Aladdin And The Lord Of The Black Sands
Ancient Memories
The next morning found Aladdin and company strolling through the marketplace. "It's been so long since I last saw these streets," Aladdin remarked.
"And your hovel," Jasmine added.
"Yeah," Aladdin said excitedly.
"Well then let's go visit it," Iago said as if it were obvious.
"It probably feels more like home to Al than the palace," Genie, in disguise of a merchant, remarked in a teasing manner. Jasmine, however, saw the quiet agreement in Aladdin's eyes. Had he ever felt right in the palace?
Soon they reached the hovel and climbed into it. "Nope, nothing's changed," Iago remarked.
"Except the occupant!" a voice exclaimed as a figure jumped down in front of Iago making him cry out. "Well at least for the day."
"Sadira!" Jasmine and Aladdin happily said.
"I heard you two were back and thought you'd come here eventually. I came to say hi," she explained as they embraced her. "Ooh, look at you two. You look fantastic. Aladdin, do you have any brothers?"
Aladdin chuckled then replied, "Nope."
"Too bad," Sadira said with a giggle. "Well, I'd better get going. I'm checking out a long abandoned building to see if I can find anything for my spells, or my pocket. Want to come?"
"Uh, Jasmine?" Aladdin asked, knowing she might think it stealing.
"Why not?" Jasmine consented.
Abu chattered, "Oh boy," as he rubbed his hands, or paws, together.
"There'd better be something good all right," Iago replied grumpily. Carpet then scooped them all up flying to Sadira's directions.
Eventually Jasmine noticed an expression of confusion on Aladdin's face. "Aladdin?" she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
He looked at her solemnly. The others had stopped talking. He then replied, "I feel like I know this area."
"You lived on the streets almost all your life. You must have come across it at some point," Sadira offered.
"No. I feel like I know it intimately," Aladdin answered.
"There's always the oracle," Iago teased. Aladdin never smiled. This place… It was the street from his dream.
Presently Sadira pointed out an old rundown house saying, "There it is." Carpet landed. They all jumped off excitedly. All but Aladdin; this was the house from his dream! He almost expected to see two little boys playing outside and his mother and father watching.
"Come on Al, hurry up," Genie urged. Aladdin hesitated, then curiosity took over him and he followed.
The group entered and spread out to look for anything of value. Valuables, though, were the last thing on Aladdin's mind. He walked through the house like he knew it. He felt he did. He looked into the kitchen where Abu was looking through dishes. For a split second he saw the image of a woman humming as she washed. He felt like a child. He shook his head continuing to the upstairs rooms. He looked into each curiously. Once in a while and image or sound would go through his mind. A laugh, crying, words, his name… He shook off each one getting increasingly agitated until finally he paused outside a final door. He took a deep breath then opened it. A master bedroom. Cautiously he entered and forced himself to dig through the remnants.
He had almost given up when his sharp eyes spotted a knot at the foot of the bed. Curious, he leaned down and pressed it. His eyes widened as a small drawer popped out. A drawer with an old, dusty, book inside! Aladdin seized it, gazing at it in awe. After a moments debate he opened it. What he saw made him pale, gasp, and say, "No!"
"Aladdin?" Abu chattered. Aladdin jumped.
He turned to the monkey in shock. Abu became worried. Even more so when Aladdin walked towards him, eyes not leaving the name he'd read in the book. Abu followed nervously. He'd gone to get Aladdin, but this wasn't how he expected it to go. The others were waiting, laughing and talking. Jasmine heard him enter then turned saying, "Aladdin, there you are." Her smile fell, though, along with the others, when she noticed Abu's worry and Aladdin's shock. "Aladdin?" she asked.
Aladdin dully took in the group then said, "It…It's my mother's diary." The others saw the book and gasped.
"So, this was your house?" Sadira asked.
"That would explain his reluctance," Genie said in his usual manner.
"Aladdin…" Jasmine began, but couldn't finish.
Aladdin simply opened the book and read the pages silently like it was a treasure, tears in his eyes. The others watched in silent respect sensing the memorial like aura. Suddenly, though, the spell was broken as Aladdin froze, eyes widening, then asked aloud, "What! No way!"
"What, what is it!" Iago demanded.
In shock Aladdin looked up answering numbly, "Sadira, remember when you asked me if I had a brother?"
"Yes…" she hesitantly replied.
"Apparently I do!" he declared holding out the book. The others gasped in shock.
"What! How is this possible! Cassim never mentioned another son!" Iago exclaimed.
"Didn't he?" Genie asked going into Sherlock Holmes detective garb.
"This-this is impossible. I don't remember a brother!" Aladdin exclaimed now passed the shock.
"Maybe you were separated young?" Sadira offered.
Aladdin flipped ahead some pages then stopped. Aloud he read, "The sorcerer came today and demanded to see my children. At first I refused, but he then threatened Cassim saying he knew where he was and could kill him in a heartbeat. I reluctantly called the two boys down and presented them. I knew this day would come, when Jafar came to call. I just wish it hadn't. He looked them over, spoke a few words, then just left, my Arabian moon looking after him in wonder. My Arabian sun was curious, but didn't think much on it. I've never been so scared in my life."
"Jafar!" the group exclaimed.
"He knew your parents?" Jasmine asked.
"The plot thickens!" Genie loudly declared.
"Arabian sun was one of her nickname's for me. Arabian moon… that would have to be my brother. Why? Why did Jafar come? How did he know us? What was his connection? Where was dad? Gone? When was this? There's no date. Who is my brother? I thought I had questions about dad, but this… this is a whole new level!"
"We could always consult the oracle," Iago remarked.
"We've all used a question already, except for Jasmine, Sultan, and Genie. Not counting you Sadira," Aladdin said. "No. I'm not going to dig into this. Not this time. For all I know he could be dead. Jafar could have come back and killed him the next day. Maybe only I got away. The diary just ends here. Besides, last time I looked into something it didn't bode well."
"Aladdin, you found your father, why not your brother too? You should look into this!" Jasmine encouraged.
"No! Not this time Jasmine. Not again. Even if he is alive, which I doubt, it'll probably end in me being disappointed like I was by dad," Aladdin firmly said. "Now just drop it." Without awaiting a reply he dropped the diary on a table, strode out with Carpet, and rode off.
"Oh Aladdin," Jasmine lamented.
"Great, there goes our ride," Iago complained.
"Don't worry, I've got you covered!" Genie declared. With a zap Sadira was returned home, and they themselves to the palace to await Aladdin's return.