Formulating an actual plan would take them… longer than expected.
Over the next few days, Mirage and Jafar would engage in conversation more and more. Each interaction would always begin with scheming, and they would passionately speak of how they would get their revenge…
But somehow, they always managed to transform their conversations, and they'd find themselves chatting about other things. Mirage would tell Jafar of the monsters she had at her disposal - the fire cats and the El Katib - and how she'd discovered them. And Jafar would tell Mirage about his love of chemistry, and other sciences he'd studied that he had used for his dark purposes.
It was easy to become distracted when you found yourself… actually enjoying talking to someone. But neither of them would admit this of course. Instead, they would silently try to justify their distractible tendencies. She was giving him time to re-adjust to the world of the living so he could perform at his best, Mirage told herself.
And Jafar would convince himself that he was only trying to gain as much knowledge about Mirage as possible… so that if he ever had to battle her and escape this contract she'd made with Hades, he would be successful.
But as they grew closer, they also grew impatient. Nothing was more important than exacting their revenge and causing pain to their enemies. So after those few days had passed, they decided it was time to really crack down on this.
That night, Mirage summoned Jafar to her observation room. Jafar traversed the hallway with grace and caution, the soft metallic clinking of his staff touching the floor following each step he took. As he walked, he marveled at the colorful hieroglyphic engravings that decorated the walls. Egyptian artistry was truly something to behold.
"Quickly now!" he could hear Mirage's telepathic voice again, beckoning and sinister. "I have a surprise for you..."
The sorcerer wasn't sure if her words excited or dreaded him. Still he made his way to the observation room where she was waiting for him.
She was standing, cross-armed with an expression of pride. Beside her, there was a pedestal where a glowing crystal ball sat, and a table that held what appeared to be the whole of Agrabah. A hologram of sorts? Observing more, Jafar noted that the miniature Agrabah was connected to the crystal ball by a pulsing thread of light…
The former vizier approached Mirage silently, his expression betraying neither excitement or dread.
"Now…" Jafar addressed her, his voice deep and foreboding. "What exactly is this 'surprise' you speak of?"
"You'll soon see," Mirage chimed. "I trust you'll enjoy it." She seemed… bizarrely cheerful. He had become fairly comfortable around the sorceress over these past few nights spent with her, but now he regarded her with a hint of suspicion. She was acting strangely...
"But…" Mirage looked up at Jafar, and held out her hand for him to take. "First you must trust me."
Jafar met her large, round cat-like eyes, trying to search them to discern what she might be hiding… but instead finding himself becoming entranced by them, almost lost in them. They were beastly and otherworldly, and yet he could plainly see her humanity in them. Such a lovely shade of green… like twin peridot gemstones.
Look away, you fool. Jafar forced his gaze down to study her outstretched hand. She said nothing, patient as ever.
Hesitantly and slowly, he took her hand in his, unsure what to expect. Her hand was warm and soft. Mirage let out a breath, barely audible.
Then she smiled devilishly at him, raising her other hand to enshroud them both in her green magic. The two of them began to shrink to Jafar's surprise, and his eyes widened as the ceiling rose higher and higher as they grew smaller. Everything appeared massive, and even to a man like Jafar… it was frightening.
Mirage was enjoying his reaction to being subjected to her power… especially when his grip on her hand tightened. But she wouldn't let his fear linger. Once they were small enough for her liking, she cast another spell to teleport them away.
Jafar spun around in amazement, his cloak spinning around with him as he found himself in Agrabah. He'd been transported right in the heart of the great city. The bazaar to be exact. All around him, the citizens were hustling and bustling like a busy hive of bees, but without any of the order. He could hear merchants loudly clamoring to grab the attention of potential customers, and he watched as bargaining civilians bartered their wares.
When Mirage spoke, he was reminded of her presence beside him with a jolt.
"This is some of my best work…" Mirage bragged, gesturing to their new surroundings. "A perfect replica of Agrabah. And all of it is true to this moment in time."
Jafar tilted his head upwards, shielding his eyes as he expected to see the blazing sun - but there was no sky above. Instead he saw only the ceiling of Mirage's lair. So, they were inside the image of Agrabah that had been projected onto her table!
The last part of her statement confused him. He focused his gaze upon the sorceress inquisitively.
"What are you saying?"
"Every peasant and merchant, every guard, and Aladdin and the Sultan himself… all standing where they actually are, right now, in the real Agrabah."
"Impressive indeed…" Jafar commended her, as he considered this. It would no doubt prove invaluable to them to know exactly where all their targets are located on the day of attack.
"How did you make this possible?"
"My crystal ball is my window to the outside world, and shows me images of Agrabah in real time. I only needed to cast my magic on it to create this illusion, this… mirage. It has taken me some time to get it just right."
"It looks so real…" He was practically drooling as he gazed upon the great distant palace. He would make that his…
"Don't forget that it isn't. None of these people can see us." Jafar could see what she meant, as citizens were going on with their business all around them, taking no notice of their dark presence.
"But since this is a mirage, I can manipulate it as I see fit," Mirage continued, and grinned thoughtfully at the former vizier. "I thought it would make for a nice training ground."
Training? Jafar scowled at her, annoyed that she would think he needed training. What nonsense... he was the most powerful man in the world!
"Oh, pfft, don't look at me like that Jafar. I meant that this is an opportunity to test how well we can work together."
"... Very well." Jafar gripped his staff tighter in anticipation, a small wily smile curling his lips. "Let's begin then. What is our strategy?"
"No strategy this first time," Mirage answered him with a soft, eager growl. "First, let's just go wild with it."
With a clap of her hands, Mirage commanded the mirage of Agrabah to obey her, and react to their actions. One by one the citizens noticed the two villains standing there, and within seconds the entire crowd was in hysterics, screaming and running for their puny lives. A group of guards pushed through the chaos, brandishing their gleaming swords and dutifully advancing towards the threat…
"Make your first move, Jafar…" Mirage's invitation was a whisper in his ear. An excited chill ran up his spine. "Impress me."
Jafar was only happy to oblige. The sorcerer wore a crooked, wicked smile as he raised his staff, and aimed it at the men bounding towards them.
As if simulating the bloodlust in Jafar's own eyes, the ruby eyes of the snake-headed staff gleamed a malicious red . . .