Summary: What if Prince Anders isn't the only Prince paying a visit to Agrabah? There is one more party visiting, one from lands far east. Pairing: Jasmine x Zhou Tai.
Disclaimer: I don't own Aladdin or Dynasty Warriors
Jasmine, the princess has sneaked out of the palace and is visiting the marketplace where she comes across two hungry children, staring at a cart of bread.
Thinking nothing of it she goes over to the children and the cart, giving the two kids a bread each, which they happily accept and run off.
"Hey! You steal from my brother." A vendor yells accusingly.
"Stealing? I…" Jasmine says shocked.
"Give me the money or I take bracelet." The vendor tells her.
"Sir, I don't have any money." Jasmine tells him, after which he grabs her arm and tries to pry off her golden bracelet.
"Let go of me!" She says.
"Take it easy Jamal." Aladdin says, stepping between the two, making the vendor release the woman.
"Kalil stepped away from his cart and this one, this one she steal the bread." Jamal says.
"Those children were hungry." Jasmine defends herself.
"It's OK, give me a minute." Aladdin tells Jamal, turning to Jasmine.
"Do you have any money?" He asks her, slipping her bracelet off her arm.
"No." She replies.
"OK. Trust me." He says before turning to Jamal, saying "Here you go. That's what you wanted right?"
"Yes, thank you." Jamal thanks him, pocketing the bracelet.
"And here an apple for your troubles." Aladdin says, throwing an apple to Jamal in an high arch, during which he slips the bracelet back out of the man's pocket, unnoticed by everyone at the market, except for one white cloaked person who caught onto the young thief's rouse.
"That was my mothers. I'm not leaving without my bracelet!" Jasmine protests while Aladdin leads her away, showing her the necklace he stole back, before pocketing it himself.
"Come on." He says, walking through the crowded streets with her.
"Sorry." The white cloaked figure says when he bumps into Aladdin, catching the falling monkey with one hand while his other sneakily steals the bracelet from him.
"That's my bad, sorry monkey." He says, setting Abu back on Aladdin's shoulder while getting a good look at the girl whose bracelet he just took, before walking away in the other direction.
After a few more steps Aladdin and the mostly cloaked Jasmine hear Jamal shout loudly, getting the guards to chase them down, but after various escape maneuvers they loose the guards.
While the guards are chasing Jasmine and Aladdin, the cloaked figure approaches Jamal.
"I'd like three breads." He says while handing the vendor two gold coins.
"That should be more than enough for these and the two which were stolen, right?" The man says.
"Yes, yes. Thank you. My, these are unusual coins where are they from?" Jamal asks.
"Does it matter? Gold is gold, right?" The cloaked figure replies with a shrug.
"Hah, truer words have not been spoken my friend." Jamal says happily while the cloaked man leaves, handing two of the breads to the starving children, which were sharing the bread Jasmine gave them with their friends.
After giving them the bread, he heads to the end of the marketplace, where he waits for his two companions, Taishi Ci and Sun Quan.
Waiting a good amount of time after watching another royal party enter the palace they approach the palace's doors.
"We seek entrance and an audience with the ruler of this land." Taishi Ci says, standing tall in front of the palace guards, with Zhou Tai and Sun Quang standing behind him.
"Who do you think you are demanding entrance to the palace?" A guard asks venomously.
"This is Sun Quang, 2nd prince of the Wu empire." Ci replies, motioning to the man behind him.
"I've never heard of this empire, but you may enter. You will be escorted by a squadron of guards however." The guard tells them, before relaying the orders to his men after looking at the group suspiciously, since a prince's party is usually much bigger than 3 people.
|An hour later|
"So, what did you think of the city when you were looking around earlier Tai?" Sun Quang asks the 22-year-old, 6 years younger than him.
"There is a sizeable amount of poverty, there seem to be good people as well as some less than nice people. So pretty much same as everywhere if you ask me. In regard to the defenses I didn't have a chance to get an impression yet." the man replies, absentmindedly brushing over the bracelet in his pouch.
"The Sultan and the princess will see you now." A servant announces, leading the three along with the guard escort to the throne room.
"Sultan, it is our honor to meet you." Sun Quang says, kowtowig with his two guards.
"The pleasure is all mine, forgive me however I never heard where you're from." The Sultan replies with a nod.
