Never say Nefir part 2
The next morning I woke up to hear tapping outside. Getting up I wandered out of the building to see a big metal something in the middle of the stones. I jumped when flames suddenly came from the end of it.
"That ought to take care of Samir." I heard Genie mutter and I went over to see him sitting in the machine.
"Genie, what is that?" I asked and he grinned at me.
"Where's your brother?"
"In there, I guess. Why?"
"Well, let's go get him." he hopped from the machine and walked past me. I frowned. Why can't he tell me what it is?
"Genie-"
"Al!" he cut me off and he practically toted me over to where Al was standing. He was so eager to make up for last night. "Hi, Al!" he said and Al stopped walking, he took in my scowl with confusion. "Sorry about last night, but I've got the ultimate answer to all your dancing rhino needs." He pointed at the machine and went over to it. "Three hundred million pounds of thrust. Laser guided targeting. Chrome wingtips. And pull out cd player." Al just looked at him. I got over being mad at him and hoped that his machine would work.
"Thunderbirds are go." Genie said and he got back into the machine. Suddenly it exploded. The whole machine blew up. Poor Genie.
"Come, boys." Nefir said coming up to us. "I'll help you out with Samir." I scowled. No way. "My men are the ultimate in efficiency." His men gathered in front us in heap.
"Right." I muttered at their lack of grace.
"We'll build you a nice reliable catapult that will fling Samir the destroyer clear into next week!" Nafir finished with a flourish and I scowled deeper.
"Hm," Al said in thought. "That makes more sense than rebuilding the city every day."
"No, Al!" I said pulling on him. "I don't think that is a good idea."
"Come on, Rick. Nefir is just trying to help us."
"He's shifty! Not to mention that if he had the power to build such a thing, why hasn't he before?" I challenged and Nefir got between me and Al.
"I didn't think of it until the other night, besides I can't do it on my own. I need a hero to help." He said smoothly and Al fell for it once he said a hero. Crud.
"Okay, I guess we can't afford to fool around with this." He said and he shook the imp's hand.
"Al!" I shouted as Genie gasped behind me. The imps began to lead Al away and I frowned.
"You coming, Alaric?" Al called.
"No!" I said angrily.
"Then stay with Genie!" he called back obviously not catching my tone. "And don't get into trouble!"
"I thought he liked it when I fooled around." Genie said sadly and I turned around to look at him.
"Ah, forget him." I came over to him. "I know can do it, Genie. You just need a chance."
"I had a chance." He muttered depressingly. "But I blew it. Literally." Now I felt sad and although I had a gut instinct to follow Nefir I decided to stick with Genie and Carpet. Genie needed cheering up.
Later on that day, we sat near a fountain and Genie was playing a game with Carpet. It had two people boxing and Genie's person was blue and Carpet's was red. They pushed buttons and the men would throw punches.
"Semi phenomenal, nearly cosmic power." He muttered. "I'm nothing but a second class genie." I looked up now.
"You are not!" I frowned at him but he ignored me.
"No, I'm worse. I'm coach!" I sighed as he continued berating himself. "More like economy. I'm an old frills genie. Not even free peanuts!" At this point Carpet's red man socked Genie's blue one and knocked its head up. Carpet celebrated and Genie snorted. "Puh, can't even K-O a throw rug."
"Don't say those things Genie." I said and he only sighed deeper.
"Ah, just the all powerful genie I want to see." A sickly sweet voice came from above me and Carpet suddenly knocked into me and we toppled into the fountain. Sitting up with a sputter I saw Nefir hovering close by. I frowned and shook the excess water from my hair.
"Get out of here IMP!" Genie snarled and I blew the imp a raspberry.
"Yeah go away!"
"Don't be like that." He said in a babying voice. "I just wanted to congratulate you on your valiant effort last night." As he spoke Carpet came up from the water beside me and shook water off like a dog spraying Nefir. I sniggered as he threw us a brief glare.
"Huh?" Genie gave Nefir a surprised look.
"You almost beat Samir." Genie looked away sadly.
"If only I hadn't knocked out my best buddy he would have seen that."
"Well, what am I, invisible?" I asked, frowning in annoyance. Carpet shrugged and patted me.
"Look not everyone can almost defeat a giant dancing rhinoceros. It's impressive." Nefir continued and I grew suspicious.
