Aladdin And The Lord Of The Black Sands
(A/N: Here is a new twist on the Aladdin Mozenrath brother thing. It seems that most stories have Cassim as both their fathers while they had either the same mother too or different ones. I, however, have implied, and only implied so far, something else, the reason for this will be explained in the next chapter's author note or at the bottom of this chapter. More likely the latter. Enjoy. As for the song lyrics you sometimes see above the chapter, they're just there to sort of give an idea about what it's like. I've taken them from the original from the movie as well as from the cartoon series. Oh and if someone could tell me the names of Rasoul's guards mentioned in this story I'd appreciate it.)
Like a shield like a sword don't prepare to get bored though get beaten or gored you might...
Chapter 11: Aladdin To The Rescue
Aladdin and co were dining with the Sultan that night. "So, how did your picnic go?" Sultan asked them.
Iago glanced at him then stuffed his beak with food. Abu nervously swallowed his own mouthful saying, "Uh…" he then fell silent. Carpet stayed quiet, of course, but he perked up to here the cover story.
Jasmine looked at Aladdin gently. Aladdin, whose fork was almost at his mouth, slowly lowered it and looked down. "Well?" Sultan asked, seemingly oblivious.
Genie finally laughed lightly, answering, "Oh it was great! There was plenty of food to go around and the day, whoo, gorgeous!"
"Oh wonderful! Did you all have fun?" Sultan asked, directing the question to Aladdin and Jasmine, not quite as clueless as they thought, for he took notice of the fact they said nothing.
Jasmine's eyes watching him finally prompted Aladdin to say, "Uh, Sultan, th-there's something I need to tell you…"
"Well speak up my boy, don't be shy!" Sultan declared.
"It's, uh, a-about my family…" Aladdin cautiously said.
"Oh yes, your mysterious brother," Sultan said suddenly grave. "I trust you've been looking for him. Have you found him yet?"
"W-well…" Aladdin began, shifting nervously, but right then they were interrupted.
The thieves had snuck to a street where the guards were patrolling. Quickly they dumped the body of Mozenrath, a sack now over his head. They heard the guards coming then stealthily crept away. The guards, namely Rasoul, the thin one, and the fat one, stopped and gasped on seeing a skeletal hand reaching from the shadows of an alley! "It is a body! It must be!" the thin one panicked. The fat one was shaking.
"Come on men!" Rasoul ordered. The others nervously followed. Rasoul bent down to examine the richly dressed figure with the bag over his head. He swallowed then reached for it. With a deep breath he pulled the sack off. All three gasped. "Mozenrath!" Rasoul exclaimed.
"Is-is he alive?" the fat guard asked.
"Oh he's alive all right, and now our prisoner! That old man was right!" Rasoul gleefully answered.
"Man? What man?" the thin one asked suspiciously, knowing that the last time his captain listened to a stranger, things went sour fast.
"Never mind! We must take our friend here to the dungeon and alert the Sultan! If luck is with us he'll be executed before tomorrow night!" Rasoul excitedly said.
"Like at sunset?" the fat one asked. Confused Rasoul looked at him. He nervously chuckled then explained, "W-well Aladdin nearly died at dawn when we tried to execute him, therefore it's only right that his evil brother dies in the evening."
"As long as he dies!" Rasoul replied. "Now come on!"
Xerxes was tearing through Agrabah, desperately trying to reach the castle. He saw it, he was almost there! Just as Aladdin had said the word 'well,' Xerxes burst in through the window crying, "Aladdin! Help!" He then collapsed onto Aladdin's lap gasping.
"Xerxes! Mozenrath can't be far behind! Guards!" Sultan called.
"Father no!" Jasmine exclaimed leaping forward.
"What!" Sultan asked in shock.
"Sadira hurt; Mozenrath, taken!" Xerxes panted up at Aladdin.
Jasmine gasped saying, "No, Sadira!"