"We are from the Empire of Wu, part of the Chinese lands. Lands to the far east." Quan informs him.
"Ah yes. I've heard of China. You must have traveled very far." The Sultan says, when suddenly a large door opens and princess Jasmine steps through, entering the throne room, catching Zhou Tai's attention, since he recognizes her from the market.
"Ah, let me introduce you, this is my daughter Jasmine, Jasmine meet Sun Quan from the Wu empire." The Sultan introduces them.
"Wu empire? That's very far. What may be the reason for your visit?" She asks.
"We are looking for an alliance to strengthen both our kingdoms." Quan answers.
"What makes you believe you are able to strengthen our kingdom? I mean no disrespect, but in comparison to the other visiting princes trying to get my hand in marriage your party is well rather small." She asks.
"Jasmine!" The Sultan says sternly.
"Your question is indeed valid, however I think this can be best displayed with a demonstration." Quan answers, looking at Tai, who gives him a nod.
"If you are willing to, gather as many of your guards as possible for a mock fight." Sun Quan tells them.
"Prince Quan, we have over 60 guards only in the vicinity of the throne room." The Sultan warns.
"That amount should be sufficient." Quan replies, stepping back, joining Taishi Ci's side while Tai steps forward.
"Sultan, princess, I, Zhou Tai will be demonstrating." The young man, only 2 years older than Jasmine says while bowing to the royals.
Minutes later around 50 guards are standing in the throne room.
"The men have been assembled my Sultan." The Visir says.
"Very well, than as per request by prince Quan you are to do a mock battle with his guard." The Sultan says looking at the visitors doubtfully, upset they are underestimating their forces to this degree.
"It's my honor to be fighting the palace's guards." Zhou Tai says politely, bowing to the soldiers.
"Very well, begin." Sun Quan says. Tai then takes off his white cloak, the three of them have been traveling in, revealing his black and red armor underneath.
"Men, you heard the Sultan. Attack!" The leader of the guard says and the first wave of 10 men storm at the warrior.
The 10 of them however are soon face down on the floor seconds later, while Ci and Quan are whispering amongst themselves, barely watching the fight.
A minute or two later Tai is the only one left standing with the guards lying on the floor, moaning or knocked out.
"Thank you for the fight." Tai bows to the guards while both the Sultan and Jasmine look at the group of visitors in astonishment.
"Well, you asked how we'd be able to strengthen this kingdom. Tai here, is my most trusted guard and friend. He is also probably amongst the ten most powerful generals in the army of Wu." Quan explains.
"Very impressive indeed." The Sultan says delighted.
"Say, what are your thoughts on how to form this alliance, because as you may have heard Jasmine is still looking for a suitor." The Sultan suggests.
"Papa!" Jasmine says shocked, opposed to having to marry the prince looking about a decade older than herself.
"This is not a simple matter Sultan, I am honored you find me worthy to be your daughters' suitor, I can't decide on this matter right now however." Quan replies with a bow.
"Very well, you and your guards are welcome to stay as long as you like while we discuss the matter of an alliance." The Sultan tells the group, who then leaves, following a servant leading them to a chamber.
"That went well." Ci says.
"It did, Tai what's on your mind?" Quan asks.
"I met the princess earlier, she was disguised as a commoner." Tai says, taking out the bracelet.
"Hmm I see." Quan says with a smirk.
"What?" Tai asks, looking at the two men confused.
"Well the Sultan said the princess is looking for a husband..." Ci says.
"So? Quan can try to take her hand, but we all know that you already have someone you fancy, don't you?" Tai replies.
"Oh, we're not saying Quan should marry her... technically you are royalty, while only adopted you are as much his cousin as any other." Ci tells him.
"You must be joking. You know I live to fight." Tai replies.
"So? You could do that here too. If you were to marry the princess as symbol of an alliance." Quan suggests.
"I don't even know anything about her." Tai replies.
"So get to know her." Quan tells him, patting the young man's shoulder.
"Are you sure that'll be wise?" Tai asks.
"You never know, but a marriage is a powerful bond to seal an alliance and its like you said Quan won't marry her." Ci tells him.
"Fine, I will try to get an audience later." Tai agrees, looking at his comrades doubtfully.
"Do you think the sultan or princess will go for it?" Ci asks Quan quietly.
