Aladdin And The Lord Of The Black Sands
Chapter 3: Mozenrath's Attack
The Sultan waited excitedly at the door, guards flanking him, to welcome back his dear daughter and her husband from their honeymoon. "Is everything in order? The banquet set out? The palace perfect?" he rambled excitedly.
Poof! Genie appeared. "Calm down daddy-o! My semi-phenomenal nearly cosmic powers haven't failed me yet!" Turning into a waiter he said in a snobbish tone, "The menu for the evening will be a fine soup and Cesar salad for starters, followed by a fresh lobster dinner." In a typical Genie fashion a lobster appeared and snapped his finger. "Ah, too fresh!" With that he poofed it away. Regaining his waiter appearance he continued, saying, "We have the finest selection of beverages and wonderful desserts all ready to go." Turning normal he mused, "Now, what's missing? Oh yeah!" With that he zapped the palace making a banner roll down that read: Welcome back Al and Jas.
The Sultan, laughing, replied, "Wonderful, simply splendid!"
Rasoul rolled his eyes harrumphing then saying, "It would be if only…"
Genie cut him off before he could finish his insult saying, "If only the whole family were here, right Rasoul? Right." Razoul sighed. Abu began to chatter and point. Rajah roared happily. Genie looked up and cried excitedly, "They're here!"
Sure enough, Jasmine and Aladdin were nearing on Carpet waving happily. Carpet landed in seconds. Aladdin jumped up saying, "Genie!"
"Al! Little buddy! You're back!" Genie exclaimed seizing Aladdin in a bone crushing hug. "Jasmine, come here!" Genie added stretching out his arm and dragging her into the hug too.
Abu climbed up Aladdin chattering, "Aladdin, Aladdin!" Rajah purred at Jasmine as he rubbed against her legs. Carpet tried to escape but failed. Sultan rushed up to Jasmine. Genie let them all go and Carpet took his freedom.
"Daughter, oh how I missed you!" Sultan exclaimed, hugging her tightly.
"Oh father, I missed you too," she answered.
"Did you have a good time dearest?" he inquired.
She shot a loving look at Aladdin then answered, "Very." Aladdin grinned, blushing.
"Oh my dear, Jasmine, we have a lovely banquet set out for you. I think you shall find it imminently enjoyable…" Sultan said as he led Jasmine into the palace talking on and on. Aladdin watched lovingly after them.
"A banquet?" he asked Genie when Jasmine, Sultan, Razoul, the guards, and Rajah were out of sight.
"The Sultan really missed his daughter," Genie replied. "But what can you do? A parent's love is a wonderful thing."
"Here, here," Aladdin replied thinking of his own father. "So, shall we enter?" Aladdin asked playfully extending his arm out to Genie. Genie took it and the two strode in. Carpet flew after them with Abu.
"So, tell me all about your adventure," Sultan declared.
"It was wonderful! We saw so much, like…" she began. She and Aladdin continued their narrative as the others listened in wonder.
Soon they finished with Aladdin saying, "Aw I wish you guys had been there. Well, Genie's already seen the world."
"It's a pity your father and Iago couldn't be here to greet you," Sultan said.
"They're probably off on some great treasure hunt," Aladdin simply said, but his eyes conveyed that he'd missed them.
Suddenly, from the window, an all too familiar loud voice said, "Treasure smeasure, Cassim decided to try something a little different for a bit so I decided to take a vacation!"
"Iago!" they all exclaimed in surprise.
Iago flew down and walked right up to Aladdin saying, "Wipe that look off your face. I'm back. Besides, you just got back from what sounds like the greatest vacation ever. Stop moping around already!" In a secretive voice he added, "Did you bring back any souvenirs. Like, I don't know, a diamond encrusted bird feeder?"
Aladdin laughed then answered, "Sorry Iago." He rubbed the birds head affectionately.
"Maybe next time," Jasmine added as she kissed the parrot's beak.
Abu leapt up with a delighted cry and seized Iago in a hug chattering, "Oh boy!"