"Mozenrath! Captured!" Aladdin asked in disbelief. He couldn't picture anyone but him besting the Lord of the Black Sand.
"Help!" Xerxes begged.
"Oh boy, I knew this would happen! Something like this always happens!" Iago complained angrily.
"Will someone please tell me what is going on!" Sultan demanded.
Too busy to pay any heed to him Aladdin said, "Come on Carpet, let's move!" Jasmine leapt on with him along with Abu. She gently took Xerxes into her arms. Without a pause they had flown away, Iago trailing behind.
Genie, though, took the time to look to Sultan saying, "Uh, long story. We'll tell you later." With that he too followed, leaving the Sultan in shock.
Just then the guards burst in. Rasoul said loudly and proudly, "Your highness, I have single handedly captured Mozenrath! He is powerless and locked away as we speak!"
"Single handedly?" the other two asked. A scowl from Rasoul shut them up.
"You have! Splendid! How did you manage it!" Sultan asked.
"Oh it was nothing," Rasoul replied in false modesty.
"It really wasn't," the thin guard said cynically. Rasoul scowled at him again.
Turning back to the Sultan Rasoul asked, "What are your orders regarding the prisoner your majesty? And may I point out that the law does condemn him to death for the crimes he has committed against Agrabah."
"Oh dear," the Sultan said suddenly unsure. "I'm not sure Rasoul. I mean, after all, he's just a boy; hardly more than Aladdin's age. Evil or not isn't that a little…"
"Law is law, isn't it Sultan? Besides, in this case Aladdin is not the one whose approval you should be seeking," Rasoul said.
Placing his hands on his hips and frowning, Sultan said, "Oh really? And why is that Rasoul?"
"Because…" Rasoul began, but the strange man's warning came back to him. Instead he said, "Because the street rat would never want to see anyone beheaded. Condemning Mozenrath would be, err, condemning his own brother, and they hate each other more than me and Aladdin hate each other. Probably even more than he hated Jafar."
"Well…" the Sultan hesitantly began.
"Excellent, tomorrow at sunset," Rasoul interrupted. "Perfect timing sir. The deserts will roar with this news."
"Y-yes, I suppose…" Sultan hesitantly confirmed.
Carpet, meanwhile, had reached Sadira's lair. Quickly the group searched for their friend. All was quiet. So much so that it unnerved them. "Sadira!" Aladdin called.
"Sadira, where are you! Answer us!" Jasmine called.
"Oh this doesn't look good," Iago said as he pointed out the jumble of footprints.
"I'll sniff her out!" Genie declared, turning into a dog.
"Aladdin, Aladdin!" Abu chattered suddenly, as he raced up from wherever he'd been. "Sadira!" he declared holding Aladdin's pants and pointing.
Instantly worried, the group gasped then followed the monkey. In moments Abu had led them fearfully, right up to their friend's crumpled figure! "Sadira!" Jasmine cried, rushing up.
"I've got her," Aladdin said as he picked her up then brought her to the bed Mozenrath had only recently occupied.
"Genie, get some water!" Jasmine called.
"I've gotcha covered Jazz," he answered, materializing a glass into his hand then handing it over.
Jasmine tilted Sadira's head up and poured the liquid into her mouth. She stirred but never woke. Unable to do anymore, the group stayed by her side all through the night.
She did not wake up until the late afternoon of the next day. Her eyes slowly fluttered open. Xerxes, whose turn it was to watch her, was startled when she groaned then tried to sit up. "What happened?" she asked.
"Sadira!" Xerxes cried instantly flying into her relieved. "Aladdin, Sadira awake!"
She gasped in alarm then recognized the eel. "Xerxes!" she exclaimed. It was then that the previous night's events hit her. "Mozenrath!" she cried out as the others returned on hearing the noise.
"Sadira, calm down," Jasmine sternly ordered as she forced her friend to lay back down and rest.
