Chapter Five- Transformation

Mozenrath stood on a dune close to Agrabah, watching the sun go down over the horizon. Once the sun had fully set, he would transform again and await the arrival of his mate. Jasmine's transformation would not occur until the moon had risen. He wondered where she was at this moment. I hope it is somewhere where the palace's residents will witness her change, he thought as he waved his gauntlet to send it and his clothes back to the Citadel just as the sun disappeared. He dropped to all fours and welcomed the change that came over him. He recalled that the second night he had changed, he fought against it, but by the third night, he accepted his cat side and truly enjoyed his new form. I hope the princess comes to enjoy it as quickly as I did.

Jasmine restlessly tapped her fingers against her thigh as she stood beside her father's throne and listened to her friends relate their recent adventure that they had just returned from that morning. She didn't know why she was feeling so restless. She was also concerned over her state of mind; she was feeling an urge to run through the streets and horror of horrors, murder the citizens. Why am I feeling this way? What is happening to me?

"Jasmine?"

"Hmm?" She looked up to see Aladdin with eyes full of concern.

"Are you all right? You don't look too well," he commented.

"I don't know," she answered truthfully. "I'm feeling a bit restless and I'm not sure why."

"Perhaps, you need some rest," Sultan suggested.

"Perhaps, I do. Goodnight, everyone." Jasmine proceeded to the double doors, but froze when she stepped into a patch of moonlight. A throbbing headache hit her, causing her to grab her head and moan. She sank to her knees and wrapped her arms around herself as she bowed her head and gave a pained gasp.

She suddenly placed her hands on the floor and the group saw her fingernails now resembled claws and her fingers were shrinking and shaping into large paws. Her shoes ripped apart as her feet changed into back paws, claws visible before retracting. Her limbs and body sprouted sand-colored fur with black rosettes dotting it while her muscles bulged and grew larger, ripping her clothes apart. A long furry tail grew out behind her as the fur traveled up her head. Her hair changed to fur that matched the fur that had already sprouted, her nose and jaws pushed out into a muzzle complete with whiskers, her ears moved to the top of her head as half-moons with white insides and black outsides, and her eyes changed from brown to goldish-green. She gave a soft growl as she finished changing into a leopard.

Aladdin stared in shock at the leopard that had been his girlfriend minutes ago. He started to slowly approach, when the leopard turned her head and gave a threatening growl. The hero stopped and backed up. "Jasmine?" he asked cautiously. She didn't answer; instead she turned her attention to the doors and padded toward them.

"Dearest, where are you going?" Sultan called after her. Again, she didn't answer and proceeded to the doors. She succeeded in hooking a paw into one handle and pulling the door open before easing out of the room.

"How did this happen and why isn't she answering?" Sultan moaned, the full impact of what they saw finally hitting him.

"I don't know, but I'm going to bring her back and find a way to break the spell," Aladdin declared. He had no doubt that some kind of spell had been cast on her that caused her to transform into a cat and that the one who cast it was nearby which was why Jasmine moved as if in a trance.

Jasmine moved through the deserted city streets, the gates firmly in her sights. She couldn't explain it, but she felt as if someone was waiting for her. She sensed it when she was in the palace and she wasn't going to let anyone stop her from meeting this person. If someone did, she would rip their throat out for trying to delay her. She paused in her tracks at the thought that flitted through her mind. My God, where did that come from? I would never kill someone. I'm a princess, not a murderer.

Her nose twitched as a scent floated up to her and it sent her into motion again. That scent belonged to the one waiting for her and she realized that he or she was a leopard just like her. Her paws increased their speed and soon she was speeding past the gates and into the desert. The scent grew stronger and told her that the leopard was male and the knowledge excited her. A male leopard and hopefully one that didn't have a mate.

But, I already have a boyfriend: Aladdin. However, we can't be together anymore. He's a human and I'm a cat. I'm sorry, Aladdin but we're through. There's a male leopard calling to me and hopefully he'll take me for a mate.

She raced across a dune and saw him standing atop another dune. She ran up to him and he greeted her by rubbing her cheek with his own. This gesture told her that he had no one and wanted her for his mate. She responded by rubbing his cheek before licking it. She saw his eyes light up with joy before he turned and start to walk away. He went a few paces before pausing and looking back at her. He jerked his head and resumed walking. His actions were clear: He wanted her to follow him back to his den. She happily complied and had soon drawn alongside him. It wasn't until Agrabah was well out of sight before he finally spoke to her.

"It is good to see you again, princess. The leopard look suits you well."

Jasmine froze in place and stared at him. "Mozenrath?" she gasped. He nodded and anger sparked in her eyes. "You did this to me?" she growled.

"Guilty. I suppose you want to know how this happened to me and what plan I'm concocting, right? Well, it started last month. I cast a spell that I thought would bring a new servant to me. Instead, it turned me into a werecat. An Arabian leopard to be precise. I spent those three nights learning what I can do and feeling an urge to find a mate, which is where you come in, my dear princess."

"So, I'm a werecat, not just an ordinary leopard?"

"Exactly. Now, tell me truthfully. You do still find me attractive, even though you now know you're a werecat and could go home."

Jasmine looked down to gather her thoughts. I could lie to him and go home. I would tell Aladdin everything I learned and he would no doubt find a way to break the spell. Yes, that's what I'll do.

She looked up and to her surprise, heard herself say, "I do find you attractive. In fact, I think I've fallen in love with you and I want to commit evil acts."

Mozenrath tilted his head. "Do you now?" he asked, putting an inquisitive tone in his voice, even though he knew this would happen.

Jasmine had felt horrified when she first said these words, but the horror was replaced by confidence that she had meant what she had said. She was in love with the sorcerer and she wanted to be an evil werecat just like him. "Yes, I do," she answered. "I love you and I want to learn to be evil like you."

"And so you shall," he said. "Let's go back to my kingdom where we can rest and I will teach you all you need to be evil."

Aladdin, on Carpet, hovered over the two cats as they walked into the desert. He didn't hear what they had said, but that didn't concern him at the moment. He was more interested in following them so he could find out who was behind the spell that had befallen his girlfriend. Clearly, whoever it was, he had control over the other cat and had sent it to receive Jasmine when she had finished transforming. He continued to follow them until they entered the city gates of Mozenrath's kingdom. I should have known, he thought. Mozenrath must have cast a spell on some poor human to test it out before using it on Jasmine. I can't confront Mozenrath right now; it's possible that Jasmine and her companion would attack and kill me since they are likely under Mozenrath's control. I'll come back in the morning with my friends and we will rescue Jasmine and her friend and then we will break Mozenrath's control over them as well as the spell.