"Yeah, tell that to Al." Again I frowned.
"Well, I thought it was!" I said but no one paid attention. Carpet had flown off after drying off having enough of the imp. I suddenly wished I could do the same.
"It's all a matter of timing. If I were a genie I'd go catch the monster while it's sleeping." Nefir coaxed slyly and Genie brightened. Uh-oh.
"He sleeps?"
"All day. In a cave in the next valley. Totally defenseless."
"Totally defenseless? I can deal with that! Yeah!"
"Wait, Genie-" I tried to get out of the fountain as he stood.
"That will impress Al!" he plowed through and he changed into a warrior. "Yo, where's that cave?" I got up in front of him and put my hands up.
"Genie, don't! It could be a trick!"
"I wouldn't do that." Nefir said smoothly blinking innocently and I cast him a brief glare before going back to pleading with Genie.
"See? Maybe I was wrong about this imp." Genie patted my head and I huffed.
"But Genie-"
"Don't worry I'll be back."
"But Genie-"
"It'll be fine." Finally I had enough.
"Genie!" I yelled and he arched an eyebrow. "You can't leave me here with that imp." I hissed and Nefir gave us a small wave. Genie rolled his eyes. "I'll be back, kiddo."
"But Genie!" he was already gone leaving us with the imp.
"You know," he started conversationally and I felt myself backing away as he came forward. I didn't like the look he was giving me. "I can't have you running around contradicting me."
"You're a double-crosser." I said and he grinned maliciously.
"Hm, maybe you're not as dumb as you look." Now I'm frowned.
"You sabotaged Genie's machine, didn't you?"
"Perhaps." I turned around to find myself surrounded by imps.
"What's going on?" I asked warily and Nefir only smirked.
"I'm afraid I can't allow you to go running off to tell Aladdin. Get him boys." I let out a shout as imps jumped me but before I could shout again something smacked the back of my head and darkness filled my vision.
I woke up tied from the shoulders down and a gag was in my mouth. From what I could tell, I was inside a cave of some sort. The imps were hanging around a small entrance and a dim light came from the outside.
"Well, look who's awake." I scowled as Nefir loomed over me. Suddenly I heard Genie's voice drifting into the room and I struggled to get away. "Now, now. As long as you're blue friend in there does as I want, no harm shall come to you." He said and I glared at him. "Bring him." he said over his shoulder and I was hauled up by imps. I was then drug behind Nefir and I heard Genie say:
"But who would want to destroy Getizistan every night?"
"Me." Nefir answered and I saw him look towards us. It was dark where I was at so he couldn't see me yet. I moved my mouth trying to get the gag off.
"And my real funky band!" Three imps disappeared and came out there with instruments.
"Imps!" said Samir and I noticed that he had a deep voice. "Yeah, that makes sense."
"Nefir!" Genie shouted and he grew a second head. "Grrr never trust imps!" scolded the second head. "Never!"
"Good advice. Get 'em!" Nefir shouted and the imps went to work. They trapped Genie in a wooden thing that had three holes, one for his head and one on either side for his hands.
"Genie!" I yelled finally getting my gag off. Genie paused for a moment to look at me and see that I was tied before realized what he was seeing.
"Alaric!"Genie struggled to get out the stockade faster. "You lying imp!"
"Struggle all you want fool." Nefir said and smugly. "Your stockade's been imported from the east and stewed for days in enchanted whale jelly. A sure-fire genie trap!"
"Whoa, this guy does his homework!" Genie sounded surprised and now I was really worried since he couldn't get out of there.
"Here's the bill, Tibetan oak isn't cheap you know." Nefir held it out and Genie read it in a mutter.
"Whale jelly-500 shekels, Genie trapping-500 dinar. Magic shoes-6,000 gold pieces. Hey, what magic shoes?" Nefir pointed down. "Uh-oh." He looked down and indeed Nefir had switched his shoes.
"Like Samir said 'gotta dance.'" Nefir taunted.
"There's no way I'm doing it!" Genie snarled and I started struggling harder.
"I'm afraid you won't have a choice."
"What are you talking about?" Genie asked suspiciously and then he saw the look that Nefir sent me.
