After Allah knows how long, Aladdin's sobs subsided and he rose from Eric's arms, wiping the remains of the tears away. Slightly embarrassed from his recent display of emotions, he couldn't reach Eric's eyes with his own. They sat in silence for a few moments, Aladdin stared at the ground while Eric tried so hard not to stare at Aladdin. After a while Aladdin got up, ignoring the pain, and shuffled toward the moonlit view. Eric got up and followed him; they both same in the same place they were the day before, when they were able to talk for hours exchanging stories and stealing glances at each other while the gazed at the beauty of the palace. Now they silently gazing at the moonlight sky and reflecting white walls of the palace.
In the moonlight Eric could see the extent of Aladdin injuries, he had few scrapes on his forehead and cheek that seemed to have bled a lot due to the amount of dried blood on his face. It also looked like he had a broken nose that looked slightly slanted. Looking down Eric could see the Aladdin was holding a sash to his abdomen. Gently, Eric took Aladdin's hand and removed it so he could get a good look. Aladdin looked startled at the sudden movement but did not object. It revealed a deep gash extending to each side. "Wait right there." Eric said calmly and rushed out of the hideout.
Moments later Eric was back with a brown bottle full of liquid in his hand and sewing needle and thread. He sat down in front of Al and set the items down, Aladdin seemed too jaded to really question what was going on. Eric took his shirt off, that was the only thing Al really noticed. He missed when Eric poured a good amount of the bottle's liquid onto the shirt, but he did feel the sting when he dabbed the shirt onto his forehead and cheek. "Ow! What are you-" He went to go swipe Eric's hand away but Eric just took his hand and calmly placed it down to his side.
"Shh. It's okay." That was all he had to say for Aladdin to calm down and let Eric clean his wounds. Eric grimaced and asked, "Alright you ready?"
"For what?" Aladdin barely had time to finish his sentence when he felt a sharp pain come from his nose as Eric plced his nose into proper position, "Ah!" He screamed and immediately tried to touch his nose. Eric stopped his by grabbing both of his hands.
"Wait, don't touch it." He squeezed onto Al's hands tighter, afraid that the instinct to touch his injured nose would take it out of place, "try not to touch it so it can heal." When he felt Al's arms start to give he let go and moved to place the shirt on his abdomen. Aladdin let out and exasperated gasp when the alcohol touched his open wound. It was still bleeding; Eric was shocked he was writhing in pain, or unconscious from blood loss. Though it did seem like Al was fading a bit.
Aladdin knew he had to deal with the immense pain that was making his stomach burn, he started breathing heavier while his mind was fading in and out of consciousness from the pain and blood loss. His eyes fluttered, trying to stay open but he finally gave in and shut them. Eventually the burning stopped when Eric pulled the shirt away. All he felt at first was warm hands touching his stomach, he kind of liked it there, but then he felt the needle. Aladdin clenched his teeth as Eric stitched up the wound, he tried to focus on Eric's warm hands versus the cold sting of the needle.
Then it was over, Aladdin open his eyes to see a shirtless Eric cleaning up the utensils he just used and crumpled up his blood stained shirt.
After a while Aladdin caught his breath and no longer felt the threat of passing out, "You should go." Aladdin finally said once he knew he would be able to speak without choking up. "They're probably going to looking for you." He really just couldn't stand Eric seeing him so weak.
Eric felt hurt, for the first time since he got there he felt out of place, "I can't leave you." He said stubbornly.
"You don't have much of a choice." Aladdin put some force behind his words, it's not like he wanted him to leave but he didn't wanted to burden him with his peasant life problems. "It's not like you can stow me away in the palace."
Eric saw straight through the boy's façade. "I'll figure something out, they don't even know I'm gone." No matter how much he felt like he was overstaying his welcome, he knew Aladdin needed him. He was willing to put it to the test, "If you really don't want me here say the word and I'm gone."
Aladdin didn't say a word, he just continued avoiding eye contact. Eric made himself comfortable in a nice patch of dirt, his doubts subsided as he started to feel welcome again.
Aladdin woke up to something soft being thrown at his face. "What the-"
"Put those on." A familiar voice said. Aladdin pulled a piece of white cloth from his face as he sat up. He held it up to himself and found that he was holding white suit with gold trims and a cape that was purple on the inside, along with gold boots and belt. After he stared befuddled at the outfit Eric tossed another item at him, a white turban that slightly resembles the Sultan's outfit, with a red stone and purple feather.