"I'm fine!" she shot as she forced herself into a sitting position. "Aladdin, they took him! I tried to save him, but this weird guy who called himself Khartoum appeared! He attacked us just as we were about to lose the seven remaining forty thieves and Abis-Mal! He hit me with a powerful blast when I tried to save Mozenrath. He was holding him in the air with his powers! He came at me, but Mozenrath, he…" she paused, eyes widening in shock as she remembered how the man had attacked their pursuers. "He saved me?" she realized in shock. The others gasped. She shook her head then continued, "Anyway, Khartoum bound his wrists and ankles and gave his gauntlet to the tall fat guy. They took him away with them! The oracle said that they planned on handing him over to the guards to be dealt with. We have to help him! They'll kill him!"
She suddenly sighed and fell back dizzy. Carpet caught her, letting her gently onto the bed. Aladdin's eyes were wide with shock, uncertainty, and worry. "Aladdin, we have to tell father! We have to beg him not to order his death!" Jasmine exclaimed.
"I think it might already be too late princess," Genie gently said.
"What!" Aladdin asked sharply.
"Al, law is law. If this happened last night he might already be dead," Genie explained.
"Rules can be broken!" Aladdin protested.
"He's right; father would never… not if he knew!" Jasmine insisted.
"The way I see it, Mozenrath could have gone one of two ways. One, he could have used his powers for the common good, just like Al. Two and unfortunately the one he chose, he could have become indescribably evil and public enemy numero uno in Agrabah," Genie said. "The penalty for the latter is death."
"But that's not…" Jasmine began furiously. It dropped to a saddened tone as she finished, "Why is the world so unfair?"
"That's what I said," Sadira added. "I don't particularly care for him, like at all, but he saved my life and Aladdin's! Villain or not he should get some credit for that, right?"
"Look at the bright side; he's out of our hair! Let it go! Grieve if it's even possible, move on, that's all there is to it," Iago said. He cried out in fear when Xerxes angrily tried to bite him, barely dodging in time. Sadira pulled Xerxes back and petted him to calm the eel.
"Aladdin," the two girls said at once, as they looked at him to settle it. They stopped, though, when they saw his expression.
Aladdin was looking sadly up at the setting sun, inner turmoil raging inside him. "Oh boy…" Iago said, sighing deeply. He knew where this would go.
Aladdin looked at his friends then said, "Iago's right. He doesn't deserve to live."
"I'm right?" Iago asked, surprised. That was unexpected.
They all looked at him in disbelief. He turned once more to the setting sun then said after a long moment, "Stay here, except you Carpet. Take care of Sadira. I… This is a personal matter. I need to help Mozenrath. I need to save my… my brother."
"Are you sure Al?" Genie asked.
"No, but whether I do or don't I'll regret it," Aladdin replied after a moment. "More so if I don't." Jumping on Carpet he suddenly reached down and kissed his wife. "I'll be back soon, and with Mozenrath." Without awaiting a reply he flew off. Jasmine looked back at Sadira only to see her watching the sun, tears in her eyes.
Catching Jasmine's gaze she said, "This is all my fault. If I hadn't… Jasmine, he's going to die because of me. My failure."
Jasmine looked sympathetically at her friend. She then went to Sadira saying, "It's not your fault. Mozenrath chose his own path, but if Aladdin has his way he won't pay for it just yet. He'll be fine. Aladdin won't let anything happen to him." Sadira guiltily nodded.
Mozenrath sat on the stone prison floor, head leaning back against the wall he was manacled to. "So, here I am, powerless and jailed while all my enemies are still out there. Oh whatever shall become of me?" he sarcastically asked the cell. After his echo subsided he laughed then continued, "As if I didn't know. Death row. I should have at least let that sand witch Sadira be taken down with me. Annoying little…" He looked out the high window. Sunset, he realized, a knot growing in his stomach. Fear… He knew it well enough. He did not tear his gaze from the window, not even when Rasoul came for him.
