Chapter 8: Acting Measures

Mirage strolled through the crowd of demons that sat in the hall, patiently waiting for the show to begin. She had stakes in tonight's performance and knew if it fell through like the last time, she would have to conveniently slip out to avoid the wrath of the crowd. But she saw the opportunity as the perfect chance to destroy Aladdin and Agrabah, which was her plan all along. She wouldn't have to get her claws dirty while doing so.

The cursed traveling puppet group had been easy enough to find and manipulate, and she even knew that the curse she put Aladdin under would work. After all, one of the puppets had been human before.

She smiled as she began to address the crowd for the opening act. It was worth risking the ire of a bunch of unsatisfied, rogue demons to destroy her mortal enemy.

Jasmine adjusted the hood of her cloak as she entered the hall. Abu screeched wearily as he stood on her shoulder just beneath the cloak.

But she stopped when she saw Mirage on the stage before the closed curtain.

"There she is, Abu! I wonder what she's planning now. I hope we can find Aladdin before Mirage knows we're here."

Jasmine decided to stay in the hall, realizing that a show was about to begin, but she wanted not to see what the players would do, but the puppetress.

"Demons and demonesses, sorcerers and souls, I give you - for your entertainment, our tenth puppet show, hosted in Getzistan tonight. It should be quite entertaining." Mirage cut her eyes to the offstage and muttered "hopefully" under her breath.

The lights in the hall dimmed, and the curtain drew back to reveal several puppets on stage standing under spotlights.

Then the music began, with the puppets starting to march in place.

Fitz:

Paint a smile right on your face,

Try to keep up with our puppet pace,

Let's start the show, wait for it to begin,

Watch the triumphant celebrate their win.

Puppets:

There's fighting,

And biting,

And the agony of defeat,

This show is not for the weak.

There's cheer,

And fear,

You may even shed a tear,

But one thing that's clear...

All:

You'll be entertained!

Aladdin:

Watch and wait, see how the story goes,

Where it ends up, no one knows.

Fitz:

Sound the bells, bang a gong,

As we all sing along.

Darbin:

Three tales that'll make your heart race,

Right along with our puppet pace.

You might observe a high-speed chase,

Or see someone smited by a mace.

Puppets:

There's dancing,

And romancing,

There's no second chancing

You might miss something only glancing.

There's passion,

And fashion,

Maybe some heads that need mashin',

Aladdin:

Uh, that's a little morbid...

Puppets:

It's just a story, kid!

Aladdin:

You've traveled far, but feel out of place,

Follow us in our puppet pace.

Under night, we'll be your light,

Though the stakes might be tight.

Puppets:

There's drama,

And karma,

Might wanna hold your llama,

Some scenes may make you scream for mama.

There's charm,

And alarm,

And some might harm,

And maybe someone buys the farm.

All:

Just wait and see, this is just a taste,

Follow us with our pup-pet pace!*

Even as the entire room erupted in applause, Jasmine and Abu stood unnoticed in the crowd of clapping and whistling demons. They definitely went unnoticed by Mirage, whose jaw dropped.

Jasmine adjusted her cloak around her. "That was definitely Aladdin. Come on. We have to get Genie and Iago. If he's backstage, I don't think he's back there by choice."

Abu nodded and the two of them fled the hall.

*Author's note: "Puppet Pace" is one of my penned songs for this story.