"No you don't, you filthy-"
"Ah, ah, ah." Nefir cut him off. "You dance and I swear no harm will come to him. If you don't….well let's just say that this is the last time you'll be seeing him. Besides it isn't like you could refuse when you hear the music."
"Alright, imp, you win this time. Just don't hurt him." Genie said looking at me apologetically. I knew what he wanted to say. He was sorry for not listening to me.
"Its okay, Genie." I said and he sighed.
"No, it's not. I should've listened to you."
"Aww, does the genie care for the wittle boy?" Nefir teased and Genie grew red with anger.
"I'll get you imp!" he snarled and Nefir chortled as I was lifted up and carried towards the outside of the large cave.
"Genie!" I hollered kicking wildly for them to let me go.
"Where are you taking him?" Genie growled and Nefir smirked.
"Somewhere out-of-the-way until I decide to let him go." Genie cursed loudly as I attempted to free myself from the imps.
3rd POV:
Aladdin, Carpet, Abu and Iago waited outside the city of Getizistan. Nefir had told them to come out here at sunset and the catapult would be there for them to use. There wasn't anything around.
"Where's the catapult?" Aladdin asked the group and then he spotted a mailbox. "What is this?" Iago frowned and flew over to it and examined it.
"Ah, well, I dunno. But I don't think it's gonna fling a dancing rhino." He commented and Abu stuck his head in. Aladdin spotted something inside.
"Hey look." He pulled out a scroll and opened it to read from it. "Dear boy, bird and monkey: Sorry we didn't build you a catapult. Something came up. Signed Nefir. P.S. Please remit seven hundred coppers for the mailbox! Argh, I don't believe those guys!" Aladdin shouted angrily and then he got Genie's lamp out. "Come on Genie. We need some of that darn-near phenomenal cosmic power." He rubbed the lamp but only a few sparks came out and died. Iago frowned sourly.
"Wonderful! No catapult, no genie-" Loud stomps came from the distance and looking up Iago's eyes widened. "No way!" Now they all looked and were alarmed to see Samir dancing and beside him was Genie! A tango was playing softly in the background as the two danced.
"Genie?" Aladdin was shocked and so was Abu.
'Wow." The little monkey said in awe. Iago scowled.
"Forty tons of Fred and Ginger is not what we need!" He followed Aladdin as he flew up to Genie on Carpet.
"I'm, I'm so sorry, Al!" Genie panted mid dance. "I really messed things up this time!"
"Genie, just stop dancing!" Aladdin yelled over the music.
"I-I can't! It's Nefir! He used his imps to put magic shoes on Samir!" Genie caught Samir as the dancing rhino leapt gracefully into his arms.
"Hi." He said to Aladdin who only looked at him in shock.
"And now I've got them too!"
"But why-" Suddenly Aladdin knew. "Of course! Nefir's running a royal scam!"
"Uh, excuse me." Iago interrupted. "But does anyone know where the kid is?"Aladdin then looked up in alarm.
"Genie, where is Alaric?" Aladdin asked suddenly and Genie glared his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Nefir. He used him to get to me!" Then he muttered darkly about crushing an imp.
"What! Where?"
"I don't know he wouldn't tell me."
"Genie, you were right about those imps. And so was Alaric." Aladdin slapped his forehead. "Why did I not listen to him?"
"I was right? I was right!" Genie celebrated and Aladdin looked back at him. "Tell me again I was right!"
"No time! We have to get the shoes off!" Aladdin flew off then and frowned. "Where's Nefir?"
1st POV:
The bright sunset light filtered into the balcony where Nefir stood overlooking the city of Getizistan. I was sitting tied in a chair behind him, glaring at his back. He cackled hysterically and I rolled my eyes.
"I'm so clever. With two monsters dancing the city will be destroyed twice as fast. Ooh, how efficient." He gloated at me and I only glared at him harder. "I can destroy the city twice a day."
"And what happens when the money runs out?" I asked and he only waved off the comment.
"I'll find a new place. No big deal."
"Don't you think that Aladdin will be asking Genie what happened to me?"
"Don't worry about that. I'll just tell him that blue buffoon allowed you to get trampled by Samir."
"What?" Suddenly I was worried.
"Yes, you see them?" he asked pointing at the dancing Genie and Samir just outside the city. "They will be dancing away and where do you think they will head…." My eyes widened.
