe.
"I'm sorry about before Noella. I value your opinion and you were only trying to help. I'm just so critical about the life I lead. Jasmine...I just want to be worthy or her and I know that's only possible as a prince."
I put my hand on his shoulder and we turned to return to the palace as well.
"All is forgiven Aladdin, but I have to tell you...you're worth more than you think. Jasmine cares about you and not your title. Though I must say, I realized something while you were missing."
"What's that?"
"Jafar was Faheem all along. I know it sounds insane and I have no proof, but he said something to me before and I just knew…"
My voice trailed off and Aladdin grabbed my shoulder.
"I believe you, Noella. Come on, let's go put that murderer in his place." Aladdin said determinedly.
"It would be my pleasure." I agreed.
We headed back toward the palace to rejoin Jasmine and Joel and found them outside the double doors leading into the throne room.
"Why haven't you gone in to speak with him yet?" I asked curious as we joined up with them. Joel grabbed my hand.
"The doors are locked." Jasmine replied.
"And the guards are missing from their posts too." Joel added.
We all decided to regroup in Jasmine's room considering it was the biggest room for all of us to comfortably fit in, not to mention Rajah walking around like it was his personal room.
"Jasmine, does your father have a secret hiding place he might go or somewhere private we can reach him?" Aladdin asked her.
"No, at least not that I know of, and he should be in the throne room at this time."
"I don't like this." I muttered.
"You realize we can't trust anyone, right? We don't know how deep Jafar's reach goes within these walls." Joel commented.
Moments passed before there was a knock on Jasmine's door.
"Who is it?" She called out.
"Your father." A familiar voice called out.
"Oh good." She said. "Come in, father." Jasmine replied
We all gathered around anxious to speak to the Sultan. I was unsure how he would react to all that we had to share, but it needed to be said. The Sultan entered the room after getting permission to enter and he held a cold, blank expression on his face. Something was off.
"I have good news." The Sultan said.
"What is it?" Jasmine asked.
"I hereby reject the suitor you have chosen." The Sultan suddenly said.
We all looked at each other shocked by this announcement, most of all, Jasmine. She walked up to her father and bent down putting her hands on both his shoulders.
"But why father? Is it because I changed my mind?" She said looking back at Aladdin, "I would like permission to marry Ali. Joel is a friend who did me a favor, so it's Ali I choose." Jasmine said determinedly.
"The man you're to wed Jasmine will be Jafar. It's being planned for this evening." The Sultan replied.
"Father…" Jasmine said in shock as Jafar pushed open the door joining us.
"You're speechless your highness." Jafar replied reaching for her hand, but Jasmine backed away.
"I will never marry you." She growled yanking her hand away.
Jafar didn't even react to our presence being there until just now. His face showed shock and anger all at once. He quickly stepped in front of the Sultan with his golden snake staff in his hand. He waved it in front of the Sultan.
"The traitors are here, your majesty. Will the death penalty do for the imposters?" Jafar hissed.
The snake staff clearly wasn't just a walking stick.
"Yes Jafar." The Sultan said in a monotone agreeing with him, "Do what you must."
"What's wrong with you, father?" Jasmine cried out.
"I think I know." Joel said stepping forward.
He quickly yanked the staff from Jafar's hands and smashed it on the ground. Doing so seemed to snap the Sultan out of whatever trance he was in. The staff was powerful and what Jafar had done with it up until now, I didn't want to know. The Sultan shook his head looking confused and disoriented.
"Oh my, how did I get here?" He said curiously.
Jasmine put a hand on her father's shoulder.
"I can that explain later, but father, Jafar has been manipulating you and apparently with this staff." Jasmine said.
"And tried to kill Joel and I." Aladdin added.
The Sultan spun around to face Jafar with anger in his face.
"I trusted you. You, You traitor. Guards."
Joel and Aladdin surrounded Jafar to block any escape attempt. Jasmine and I moved back to not only stay out of the way, but to watch Jafar get swift justice for his actions. Soon a trio of guards entered the room to arrest Jafar and they apprehended him. I'm glad justice was now being served. As the guards got Jafar by the arm leading him away, he managed to reach into a pocket in his robes pulling out a small red vial.
"This isn't over." He said glancing at me.
His gaze sent a chill down my spine. Jafar threw the vial on the ground and immediately a large smoke screen filled the room, but what was worse was that the guards were empty handed. Jafar escaped.
Corissa
Noella had but one barrier remaining and she was certainly taking her sweet time in that land of Agrabah. However, this vizier person whom I saw frequently as I spied on Noella in my mirrors, was constantly delaying my plans. Perhaps I could give this man a push in order to shove Noella forward. I found that foolish man in black and red robes in my mirror and transported myself to his location. As the smoke from my transportation spell diminished, I looked around where I was. It felt like a jail. Brick and mortar walls, tall ceiling, and it was dark. However, upon my arrival, I was met with a suspicious and aggressive greeting from the royal vizier.
"Who are you? How did you get down here?" He growled pointing a dagger at me.
"Jafar is it not?" I asked slowly approaching him and started slowly circling him.
"Who wants to know?"
"A friend." I replied, "Word on the streets of Agrabah is that you're looking for a magical lamp."
"How do you know that?" He snapped, "Begone woman, I'm not one to trifle with."
"Neither am I. I just thought you might want to know the location of the lamp, but I can leave." I said starting to wave my staff around in a big display of magical power, but Jafar grabbed it having me lower it.
"What do you know of the lamp?" He asked getting in my face.
"I know that it's in the hands of a prince who the princess is quite fond of." I replied simply.
"That's it?" He questioned.
"That's it." I echoed, "Just be sure to eliminate all those against you." I warned.
"Why?" He asked, "I have plans for them."
"Don't underestimate those imbued with light." I snapped striking my staff on the stone floor harshly.
"What right is it of yours to boss me around?" Jafar challenged.
"Just get on with it." I snapped as I conjured my teleportation spell.
Jafar's hideout disappeared and soon I was back on my mountain. I walked up to my mirror and I spied on Jafar through the reflection to watch the show unfold.
AN: Two powerful villains collide in this chapter, but only briefly. A whole lot of crazy! Stay tuned for more. :)