Aladdin walked outside into the gardens. He smiled, remembering how Genie would practice his new duties as he put it, with Abu and Iago. It might be fun for Genie, but everyone could certainly see that it was anything but fun for Abu and Iago. Especially Iago. And Iago wanted him to figure out a way to convince Genie to let go. He knew he probably never would. After all, Genie wasn't so easy to persuade on some things, especially not on staying out of other people's business, but that was only because he cared, of course. Well, maybe at least that way, Genie would know what to do. He wouldn't be so ignorant. Perhaps he should join Genie's classes. No one went, of course, except for Abu, Iago and Carpet who were his mandatory students, and whom he graded very severely, and punished much more severely if they didn't do their assignments.
He looked up. He hadn't been aware of where he had been going, lost in his thoughts. He was standing in front of one of the fountain courtyards. The only sound was that of the water in the fountain, and the wind rustling through the neatly pruned bushes and trees. He looked at the water descending from one level to the next. There was hardly any free running water in the desert, although he knew about waterfalls and such things that were in some parts further away from the Seven Deserts. The only water he saw, flowing such, was that of the fountains, like right now, which were, anyway, only in the Palace, and perhaps, in the gardens of some of the most important people in Agrabah. Looking at the waterfall, it blurred the detail of the fountain behind it some.
As he stared at it, the descending water seemed to become more opaque and split, and it seemed like a figure walked out of it. Or rather, the water seemed to be taking a different shape, rather than just a line, connecting one level of the fountain to another.
"Mom?"he said quietly, as he watched.
The water had changed to assume the shape of a woman. His mother.
"Mom."he said again.
He remembered her, even though she had died when he was very young. And he had been thinking of her more often lately.
"Mom, you're here."he said.
He wanted to run and to get closer to her.
"No, Aladdin."she said. "I may not be here physically, but I am always here in spirit."she said.
Aladdin nodded, staying still.
"Genie keeps trying to learn to be a nanny by practicing on Abu and Iago and teaching everyone else about it."he said to her.
Everyday, he remembered, he would sit down and tell his mother everything that had happened. After all, he had always confided in her, even more than in any friend.
"Genie!"she laughed, nodding. "He seems quite anxious to do things as perfectly as possible, although I am sure that his best will be more than excellent."she said.
Aladdin nodded.
"Genie's best would be very excellent. Abu and Iago will be glad when Genie's attention will be shifted to the baby and not themselves. Iago can't take any of it. So Abu's the one that gets stuck with him most of the time, since Iago almost always manages to escape, although Genie's finding his hiding places more easily now. Usually where there's food or treasure anywhere close."
"Iago does have a good heart, despite the outward appearance he gives."
"Abu just isn't so lucky in that sense. Genie has no trouble sniffing him out most of the time."
"Abu probably feels much more sorry for Iago, that he has to get away so desperately!"
"Oh, no! I'm sure if he could, he'd convince Genie to practice on Iago only, and not him. The same with Iago."
She nodded.
"Yet, you are still troubled."she said.
She had always been able to note what he was feeling, after all. When he was sad, happy, or scared.
"I-I'm just...Iago begged me to figure out a way to keep Genie's attention elsewhere."he said. "I don't know if I'll have any success at all. I mean, I'm not likely, am I?"
"I'm sure you will."
"Not persuading Genie, I don't think so."
"Perhaps not you persuading Genie, but you will definitely have success."
He looked up, confused.
"You know I have always been able to not what my boy is feeling, and even why. I know you were not really asking about Genie."she said.
"But I was."
She shook her head.
"No. And I know so, Aladdin. You must remember, simply to love him, as I love you. To love him unconditionally. And Jasmine, of course. But I know you will."
Suddenly, he heard a splash, and blinked. He looked at the fountain, and saw that the water was back to its original shape, just forming a thin sheet between the levels of the fountain. He looked around. There was no one else around.
"Mom?"he asked.
No one answered, and the only sounds he heard were those of the water, the wind, and the nocturnal creatures. It couldn't have been a dream. He was still standing. Or perhaps he had fallen asleep without knowing it. Or maybe Genie had decided to play some trick on him? No, Genie would probably be too busy preparing his lesson plan for his next class.
He walked away from the fountain. He turned to look at it behind him before he left. He had always liked that fountain, it was his favorite among all the others in the Palace. He entered through the dining room once more, and walked up the stairs, to get ready to go to sleep. Perhaps he was just tired. He had had a long day.
Genie appeared in front of him, with a long sheet of paper.
"Hmm, what do you think Al?"he asked, showing him the writing.
"Of course, we should dedicate the usual three hours to the Rugman's practice. He should be able to catch anything at any angle, in just a couple of weeks, more, and then we'll have to start working on speed. I'm afraid he might be a little too slow. As for-"
"Genie,"Aladding interrupted. "I'm sure it'll fine. After all, what we should do is love him."he said, and then walked away.