To Cure a Thief part 2

I trailed behind Amin, as we approached a large doorway that was in shape of a skull. I gulped and Iago flew off my shoulder to talk to Amin.

"Are you cracked?" Iago asked Damoola loudly. "That's the Skull and Dagger! Headquarters of the thieves' guild! They'll eat us alive in there!" Abu made a gesture and Iago nodded. "Yeah, cutthroats only! There's no way we are going in there!"

"Definitely not!" I said and Damoola showed us something. Iago's jaw dropped and I arched an eyebrow.

"Not to worry my new friends. I'm a member." He said smoothly and Iago recovered.

"Lead the way." As Damoola walked past Iago whispered to Abu and I. "A member. This guy is a legitimate thief!"

"Or a really bad actor." I muttered and grabbing Abu and Iago, we followed the thief inside. Thieves ran around the dimly lit room all of them tough looking men.

"Just stick by Amin and let me do all the talking." Iago murmured and I rolled my eyes even as I sped to keep up with the skinny thief. He ordered us food and Iago and Abu stuffed their faces. I ate a little still feeling a little bad that I had taken that melon. Abu and I sat across from either other and Iago sat next to Abu. Amin sat at the head of the table.

"Don't trust anyone in here." He said leaning forward, tucking arm around behind me and Abu. "Well except me, of course. Heh heh." I exchanged a look with Abu who shrugged.

"Kill the melodrama, Damoola. Why do you need the kid and the monkey? Planning a big pastry caper?" Iago asked and I rolled my eyes at him. Damoola pulled Abu and I closer.

"Alright my little comrades, listen." Abu looked at me and I shrugged. It wouldn't hurt to listen.

"There exists a magical gauntlet." He started standing up. The lighting in the room cast a glow on him that seemed to set his dramatic mood. "The Five Fingers of Discount." He held up four fingers before he realized his mistake and grinned sheepishly. Add dumb to my list of what I thought of him. "It is written that he who wears the Five Fingers will gain the ultimate thieving ability." Abu looked bored. He wasn't buying it apparently and neither was I.

'Oh, yeah, sure.' He scoffed, causing me to snigger, but Amin continued.

"With but a gesture jewels fly into the gauntlets grasp." He finished with a crazy look in his eyes.

"You see now this guy's smart."Iago commented to me and Abu. "He's got vision."

"The gauntlet is about, yay-high." Damoola held his hands up to show us. "And is kept in the Royal Treasure Room." Iago and Abu spit out what they were eating and my eyes widened.

"The Royal Treasure Room? Whoa, whoa, whoa! We don't do the palace!" Iago yelled at Amin and he walked across the table to get in front of him. "They know me there. I'll lose my special status. Worse I'll lose my head!" I rolled my eyes.

"I was talking to the monkey!" Damoola said angrily and he then looked at me. "And you of course little friend…if you're interested?" I gave a nod and he grinned. "Wonderful!" Sure why not. After all I had to keep an eye on Abu.

"Look, Amin, bubby you don't want to go in there." Iago said casting me a glance. I didn't respond. "They've got flying swords, a giant mace…"

"And a really really, big axe." Iago and Amin said together, Iago lifted his 'toupee' at the same time Amin lifted his hat showing missing hair, and suddenly it came to us. He was the thief that had tripped the alarm!

"You're the guy who blew the heist last night!" Iago shouted and then gave a screech as a dagger flew into the table. We looked up to see Hamar.

"Thieves only in the Skull and Dagger." He said and Amin stood up pulling the dagger out irritably.

"I am a thief!" he snarled as he waved the dagger about, accidentally cutting the post that held the awning above us. It fell over him.

"Did you say thief?" Hamar lifted the blanket and grinned at Amin. "Hey, it's Butterfingers!" he lifted the thief up and held him by the back of his vest. The rest of the thieves burst into laughter.

"No wonder he needs your help." Iago muttered to Abu and I. "He's the resident thieves guilds' geek!" I held in a snigger.

"My name is not Butterfingers!" Amin snarled slamming his fists down upon the tabletop, sending forks, plates and food flying. Hamar winced as a fork landed in the person behind him. "And these," he continued lifting Abu and taking my arm at the same time. "My new partners! The greatest thieves in all of Agrabah!" he set the monkey down so everyone could see him. Then he turned me to face the other thieves. 'Oh, boy'. Muttered Abu.

