Chapter Twenty

Judge

Mike pushed me into the throne room, it was now decorated like a courtroom. Apparently, the Sultan has a big and strong enough moving crew to make this room be almost anything. The floor was covered in velvet carpet, there were pews lining the carpet, reminding me more of a church than a courtroom. There was a pillory at the front of the room, I put my head inside and let Mike lock me in, I then waiting for Aladdin to begin listing off the charges.

Aladdin was sitting in the judge's chair, I looked to my right as much as I could and noticed that there was no jury, to my left it was the same. This could only mean one thing. Aladdin was the judge, the jury and the executioner, which means that I was going to die indefinitely. He pulled out a large piece of paper and began reading, "Iago. For the crime of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted overthrow of the kingdom, attempted murder, abuse of power, and using torture methods against our laws and customs, I hereby sentence you to death."

I began stuttering, "W-w-what kind of court is this!" I answered, "At least let the people decide" Aladdin nodded and turned towards the crowd who had massed in the pews and along the walls of the room, "Will anyone vouch for him?" A long pause, "Very well. I sentence you to death" Mike began laughing, almost demonically, but just as he was about to raise his sword to chop off my head right on the spot an amazing thing happened. "Stop!" A voice from above shouted from among the rabble, it was Genie.

Genie appeared next to me and freed me from the pillory, "I vouch for me" he said. Aladdin sighed, "If all the good it would do" he said, "Fine" he turned to me, "this is your last chance Iago. One slip up and you're dead" I nodded meekly and then headed as fast as my small and frightening wings could fly out of the palace and into the uproar of Agrabah.

Genie turned towards Aladdin, "Come on Al" he said, "Show a little compassion." Aladdin huffed, "Compassion? He tried to kill me Genie" Genie sighed, "No he didn't" Aladdin looked at him confused, "What are you talking about?" Genie pulled out a small pair of glasses and put them on, "That's a story best told at the beginning"

When Genie was finished, Aladdin had difficulty believing it. After all, it was farfetched enough, but even after hearing the truth, Aladdin still refused to believe it. "That's crazy Genie" he said, "Iago's in league with Jafar. He's always been that way. He deserves nothing less than the gallows" With that Aladdin stormed out of the room, and the crowd began to disperse back in the streets.

But I didn't leave the palace, I went back on the balcony, because I knew it would the one place where Aladdin would go. When I was watching him when he was younger, he would always stare out in the distance, as if he were looking for something that he couldn't find. The stare of a dreamer who had everything that he ever want and yet still found himself wanting more, or something greater. It was this stare that Aladdin gave.

Sitting on a nearby tree, I watched him as I always did. Like parent letting their kid wonder through the neighborhood for the first time, my gaze was locked on every moment Aladdin made, as if I was afraid that if I looked away for a even a second, something would happen. But something did happen.

Abu appeared and sat on Aladdin's shoulder. I hadn't seen the monkey much to be honest, I was too focused on Aladdin. From the look of him, he seemed to be doing well. It was then that Abu turned towards me, not saying much of anything, for he was a monkey, just giving a look of understanding. He didn't even bother Aladdin, who was looking out at the sunset, he just looked at me and nodded his head.

I flew down on the railing, I was practically next to Aladdin now, but he didn't notice me. I guess I have the misfortune of being forgotten easily, because Abu didn't notice me either and he was looking right at me. After several minutes of silence, I spoke, "Look" I said, "It's your right to think that I should die. I was in league with Jafar for a time, yes, but I never supported any of his ideals. Would you believe me if I told you that I did for you?" Silence. Abu stared at me again, now fully listening, "I did it for the Street Rats. I did it because I made an obligation to myself to make you a better person. I'd to think I succeeded, and so if it is your will to kill me. Push me off this balcony" Aladdin turned to me and placed his hands on my chest, I was ready for what was to come. I felt the weight of his hands pushing me off the balcony, until finally, he used all of it to pick me up and throw me towards the ground, landing in the fountain in a pool of my own blood and tears.

Because of that incident, I can no longer fly above 1,000 feet. This in addition to the psychological therapy makes my life extremely painful. I am on seven different medications for the rest of my life, sense I'm a cartoon that's forever.

If anything came out of that, it was the realization that Aladdin didn't give a shit about me. To this day, the only reason Aladdin tolerates me at all is because of what I did next.