"Honestly, I am more doubtful that Tai will." Quan informs his guard.
|2 hours later – Sultan's chambers|
"Invade Shirabad?" Princess Jasmine asks shocked, hearing her father speak those words as she arrives at his room.
"Why would we invade mother's kingdom?" Jasmine asks, looking at the Visir, Jafar who must have put the thought into her father's head.
"We would never invade Shirabad." The Sultan tells her.
"But an ally in Skanland or Wu would improve our situation." Jafar mentions.
"Yes, if you consider giving prince Anders or prince Quan a chance." The Sultan says.
"To rule? Baba, Rajah would make a better ruler than prince Anders and Quan is almost twice my age." Jasmine replies.
"I'm not getting any younger. We must find you a husband and frankly we're running out of Kingdoms." The Sultan tells his daughter.
"What foreign prince could care for our people as I do? I can lead if only…" Jasmine challenges him.
"My dear, you cannot be Sultan, because it has never been done." The Sultan tells her.
"I have been preparing for this my whole life, I've been reading…" Jasmine says.
"Books? You cannot read experience. And inexperience is dangerous." Jafar cuts in.
"Jafar is right, one day you will understand." The Sultan says, after which Jasmine leaves for her chambers upset but not before Jafar catches up to her and tells her that she needs to learn that she doesn't want to be heard, only seen, after which Jasmine heads to her room, singing to herself before sitting down on her balcony distraught.
"You have a beautiful voice. But something seems to be on your highness's mind." Tai says, stepping out from behind a statue on her room's roof.
"What are you doing there? Leave or I will call for the guards." Jasmine threatens once she's over her shock.
"Sorry for intruding like this honorable princess. I tried to get an audience, but none of your servants would hear me out… I have come to return this." Tai says, after stepping off the roof, landing in front of Jasmine in a kneeling position with his head bowed and holds out her bracelet.
"My mother's bracelet." Jasmine says surprised and delighted, getting up from her stone bench, accepting the jewelry.
"How did you get in possession of this?" She asks while putting it on her arm.
"I removed it from the boy you were with, intending to give it back to you since he didn't seem trustworthy." Tai replies, still kneeling in the same position while she walks around him curiously.
"Why would you say that?" Jasmine asks.
"I have been walking around the market that day and saw him steal other's jewelry on two occasions." Tai informs her.
"Yeah, that sounds about right." Jasmine chuckles.
"You may rise." She tells Tai once she's standing in front of him again, having circled around him two times.
"Princess Jasmine, please once again accept my apologies for my abrupt visit. I will try to get an audience, the normal way again." Tai kowtows to her, before jumping to the roof, hanging from its edge and starts to pull himself up, before she stops him, saying "Wait. You've caught my interest. And I am indebted to you, what do you want to speak to me about?"
"It's regarding the Sultan's offer of a possible marriage to strengthen our kingdom's bonds." Tai informs her after dropping back to the balcony and turning towards her.
"What of it?" She asks not enjoying the topic.
"Sun Quan is basically already spoken for. And he as well as my fellow guard Ci had the idea that I could marry you. But please be assured I informed them that I'm against such an endeavor." Tai says.
"You? What would make you think my father would give my hand to a guard in the first place?" Jasmine asks annoyed at everyone trying to marry her off.
"I'm not just a guard. I am one of the prince's cousins. 6th in line for the throne if I'm correct." Tai tells her.
"But you act so different." Jasmine says surprised.
"I am just an adopted member and I do not feel worthy of a title of royalty." Tai says.
"Regardless, what made your companions assume I'd just agree to the marriage?" Jasmine asks upset while Rajah joins them on the balcony at the tone of her voice.
"As I've said princess, I just felt it's right to inform you. Especially since I am not agreeing with this idea of a marriage." Tai says.
"Why not? Am I not a good enough woman for you?" Jasmine asks intrigued, while Rajah struts over to Tai.
"No princess, that is not the case. Your beauty is undeniable and your kindness I witnessed on the market when you were giving the starving food. However as I said I never viewed myself as royalty and as such I never thought of marriage as a tool to strengthen kingdoms, but only viewed it as a symbol of two people's love for one another." Tai replies with a bow.
"I see." She says thoughtfully, looking at the warrior curiously while Rajah circles around him.