"We're in trouble." I muttered and Abu looked at me for help. But I couldn't give it

"A minkay? And a boy?" Hamar said and I almost sniggered at his accent. "Heh, heh, Butterfingers new partners are a minkay and a little boy!" They started laughing again and this time Abu and I got angry. We could be great thieves! Abu got up and ran over to climb up the man. He went up his pants leg and through his shirt and climbed down to get the thief's sandwich he stole it and scampered back up Hamar's arm, back through his pants leg and up onto the table.

At the same time, while everyone was watching Abu I weaved through the crowds taking this and that from every pocket in the room. No one was the wiser. Abu headed back to the table at the same time I slipped back up there and he held the sandwich up triumphantly as well as Hamar's pants sash. His pants fell and whispers started about the room. Hamar lifted Abu off the table and I put a hand on the dagger I had stolen in case I would need it. Everyone in the room was in shocked silence for minutes and then Hamar spoke.

"He is the greatest thief in all of Agrabah!" Then he eyed me. "What you do?" I grinned evilly and dropped small coin sacks and odds and ends. It was hilarious to see the thieves feel their pockets and then look back at me in bewilderment. They had never seen me do it at all.

"He too is a great thief!" Hamar announced almost in disbelief. Everyone gave a cheer then and Iago relaxed. They tossed Abu and me in the air as if we were grand heroes. It was pretty great actually. Not this many people liked me before!

Amin finally got us away from the crowd and herded us towards the door and I looked behind me at Iago. He was nowhere to be seen. When I voiced this to Amin, he shrugged and said that he decided not to come. I wondered at this but if I was to keep an eye on Abu I had to go with them. I was also pretty sure Amin wasn't about to let us out of his sight. I sighed internally as Amin pointed at the window that we were going to get in. Rasoul was going to have a field day with this!

Amin was extremely incompetent. We were on top of one of the many golden tops of Agrabah's palace and were right across from where we needed to be. He had just shot a rope across and managed to get tangled in the bow. I slapped myself internally what a moron!

"After you my nimble cohort." He told Abu and the little monkey looked at me. I sighed and nodded. He was thinking along the same lines as me. Are we really going to do this and disappoint Al?

"Go on, Abu." He sighed too and started across the rope. He got to the other side fairly quick and Amin waved me on. Gulping, I blew out a large amount of air and started across to the other side. Don't worry you've walked a rope before. Just keep moving. And whatever you do don't look down! Speaking to myself I tried not to look at the dizzying height. Sure I've walked a rope before but not this high! Abu cheered silently as I stepped off to the ledge and I grinned at him. Then we turned to watch the spectacle of Amin.

He started off across the rope gracefully but then started to wobble. Abu and I watched the rope warily as it jiggled. This wasn't going to end well. Amin struggled to stay up and Abu and I flinched as he almost fell off barely grabbing the rope as he did. I let out a sigh of relief. I may not like him but I don't want him squished in the ground. Then the rope broke. Amin swung back and slammed into the wall of the palace and Abu and I exchanged looks.

"I'm alright!" We heard him call faintly and I slapped my forehead. This was going to be a long night.

Meanwhile back at the Skull and Dagger….

Iago was still inside the pot that Amin had stuffed him in and was trying his best to get out. And as luck would have it, the jar was suddenly knocked over and it rolled off to burst open in the floor.

"That was annoying." He groaned and then dusting himself off looked about the room. "Abu? 'Laric? Hey!" He yelled looking around. "Well, how do ya like that? The kid just left me!" He started to fly around the room. "If those two get caught…If the monkey gets caught I'll be advocated. Dead meat! And the kid? Well…that genie will rip my feathers out!" Iago was headed for the door when someone yelled for a peasant sandwich. He was instantly plucked from the air by the thieves' chef and was then plopped down onto a piece of bread. The cook took a jar of mustard out as he held Iago down.

"One pheasant sandwich coming up!" The cook hollered and Iago panicked.

"Wait just a second-" he was cut off by mustard smearing his face and he spat it out. "I'm a live bird! Hello!" But the cook never heard him, he just slapped another slice of bread on him and set him on a plate that one of the servers had. As the server went towards Hamar, a thief came up and stole the sandwich and then another from him! This one made to take a bite but Iago thought fast.

"I am the genie of the sandwich!" he hollered quickly and the man paused mid-bite. "Release me and I'll grant you three lunches!" The man's one eye widened, the other had a patch, and then gulped. Timidly, he reached down and lifted the edge of the sandwich…Iago burst out covered in mustard and soared over the man's head.

