Chapter 12: Home Again, Naturally

"I didn't try to steal your gold coins! I swear on my plumage! It was just an innocent bump on the waist, nothing to see here." Iago knew that was a lie, but considering the group of demons crowding him, he wanted to downplay the incident as much as possible. He tried to fly away, but the angry demons at the corner of the room kept grabbing at his tailfeathers. The commotion was starting to get the attention of the whole room. Considering the third act of the play hadn't started yet, the demons quickly grew restless.

Fitz looked from behind the curtain on the stage at the scuffle, shivering. "Man, oh man, this isn't good. We were okay keeping them at bay during the second act, but the longer we wait, the more angry they're startin' to get. The bird's not helping matters. They were supposed to be back by now."

Darbin frowned. "This is concerning. Perhaps we underestimated Mirage's powers."

Fitz gulped. "Don't remind me. I almost lost my mallets when she came marching back here asking where Aladdin was."

Aladdin whistled from a distance behind them - startling the two puppets. "Missed us?"

Fara grinned. "We're back and curse free, thankfully."

Fitz and Darbin both looked visibly relieved upon seeing them both, but Genie spoke before any of them. "Uh, hate to break up the reunion, but you guys manage the play - I'm going to distract those demons trying to pelt the bird. Capiche?"

Aladdin nodded. "Go, Genie. We can take it from here."

The remainder of the play went off with a bang, quite literally. Between Genie's flare for special effects (after leaving the squabbling demons fussing over the toy Mirage, which reduced their interest in Iago), and a few other musical numbers, the demon's erupted in thunderous applause.

What's more was the fact that Fara and Aladdin returned to their normal heights shortly after the play ended.

It was well into the night when the group sped off on Carpet to return Fara home to her family.

"Watch your step, Fara. You're probably still getting used to standing on human legs now," Aladdin said, helping her down from Carpet.

"No kidding. You think a lady like me would remember how to walk. Goodness." She looked between Aladdin and Jasmine with gratitude. "I want to thank you two for everything. Aladdin, without your courage, I would've never thought finding a cure was possible. I suppose I just didn't look hard enough."

Aladdin shrugged his shoulders, looking solemn. "You wouldn't have known Mirage had a cure, though, considering how long you were under it and the fact she didn't leave you guys alone. I can't imagine how scared you guys must've been working under her for so long."

Fitz looked up from where he stood upon Fara's left shoulder. "I'm just glad Fara's adopting me and Darbin. I don't think I wanna entertain those demons again for the rest of my threaded life."

Darbin snorted from where Fara held him in her hands. "Indeed. But I do regret parting with the other puppets. They were good company. But we are in your humble debt, all, for the price of our freedom."

"I just hope you all find yourselves a good home to return to, Darbin," Jasmine said, planting a kiss on the puppet's cheek. Darbin blushed from head to foot.

"Just a question," Genie said, addressing Fara. "What exactly are you gonna tell the family about where you've been all this time? And about the talking puppets?"

Fara waved a dismissive hand. "I think they'll believe me when I come back with these two." She gestured to Fitz and Darbin. "I have enough stories to tell them for the rest of their youth. And I imagine these two do, as well. Farewell, and may we meet again across the deserts sometime."

Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie and Abu waved to Fara and the puppets as they disappeared into their home, and the sound of excited, joyful shouts came from the small home.

"I'm glad that worked out well," Aladdin said.

"Aladdin?"

Aladdin turned to face Jasmine. "What's wrong?"

"It's just...I'm sorry, about what happened with the festival and everything. If I knew, I would've..."

He shook his head. "I'm the one that should be apologizing. I tried to make it a surprise and I should've said..."

Iago's groan interrupted them both. "Oh spare me the mushy stuff! If I knew I'd have to put up with this, I would've stayed behind in Getzistan. I was still making a good bit of moola."

Abu rubbed his hands together, reaching behind Iago where the bird had a small sack of gold coins, grabbing it before leaping off Carpet and taking off across the sands.

"Hey! That's my stash, I won that fair and square!" Iago took off flying after Abu.

Genie snorted. "Geez, you think those two would wanna go home and sleep after everything that happened today."

Aladdin laughed. "Actually, I think we've still got an arts festival to get back to, especially since everything's happening at night too. But I think we might wanna avoid doing any puppeteering for a little while."

The End