"Wait, don't!" She tries to warn Tai, who reaches his hand out to the tiger, only for the feline to rub its head against the offered palm.
"You have a strong and well trained companion princess." Tai says with a slight smile at the tiger's actions.
"He never does that." She says quietly.
"Princess, if I may ask before I leave. What was on your mind when I arrived?" Tai asks, looking at her curious himself.
"Would you care to join me?" She offers, sitting down on the bench again.
"Thank you." Tai accepts, sitting down next to her while Rajah lies at both their feet.
"What was on my mind, you ask. If we're being honest pretty much the same thing that's on yours." She tells him.
"How do you mean?" He asks.
"You said you don't want to marry just for your kingdoms sake and I feel the same way." She says.
"My father however, is hanging from every word of our Vizir and tries to marry me off to the first best party that comes along." Jasmine sighs.
"I see. We truly have the same problem." Tai agrees.
"Yeah. Well it's not like we can do much about it." Jasmine says.
"I don't know about the other princes, but I assure you, you are safe from my offer of marriage." Tai tells her.
"Once again, that can easily be interpreted as you not thinking I'm worthy." Jasmine chuckles.
"I'm deeply sorry. I mean nothing of the sorts." Tai apologizes, getting off the bench and bowing to her as apology.
"Relax. I was only kidding. Truthfully, I enjoy your direct words. It's rare enough people tell me what they really think. The only person beside my father is my handmaid in fact." Jasmine tells him, pulling him back to his seat by his hand.
"That must be hard." Tai says.
"Do you not have that problem?" She asks.
"No, but I'm not really around the same type of people you are princess." Tai says.
"Please, call me Jasmine, we are of comparable status anyways. But what do you mean the same type of people?" She asks curious.
"Well I'm more often on the battlefield, than in royal palaces. So the words I receive are usually crude and direct. And from the looks of it, my words have developed the same attributes." Tai informs her.
"The battlefield huh? Is your kingdom often at war?" Jasmine asks.
"Well, not with other lands, but it's in a power struggle over who gains control over all of China. Beside Wu there are other kingdoms and forces trying to gain power." Tai explains.
"That must be harsh, being in constant conflict." She says, listening to him interested.
"Well to some degree yes. But on the other hand, in my experience, nothing strengthens people's bonds like standing on the battlefield, relying on each other." Tai says.
"I guess that's one way to look at it." She chuckles.
"Is this kingdom not in any conflict?" Tai asks.
"Not as actively as yours at least, there is always the threat of another kingdom invading and if we were to trust out Vizir's words that should have happened for 5 years by now." Jasmine laughs.
"This Vizir? What does he do? There is no such role in our land." Tai asks.
"He's the Sultan's advisor." She says.
"I see. And why do you seem to have a problem with him, if I may ask?" Tai questions.
"He's often playing a different game. He's only worried about being in a place of power and a war would assert his role." Jasmine tells him.
"Jasmine, your father asked me to check on you." A female voice is suddenly heard from Jasmine's chambers.
"I better leave now." Tai says quietly and quickly gets up, rushing to the roof and barely manages to climb ontop of it before her handmaiden steps onto the balcony.
"What are you looking at princess?" She asks, stepping over to Jasmine, who was watching Tai escape anxiously.
"Uhh, nothing. Let's enter my room it's getting a bit chilly isn't it?" Jasmine quickly says and leads the woman into her room while Tai is making his escape over the palace's roof.
"Oh, you have your bracelet again. How wonderful." The handmaid says noticing the jewelry.
"Did that boy from the market bring it?" She asks.
"No. Someone else did." Jasmine replies.
"Who?" The handmaid asks curiously.
"I don't think I should tell yet. I'll tell you if I have decided on a matter." Jasmine tells her.
"What matter would that be?" The handmaid asks.
"If I should marry one of the visiting royalties." Jasmine says, looking to the balcony and replaying her interaction with Tai in her head, having enjoyed his company to her surprise, despite the bumpy start.
"Ohhh!" The handmaid cheers excitedly.
Meanwhile elsewhere in the palace Jafar catches Aladdin when he tries to sneak in to visit Jasmine and has the guards tie him up and takes him to the entrance to the cave of wonders, where he sends the thief in, promising him wealth and power if he were to retrieve a single lamp from the treasures.
