I'm coming apart at the seams
Pitchin myself for leads in other peoples dreams
And buzz buzz buzz
Doc there's a hole where something was
Doc there's a hole where something was
_

"Just promise me you'll be careful." Jasmine asked, holding Aladdin's hands close to her chest.

"I promise Jas." Aladdin said, looking into her eyes and giving his cocksure grin. "I have Genie and Iago and Abu with me if anything goes wrong."

"And Mozenrath." She gave a dark scowl at the sorcerer who was pointedly ignoring the duo. He leaned against the pillar and looked at his nails with a classic arrogance plastered on his face.

"It'll be fine." He assured his wife. "He doesn't even have his gauntlet any more. And on top of that, he's not well Jasmine." Mozenrath was wearing his trademark garb, but the right shoulder and sleeve had been removed to make room for the bandaging. "If this works we won't ever have to worry about Mozenrath troubling us or the seven deserts again."

"We could achieve the same goal by doing nothing." The princess let out under her breath.

"Apparently your princess doesn't share your good natured spirit Aladdin." Mozenrath polished his nails impatiently. "Pity she doesn't have a more genteel feminine virtue."

"You be quiet." Jasmine rounded on him. "And count yourself lucky Aladdin is even willing to consider helping you." Aladdin moved automatically to get between them, not entirely convinced himself of Mozenrath's defenselessness without his glove. He gave the sorcerer an ugly look before the man could come back with a scathing reply.

"Jasmine…" he said softly, bringing her attention back to him and the leaned in for a kiss.

"Oh please. Can we get going before this saccharine display kills me?" Mozenrath turned away and hoped up on the carpet, settling in as the fabric bunched uncomfortably around him.

Aladdin heard a sharp intake of breath from his wife. "It's going to be okay." He kissed her warmly, a hand clutching her back. "I'll be back soon, I promise."

Mozenrath stayed silent on the carpet until they had gotten well away from the palace. "So why isn't your martial minded wife coming on this particular adventure?" he asked out of sheer curiosity.

"For one the damage you left in Agrabah is going to keep her busy for a while. Not to mention we get attacked on a weekly basis and someone has to be here to stop it." Aladdin considered, and then finished. "Besides, if Jasmine comes along she's likely to end you before this curse does."

"Yes she really does hate me doesn't she." He said absent mindedly. "So what exactly did you have mind?"

Aladdin looked off towards the west. "Something we've used before. The Tree of Renewal. It's a tree that…"

"I know about the tree of renewal Aladdin." Mozenrath said sharply.

"Oh really? Then why didn't you think of using it?"

"Because the tree isn't necessarily useful to my case in particular." He admitted. "The tree's fruit does cure ailments and curses, but this…" he lifted his hand. "Isn't a true curse."

Aladdin looked at the djinn who gave him a noncommittal shrug. "How is your arm turning to bone not a curse?"

Mozenrath sighed. "Oh to be young and uneducated." He bemoaned. "Just because you people use the crude vernacular curse for any sort of unpleasant magic doesn't mean sorcerers think of it the same way. Curses, hexes and the like tend to go along the same magical pathways as any verbal conjuration. Typically it results in no more than petty annoyances like colds, boils, hangnails…that sort of thing. Common hedge magic is defiantly beneath my caliber."

Aladdin sat forward on the carpet, balancing himself on the tassels. "Alright, so what does your problem count as?"

"You wouldn't understand if I told you."

"Try me."

The sorcerer arched an eyebrow as Aladdin looked at him with level eyes. He coughed and started off again. "It's an obscure bit of biological magic known as symbiosis. The gauntlet, on its own, is a highly powerful object. In anyone's hands it is a potent force for magic, in a trained professionals ownership…" and at this, he gestured to himself. "…it's applications are near limitless. This being said, the gauntlet itself cannot work magic. It required a barer otherwise its magic lays dormant and useless. There are many magical objects like this actually. You've probably come across several of them on your travels." Mozenrath continued. It was sort of funny actually. Aladdin had stopped paying attention to where the carpet was headed and was listening to Mozenrath with a curious expression. "These objects yearn to be used. And the longer they lay dormant the more built up the power can become."