"What's this for?" Aladdin asked as he stood up holding the extravagant garb up against his body.
"You feeling any better?" Eric asked touching his stomach to examine the wound.
"Y-yes." He lied.
"Good." Eric responded not convinced. "Now put that on, pack up your… thing." He said after he looked around the room and only finding Abu.
"Why?" Aladdin wasn't sure if he was piecing the puzzle together correctly.
Aladdin puckered his lips and closely examined the fine cloth, Eric couldn't help but grin and think how cute Aladdin's confused face looked. "I'm getting you out of here." Aladdin perked his head up.
"What?"
"Do you want to continue being a street rat all your life?" Eric asked with a smug look on his face.
"No but… what?" Aladdin was still perplexed. "How are you gonna manage to do that? Where did you even get these clothes? They're obviously not your style." Aladdin looked again at Eric's strangely tight blue pants and red sash. He had a shirt on which mean he must have gone back to the palace at some point, the loosely buttoned white shirt had the sleeves rolled up just enough to show the muscles in his forearm. He refused to try and fit in with his attire, it wouldn't make much of a difference anyway.
"The answer to both of those questions is money." Eric replied. "You can get anything made here as long as you have the right materials and the means to pay for it. And as for how we're gonna pull this off, your just gonna pretend you are a prince from some other land in the Middle East. Then we'll just wing it from there."
Aladdin raised his eyebrows skeptically, "Well thought out plan." He said sarcastically.
Eric put one arm around Aladdin's shoulders and waved his hand in the air dramatically. "I already picked out a name: Prince Ali Ababwa." Aladdin was about to say something when Eric put the turban on his head and placed a piece of glass in front of him to see the reflection. "C'mon Al what do you say?" Aladdin saw his scratched and bruised face in the mirror and could help but touch the scrapes, careful not to touch his swollen nose. "You look fine," Eric reassured him. "Just a few minor scrapes and a slightly bigger nose, with your complexion you can barely see the bruising."
Aladdin looked again at how the turban looked on his head .The fancy prince turban looked ridiculous of him with his ragged street pants and vest, Aladdin couldn't help but chuckle. "But I've already meet the princess remember, she knows me and Abu, we'll just give it away.
Eric shrugged, "So, you wear the outfit and no one will one will know it's you, your turban will cover you hair. We can hide the monkey in there too." He added. With that last comment he got a few angry screeches from Abu.
Aladdin sighed, "You're really gonna have me go through with this?" He said, slightly hopeful.
"I already got the outfit, we just go to the outskirts of the kingdom and I'll get you an elephant to ride in on."
"You're spending a lot on this plan that I'm pretty sure you just formulated this morning."
Eric shrugged, "I've really got nothing better to do with the money. And think about it, maybe you can hit it off with the princess, become a prince and ride on a magic carpet across the globe." Aladdin looked at Eric with raised eyebrows before they both burst out laughing.
"Alright," Al finally agreed, "what have I got to lose?"
Eric returned to the castle after giving Aladdin some money to go forth with the plan. "Eric! Where have you been we've been looking everywhere for you!" Grimsby exclaimed when he found him.
"Sorry, I started walking around the palace and got a little lost." He lied.
Off to the side Eric hear the voices of Jafar, the Sultan and Jasmine, "I assure you, your highness, it won't happen again." Said Jafar.
"Jasmine, Jafar, now let's put this whole messy business behind us. Please?" The Sultan pleaded. Curious, Eric walked into the room to see what was going on, Grimsby walked away without the slightest interest. "I'm sure Jafar was just putting your best interests at hand."
"My most abject and humblest apologies to you as well, princess." Jafar said to the princess. He took her hand to kiss it, but she yanked it away.
"At least some good will come of my being forced to marry. When I am queen, I will have power to get rid of you." Jasmine sassed, she turned to walk away but turned back around to add, "And you leave Prince Eric out this." Eric tensed, now he was involved in whatever Jafar was scheming.
"That's nice. All settled, then. Now, Jasmine, getting back to this suitor business," the Sultan tried to say but he turned to sees Jasmine walking out, "Jasmine? Jasmine!" He ran after her. Jasmine ran straight into where Eric was standing.
"Eric!?" She said startled and then slightly embarrassed, "You didn't happen to hear all of that, did you?"
"Sorry." He replied.
She sighed shaking her head, "I swear Jafar it just out to aggravate and disgust me. He said that if that if you don't agree to marry me, as if it's all your choice, then we should terminate our trade agreement and-" Jasmine looked as if she wanted to say more but was to full of rage to say it.
