Jay meets someone who probably could have turned the tide for the Fearsome Foursome a bit sooner than last minute. Unfortunately at the time of Prince Benjamin's proclamation, he was back home helping to care for his fading grandfather. Still, the encounter is good for both of them.

This chapter is a bit longer because it plays with a validated fan theory and some of the inherent flaws involved in imprisoning the bad guys the way they did.

*UL*

About a week after Chad's near death experience, a new face came to Auradon Prep. Well new to the villian kids. A Prince from the desert area who went home to spend time with his dying grandfather and attend the royal funeral. So he missed all the hubbub with the coronation and such.

"You're Jay right?" The tanned young man smiled. "I'm Al-Aziz...but everybody calls me AJ."

"That makes no sense." Well it didn't. There's no J in his name.

"Well my dad's nickname is Al and Genie always to calls me Al Jr. So...it eventually melded into AJ."

"...lemee guess your dad and mine got history." It came out with an exasperated sigh.

Jay really didn't want to do this. Not right now. He was already worried for Carlos with his bouts of uncontrollable magic and how terrified his baby was of himself. Even after the chat with that crazy old lady he still kept silent and to himself even though it did manage to get him out of the dorm. Then there was his own growing sense of dread over the fact that he'd only been able to find one measly paragraph about his mom; and all it really said was she was a twisted bitch. But he had found out what she looked like; and holy shit was he lucky he wasn't born a feline/human hybrid like her. What was his dad into?!. Let's not forget the old prune's cryptic talk of him causing mayhem just like her whether he wants to or not. On the plus side Carlos' outbursts didn't affect him most likely because of it. But back to AJ. Jay wasn't in the mood to do the bad blood rehash just cuz this guy missed their arrival.

"Look, AJ-"

"I was really bummed I couldn't be here as part of the welcoming party. From what I understand we would have hit it off right away."

All of his protests died on his tongue. The look in the Arabian prince's eyes was pretty earnest. Nothing like that catty tit for tat that went on when Audrey and Mal first met. This kid, despite his father nearly killing both his folks not once but twice, sincerely wanted to be his friend.

The son of Jafar had no god damned idea how to respond to that.

Luckily the bell for 3rd period rang and saved him the trouble.

"Well, see ya round. I'm not that big a fan of Tourney having the muscle strength of a wet carpet but maybe we can find something else to talk about? Later." AJ waved as he dashed off.

It wasn't until sometime later in the day that the pair saw each other again. They only had Geometry together after all. Which Jay was surprisingly good at. Apparently to be a good thief, sneak and escape artist required good spatial awareness. AJ on the other hand was ready to tear out his own hair at the sight of the pythagorean theorem. In the library after school they finally struck up a conversation

"I really don't want to be sultan but I do want to help my people. Instead I'm studying to be a doctor. But I need to know this crud too to pass." AJ frowned at all the red markings on his last quiz. He raised a brow at the 96 on Jay's. "Wow, brains and brawn. Jeez I got screwed. Say, I think we can help each other out."

And there it was. The more familiar 'I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine' interaction that occurred most on the island. Even among the four of them, it was no secret that their initial relationships with one another were based on this. Their parents' reps certainly extended to them and they exploited it but they each brought their own skills to the table. Need anything built or even remotely tech related? Carlos was your man. Manipulation and charm were Evie's strengths not to mention the keen mind she tried to hide. Jay was the go to guy for muscle, quick escapes and 'acquisitions'. And good ol Mal was living proof that appearances were deceiving. When she wanted she could be the most cunning and nasty of the four. Not for sometime after meeting as small children did they form their strange little family- after realizing their biological ones weren't all that great. Even then it was sometime before he began to see Carlos as more than a brother.

"Of course you want something."

"Well yeah but I don't think we're on quite the same page. I suck at this but you don't. A lot of the Seven Deserts' history can't be found here in Auradon but the palace library back home has records for EVERYTHING. How about a deal? You help me not have to explain to my folks why I gotta take summer school. I help you with finding out about where you're from?"

"So you want to cheat off the son of your father's greatest enemy and have him do your homework." Who says heroes were above petty revenge he thought frowning.

"Uh, no. I can do my own homework but thanks for the offer. What good does that for me if I still have no idea what I'm doing anyhow? I need a tutor not a stand in. It might be tough work to teach an idiot but I promise I'll be worth it."

Wait...how did this guy know we was trying to discover his family history? Not like he's been shouting it from the rooftops or anything. Did that ditzy fairy tell him? After all she already knew about Mirage-

About then, AJ's face took on a horrified expression as if sensing his train of thought. He began frantically searching his person.

"Where is it?! Oh Allah I'm so sorry!" He yelped. "My bracelet-!"

"Er...this?" Jay blinked, casually removing the shackle like band from his pocket. Hey semi-reformed not totally reformed thief.