"You make it sound like your glove is alive." Aladdin sounded doubtful.

Mozenrath gave him an entirely serious look. "What makes you think it isn't?"

"It's a glove Moze. Gloves can't be alive."

"Oh well far be it from me to question the magical expert. Please, why don't you inform me as to how my gauntlet is any less self-aware than say…a flying carpet?" He waited as he watched Aladdin feel a bit sheepish and smiled wickedly. "Now perhaps next time you'll hold your tongue when your betters are speaking." Mozenrath continued. "With my glove in particular, its powers are old, nearly ancient. It went unused for a very long time before it was given to me and it has never been a tool of peaceful intention." He grimaced a little and turned his face so Aladdin wouldn't see.

"Okay, so if the gauntlet wants to be used, then why did it take such a terrible price from you?"

"Because objects like that can't be well handled by just anyone! You got away with it while I was in your body because it could tell you weren't me. That's also why you kept your hand despite making clear use of the powers. The gauntlet can only have one true owner at a time. If you were to put it on right now it would respond, but you wouldn't develop the connection with it I have."

"Why would he want to?" Iago piped up, shoving the complaining monkey off Aladdin's shoulder. He had tried to stay under the sorcerer's radar till now.

He scowled at the bird. "Because it's the difference between giving a chisel and hammer to an amateur and saying 'Make me a work of art.' Rather than giving it to an artist and letting them create a masterpiece. Yes the gauntlet demanded a price from me, but in its own way that was how it acknowledge that I was someone capable of wielding it. Besides, do you think magic just comes up out of nowhere? Not everyone is like your Genie you know." And thank goodness for small blessings. He added mentally.

"Ah excuse me. I hate to interrupt this page consuming conversation…" the blue djinn interrupted. "But I think we found the first marker."

"Already?" Mozenrath looked over the dunes and saw a lush forest spreading out before them, a large stone marker in a glade at the center. "I don't understand…"

"Really? You mean there's something you'll admit not knowing?"

He pointed ignored the street rat's comment. "How could it be so close? We barely left Agrabah an hour ago?"

"Carpets a fast flier for one thing. For another, the tree isn't here. We have to follow the markers first." Aladdin explained.

"Why not skip all that and just go right to the tree? If you've been there before?" Mozenrath said impatiently.

"Because we don't know where it is from here without the marker. We had to go through a swamp, a tunnel…it was a lot further than just a quick flight." Aladdin climbed up the marker and pressed his hand to the large imprint of the palm. There was the sound of stone scraping by as a panel opened up and he quickly jumped off. He reached out instinctively for Mozenrath's hand and shouldn't have been surprised when Mozenrath stepped to the side and let him fall.

"What?" the sorcerer said as the team of hero's shot him a dirty look. "I'm injured." Xerxes laughed harshly from his position on his masters shoulders and Mozenrath gave the eel a fond stroke.

There was the sound of fire burning as a huge ball of flames shot from the opening in the stone and rose like a beacon in the sky. It hovered for a moment and then launched itself to the east as a lightning speed.

"Come on!" Aladdin leapt up on the carpet and they started off. Mozenrath managed to grab ahold and hoist himself up before it took off without him. They followed the trail of thick pink smoke as it wound through the trees and hills.

"Where is it headed?" Mozenrath asked as they continued onward.

"To the swamps!" Aladdin yelled as the wind whipped past them. "When we get there we'll have to find the second marker again. Just keep an eye out for bandits." The chattering ape squeaked out something that sounded like 'Eye-book' into Aladdin's ear and the hero nodded. "And the Kaibouk."

"The what?" Mozenrath said, unsure if he'd heard correctly.

"Kaibouk. Big tentacle monster." The parrot chimed in.

"A cephalopod in freshwater swamps?" Mozenrath snorted. "Not likely."

"Yeah well tell that to my rib cage." Aladdin let out. "It nearly would have drowned me if Jasmine hadn't gotten the bandit's to call it off."