The cell door banged open. Mozenrath still looked remorsefully out the window. Rasoul marched up to him then dragged him roughly up, forcing him to look into his face. "Look at me sorcerer! Or should I say Aladdin's brother?"
"Please don't mention that street rat to me," Mozenrath grimaced. "And please don't force me to look into your face anymore. I'd like to enjoy my last moments," Mozenrath taunted. The guard's unlocking the chains binding his ankles to the wall snickered.
Rasoul, embarrassed, did the first thing that came to mind. He struck the young man across the face! "Maybe that will show you some respect!" Rasoul shot.
"How dare you strike me, the most powerful sorcerer in the seven deserts? Jafar himself feared the man I overthrew! Have you heard of Destane! Are you aware of just how powerful I am!" Mozenrath said throwing a mini tantrum. This earned him another blow from Razoul as the fat guard bound his wrists behind him. "This won't bode well for you my friend, not at all," Mozenrath warned Rasoul.
"Oh really? Shut up! You are in no place to talk!" Rasoul yelled. "I have a powerless sorcerer boy at my hands, the greatest threat to all of Agrabah! This will bode very well for me!" Rasoul retorted.
Mozenrath was about to retort, but instead his eyes lit with an idea. He was going to die. He knew that now. Unless, of course, something extremely lucky happened. But he wasn't exactly batting a thousand in luck today. However, he wanted to make very sure this wouldn't end well for his executioner. He recalled a tale he'd heard once, of a Sultan and a physician skilled in powers. He smirked to himself then said to Rasoul, "Very well, I see there's no way out of this mess, but let me tell you a secret since it would be such a shame for talent like mine to go to waste."
This perked Rasoul's curiosity. He raised an eyebrow then said, "Really? And what would this secret be?"
"Well," Mozenrath began, "Once you've so brutally severed my head, remove my turban and place the head upon it on the block, and the jewel beside it. There's a book called the book of Khartoum that you'll have to find quickly. Place my head, turban, and jewel on the cover then chant the following words to the letter." With that he whispered strange sounding words to the captain of the guard. He then went on, "You see, as soon as those words are said the blood will stop flowing. I'll then speak to you telling you which page to turn to. The pages are sticky so you'll have to wet your finger. Then well…" he chuckled then went on, "Read it. My head will work like a genie and oracle combined, only with limitless wishes and limitless answers. You will be the most revered man in all Agrabah! I'm only telling you this because I certainly don't want all my abilities to be wasted, and, well, who else could possibly use them like you could?"
"Well maybe I will," Rasoul sneered. Turning to his guards he said, "Gag him!" The thin guard tied a cloth around Mozenrath's mouth. It didn't kill the fire in his eyes. "My you look like the street rat now," Rasoul remarked. "Oh well, once your eyes are covered I won't have to look at you again." Mozenrath harrumphed. They then led him roughly from the room, his ankles shackled together so he could walk, but not run or attack.
He looked viciously around for any way to escape. Nothing. He walked with the guards towards a tower. Rasoul looked at a wall then said, "If only Jafar could see you now boy. He'd be so disappointed. His greatest challenge beat by normal men. Mozenrath shot Rasoul a murderous look. "What? Was Jafar your daddy?" Rasoul taunted. Mozenrath rolled his eyes then focused ahead.
They swept him up the tower staircase and into a room. As Aladdin had once seen, Mozenrath now saw; a man sharpening a sword, Rasoul putting on an executioners mask then testing the blade. Mozenrath cringed on seeing that it went through solid wood like butter. The door opened onto the walk of death. Finally Mozenrath began to feel sheer panic and terror. He couldn't die! Not like this! He was too young, too powerful, too vengeful! Ah yes, vengeance. Rasoul would soon feel it when he obeyed Mozenrath's orders. The leaves of that book were poisoned. With Rasoul wetting his finger and putting it to his mouth so often it would only be a matter of time before it took effect. That calmed him a little.
Aladdin soared towards the palace. "Faster Carpet!" he prompted. He remembered all too well his own near death experience. He was inside! He leapt from Carpet as they burst into the throne room and called, "Sultan!"
