Chapter Eighteen

Back In The Saddle

I flew as fast as I possibly could back to Agrabah. Landing on the palace balcony, I was greeted with the sight of Rajah eating his food next to Jasmine, who was brushing his fur. Great, just what I needed, to be eaten by that monster. I was just lucky that they didn't notice me, or that would've been the case.

Then I heard a loud rumble in the distance, I shrank back, fearing that somehow, Jafar had escaped the Lamp. If that happened, it wouldn't be as easy as it was the first time to get rid of him, the only way that would happen would be if the Lamp was destroyed.

But my luck it seems didn't run out on me yet, for it was not Jafar, not even close. It was Genie, yelling and screaming his head off at the sight of Aladdin as he rushed out on the balcony to meet him. "There he is!" Genie said as he put both Jasmine and Aladdin in a bear hug, "How's my favorite monarch of the world doing?" Aladdin laughed, he was a Prince, and it was true that he would eventually become Sultan, but that was only if the current Sultan died or retired and never in the history of Sultans did a Sultan retire. "I'm not monarch of the world" Aladdin replied, "There are formalities after all" Genie shrugged his shoulders, "Formalities? Who needs em! I say we just make you Sultan right now"

Genie stepped backwards, ready to do some magic, when he stepped on my tail feathers, I tried not to scream but it was no use. "Watch where you're going!" I yelled, but then immediately covered my beak. "Did you guys hear something?" Genie asked, Aladdin and Jasmine shook their heads no, and Genie continued with his magic. In an instance, Aladdin was back in the ever foreshadowing white robes of the Sultan. But Aladdin took them off, revealing his normal street clothes, "Thanks Genie" he said, "But right now, I'm content with how I am" Genie sighed understandingly, "I just want you to be happy Al"

With that they all went into the palace, everyone expect Rajah, who I was in plain sight of. "Great" I said to myself as Rajah ran over to me, "Just make it quick please!" I screamed, begging him to get it over with. It was then that I remembered a very important detail about myself, I'm a bird. Flying up, I barely avoided Rajah's teeth and claws, jus inches away from me. It was then that the chase began.

I flew through Jasmine's room and into the hallway. Checking the hallway before I continued, I listened for any signs of Jasmine, Aladdin or Genie, either or all three of them would be bad news for me. But with Rajah right on my heels, I didn't have much time to do a decent survey of the area, and so ran directly into the main chamber.

In the main chamber for some reason, was a long white table covered with food. The Sultan was busy doting around Aladdin, "Aladdin my boy!" he said, "I want you to be my new Grand Vizier" Aladdin was obviously shocked, he didn't know what to say, "I'll have to think about it" he replied. I have a knack for ruining things, because at that moment, I burst through the room, screaming for help and finding none as the cat chased me around the room.

"What's going on here?" The Sultan demanded, "What is that traitor doing here!" Aladdin was clearly enraged, but at the moment, I was currently occupied with not getting eaten to pay much attention, "I agree" he replied as he turned to the Sultan and said something I missed over the roar of Rajah. Jasmine walked over and gave an ear splitting whistle, stopping Rajah in his tracks and slamming me face first in a pillar.

Before I could even stand myself up, Aladdin had picked me up and sat me on the table. "What are you doing here?" he asked, well demanded, I tried to explain, but the words were caught underneath my constant whimpering of being caught so suddenly. "Well it's obvious isn't it?" Jasmine exclaimed, "He's spying for Jafar" This was too much, "Listen here!" I said, practically yelling over everyone, "I was never in league with Jafar. He tried to kill me too, remember?" Aladdin shook his head, "The only thing I remember was you stuffing crackers down the Sultan's throat, threatening to kill me and then letting Jafar become a powerful Genie"

What did Jafar do? He must've completely redesigned their memories to make it look like I supported him the entire time. It was heart breaking. I sighed, "Alright" I said, raising my wings in surrender, "You got me. I'll go quietly" Aladdin wasn't finished though, "I should have you executed for treason" he declared, "but we'll let the court decide what to do with you" it was then that I was forcefully dragged into prison, once again, drawn and quartered.

Sitting in the dark, damp cell gave me a lot of time to think. I knew that Aladdin was only doing this because it's what he thought was right and by all rights I should probably be dead, but that's life for you. I thought about Jafar and how much he had destroyed my life. He had taken away my family, Jasmine and now Aladdin. It was clear what needed to happen, Jafar had to die, and I had to be the one to see that it got done.

The door to the cell opened and who else would it be but Mike. Mike smiled at me, "How's it going?" he sneered, obviously he still remembered what had happened. Maybe if I could get him to see my side of things, he would let me go. "Look Mike" I started, "I know you were just following orders, like you are right now. But don't you think that this is pushing it a little bit?" Mike laughed, "I don't question my orders. I follow them" I huffed, what a Nazi. "Okay fine" I said, "Go ahead and kill me, I don't care anymore! Just know that if you do Jafar will come back and destroy everything." Mike thought about this, but he didn't think about it long, because he drew a sword and began sharpening it.

A knock at the door, Mike stood up to answer it, "Who is it?" A slight huff came from the other end, "It's Jasmine" What was she doing here? Mike opened the door and stared at her curiously, "What are you doing here? I'm busying preparing an execution" Jasmine looked at me and then back at Mike, "Last I checked. His fate was up to the court. Who ordered the execution?" Mike smiled, "Aladdin himself" I hung my head and then looked at Jasmine, begging her to let me go, "It's okay, Jasmine" I said, "If Aladdin wants me dead, then I must really deserve it"

Jasmine walked over to the table that I was chained to and released my bonds, "No one deserves death" she replied, "Not even you." I bowed as low as I could, hoping that she would remember at least a little bit of what we once had. "Thank you" I said, smiling to show my sincerity, but that was only meet with a sigh of disgust, "Put him in chains" she said as she turned to Mike, "Aladdin wants the trail to be public" then Jasmine left the room, leaving me to my fate.