"Remind me to thank her."

"Need I remind you who's trying to save who here Moze."

"I swear Aladdin if you don't stop calling me that…"

"Are you going to stop calling me street rat?"

Mozenrath snorted as they landed in the muddy marshlands. He took one step off the carpet an immediately sunk in up to his ankles in the muck and mire. "You've got to be kidding me." He muttered under his breath and grabbed hold of the rugs tassels to pull himself out and onto a large tree root. He scraped his heels on the bark and made a face. "You could have warned me."

"And you could have stopped me from falling." Aladdin said. He hopped down onto the tree roots and looked around. "I think it was this way." He pointed across the river and began walking, being careful where he put his feet. Mozenrath followed in suit, being careful to step where Aladdin had.

"Why don't we just keep flying?" he complained as he grabbed the branch above him to keep from slipping into the water.

"Because we had trouble finding this marker and I want to make sure we don't fly right past it." Aladdin said.

"Then why not make your magical pets do something useful for a change a scout out ahead instead of walking us all in a straight line."

"Hey!" the djinn answered petulantly. "Watch it magic man! I don't take orders from you." He said proudly.

"Really? I thought that's all your kind was capable of?" Mozenrath retaliated

Aladdin sighed. It was like babysitting children sometimes. "Genie." He said kindly. "Why don't you go ahead and do some scouting. If we find the tunnel soon we might be able to make it through before nightfall."

"Sure thing Al." he jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "You gonna be okay with Wizkid here?"

"What's he gonna do, slip on me." The two chuckled at Mozenrath's uncharacteristic lack of grace in the wilderness. "I'll be fine Genie. But if it gets dark head back for us to make camp." The moment Genie was out of sight he rounded on Mozenrath. "And you! Do you have to be so antagonistic all the time? Would it kill you to at least pretend to be cordial to someone?"

"I wouldn't know. I've never tried it personally." Mozenrath gasped as his foot caught in a vine and he stumbled forward. He sneered up at Aladdin as the younger man tried to hide a grin. "Social niceties aren't exactly called for around the Citadel." He righted himself and walked with a more determined gait.

Aladdin said nothing as they began to look about the river ways and lake side. "Don't touch the water." Aladdin instructed. Mozenrath didn't acknowledge he'd been spoke to, but he also stayed well away from the river's edge. "And watch out for bandits…"

"I'd be more concerned about finding that next marker Aladdin. In case you haven't noticed I'm not exactly at my peak right now. Even if bandits did show up I'm not sure I could do anything to help." He looked at Aladdin sharply. "That's what you're here for."

"Really? I thought I was here to save your life?"

"And stopping bandits from killing me wouldn't qualify?" Mozenrath shrugged. "Ah well, at least if their busy with you it would give me time to get away."

Aladdin watched as the sorcerer walked past them, thought whether he was actually looking for anything or just pretending to look was dubious. "This is gonna be a long long trip." Abu nodded in agreement.

Thankfully Genie returned well before sundown, pointing the direction towards the net marker. The group hopped back onto the carpet and sped away. It took about ten minuets to fly pasts the swamps and into a dry gorge. "I remember this place." Aladdin said with confidence. "The next marker should be along the wall somewhere."

"There!" Mozenrath pointed it out and jumped off before the carpet had come to a stop. He walked over, sliding his hand into the divot. "What?" he tried it again and frowned when it didn't work. "I don't understand." He tried once more. "Why isn't it working?"

Aladdin came closer and touched the hand shaped sigil. The stone did not move as it once had. "Genie?"

Upon inspection the blue djinn frowned. "It's sealed up. Shut tight somehow so that no one can get through." He tested the heavy stone and jerked back, manifesting a large bulldozer from thin air and popping himself into a hard hat and overalls. "Allright boys lets see if we can't get this public eyesore outta the way." He pressed the shovel right into the hard stone carving but there was no response other than the scratching of metal and stone.

"We're wasting time." Mozenrath said shortly.

"Well if you've got a better idea then I'm all ears." Genie answered back, still trying to wedge the stone aside.

