Two chapters in a matter of hours, how exciting!


Chapter Sixteen- Saying Goodbye

"We don't have much time!" Genie anxiously chimed, leading the trio towards the belly of the arabesque luxury. They hurriedly ran down steps and scaled walls. Nowhere did this find anything that resembled a golden emblem of eternal wealth. Savannah ran her fingers through her hair, exhaling in frustration.

"Where is this damn hand?" Even if they were to find it, they had no way back. The ship had sunk and the isle wouldn't stay afloat for much longer.

Babkak pressed his hands along the wall. There had to be a door, this hallway couldn't lead to a dead end. He felt as though they had checked nearly every inch of this palace. Where was Cassim? Sa'luk? Had one offed the other? As Aladdin consoled Savannah, he punched his fists along the brick and tile when he had reached his own bearings of frustration. He noticed a scabbard on the ground, resting his hand against the wall to balance himself, he heard a click.

The click opened a hidden passage way. A dark tunnel, but it had to have led somewhere good if the treasure was hidden. He called out to Aladdin and Savannah, who followed Babkak into the tunnel. They felt along the way for a steady bearing and a sense of grounding as the darkness just ventured onward for what felt like miles. They were forced to make a right, landing in a stream of water. Further ahead, a peek of light gave the group hope as they hurried towards the light, only to nearly fall into a rushing pit of water.

They were in the mouth of a bronze falcon. Aladdin peeked his head out, when the coast was clear, he hoisted himself up. He lifted Savannah, followed by Babkak, helping Savannah onto the rounded scaffold. They had found themselves in the chamber room that secured the Hand of Midas. No wonder it was hidden in the folds of this masterpiece. It was everything a hungry man could have dreamed of and more.

Cassim was already at the levitating hand, staring in awe at the beauty of the relic. Aladdin watched his father, noticed how he looked at the thought-to-be mythological artifact. No longer was it an old wives tale of adventure. It was real and finally in Cassim's needing hands. Aladdin was unsure how he felt then, although he hoisted himself from the scaffold and onto the hand to join him.

"My boy, look at this," Cassim said, wrapping an arm around his only son. "You see this?"

"Yeah, dad, I do. It's the treasure you've looked for a long time," Aladdin replied. "Mom would be proud. Now you can have everything you've ever wanted."

"That's where you're wrong, Aladdin. I lost everything I ever wanted when I left you and your mother to go searching for this."

"Go ahead, take it. You've come all this way," Aladdin urged, he knew this was what Cassim had wanted. He didn't take over a decade away to just throw it all.

"You, Aladdin, my son, are my greatest treasure. I want you to know that. And I am so sorry it took me this long to realize it."

However, Aladdin had done the honors to show he had no hard feelings towards an inanimate object. He undid his sash and wrapped it around the hand. His father's warnings not to touch it directly were heeded, as the wrappings were warped and quickly into solid gold, revealing its power to the two unwise men. Cassim's heart was to explode from his chest as Aladdin handed him the treasure.

"But, dad, where's Sa'luk?"

"I gave him what was coming to him," Cassim replied, although felt his cape being tugged upon. Savannah cried something inaudible and Babkak attempted to warn Cassim. All of which happened at one time as Aladdin caught his father before he could be pulled over. The hand wobbled, threatening to tip over if the men weren't cautious. Sa'luk, dripping wet, balanced himself on the hand and glared at the father and son duo.

"Cassim, you are too weak to off me, which would have been your saving. Your kindness, I'm afraid, is your undoing," Sa'luk said as he swiped his claws across Cassim, his feet nearly slipping off the edge of the hand. Aladdin tackled Sa'luk into one of five leaking scaffolds.

"And your runt doesn't know when you leave his nose out of business that does not concern him."

"My father is my concern," Aladdin sneered, rearing his fist back and connecting it with his jaw. Sa'luk took a few steps back, catching himself before he could fall backwards.

