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Chapter Six- The Ultimate Evil

One Day Later

Aladdin stared into space as he lay curled up in his throne. He looked deep in thought to Mirage and she wondered what he was thinking about. She knew that she had been busy looking for a good place to recruit kids and that she had, for lack of a better term, neglected him. She leaned on the armrest closest to his seat. "Aladdin?"

"Hmm?" He turned to look at her.

"You seem to be deep in thought, my love. Would you care to share?"

"I think I will. First of all, I decided I need a new name- one to suit my new life."

Mirage tilted her head. A new name? I can't imagine calling him anything but Aladdin. But, he's already decided to discard his current name and I'll have to accept that.

"All right. Have you decided on a name or do you need some suggestions?"

"I have a name in mind. I read it in a book on Egyptian mythology, but I would like your opinion. What do you think of Set?"

"Set? As in the god of evil and destruction?" Mirage flashed her fangs in an evil grin. "I like that. From now on, your name is Set."

"Good. My other thought was destroying a city. I'm talking big destruction complete with despair and misery."

"Oh, my. What fun! What city were you thinking of?"

"My old home- Agrabah."

Mirage was momentarily surprised. This was the most evil Aladdin, er, Set had shown thus far. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I am. But, I think we'll need an ally who desires Agrabah's destruction as much as we do."

"I'm assuming you have one in mind?"

"I do: Mozenrath."

"Mozenrath? I've heard of him. He supposed to be a powerful sorcerer and quite knowledgeable in magical creatures. But I don't know where he lives."

"He is and I know where he lives. The Land of the Black Sand."

"Excellent. Take us there and let's see if we can persuade him to aid us in our destruction of Agrabah."

The Land of the Black Sand looked just as Set remembered it. It had the same dark sky that almost blended with the black sand on the ground, the buildings were still in disrepair, and he saw glimpses of Mamluks patrolling the streets. A glimmer caught his eye and he glanced back and saw the crystals that served as alarms against magical intruders. He turned back to the front doors of the Citadel that he and Mirage had materialized in front of and saw Mirage looking around the landscape.

"What a drab, dreary, and depressing place. I love it. I am certain I will like this Mozenrath."

Set smiled back as he pushed open the doors and the pair entered the building. There were lit torches in wall brackets and Set removed one so that they could see more easily. He briefly wondered where Mozenrath was and resolved to check first the lab where the sorcerer's Wheel of Places to Conquer rested and then the Throne Room.

"This place is a mess. How disgusting!" Mirage exclaimed as they entered the lab.

"I agree and he is clearly not here. That means he must be in his Throne Room."

"Are you certain, Set?"

Set nodded. "I'm sure. It's this way, follow me." The golden-brown cat led the way out of the lab and down two corridors before coming to the Throne Room's doors. He pushed them in and the two stepped in to see an empty room. Set frowned. "I was sure he would be here."

"Oh, he's here," Mirage purred. "I sense his magic endeavoring to conceal himself from our sight." She stared at the throne and raised her voice. "Come out, sorcerer. We merely wish to discuss an offer with you."

"An offer, hmm?" a disembodied voice spoke before its owner appeared on the throne, his invisibility spell removed. He looked at the cats with some interest. "Identify yourselves and state your offer."

Mirage felt offended at Mozenrath's impervious tone, but pushed the feeling aside as she said, "I am Mirage and I suggest an alliance to destroy Agrabah."

Mozenrath descended his throne and stood before the cat woman. "So, you are Mirage. I have heard of you, but this is the first time meeting you."

"I too had heard of you and knew what you look like. Your whereabouts were a mystery to me, but obviously I tracked you down."

"Indeed. You said something about an alliance."

"I did. If we joined forces and combined our powers, the city will be powerless against us."

"So you believe. However, I-," he broke off in mid-sentence as his eyes landed on Mirage's companion, who had yet to say a word. Mozenrath gestured at the golden-brown cat. "Who is your friend, Mirage?"

"His name is Set and he's not a friend. He's my mate."

Mozenrath felt his magic tingle through his body as he and Set locked eyes. He felt like he had met Set before but that was impossible. Or was it? He focused his magic on the figure in front of him and the image of a familiar young man was superimposed over the cat. Aladdin? he wondered.

"Mirage," the sorcerer said. "May I have a word with you? Privately?"

"Certainly." The pair moved off to a far corner of the throne room.

"Is Set really Aladdin?" he asked.

"Ah. Your magic saw through mine. Yes, he is Aladdin. But, he decided to change his name to go with his new life."