"Now that we found the marker why not just follow it straight up and through to the other side? It has to come out somewhere." Mozenrath said as though it were obvious.

"Yeah!" Aladdin snapped his fingers. "The way we got out was through a wind tunnel. It made us fly straight up and out of there. If we can just go to the top of the gorge we're sure to see it."

"Are you sure kid? It's getting late." Genie pointed out.

"I know but there's a small oasis at the top. If we can get there by nightfall we can camp tonight." Aladdin said as the carpet began to rise with them.

"We still have two hours till nightfall. We should go as far as we can till then." Mozenrath argued.

"No. We need to camp. We have to find food before dark and I don't want us to risk traipsing the rest of the way in the dark. This is still bandit territory." Aladdin said firmly. He might be able to put up with a little sniping, but that didn't mean Mozenrath was going to get his way all of the time. "We can wait till morning and head off with first light."

Mozenrath crossed his arms and looked sullen, but said nothing as they found the top and made camp at the oasis. He continued to not speak (which no one complained about frankly) through dinner and sat away from the group, staring off into the desert dunes.

The campfire conversation was quiet, no one knowing entirely what to say without rousing the sorcerers interest. Aladdin eventually sighed and picked up a bowl of the rice and vegetable broth they had brought with them. "I guess someone had better make sure he eats." He groaned and walked towards the sorcerer.

"What?" Mozenrath said without turning, his eyes locked off into the distance.

"I brought you some dinner." Aladdin tried to say levelly.

Mozenrath turned a little, eyed the bowl, and turned back. "I'm not hungry."

"You will need to eat Moze, unless your gauntlet feeds you as well."

"Even if it did that wouldn't matter, seeing as how you won't give it back." He said in a dry voice. "Besides, I think our rest is about to be interrupted." He pointed off.

Aladdin squinted and had to strain to see the pinpricks of light. "Campfires?"

Mozenrath nodded. "You said yourself this is bandit territory. I saw them setting up camp as the sun went down. Their probably waiting until we all fall asleep before they come to slit our throats."

Aladdin peered off into the distance, squinting hard again. "How did you manage to see them so far off?"

"My senses are by far more acute then yours street rat. Especially in the night." And that was all he said on the subject.

Aladdin sighed. "Well we'd best be getting a move on then."

"You're not going to stay and fight them? What sort of hero are you?"

"The sort who doesn't take unnecessary risks." Aladdin insisted. "Sure I could have Genie go and take care of it, but I've learned over time that nothing is ever quite what it seems. What if they're not just simple bandits? What if their just after the tree same as we are? What if their merchants?" He began gathering up their sleeping bags. "In any case, it's easier just to move on and not bother anyone than cause a stir over what may be nothing."

"Coward." Mozenrath said, even though he could see the wisdom in the decision.

Aladdin grit his teeth and grabbed Mozenrath by the collar. "Look you want to know another reason? Yes, Genie and I could probably handle them. But that would mean putting you at risk as well. You said it yourself, you're useless without the gauntlet. Which means I'd have to spend more time protecting you." He waved away at Xerxes who screeched at the assault.

Mozenrath sneered and him and shoved himself out of the street rat's grip. "Fine Aladdin. You've made your point."

"And another thing…" Aladdin decided to go ahead and have it out while he was actually irked enough to do so. "The next time we set up camp, or have to take care of anything else while on the road, I expect you to help. We're not your personal servants Mozenrath."

"I'll try to keep it in mind." The sorcerer responded darkly.

They gathered up everything as quietly as they could and Aladdin left the campfire burning a while longer to give them more time to sneak off. They hurried through the underbrush as quickly as possible. Once they were far enough away that even Mozenrath couldn't see the campfires, everyone piled onto the carpet and they took off. Staying low to the ground in case someone spotted the marker stone.

The moon was high in the sky when they crossed into lush green lands again and Aladdin started looking in earnest. "We're getting close. This looks familiar." He smiled as he saw it. "There. That's the last marker. The tree is on the other side."

"Is this one going to give us the same trouble as the last?" Aladdin asked Genie.