With no weaponry on his hands, Cassim was certain that Aladdin was to fail. Sa'luk had the upper hand with his talons. He may have had wit, but that wouldn't be enough. The ground wasn't stable enough for solid footing. Everything in this room was round and slippery. He clutched the Hand tightly, truly realizing that he wasn't going to be able to have both.

It was a duel of the hands. Aladdin struck a punch and Sa'luk reciprocated, leaving lacerations on his cheek from the claws. Babkak's breath hitched in his throat, reaching for his sword, he tossed it past Cassim as the blade embedded itself in the wall between the sparring individuals. Before Sa'luk could block him, Aladdin balanced himself on the blade's handle and kicked Sa'luk in the stomach with both feet. He dropped down, withdrew the blade from the stone wall and waited for Sa'luk to rise.

More determined than ever to kill Cassim's spawn, Sa'luk lunged for Aladdin and the sharpened fixtures collided, causing tearing sounds into the air that made Savannah uncomfortable, feeling the anxiety creep up in her. First it was her to vanish and now Aladdin was on the cusp, fighting relentlessly with death. She had all the faith that Aladdin would prevail, but she knew the other fought unfair to win. And that was confirmed when a leg swept beneath Aladdin and caused him to fall on his back against the scaffold. His back slid against and fell over, which caused both Cassim and Savannah to cry out.

"Please get up, please get up," Savannah chanted her prayer. Babkak held onto her, although she slipped from his grasp and made her way towards Sa'luk. No more standing there, waiting, she was no damsel in distress. She fought and scratched her way to where she was now.

"Savannah, don't!" Cassim commanded.

She continuously glanced over to the side, Aladdin still hadn't gotten up. She didn't seem him fall over, although perhaps it was too fast to catch. Sa'luk cackled, punching his clawed fist triumphantly in the air. Savannah shook her head and leapt over the scaffolds towards Sa'luk, as she jumped up to meet him, she only managed to clip him in the jaw. He scowled and swiped at her, Savannah ducked to avoid the attack.

"Sa'luk, stop! Stop!" Cassim once more commanded, though it was futile. "Aladdin!" He called out. "Aladdin, where are you!?" No answer. His son was nowhere to be found.

Savannah began a tango with Sa'luk, cautiously stepping so to not slip and fall. She kicked her slippers off and used her bare feet as the slippers held no traction whatsoever. Savannah picked up Babkak's sword that Aladdin had dropped and crouched down, beckoning him towards her. Sa'luk, however, had other plans in mind. He stepped away from Savannah, finding her the least bit of a threat and leapt over to Cassim on the hand.

"I want that hand, Cassim. And then I'll kill you. I've already killed your son, and that harlot is next after. I'm through playing your games. Now give. Me. That. HAND!"

The exclamation reverberated throughout the room, causing everyone to silence. Aladdin crept out of the mouth of the water filled scaffold and dove for the hand, Sa'luk caught his footing and glared down at the boy. Cassim glanced from the Hand of Midas to their levitating structure. Watching his son almost lose his life and dangle was too much for Cassim. Carefully, he unwrapped the hand, only for the untouched top to be grabbed by Sa'luk. He cackled and pumped the Hand into the air.

"You see, you insolent fools! I have the Hand! I have the power!"

Cassim kneeled down to help Aladdin up as Sa'luk began to transform before their eyes. From the touched end, Sa'luk took on a gold form, solidifying him. That was Cassim's plan, he wouldn't think it through enough to figure out greed's consequence. Cassim hoisted Aladdin by his waist.

"But what about the Hand!?"

"This is what greed gets you, Aladdin. You become it!" And as Sa'luk had gone from mental case to statue, the suddenly increase in weight lurched the hand down before it slid off and hit the water. The Hand began changing the water into a golden ocean and the men stared in awe once more. Cassim, mourning his loss, but grateful for his second chance, tossed Aladdin off the levitation and onto the scaffold with Savannah. It was then the sea turtle had made a noise that could have been challenged for pain.