"And what?" Eric asked innocently, though with the looked of disgust in her face he could already guess.
"And he said that I should just marry him to meet ends meet." Eric's face replicated the disgust in hers.
"Now Jasmine, he's only saying that as a last resort, he only wishes that you marry before your birthday." The Sultan said, then he put his hand around hers, "I have full faith that you can find the right man within the time frame.
She pulled her hand out of his and shook her head in exasperation, "Why should I even have to marry so quickly, can't I find love one my own time!?" She exclaimed. Eric felt as if he was intruding again. He was just about to leave when he heard one of the guards call out.
"Your highness, another suitor has just arrived, he is coming through the palace."
The Sultan seemed so happy, "Oh! Let's go see him!" He said as he raced out to the balcony to see his entrance, Eric and Jafar followed. Jasmine rolled her eyes and walked in the other direction, not even interested in seeing him.
From the balcony Eric saw Aladdin's extravagant entrance, he probably bought the largest elephant they had and even a squire to announce him, "Make way for Prince Ali Abawa!" The squire announced as Aladdin flamboyantly slid off the elephant and bowed to greet the Sultan. Eric shook his head, the kid knew how to make and entrance that's for sure.
The Sultan clapped furiously, obviously impressed by the entrance, "Splendid, absolutely marvelous."
In a fake deep voice Aladdin announced "Ahem. Your majesty, I have journeyed from afar to seek your daughter's hand." All Eric could do was try not to burst out into laughter at the show he was putting on.
"Prince Ali Ababwa! Of course. I'm delighted to meet you." The Sultan rushed over to shake Al's hand. "This is my royal vizier, Jafar. He's delighted too."
Jafar looked incredible irritated as he spoke in a very dry tone, "Ecstatic. I'm afraid, Prince Abooboo-"
"-Ababwa!" Aladdin and Eric corrected at the same time. Everyone glance at Eric, he got a dirty look from Aladdin, Eric clamped his mouth shut. The last thing he wanted to do was act out of character.
Jafar broke the tension, "Whatever. You cannot just parade in here uninvited and expect to- Just where did you say you were from?"
"Oh, much farther than you've traveled, I'm sure." Aladdin retorted, Eric couldn't help but snicker. Aladdin and Eric smiled, Jafar did not.
Jafar turned to the Sultan, still within earshot of the boys, I don't trust him, sire. Now we have two untrustworthy men parading around to castle."
The boys just glared at Jafar, "Hello, we're right here." Aladdin said.
" Nonsense." The Sultan defended. "One thing I pride myself on Jafar, I'm an excellent judge of character."
"Sure." Eric sarcastically agreed, looking at Jafar.
Off to the side of the room Jasmine walked in, "Jasmine will like this one!" The Sultan said.
"Are you so sure about that?" Eric mock argued, "I mean sure he has some nice taste in clothes," He said admiring his own clothing choice, "But do you really thing Jasmine will pick a man based on the size of his elephant?" He eyed Aladdin playfully.
Aladdin got the memo, "Oh I'm sure she'll like me, not some out of town loser who took one too many baths."
Jafar spoke up, "Your highness, no. I must intercede on Jasmine's behalf. This boy is no different than the others. What makes him think he is worthy of the princess?" Jasmine was starting to get really pissed off about this conversation.
"Your majesty, I am Prince Ali Ababwa!" Aladdin said pricking Jafar's goatee, making it spring out in all directions. "Just let her meet me. I will win your daughter!" He started to get really cocky.
"Oh sure, I bet she'll pick this prince with the funniest last name," Eric said ignoring the fact that he was the one to pick the last name, "I'm from Europe, must farther then you've traveled I'm sure." Referring to what he said earlier.
Aladdin was about to continue their playful argument when Jasmine suddenly speaks up from behind them, "How dare you!" All of them turn around surprised to see Jasmine standing there, Eric and Aladdin look wide-eyed at her, like two kids getting scolded by their mom. "All of you, standing around deciding my future? I am not a prize to be won!" She preached before she stormed out of the room.
This left the rest of the men there looking stunned. "Oh, dear. Don't worry. Just give Jasmine time to cool down." The Sultan said. "Prince Ali, come with me and we'll get your room ready. Aladdin followed the Sultan to the rooms, and Eric decided to be the brave one and go see if Jasmine was okay.
Jafar was left in the room, only with his pet Parrot, Iago. "I think it's time to say good bye to Prince Abooboo and the white prince."