"Jerk!" Iago hollered before making a very hasty exit. But as he flew more thoughts of punishment went through his head. "If Al finds out I put Abu up to this, he'll be maaaad. I better devise a clever alibi. And he'll blame me for the kid too!" As he talked he suddenly flew into a pole and slid down it. "Maybe later mother…." He muttered before blacking out.

Back at the palace…

Aladdin, Jasmine, and Rajah sat in Jasmine's bedroom. Jasmine sat brushing Rajah watched Aladdin worriedly. He had been in a right state after what he had said to her earlier. All he could think of was things that might have gone wrong. Anything could have happened to them and it was driving him crazy with worry, though he'd never admit it.

"I think you should go after them if you're so worried, Aladdin." Jasmine said for the umpteenth time.

"I am not worried!" Aladdin shouted, getting angry that Jasmine was still bringing it up. "And could we please stop talking about Abu and Alaric!" Jasmine sighed and shook her head. Men.

Jasmine decided to try and talk to him again. She slid across the seat and cupped his chin, making him look at her.

"It's not your fault you know." Aladdin sighed and turned away. Genie popped up in his face then.

"She's right, Al. I mean how were you supposed to know that one little leash would drive your best friend and you're brother away?" Aladdin frowned.

"I didn't ask them to leave! I'm glad they're gone! They can stay away forever! Two less to watch out for!" Aladdin snarled and unbeknownst to the adults, Abu and Alaric heard Aladdin shouting. Abu sniffed sadly and Rick wiped his tears away angrily. Well if that's how he feels!

"Come on, Abu we don't need him!" The boy muttered and scooping up the monkey he ran down the hall.

Amin was climbing in the window as we approached him and I rolled my eyes to see him step into a jar.

"We're in!" he shouted as we got closer and I grimaced. He was so loud! "You and me my little companions!" he slapped me on the back and I almost dropped Abu. He, to be safer, climbed down and I saw how dejected he really looked. Poor Abu… "We're a team!" Amin draped an arm on the both of us and I scowled at him.

'Yeah…' Abu said slowly and I sighed and patted him.

We reached the Treasure Room then and I stared at the double doors for a moment. Was I really going to do this? Was I really going to take things? True, I had already taken a melon but this was bigger than a single melon….

A loud crash followed by several smaller ones filled the air and I turned to see, Damoola fighting with the spears. I rolled my eyes as he tried to get them to stay in place and just ended up knocking them all over the floor. Stealthy. He then caught up with us at the heavy double doors. Amin opened the doors and before I knew it I was backing away. I was chickening out, I just couldn't do it. Abu went forward, never seeing me and Amin never glanced at me. Somehow I knew that he wouldn't mind if I disappeared. But one look at Abu's face and I suddenly sighed. I couldn't leave him. He needed me; he was the only one that would still want me around. So, I hid behind the door instead.

Amin grinned down at Abu greedily as he leaned in the doorway. "Teamwork my little friend. That's what we're all about." Amin said as he shoved us towards the golden gauntlet. "Behold!" He held Abu up to look at the glove. "It waits for us to take it!" He dumped Abu unceremoniously onto the floor and I scowled at him. As Abu was about to walk forward, Amin suddenly paused. "One second!" He ran quickly to the other side of the room away from all the sharp objects that were going to fly in his direction.

"Okay take it!" he hollered at Abu. I could only hope that nothing wrong would happen. Abu reached for the glove and I bit my fist as the alarm went off. The ring of swords went down around the pedestal the gauntlet had been on and then Abu made his way slowly towards where Amin was. I winced every time one of the weapons fell past him, missing him by inches. In front of me, Amin was doing a happy greedy dance.

"Come on! Come to papa!" he said as he danced about arms wide for receiving the gauntlet. I glared at him and then looked back at Abu who was sniffing, tears rolling down his little face. Those words Al had spoken hurt him more than it had hurt me. Me, I was used to hearing things like that. And Abu? He wasn't, Al had never hurt him like that before and I could only imagine what he was thinking.

"Thank you." Amin said snatching the gauntlet from Abu, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Watch this! I will be Butterfingers no more!" he announced and then the gauntlet lit up. He then aimed it at a gold elephant statue. I watched with wide eyes as it suddenly flew at them. It ended up smashing into Amin and sending him flying across the room.