AJ just stared at the offered jewelry and Jay could only guess what he was thinking. At least the guy would probably not want anything more to do with him now. The pair stood in the nearly deserted library, frozen in place by the sight of the gold hinged bangle. Eventually, AJ smiled and sighed.

"I suppose mother is right. Things happen for a reason."

Wait, what?!

"This bracelet isn't for fashion, it helps keep a lid on my um...gift? Modified curse? I got no idea anymore, it was the best Uncle Moz could do when your mother decided to 'bless' me with it. I just know it's a mild annoyance at best and a good reason for people to stay at least 50ft away from me at worst. Whether I like it or not, I was born an Oracle." he chuckled, clamping it back on to his wrist.

"So you were reading my mind?!"

"Not exactly and to be fair it was your own damn fault for swiping this." He motioned to his wrist. "I can see into people's hearts. For instance I know you'd slit my throat with a smile if it meant my death would help Carlos even little. That doesn't make you the second coming of Jafar. It means there is someone you truly love enough to do unspeakable things for. You don't really care about knowing who your mom really is so much as getting a handle on the chaotic magic she's sure to have passed on to you. Because maybe you can protect him with it." The Prince of Agrabah smiled wryly.

"Why would you want to hid that? I mean you could always get what you want- perfect blackmail material." Auradon continued to astound the young ex-villain crew. Hold it, did he say what he thought he said? "You said Uncle Moz. There's only one person my dad ever spoke of that might have that nickname."

"Yeah, my family history is kinda complicated. My uncle spent the first 2 years after meeting my dad trying to kill him. In his defense they had no idea they were related since a dark sorcerer kidnapped Uncle Moz when he was little and erased him from dad and grandma's memory...and sort of drove him insane. Grampa had gone off to seek his fortune sometime before but when he returned Grandma had died and dad had become just another a street rat he couldn't find. When Dad and Grandpa finally met up after like 15 years, it was cuz Grampa robbed their wedding party blind. King of Thieves couldn't pass up a royal shindig and all."

"Your grandfather is the leader of the 40 Thieves?! Awesome!"

"Toldja we would have hit it off. He was till he struck out on his own. Though now he's retired from the game, he's the best security consultant in the Seven Deserts. Uncle Moz has your old man's old job. From what they tell me it was super awkward at first but I couldn't imagine anything else. It's just too bad mom's dad died."

Wow. Just. Wow. So even some heroes had it rough. He's learned since being off the Isle that happily ever after wasn't necessarily the end of the story but they'd always been taught the villains were all defeated and sent to the Isle of the Lost. But both he and Carlos were examples of how flawed that logic was. One of their parents was killed by the good guys. One was MIA simply because the new order BORED her. But AJ had two villains in his family that had reformed and switched sides. How did they get that chance? Did it mean all these goodie goodies knew there was a possibility a bad guy could change? So why were their lives such shit until now?!

"I don't have to use my powers to see what you're thinking. Mom and Dad were against the whole round up all the bad and people and chuck em in an island hell hole thing. The only reason Jafar ended up there is because he banded together with other defeated villains in hopes of revenge. The Sultan and Sultana of Agrabah have been calling for something like what Ben did from the moment it was learned children were on the Isle. Of course not being the kingdom in charge there wasn't much they could do without risking war. Not many believe people can change so my family tree proved problematic for the trust of some kingdoms; a few won't even trade with us. Dad says judging people without giving them a chance is a sure fire way to lose a potential friend and gain a potential adversary. As long as the person is willing, anything is possible." AJ shrugged only to have a piece of paper shoved in his face. "Wha?"

"It's my cellphone number. I gotta go but I guess I can help you out some time. Just not when there's practice." This time Jay was the one to run off. Leaving AJ alone to ponder what had just happened. Particularly if he should have mentioned just how interesting life at Auradon Prep was about to become for everybody.

As useful as it was with the first part of his curse, the bracelet did nothing to stop his visions of the future.

*End*

Okay, Disney confirmed a long time ago Mozenrath and Aladdin were meant to be long lost brothers. The big reveal was supposed to happen in the 3rd movie when Cassim showed up. But either due to budget, run time or the likelihood of small kids not grasping such a complex story arc (that they literally spent the entire animated series setting up ?...) the plotline was abandoned. Aladdin is also one of the few Disney movie based animated series explicitly set AFTER the major movie event occur. Most either deage characters or totally disregard the movie ending. Also, several people who start out as bad guys later turn out to be just desperate, confused or misunderstood people in the show.

Still I imagine Mirage couldn't resist a parting shot to the street rat that was a constant thorn in her side before she decided to mortal realm no longer amused her. Instead of cursing Aladdin or Jasmine, she exacted her vengeance on their son.

Don't worry, Evie and Mal get to be blindsided by the truth of their own births sooner or later...

Love it? Hate it? Let me know! Reviews are like hugs! Sirensoundwave out!