"Ack! Monkey, Abu, get off of me! I don't want your fleas!" Iago cried. Abu gave an offended reply and struck at him, but Genie got to him first, squeezing him.
"Oh joy! Now we're all one big happy family again!" he cheered.
"I didn't want to be smothered by you either," Iago replied as he grunted, struggling to get free.
"How long have you been here?" Jasmine asked.
"Since dinner started, and boy, am I hungry. Out of the way, birdy coming through!" Iago replied as he shoved by Carpet and Abu then flopped onto a cushion with a bunch of grapes he promptly swallowed whole.
Night fell and Aladdin and Jasmine retired to Jasmine's old room. Abu flopped onto his cushion and snuggled in. Rajah nestled at the foot of the bed. Aladdin placed Genie's lamp on the bedside table. Iago fluffed up a pillow, yawned, then lay down saying, "I'm turning in for the night."
Carpet floated to a chair and draped himself over it, though technically he didn't sleep, at least not like creatures of flesh and bone. "Good night all," Jasmine said with a roll of her eyes. In seconds everyone but Aladdin and Jasmine were asleep. The two smiled lovingly at each other. Aladdin extended his arm. Jasmine took it then Aladdin led her onto the balcony. "It's so good to be back home," Jasmine said as she stretched.
"I'll say. I can't believe how much I missed Agrabah," Aladdin agreed.
Jasmine half laughed then draped her arms around Aladdin's neck saying teasingly, "Well my handsome husband, shall we go to bed?"
"Of course," Aladdin instantly replied.
She laughed. "The others are in the room Aladdin," she said. She laughed again at the annoyed look he shot the others. "Come on," she urged. He followed her smiling and soon the two were asleep.
Not all was at peace though. From above a figure dropped onto the balcony then rose up. A long flying creature followed. "So, Aladdin and Jasmine are married now." He looked at his pet adding, "How interesting."
"Interesting," the creature agreed.
The figure laughed then said, "Come Xerxes."
"Mozenrath plan is good," Xerxes replied.
"Yes it is," Mozenrath replied as he drew the hand of Midas along the balcony curtains. They promptly turned to gold. Mozenrath strode easily and quietly through the room dragging the hand across blankets and pillows. Before he realized it, he turned Iago's chosen pillow to gold. Iago groaned and Mozenrath froze. He looked back then tsked. "Xerxes, guard," he ordered. "I'll get to him soon enough." Xerxes chuckled then floated near Iago watching him intently.
Mozenrath reached the bed. He touched the Hand of Midas to the canopy turning it into gold. He then put the hand on Jasmine and Aladdin's pillows relishing his victory. He supposed he could end it there, but why bother? He liked dragging it out. Besides, the hand of Midas' properties intrigued him to no end. He put it to the blanket turning it gold as well. They couldn't get out from under it if they tried. Now, onto Aladdin.
Aladdin was dreaming. In his mind he saw a street somewhere in Agrabah. It was as if he were walking towards a specific house. He drew nearer and nearer to it. In the window he now made out two figures, a woman and his father. On looking harder he saw that the woman was his mother! He gasped. They were watching something with loving expressions in their eyes. Aladdin followed their gaze, and to his confusion, he saw himself as a child and another boy around the same age playing together outside. They were wrestling. Aladdin had the upper hand, but the other boy matched him move for move though it was obvious he was the weaker of the two. Aladdin raised a curious eyebrow. His father then came to the door calling, "Aladdin…" he called another name, but Aladdin couldn't hear it. Someone from the waking world had called his name!
Iago's discomfort with the golden pillow had gotten the best of him. He woke up only to find himself staring into the face of Xerxes! He gasped then cried, "Aladdin!" He was cut off when Xerxes wrapped himself around Iago silencing him. The damage was done though. Aladdin started awake with Jasmine, only to feel the heavy weight on him and see, next to the bed, Mozenrath looking at Iago, startled, then back.
"Mozenrath!" Aladdin shot as he tried to get up with Jasmine, but neither could move. Abu and Carpet had leapt up in surprise, but Carpet covered Abu's mouth to keep him quiet.
