Epilogue

A cloaked man hurried across the desert sands, sliding through the moonlight until he reached a large opening in one of the sandstone cliffs. He walked inside, winding his way through several curved passages, stopping only once to remove his cloak and put it with some others. He stepped into a well-lit room and waved to some friends, not stopping to talk to any of them. He'd just returned from an errand, and he was anxious to get it over and one with. No one liked dealing with the new guy, but they were obligated to help him out from time to time or he might shove his green accomplice into their bedclothes. It had been hell in their secluded hideout ever since those two had arrived, and everyone was eager for them to hit the road, though no one was brave enough to face the smaller of the two.

"I got the report." the man said, approaching a cushiony chair.

"About time." another man responded silkily, not bothering to turn around.

"Listen, you arrogant prick, I worked hard for this."

"I'm sure you did."

"That's it, I'm walking."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you…" another voice chimed in from a hanging candelabra. "Bad idea."

"Alright, alright…" the man replied quickly, stepping away from the third party. He'd dealt with that terror before, and he had no desire to do so again. The quicker he could unload what he knew, the faster he could put distance between himself and the dastardly duo. "That Prince didn't marry the other one. Shuichi, or whatever. He turned him down, and Prince Nakano went back to settle some things in his kingdom, something like that. Pretty sure he'll be back, though, they're still friends."

"That's it?" the seated man asked, starting to get irritated.

"Don't get your feathers in a wad, there's more. Some random street rat fell out of the sky and practically proposed to the Prince, they're officially engaged now. Not sure when they're getting married, not anytime soon I think."

"What?" the man snarled, jumping out of his chair. "No, no, the council would never allow that…"

"Well that's just it, the council stepped down. They tried to stop it, but some maniac up on the walls shot something at them and they've all been terrified since. They have no idea what kind of weapon it is, they're assuming it's magic of some sort. They turned control over to Shuichi and his new fiancé, plus some old palace advisors that are still around. That's what the rumor mill is saying anyway."

"Interesting…you can leave now."

"You owe me for this! There's no way I'm not getting paid!"

"Unless you want a feathery bedfellow, you'll step away from my chair."

"Just wait, you'll get yours…" the man hissed, throwing a few inappropriate hand signs at his commissioner. He stomped off, cursing, and left the cavern, needing some air to calm down.

"That doesn't sound too good, Tohma." the owner of the third voice said alighting on Tohma's head.

"I know, Caspian, I know…I was hoping the genie would stay gone…he'll make our takeover a lot harder." Tohma said quietly, patting Caspian on the head.

"And if the street rats are in the palace again…well, you know how that went." Caspian mused, flipping onto his back and ripping out some of Tohma's platinum hairs.

"They don't worry me, not now that I have real magic…but that genie…" Tohma said, sinking back into his chair and stroking his lime green boa. "I say we carry on as planned, and deal with them when the time comes."

"That sounds like a horrible plan." Caspian interjected, yanking some hairs harder than usual to get his point across.

"I don't want to hear it bird, that's what we're doing!"

"You're hopeless! You never learn!"

"You're a parrot! Act like one!"

"You're a human! Act like one!"

"Caspian!"

"Tohma!"

Their respective yells and squeals echoed around the cavern, startling the wildlife outside and annoying the men that were trying to make a respectable thieves' den out of the place.

"Shut up already!" one of the larger men shouted, throwing a spoon in their general direction.

"You shut up!" Tohma yelled, thinking of several spells he could use. He and Caspian had agreed that he shouldn't use his magic, but sometimes it was hard to resist.

"You can take your damn spoon and shove it!" Caspian screeched, throwing the spoon back. "Don't make me come over there!"

"Shut the hell up, we're trying to sleep!"

"We're trying to plot!" Tohma responded, feeling flustered.

"That's right, you tell them…" Caspian muttered, cocking his head at an alcove. He was itching for a fight, but some of the men had an affinity for chicken, and he wasn't eager to be the new menu item.

They walked over to the alcove and stared at each other, waiting for something to happen. Caspian started to scratch himself and Tohma started to get that glint in his eye. He started to laugh, quietly at first, but the more he thought of being back in power, the louder and more out of control it became, until eventually his cackling was bouncing off of the walls.

"Great…here we go again…" Caspian said on a sigh, watching his owner with a mixture of shame and disgust.

That's right, just when you thought it was over…it's not! Well, the first one is over anyway, but The Return of Caspian hasn't even gotten started yet. We'll see what happens there, I have a lot of ideas for it, it's just a matter of sitting down and getting it out. I have to edit Aladdin WaSoG first…so…yeah…

To sum it up, Aladdin really is over, no second epilogues, nothing crazy like that, and I'll be writing the sequel at some point in the future. Caspian has resorted to ripping out the hairs on my arm in an attempt to make me sleep, so I'm out of here.

Night, and see you next time,

Amaya