"I'm fine really." He muttered coming out from behind the statue, swaying slightly. After he recovered he handed Abu a sack telling him to catch whatever he threw. Great. "Something more compact." He muttered to himself about the treasure and aimed his gauntlet at a golden scepter. Abu caught it in his sack and pretty soon his bag was filled with golden treasure. As Amin continued grabbing lots of treasure, I suddenly heard Carpet. With a gasp, I ran inside the room and ducked behind a pillar of gold so that neither party could see me. Abu turned giving, the group sheepish grins. Uh-oh.

"Abu, how could you!" Al yelled at him and he only looked down sadly. Amin got in front of Abu and glared at Aladdin.

"Excuse me. I'm trying to shop here." Amin said and Jaz gave him a look.

"Who's that?" I heard her ask and Iago made a face.

"Him? No idea." I rolled my eyes, typical save your feathers. Amin aimed his gauntlet at the giant mace and jerked it from the wall.

"Run!" Aladdin yelled and ran towards the others. Genie popped up to defend them and…lost his head? I watched with wide eyes as he stumbled around and the giant mace chased Aladdin, Jasmine, Iago, and Carpet out the door. I had to jump behind the door to avoid being hit. Genie suddenly disappeared after finding his head and I knew he had gone to help Al. Upon seeing that it was safe, I took off from behind the door and found that Amin and Abu left with all the treasure and I was once again left alone. I ran down the hall in time to look out one of the windows and see them flee. Not knowing what else to do, I decided to go find someplace to think for a little while. I headed out towards my old hovel; it was my favorite place to think.

A few hours later, I was sitting with my knees drawn against my chest. I hadn't done it I hadn't gone through with it. Was I a coward? As I looked out at the bright moon, I heard something come into the hovel.

"Al got Abu back from Amin." Genie said appearing at my side. I only glanced at him once. He was looking thoughtfully out the window.

"And the treasure?"

"Yup that too."

"I didn't do it, Genie." I muttered.

"I know, you didn't." he replied quietly. He knew what I was talking about? Surprised, I looked up at him.

"You knew I was there?"

"I saw you, but when my head got knocked off I got distracted." I almost laughed.

"I was going to do it Genie, but I chickened out at the last-minute." I felt him looking at me and I turned my gaze to him. "Am I a coward?"

"No, of course not." Genie patted my arm, giving me an incredulous look and then he smiled gently. "Why do you think you didn't do it?"

"I…felt guilty just standing there. I don't think I really meant to go through with it at all." Genie smiled and tucked an arm around me.

"That's because you're a good kid." I smiled and then let out a sigh.

"Genie?"

"Hm?"

"Is Al still mad?"

"No, Rick, Al was never really mad. I think his temper gets the better of him sometimes. He and Abu are already friends again."

"They are?"

"That's right." I turned my head to see Al in the doorway. Frowning I turned back around. "Rick, please don't be mad. I didn't mean what I said."

"Both times?" I couldn't help but be rude and I Genie shake his head at me from the corner of my eye.

"Both times? I-oh, you heard what I said in the palace didn't you?"

"I was with Abu." I frowned.

"You were?"

"Yeah."

"I didn't see you. Where were you?"

"Hiding."

"Why?"

"Because, I-I couldn't do it!" I yelled standing up, shocking both Genie and Al. "I couldn't stand the guilt that was in me for just standing there!" I calmed down a little and looked at my feet. "I didn't want you to be disappointed in me."

"Rick…I never should have said what I did both times. But the first was no excuse at all. I should've remembered what you told me about that. If I was a good brother, I would not have said it. Can you, forgive me?" I ran and hugged him then and he hugged me back.

"I'm sorry too, Al." I said and then we laughed when Genie crushed us in a hug.

"Aww, everybody's happy again!" When Genie released us he then put on a stern face. "Now then," he started tapping his foot. "You've been a naughty boy for running away and scaring us to death."

"But, Genie-"

"No, buts little mister. You just march right up to your room and go straight to bed!" He gripped the back of my vest and started hauling me off. "Didn't I tell you not to scare me anymore?"

"But, Genie-" I protested, looking back at Al, who was sniggering.

"What did I say about those 'buts'? I oughtta whip you good." My eyes widened at that and then my stomach growled.

"Genie?"

"What?" he still sounded angry.

"I'm hungry." He paused and looked down at me. His expression softened and he sighed.

"I guess, a stop at the kitchen wouldn't hurt." I grinned and hugged him.

"I'm sorry, Genie." He grinned back at me and we went back to the palace. Al caught up with us and they then told me what had happened to Amin. Laughing at the end of their story, we walked into the palace for the night.