It was then that Aladdin and Jasmine became fully aware of their situation. Aladdin shot Mozenrath a vicious scowl, but it fell instantly when he saw the cold carefree smile and the hand of Midas! "Aladdin! How are you my friend? I came to welcome you back from your honey moon. Did you have a fun time?" he questioned in a casual tone pretending to care as he sat on the bed. "I must compliment your taste in bedding. Gold is quite the step up from rags."
"What do you want from us Mozenrath!" Jasmine demanded.
"Why, princess Jasmine, nothing at all. Just to say hi to my dear friend Aladdin, then of course to turn him and the rest of you into gold then take over all Agrabah," Mozenrath answered, quickly losing the cordiality. Aladdin lunged for the lamp but found he couldn't move. Mozenrath looked to where Aladdin was staring and saw the lamp. "Oh, how's that for luck? I'll tell you what Aladdin, after I finish with you, I'll take the lamp for myself. He'll be in good hands, well, hand." He chuckled wryly looking at the covered skeletal hand.
"Mozenrath, you'll never get away with this!" Aladdin yelled.
Mozenrath laughed then replied, "Oh, I think I will. After all it's only right." With that he started towards Aladdin with the hand!
"Aladdin!" Jasmine cried. "Mozenrath, don't!" Jasmine begged. He ignored.
However, Abu and Carpet were one step ahead of them. Abu snuck up to the bedside table slowly reaching for the lamp. Carpet, meanwhile, was moving behind Xerxes. Iago's eyes widened hopefully. Then, simultaneously, Carpet lunged seizing Xerxes, who cried out startling Mozenrath, and Abu had claimed the lamp and wakened Genie!
"Whoa, what's with the wake up call! Someone better be dying!" Genie declared annoyed. It was then that he saw the scene. Midas' hand almost touching Aladdin, Mozenrath sitting at the bedside, etcetera. Genie instantly deduced what was going on. "Well this is awkward," he said.
Mozenrath took that opportunity to plunge the Midas hand at Aladdin! "Genie!" Aladdin cried.
"Hold on Al!" Genie replied as he poofed the golden blanket away. Aladdin and Jasmine rolled off the bed just in time to avoid being turned to gold. The bed wasn't so lucky.
"Mozenrath is back! Who'd have guessed!" Iago declared fearfully. Mozenrath swung at him. "Hey! Whoa! Time out! You'd be dead if not for Aladdin!" Iago defended.
"Oh, lucky me!" Mozenrath retorted as he sprang over the bed right for Aladdin!
The two rolled on the floor fighting. Rajah suddenly sprang from under the bed at Mozenrath! Before he could react he felt teeth digging into his arm! "Rajah, no!" Jasmine cried out. Aladdin was shocked at the tiger's attack.
In the battle Mozenrath dropped the hand. Iago, though, caught it then flew off, Xerxes giving chase. Crying out in pain, Mozenrath managed to get his gauntlet into a good position to attack. He sent the tiger flying against a wall! He leapt up, holding his arm, saying, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, bad kitty! I think you need to be dealt with, painfully." His gauntlet lit again.
"Rajah!" Jasmine cried as she rushed to her pets attacker checking him.
Mozenrath fell to the floor but swiftly rose saying, "Ah princess, you still haven't lost your fire." Seeing Aladdin rushing at him he added, "I'd teach you your place, but I think it's time to go." Mozenrath raced for the balcony. Xerxes was battling Iago in a tug of war for the possession. "Xerxes, come!" Mozenrath called sharply. Xerxes growled at Iago then struck him with his tail. Iago cried out in pain, talons losing hold of Midas' hand. Xerxes swiftly reached Mozenrath as Aladdin was nearing followed by Jasmine. Mozenrath smirked coldly, then just like that, he transported Xerxes and himself back to the Citadel. Aladdin reached the balcony's rail and looked out towards the Land of the Black Sand with a vicious scowl.
"Mozenrath, come back here and face me coward!" Aladdin shouted.
Jasmine placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He looked helplessly at her. "Let it go," she said. Rajah limped towards them. Aladdin sighed letting his shoulders sag.