Chapter Four

"Oh, wow! That's gunna leave a mark," came a voice. It was fuzzy, but I could tell who it belonged to. Genie had arrived.

I slowly tried to open my eyes. On the third try I managed. The world was tilted and swarming about me in pretty colors, stars dancing around my head like a living halo. All in all, I've felt better. I moved my head to one side. I stopped quickly. It was a bad idea to move at the moment.

"Hey little buddy. How are you?" I glared up at Genie. The nerve of some people. Abu chuckled. I saw Blanket besides him. I think he was laughed too. Dumb rug.

"Where is she?" I asked, my hand going up to my head. I felt a huge welt there. I probably looked like a cone-head. Dang it. Sexy and deadly, did they have to go together? Tink wouldn't be like that, would she?

"Who?" Genie the Genius asked.

"Who!" I just about jumped up, but my head held me back. My feeble yell was just above a whisper. Not very effective. "Jasmine, of course. Who else would hit me?"

"Um, wait a minute here, Al, let me think," started Genie. "Nope, I can't think of anyone. No wait, Jafar."

"He's kind of gone. You know, the Cave of Wonders and all."

"I totally knew that."

"Sure."

"Need help?" Genie asked me as I slowly sat up. I shook away his hand. I was a big boy. I had just survived an attack by a very well trained assassin. I think I could survive sitting up by myself.

I heard a small whimper to my left and felt a soft wet nose rub against my cheek. Raja looked at me, than he started licking my face. I smiled just a little. Cats just aren't my thing, but tigers are different. They're actually considerate.

"Okay, okay," I said, pushing the overly huge lap kitty off of me. I leaned against the railing of the balcony. Genie, Abu, Blanket, and Raja sat by me. Abu hopped on my lap, glaring at Raja. I just ruffled the hair on his head. Monkeys: the most jealous creatures ever known to man.

"So, you wanna stand up or something?" offered Genie.

"Naw, thought I'd just sit on this floor forever," I remarked sarcastically. Maybe I was in a bad mood? Naw.

"Well, if you want to," Genie replied. He got up and slowly turned around when I laughed. The look was hilarious; Genie all hunched over and sad looking. It was too much for me. Abu and the rest joined in my laughter, Genie being the last but loudest of all.

"Oh, Al," Genie said, scooping me up in his arms, squeezing me tight. "Long time no see, Al. Besides dumping the princes, what have you been up to? And the monkey?" he quickly added, Abu's glare penetrating its way through the blue genie.

"Not much, well not much that matters."

"Why did you dump Jasmine?" asked the genie.

I sighed. "I have another girl in my life."

"Who?" Genie's eyes grew five sizes bigger, no kidding.

"Tinker Bell."

"That slut?"

"She's not a slut!" I protested. Why did everyone think she was?

"She wears a skimpy green dress."

"So, lots of girls wear skimpy out-fits. It doesn't mean their sluts."

Genie glared at me, "She flirts with everyone."

"No she doesn't. She has a flirtatious personality, that's all."

"Uh-huh..." said Genie. "That's what they all say, but," he continued brightly after seeing my expression, "there are those rare exceptions."

"Genie, I don't mean to be a bother, but could you help me get to Neverland?"

"Right now?" he moaned. Raja whimpered again. I pet his back, his tail switching behind him.

"The sooner the better."

"Oh, yeah, her. I suppose Al. I'm gunna miss you kid," and with that he started twisting while cracking his knuckles.

"Here's one ticket to Neverland coming up," he said.

He spun faster and faster creating a short of wind that started to flow around me. Abu jumped into my hands and before I could blink I was in the air, flying faster than ever before.

I saw two stars. The second star to the right, and that's the one I was flung to. Neverland started coming into view. I saw blue and green, then the blue started becoming dominant. I was getting closer and closer to Neverland, my speed never decreasing.

Abu and I started screaming. I mean, we were going to die, right? Well, okay, I knew Genie had everything under control, but still, I was scared to pieces. Abu probably did think we were going to die.

We came closer and closer to the blue water below. Going this fast was going to hurt. It would be like hitting concrete. Ouch. Very ouch and deadly. Drat.

In the second before we crashed into the water I asked myself a question. Is Tink really worth dying for? There was only one answer in my head. Yes.