"How did you do it?" Mozenrath asked eagerly. He had always believed that Aladdin would never join the forces of evil, but clearly that wasn't the case.

Mirage lowered her voice. "I slipped a collar on him that made him fall in love with me, changed him into a cat like me, and made him into an evil person. Obviously, he's not wearing the collar, but it doesn't matter. The magic inside the collar is now inside him."

"I'm impressed. Okay, Mirage. We have an alliance."

"Excellent. Now, let the three of us plan our attack."

"But, Father-,"

"I said no, Jasmine. I cannot have you roaming the desert looking for Aladdin. You're a princess and I need you here. Let your friends and the guards look for him."

Jasmine scowled and stalked out of the Throne Room and up to her room. She went out onto the balcony and gazed at the city spread out before her. Aladdin was nowhere in Agrabah and Genie detected no traces of magic to suggest kidnapping. But Jasmine was certain he had been kidnapped and by a non-magical enemy. If Father thinks I'm just going to sit idly by and let others look for my fiancé, then he better think again. Jasmine gave a whistle that brought Carpet to her. She climbed aboard. "Carpet, let's move." Carpet took off, avoiding notice of the guards and bringing Jasmine out of the city where her friends were waiting to start the search again.

Mirage, Set, and Mozenrath stood on a dune, looking at the unprepared city. Mirage could almost hear the screams of fear and panic that was certain to come and purred with satisfaction at the thought. She glanced at her mate, wondering if he was having second thoughts about attacking. She saw steely determination in his eyes and an evil smile on his face. There was no hint of second thoughts. Set was completely evil and he clearly loved being so.

"Mirage, you said you and Set would attack first," Mozenrath said. "What do you plan to do?"

"This." Both cats waved a hand and a quartet of fire cats appeared. "Attack," Mirage commanded. The cats growled in unison before taking to the air as streaks of fire and heading for the city. "Our pets will set fire to people's homes and spread fear and panic as they do. We have launched our plan, what is your plan of attack?"

Mozenrath fired a blast of magic at an empty stretch of sand and two wooden boxes with seals on them appeared. "They are inside these containers."

Set, reasoning that Mozenrath must know who he had been before, said, "Are they wind jackals?"

"Oh, no. I learned my lesson last time. No, inside these two boxes are two griffins. I destroyed most of the ones I found and bought, but I kept a few on hand, just in case. I trained them and they will listen to me only. They have also been trained to recognize me on sight, so that annoying parrot can't trick them by imitating my voice."

Set nodded. "Good planning."

Mozenrath grinned as he blasted open the boxes to release his pets. As the griffins roared, raked the air with their claws, and stretched their wings, Mozenrath pointed at the city. "Attack, my pets. Bring that city to its knees." The griffins took to the air and headed for a city already in flames and its citizens screaming in terror.

Jasmine sighed sadly on Carpet as the group headed for home. Still, no sign of Aladdin. It was as if he had dropped off the face of the Earth. Where could he be? Jasmine wondered. We checked all our non-magical enemies' lairs with no success. Genie even checked the ocean in case Saleen had him and no luck. We had just checked the desert in case he hit his head and had amnesia.

As they drew within sight of Agrabah, Carpet suddenly stopped short and Jasmine gasped at the sight of her city burning. "Oh no," she whispered in horror. Carpet started moving again and as they got closer to the gates, she saw three figures near them. She recognized two of them: Mirage and Mozenrath.

Set grinned maliciously as the fire cats rained destruction on the city. The cats' yowls mingled with the humans' screams before rising in volume as they feasted on the fear they were causing. The griffins' roars were barely audible above the yowling and screaming. The flying lion/eagles soared through the air and swooping down on the helpless people. A few humans were actually ripped to pieces by the griffins' sharp claws as they swooped by. The sounds that were occurring were music to Set's ears. The fire that raged before them was a beautiful sight to behold. The sights and sounds combined to give him an inward thrill that was displayed in his grin.

The sound of something approaching reached his ears and he turned to see a magic carpet appearing over the dunes. He saw Jasmine, Iago, and Abu on Carpet with Genie flying alongside them. He felt no love for Jasmine and no friendship toward the others. They were all his enemies now because they would want to put a stop to his fun. However, this time they were too late.

Jasmine jumped off Carpet as soon as she close to the ground and landed before the cats and the sorcerer. "So you've joined forces with Mirage, huh Mozenrath?" she asked.

"Obviously, I did Princess," Mozenrath answered. "Mirage and her companion presented an offer I just couldn't pass up."

"Well, this alliance is over," Jasmine declared. Genie flexed his fingers in preparation for the magic he was about to use.