"There's only one way to find out." He said as he held up his hand and grew and extra finger. "There we go and…" he pressed it to the stone.

There was a sound like a brick falling and the stone began to shake with great difficulty. Aladdin stole a look at Mozenrath and was a little surprised to see an expression of hopeful anticipation. Mozenrath caught Aladdin's gaze and his head snapped around just in time for Aladdin to break eye contact as the door slid open.

Genie held out a hand. "Allow me to present the tree of re-neeeewal-oh."

His face fell as he saw the carnage before them. What should have been a verdant green forest filled with healthy trees was all blackened and charred. The trees and brush that should have indicate abundance now hung with ash. And in the center of this once paradise was the tree they had sought. Its trunk was withered. Its branches gnarled and barren. Where should have hung fat, ripe fruit there was nothing.

"What…happened here?" Aladdin said as they approached the tree. There was rotten and smashed pulp on the ground around the roots. Mozenrath kicked over one of the filth covered rinds and scowled darkly. He was hiding it well but there was a nervous disappointment in his eyes. "Genie, could Mirage have come back after we left and…?"

"No." Mozenrath said and pointed to the still glowing embers and smoke. "This damage was done recently. And despite the failure with the mirror, I don't think Mirage would be angry enough to do this."

"I don't know. That conniving kitty can get pretty vengeful." Iago answered.

""But still, she would have to have known we were headed here." Aladdin finished and turned over some of the fruit. "Some of the seeds are still good though. If we could get them back to Agrabah and plant them…"

"A tree like this takes months to grow Aladdin, and years to mature to the point of baring fruit." Mozenrath gingerly reached up and touched one of the branches, yanking his hand back as it turned to ash, greying his skin. "I don't have that long."

Aladdin looked from Mozenrath to his friends. "Okay. Okay here's what we do. We wait till morning. We'll check out the rest of the orchard and surrounding areas. Whoever did this might still be nearby. Maybe they took some of the fruit with them."

"Always hopeful eh street rat." Mozenrath sounded hollow for a moment as he walked around the tree, heading off towards the forest.

"Should we stop him?" Genie asked as Abu sniffed one of the charred remains.

"No. Give him a few minuets alone." Aladdin said. "Besides, I'm too tired to deal with his arrogance right now. We're safe enough here, let's wait for morning."

He was not ready to make his return known to the public at large. Not yet at least. Though the poor wastrels the mamlucks had brought to him had provided him with his renewed flesh, they could not impart to him the powers he had lost during his transformation.

Ah but he was not entirely without magic. He could feel his powers slowly coming back to him like cold molasses. It was sluggish of course, but coming none the less. It would be a little while yet before he would feel back to himself again.

Destaine looked out over the rooftops of Agrabah and took a deep breath, letting his undersenses travel for him. He had last seen his young pupil headed this way on a magic carpet, but wherever he was now, it was not here. He scowled and flung up his cape, transporting him back to the Citadel.

He stroked his head thoughtfully. If Mozenrath had gone beyond his sensory range he would need something to track the boy. He walked to the laboratory, considering some of the possibilities. There was no shortage of magically enhanced tracking devices here, but the problem was finding something it could gain a signature off of.

He remembered vividly when Mozenrath had run away once. The boy had been surprisingly crafty for a teenager, making it all the way to Getzistan before he had been brought back. He smiled with lecherous memory at how he had punished the youth for that little escapade.

"Ahh." He said with sudden clarity. He walked over to one of the shelves and peered into the back to see if perhaps… "There we are." He reached in and slid a small panel back, taking from it a vial of reddish brown liquid. He could feel the familiarity of the blood housed within. Despite its age it was still potent. Still usable.

He strode to the glass case, looking for the correct crystal and smiling as he took it into his palm. Already it glowed eagerly at the resonance of the blood.

With a steady hand, Destaine felt for the little nodule and tipped the vial into it, letting the crystal drink it's fill. The cold blue glow became a violent shade of red and it hummed warmly.

"Soon my dear little Mozenrath." He gave a deep sigh. "Soon."