"Run!" Cassim hollered and they ran for the open doorway. The gold must have been consuming the turtle. It was only a matter of time before it looked to submerge back into the sea. They barreled into the doorway as water began to mix with the golden ocean and Cassim slammed the door shut. Even in the hideaway hallway, he could smell the sea water and knew time was not on their side. He had to at least get the three youths out of this wretched isle, even if that meant he was left behind. He made the mistake of letting Aladdin suffer once, he wouldn't do it again.

They poured into the halls, up and down stairs, heading back outside into the courtyard that had begun to flood with water. The turtle's cries were becoming further strained, which pained Savannah. Aladdin whistled and carpet rushed to Aladdin's side, Genie, unable to have entered due to its magic's barrier was forced to play a card game with Carpet. Aladdin tossed Savannah and Babkak on, aware that the carpet could onto maneuver two passengers. Savannah hand onto Aladdin's hand. Genie crossed his arms and looked at Al before scooping him and Cassim, the two air mobile figures taking off and away as the turtle carried a golden palace on its back.


Genie and Carpet carried them back to the palace, where the palace was still in ruins. Servants carried away the bloody tapestry and Savannah bowed her head in mourning. Aladdin slid down from Genie's arms and collected Savannah to him, shying her eyes away from the bloody massacre that passed them. Babkak hurried into the palace to check on Omar and Jasmine, never happier to have been back here before.

"I should probably help this along, shouldn't I?" Genie inquired.

"Don't," Savannah piped up. "Perhaps Princess Jasmine wants it this way."

Cassim patted Genie on the shoulder, amazed at the, again, mythological being that carried him away from a certain demise. Myths weren't fables after all, he reasoned. No man had been lucky enough to find such wondrous artifacts yet, that was all. He strode cautiously towards his son, who had let Savannah go and locked into a tight embrace with him. No matter what, that was still his family, and he had proven that by sacrificing the thing he wanted the most for him.

"I am so proud of you," Cassim said, feeling the familiar sting of tears grazing his eyes.

"Nah, it's you who really came through."

"I'm your father, Aladdin."

"And I'm seeing that now." The men smiled and embraced tightly before releasing as Jasmine solemnly walked down the staircase to the balcony where she had made her choice of Aladdin as her suitor. Aladdin walked over to her and picked her chin up with his thumb and index fingers.

"They're making the arrangements now," Jasmine said. "I'm relieved you've returned safely." Over Aladdin's shoulder, she saw Cassim and felt every iota of rage she had towards Sa'luk directed to him. "You!"

"Jasmime, wait-"

"My father died because of you! Died because of some-some stupid scepter! I should have you-"

"Princess," Cassim appeared shocked.

"Jasmine!" Aladdin grasped hold of her shoulders. "Sa'luk killed your father, not mine. Sa'luk had the scepter…Cassim didn't kill your father." He knew Jasmine needed someone to blame. "But Sa'luk is gone. He died." He felt Jasmine slump in his arms and he caught her. Whether out of relief or sadness that she couldn't carry out the order herself was unbeknownst to him. But he did know she was hurting. Cassim exhaled with relief.

"Jasmine," Aladdin began. He couldn't find the words, he simply embraced her. Somehow hugs were the solution to a lot of anguish, he was coming to find.

"No, Aladdin, I must say something, in front of all of you," Jasmine said, slowly parting from his embrace after she regained herself and calmed. She looked at everyone as Omar finally entered the area with Babkak in tow. "Aladdin, I cannot proceed with this marriage. The law states that a princess must marry a prince for the kingdom to thrive, and I chose you to defy those laws because I didn't truly love the choices what were presented to me. What we had, I am grateful for your kindness and your heart, but I cannot keep what isn't mine. You coming into my life saved me and helped me realize what I know now. This kingdom, this land, is mine. In the matter of this, I choose me to rule Agrabah on my own. I can't ask that you tag along because that's what a law states, that isn't fair to any of us." She glanced behind Aladdin's shoulder to Savannah.