"I disagree," Set spoke up. "This alliance is still on and we are about to win."

The familiar sound of that voice drew Jasmine's attention. "Aladdin…is that you?" she asked, staring at the golden-brown cat beside Mirage.

That's not my name, Set thought. Aladdin was a hero, a good guy. I am a villain, a bringer of death and destruction.

"I'm called Set," Set replied.

"Oh my God," Jasmine breathed. "It is you, Aladdin. I just know it."

"What have you done to him, Mirage?" Genie demanded.

"I? I did nothing. Set is my mate, not your precious Aladdin. He came to me confused about his place in the universe and I simply helped him realize his true destiny."

"I don't believe you," the blue genie declared. "I recognize that voice. That is definitely our Aladdin." Genie vanished away from Jasmine and then materialized beside Set and grabbed both of his arms in his hands. "Al, don't worry. We'll remove whatever spells Mirage placed on you."

"Get your hands off me!" Set hissed. He yanked one arm and swiped it through the air, causing green claw-shaped magic bolts to cut through the air and across the hand that still held his other arm.

Genie cried out before pulling back and heading toward his friends. Jasmine cried, "Aladdin, what's wrong with you?"

"I told you. My name is Set and there's nothing wrong with me. Mirage was telling the truth. I was confused over my purpose in life before realizing my true destiny and that is to destroy Agrabah."

"No," Jasmine whispered.

Mozenrath laughed triumphantly. "And we've just succeeded. Your precious city is no more. It is now only a shadow of its former self. Perhaps, I'll make it part of my kingdom." He glanced over at Mirage.

Mirage smirked, enjoying her triumph and seeing Jasmine devastated by Set's words and actions. "If that's what you want, do it. I only wished to see it destroyed and see its citizens helpless and despairing."

"No!" Jasmine screamed, charging toward Mozenrath. "I won't let you take over Agrabah!"

Mozenrath calmly blasted Jasmine with his gauntlet and she fell to the ground. "You know, I think I'll imprison you, princess, or maybe I can find a spell to make you love me and we can rule together."

"I'll never love you!" Jasmine spat which reminded Mirage of Aladdin making that same statement not too long ago.

Mozenrath grinned. "Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that. I might have just come up with a way to bring us together."

And indeed I have, he thought. It's all thanks to Mirage. I'll create an item that will make Jasmine love me and make her evil like myself.

He clenched his gauntlet as he envisioned the item he would create with his magic when he saw the princess's friends charging him out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't stop what he was doing to stop them, though! The point became moot when Set conjured manacles around the parrot and monkey and anti-magic ones for the genie and carpet. He nodded his thanks at Set as he continued his spell. I think a bracelet would be perfect for a princess. Within the bracelet will be the spell to make her evil and that evil will make her fall for me. Eventually, the spell will end up inside her and the bracelet will no longer be necessary. Magic glowed in his gloved hand before dissipating. He opened his hand to reveal a shining silver bracelet. The sight of it made him smile in a cold satisfied way. Now, all he needed was to slip it on the princess.

The timing to do so couldn't have been more perfect. The act of seeing Set bind their friends had been too much for her. Her strong will and spirit seemed to have finally broken and she was so devastated that her boyfriend had become so utterly alien and evil that she didn't notice Mozenrath slipping the bracelet onto her wrist. Her friends didn't even have time to warn her.

Jasmine gasped as she felt the magic enter her body and mind. She closed her eyes as she attempted to fight off the spell. However with her will and spirit broken, she attempts to fight were weak and futile. She opened her eyes and Mozenrath could see that they were filled with evil. She stood up, faced him, and gave him an evil smile before giving him a loving kiss. They parted and Jasmine said, "I love you Mozenrath. Please marry me and we'll rule Agrabah and your kingdom together. Perhaps we'll eventually rule the Seven Deserts."

"Of course I'll marry you. Perhaps our prisoners would like to be witnesses." He gestured at her friends. He decided to use them as a test to see how evil the princess had become.

She looked at them. Genie called, "Jasmine, don't give in to him! Fight it! You're stronger than his magic!"

"Silence!" Set cut in. He gestured and a metal gag was slapped across Genie's mouth.

Jasmine looked back at Mozenrath and nodded. "Yes, I think they'll make perfect witnesses and maybe perfect servants as well."

Enslaving her friends he thought. That is definitely evil.

"Come, Set," Mirage spoke up. "Let us return home and let the happy couple plan their wedding."

"Of course," Set said. The two of them teleported home, leaving the side of good conquered at last.