"Right here."He smirked. "You-you're leaving me up here?"
"Yes, getting rid of an annoying genie and nosy little boy all in one day." I could only gape. "Now if you don't mind, I need to be going." He headed to the door and I tried to get out of the ropes. "Ta-ta!" he slammed the door shut and I started bouncing the chair.
"Come on, come on!" I paused upon hearing music rising up louder. Then I could see them.
"Genie!" I yelled hoping he'd hear me. "Genie!" But the music was too loud. I had to get out of the chair before they got closer. Then I saw Carpet.
"Aladdin! Al!" Once again my yells for help went unheard. As I tried to struggle harder the rope around my wrists snapped and fell away. Sighing with relief I toppled backwards. After untangling myself from the chair I tried the door. It opened without an effort. Heh, thought I wouldn't be able to get away, eh Nefir? Grinning I took off down the stairwell to find Al. I came out in time to hear Iago begging with the dancers not to crush his casino.
I rolled my eyes and then watched as they were about to step directly onto Iago. I stiffened and then they paused. New music came and they started towards it. Looking up I spotted Al, playing a flute. I waved at him and he swooped down to get me. I hopped up next to him and we started leading the dancers away from the towers.
"Great idea, Al!" Genie said and then he spotted me. He grinned with relief as I waved at him. Suddenly the music changed. A faster more upbeat tune came from the streets behind us and the dancers went right back into the city.
We all jumped as Genie shot magic in our direction and we looked down to find ourselves in strange itchy clothing and we all had tall curly white wigs. We also had instruments. Al was at a piano, Iago and Abu had violins and Carpet and I had cellos. We all looked at each other's strange outfits before shrugging and just going with the music. I honestly had no idea how to play but Carpet seemed to be doing just fine, so I copied him as much as I could although I was pretty sure that Genie was making us play. Once again however the imps changed the tune and it got faster on their side making Genie and Samir destructive again.
"Play faster, Al! Faster!" Genie hollered and Al nodded.
"Faster? Are you sure?"
"Trust me, Al!" Genie called back. Al grinned.
"I get it. faster guys!"
"Get what?" I asked as we got out of the itchy clothes and wigs. Now Al was rocking the piano his fingers flying across the keys in a fast paced way. Carpet had a guitar and was rocking out and Abu had a drum set and he was smacking those loudly too. Iago and I just danced. I heard the imps play music to join us and we all danced wildly.
"Oh, ah, yeah! Bring it on home! It's hammer time!" Iago sang and I laughed as we danced around Al and the rest. Looking over at the large dancers I saw that their feet were smoking and it then dawned on me what we were doing. We were burning the shoes! With one final loud jam of all the instruments the shoes exploded leaving their owners panting out of breath on the ground. I saw Genie glare at something suddenly and I was sure I knew who it was. I was proved right when he held up Nefir.
"Hang on, shorty." He snarled. "You've some explaining to do."
"I wasn't gonna hurt the kid, honest." He said and I frowned.
"He was going to leave me tied in one of the towers so you'd crush me!" I said and Genie's grip tightened on Nefir.
"Well, he's okay isn't he?" Nefir screeched.
"Not like you will be." Genie said darkly and the imp cowered.
The next morning Sultan al Dente was thanking Al over and over for helping his city. Genie, Carpet, Abu and I were lounging on some chairs nearby and Iago was nowhere to be seen.
"Actually I couldn't have done it without some phenomenal cosmic power." Al was saying and Genie looked over at him.
"Semi phenomenal nearly cosmic power, thank you." I started sniggering then as Iago finally showed up. "What?" Genie asked and I pointed at the naked parrot. he was completely featherless and had a small barrel around his middle like clothing.
"Hey, what's the problem bird man?" Genie asked teasingly and I just about fell out of my chair trying to hold my laughter in.
"Club Nest Egg, that's the problem!" He snarled. "I lost my shirt! The tables are fixed, rigged I tell ya! let's get out of this dump!"
"Why?" Asked Sultan al Dente. "And miss the floor show?" We looked over and saw Samir lift a small tent off the ground.
"Play that funky music, imp boy!" he said and a new round of laugher came as Nefir and his imps were made to dance with their newly acquired magic shoes. It was the best day ever and I couldn't wait to do it again.