"I intruded on you two in the beginning, which was wrong of me. I cannot take that back, but I know you two have been holding back, and that was unfair because of my selfishness." She swallowed back tears and looked to Savannah once more, then to Cassim, Genie, Babkak, and Omar. "I can't be selfish anymore. I see the way you two look at each other. It gives me hope that one day I'll marry for love."

She was a strong woman who was capable, she had been bred and groomed for this. If they would have her, she would choose to have them all at her side to help her. But to marry out of business was unfair to all parties involved. She refused to have a marriage of convenience. Aladdin didn't deserve a deal like that when he already lived a rough life.

"I am so sorry, Aladdin."

Aladdin shook his head, which caused her to stare at him quizzically. "Jasmine, I value your honesty. I know you're going to accomplish great things as Sultana. And you won't be alone, you'll have all of us." Jasmine nodded at this, allowing a few free tears to fall.

"Princess, you're going to do great," Genie added, which caused her to smile through them as they fell. "And your father would be so proud of you."

"We are making the arrangements and the announcement to the kingdom shortly. I appreciate all of you being here. I would also love it if you stayed for the coronation ceremony," Jasmine requested, almost rather meekly. Her large brown eyes lifted and glanced to everyone who smiled at her.

"I think I speak for everyone when I say we are all here for you," Omar commented with a smile.


"People of Agrabah, our palace was attacked this afternoon by thieves." Jasmine said as she stood at the announcement balcony, addressing all of Agrabah. Guards posted beside her and at every entrance of the palace, keeping the people at a distance. "Our beloved Sultan was murdered by their leader." Gasps surrounded the group as that caused Jasmine to clear her throat. She slipped neatly into the authoritative role, almost naturally. She glanced around and back at her where Aladdin, Savannah, Omar, Babkak, and Cassim were dressed in robes. Jasmine was still leery of Cassim, although she did trust Aladdin's judgment.

He had explained to her that Cassim had saved them all, and that he did look to avenge her father. The Sultan did not deserve that, Cassim never wanted another child fatherless again. Cassim himself offered his condolences, kneeled to her, kissed her hand and begged for forgiveness for setting off the spark at all. Understanding what Aladdin now had, despite ending their engagement, she forgave him. He didn't take the blade which ended her father. Jasmine offered a lovely eulogy.

"He was a kind ruler who did his utmost to make Agrabah a humble and thriving city. My father, your ruler, did love you all. He thought of you all. He would have wanted me to apologize on his behalf that Agrabah did not reach the Golden Age he dreamed. We've taken steps, but we need to take leaps. He would have wanted me to say to you that as his children, he never wanted you to hunger. He would have wanted no child to bathe in a fountain, he would want his children to have an education. Regardless of how you feel, dear Agrabah, my father was a good man."

As the sun further dipped beyond the horizon, Savannah lit an oil lamp, then passed them down and along the row of seats. Once Savannah lit the first light, the people below lit theirs and Agrabah was ablaze with oil lamps to honor the Sultan.

"My father was not perfect, none of us are, but he tried and he loved us all."

Savannah rose and wrapped her arm around Jasmine in comfort. She had lost her professional demeanor. She was unsure what that meant for her appearance as a ruler, but right now, she was a daughter who lost her father. Savannah placed her candle at the balcony's edge and wrapped both arms around her.

"Before my father passed away, he told me to be happy," Jasmine continued on as she turned away from Savannah and addressed her people once more. "And nothing would make me happier than to be your Sultana."

An advisor's interest was piqued at this statement as she mentioned nothing about the upcoming wedding or even trying again for it. When Jasmine had finished addressing the people, she stepped away, thanking them profusely for being there during this dark time. The advisor approached her and offered a hand on her shoulder.

"Your highness, what about the wedding?"

"There will be no wedding," Jasmine replied, the advisor appeared shocked.

"No wedding? But what about-?"

Jasmine glanced over to Aladdin and Savannah before replying, "It doesn't have to go to waste."