Sultan looked up, startled from his troubled thoughts. How could he order the death of one so young? No, the boy was evil. Wait a voice. He looked sharply up. "Aladdin! My boy, what is it!" Sultan cried glad to be snapped out of his thinking.
"Sultan where's Mozenrath!" Aladdin demanded.
"H-how did you know he was here?" Sultan asked.
"Sultan!" Aladdin exclaimed prompting a quick answer.
"W-why last I checked Rasoul was preparing to fetch the boy from the prison," Sultan answered, looking ashamedly down. As if Aladdin wasn't there he muttered, "I suppose the law is the law, but villainous as he is he is still practically a child."
Aladdin had paled, mouth open. He shook out of it then said, "Sultan, you can't let this happen, please!" Aladdin begged.
"What! Why Aladdin, what's gotten into you! You hate him!" Sultan protested.
"Sultan, I owe him my life! He saved me from Khartoum! Khartoum's exactly like Jafar! He saved Sadira too! And…" Aladdin trailed off.
"And…?" Sultan asked in a daze, shocked as he already was.
"And he's my brother," Aladdin said meekly.
"What!" Sultan roared.
"He's my brother! The oracle said, and I believe her. He and I shared a dream; two young boys playing with each other as a man and woman watched. Sultan, they were my parents," Aladdin explained. Sultan was awestruck. Aladdin jumped onto Carpet without further words to the Sultan. "Carpet, to the walk of death!" he ordered. Carpet instantly took off. Sultan then collapsed into his chair in disbelief.
They had crossed over the walk. Now they stood where the execution would take place. The wind gently picked up, blowing the sand high throughout the land as if mourning their soon to be deceased master. The breeze gently lifted the young ruler's hair and turban as he gazed over the desert for the last time. Finally he felt despair take over. He closed his eyes tightly then felt a sack placed over his head.
"Oh is the young sorcerer finally afraid?" Rasoul taunted. He then laughed. "Too bad your daddy Jafar isn't here to save you, but Aladdin did away with him," Rasoul added.
Mozenrath scowled viciously, though no one saw. He wanted to point out that he'd never actually said Jafar was his father, never even said whether or not he knew him, but he couldn't. As if angry at the guard's insult the wind picked up startling the guards. They were surprised a moment, even fearful, superstitious as they were, but then they shook it off. Mozenrath struggled once more as they forced him to his knees and positioned his neck where they wanted it. On the executioner's block. The wind howled angrily whipping up the sands as if trying to prevent it, as if trying to protect him.
Aladdin desperately flew towards the execution area. It seemed so far, but he knew that it was only a few seconds away for Carpet. They were near. He could make out the figures through the sand and wind. He saw Rasoul raise the sword above his head. As Rasoul struck downwards Aladdin desperately shouted, "Rasoul, no!"
The cry startled Razoul, freezing him. He looked up only to see Aladdin coming. "Oh no you don't street rat, not this time," Rasoul said as he saw Mozenrath's head rise hopefully. Rasoul pushed his head back down with his foot as Mozenrath instinctively began to cry Aladdin's name.
Rasoul struck down again. Mozenrath closed his eyes tightly beneath the sack, expecting to feel blade on flesh then death, but it never came. Aladdin had done something right! He'd been on time! He leapt from Carpet rolling to protect his brother's neck with his body! He seized the sword wielding wrists and gritted his teeth as he struggled to push Rasoul away.
"Street rat, stay out of this! The law says he must die!" Rasoul yelled.
"No! He's my brother, and I owe him my life!" Aladdin retorted. With that he let out a battle cry and managed to knock Razoul away. He removed the sack from Mozenrath then leapt up to face Rasoul who was sitting up. Just then, though, right in front of his eyes, rose the figure of Khartoum! Rasoul gasped. The strange man!
Khartoum scowled at Aladdin then said, "Foolish boy! Know when to stay out of things! You've ruined the execution, but thankfully not the whole plan! The thieves want you dead, after all, not him. I'll take care of him!" Suddenly, from around the executioners gondola jumped the crew of thieves! Caught off guard the royal palace guards were quickly overpowered.
Mozenrath tried to shout something from his gag, but it was muffled. "Oh, here you go," the fat thief said as he took off the gag.
"Thank you!" Mozenrath shot to the thief. The others scowled at their comrade. Mozenrath then looked at Khartoum yelling, "You weak pathetic old man! How dare you! I am Mozenrath, ruler of the black sands, and all powerful sorcerer! You're going to regret this!"
"Oh will I?" Khartoum asked. The moment his attention was diverted Aladdin leapt forward catching him off guard! He forced the sword out of Khartoum's hand then ran to Mozenrath severing the ropes like nothing, then the chains too with one blow!
Mozenrath leapt up. For a moment the two young men only met each others eyes. Finally Mozenrath said, "It's about time."
"Hey, I couldn't just let you die. Besides, I'm always right on time, remember?" Aladdin asked with a teasing glint.
Wryly Mozenrath smiled then answered, "So you are. I've never been gladder of it. Thank you, brother."
"You believe?" Aladdin asked.
"We really can't argue it," Mozenrath grimaced. "I choke on the very word, but yes," Mozenrath answered. Aladdin frowned.
"Enough!" Khartoum declared. "Thieves, get them!" Instantly the thieves charged them! They smirked at each other with a 'they'll never learn,' expression, then both dodged an attack, Mozenrath from the Asian, Aladdin, who had dropped the blade for convenience, from the fat one from whom he also snatched the gauntlet. Both ran for the edge and jumped! Carpet was beneath them in seconds flying them both away.
"Great, they escaped!" Abis-Mal yelled.
Khartoum looked at the dropped sword then picked it up. He stared a moment then turned to Abis-Mal saying, "Only for now. I have a feeling you know where they will go." The thieves looked at each other then smiled evilly.
(A/N: In the book Arabian Nights there was a story called The King And The Physician. A physician cured a King's leprosy, so the king rewarded him with many many praises, even letting him sit amongst his court. The King's Vizier didn't like this at all, so he hatched a plot against the physician. He tried to make the king suspicious of his physician. He tried to say to the king how for all he knew the physician, whose name was Douban, was sent to the king by the king's enemies to attempt his life. He suggested that the cure he had for the king might, over time, have deadly effects. The king fell for it. He sent for the physician and sentenced him to death. Douban had no idea why and asked as much. The king told him the reason's, Douban swore that the Vizier was lying. He didn't buy it and ordered the execution, but Douban begged to be allowed to put his affairs in order and say goodbye to his family, also to bring a gift for the king, a magic book. The king let him. When he once more returned for his execution he presented the book to the king and told him to, after his head was cut off, order it to be placed into a basin. As soon as it was placed there the blood would stop flowing. He told him to open the book then his head would answer his questions. He begged once more for his life, but the king told him that if only to hear his head speak he would kill him. After the head was severed and put in the basin then laid on the book, the blood stopped flowing. The head opened its eyes and told the king to open the book. The leaves, though, stuck together. He wet his finger to turn them easier. The king suddenly was taken with a fit. His eyesight failed and he fell down at the foot of the throne in violent convulsions. The head, seeing that the poison had taken effect, taunted him by saying how those who abuse authority and cut off the heads of innocent man would inevitably be punished. Then the head lost what life it had.
Jafar as his father was an idea planted by the fact Iago called him Jafar Junior all the time. It was a good comparison. Both are power hungry sorcerers bent on taking over Agrabah, and in Mozenrath's case all the seven deserts. In one episode Mozenrath is seen in Jafar's hidden room. How did he know it existed if he was never in Agrabah? When Iago asked Mozenrath if he knew Jafar, Mozenrath said nothing just walking away.)