Savannah's tender heart, tenseness, and confusion. Is she reading too much into her relationship with Aladdin? Is her realist mind allowing fantasy to take a seat in the driver's side?

Chapter Six- Do you Tremble at the Beginning or the End?

She couldn't lose the memory of that kiss, the scent of his skin, or the taste of his lips. That night seemed to prove to her that magic did indeed exist, that there had been hope somewhere in the world and on that particular night, it descended and crowned her with wondrous bliss.

Savannah felt like the wealthiest woman alive. With the way she felt, no woman could top her with all the jewels and gold that they possessed. She often would question to herself what that feeling was, and why she felt it so strongly. She wondered if this was considered a taboo to the street rats of her generation, or any generation for that matter, what they called this glorious feeling, this love driven state of mind.

If it were, it surely was budding deep within her where no one could reach, like the many secrets of her heart, secured under lock and key. Savannah wandered the bustling streets of the marketplace, looking at her disheveled appearance in a glass plate being displayed and combed her tangled hair with her fingers, doing the best that she could with it until the kiosk vendor shooed her away, claiming she was bad for business, something like a black cat. She gave the vendor a look and walked on, startled by the sudden face hanging upside down from a fisherman's awning.

He grinned at her, she rolled her eyes.

"You are an idiot," she stifled a laugh through her statement.

"Yes, but," he started, climbing down once another vendor began to holler and create a bad mimic of Abu on a bad day. Once more, Savannah rolled her eyes and tugged him along, but not long before he spun her in his arms to him and presented her with a flower, a lily to be more specific. "I'm an idiot who's brought you a flower," he completed.

Savannah felt the heat bubble in her cheeks, color adorning her usual pale complexion. She accepted the flower and sampled its sweet aroma. "Mmm, well then, I guess your sweetness and thoughtfulness overrides your stupidity." The street urchin beamed.

"Thank Allah for that!" he teased, walking beside her, stopping her for a moment to tuck the blossom into her tangled locks, though he didn't seem to mind much. "There," he stated. "Looks good on you."

"Oh does it?" Savannah questioned nonchalantly, passing by a few kiosks, though scarcely glanced over at a polished pot, catching her reflection in it, taking a moment or so to fluff her hair up. For a moment, she felt like a real woman.

"Sav, you comin' or what?" He had granted her with the nickname "Sav" only for the sake that her name was so long, and this just made it that much easier for the urchin to call out to her when they were on the run. Savannah picked her eyes up from her reflection to look back at him, give a timid and nervous scratch at the back of her head and walked away, back to his side to move on home. Around this time the sun had just begun to set. The two took their time heading back.

"So, tell me, Aladdin, what do you see in the future?" Savannah began the conversation, just trying to stir up small talk to avoid nothingness. There was nothing worse than a walk home in silence. Aladdin thought long and hard about it, trying to pick the right words with her. He didn't want to offend her as he had the few months prior to their last conversation on the subject.

However, he smiled at her. "You know what I want, Sav," he said softly. "I want to take it easy for a change. Look at what we've been through. Do you really want that for the rest of your life?"

Savannah had to take a moment to respond. It was true what he was saying. They had been through enough; they deserved to take it easy. Just for once, they should stray from the sandy dunes and move onto the marble flooring. She knew, and she was aware. She just wouldn't accept it.

Aladdin took the silence as understanding and looked up at the darkening sky. The stars gleamed, covering the duo with a blanket of glistening wonder. "Imagine me? The Sultan," he chuckled lightly. "And you…"

Savannah perked her head up, "Yes?" Aladdin seemed to be in thought as far as her position went. She merely looked up at him with hopeful eyes, considering everything that had occurred between them, and the flower, things were looking up.

"You will be my most trusted adviser!" he announced, chuckling wholeheartedly. Savannah's hope faded and forced a weak smile. Okay, maybe he was just being a gentleman with flattery, or even just some flirt.

"O-oh? That's…some position," Savannah choked and replied. Aladdin took no notice to how she responded. He was too far gone in his dreams.

"Isn't it, though?" He asked, gleaming from ear to ear. "And I will have a princess at my side, and we will rule all of Agrabah!" he proclaimed. Back to his old hopes and dreams. His high hopes never diminished, and he wasn't afraid to show it; then again, he was getting carried away. "Just picture it! Servants and valets, cooks who will prepare only the finest meals! And then cleaners who will make the floors sparkle! It will be a new era for Agrabah, Savannah, you'll see!" He was getting worked up, and Savannah was upsetting herself. A dreamer was a dreamer after all, and a realist could only dream so much without seeing the true outlook to it. She dreamed of a whole new Agrabah alright, but nothing like he had cooking up.

"But, what about the city? The palace is fine and dandy, but, what about the city?" His excitement was simmering upon the tone in her voice. Uh-oh, he thought to himself. He had upset her again. Had he learned nothing?

He stepped in front of her and picked her chin up with his masculine fingers, picking her eyes up to meet his. "What do you think I mean what I say a new era?" He asked. "No one will go hungry again, and what do you think the Royal Adviser does, Sav? She will take care of all of my important royal things," he smiled, hoping this would make her feel better.

"Even though it should be you to go out and right these wrongs?" She questioned.

"I know it would mean a lot to you if you would," he quickly responded, keeping a steady grin to please her.

She didn't believe him, there was something that told her not to trust, although she still trusted nonetheless. Finally, she rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'm a royal whatever," she said, then flashed him a quick smile. Perhaps she had read too much into their closeness. She had begun to feel foolish of thinking they would be anything more than mere survival companions. Savannah looked up at Aladdin. She knew one thing; she didn't want to go back on the streets alone, not now that he was in her life.

"That's what I wanted to hear," he said, patting her shoulder before heading on back.

Normally, Savannah would have been startled by mere touch alone. Her heart still pounded, and color bathed her face. But just something about their conversation left her with a bad taste in her mouth. She couldn't pick out what it was, but she was sure she figured it out later. She watched him walk away, her hands down at her sides and a hopeless look plastered upon her face.

Now what?

Not too far from where the two hosted their conversation, trouble brewed elsewhere. (Well, trouble would be exaggerating the situation. But, I'm sure one gets the idea.) She had managed to sneak out of her bedroom without notice. With a sigh of relief the young figure crept past a pond in the center of the yard which housed various fish for decoration. The sky seemed so tempting to her, freedom tugged at her soul, made her feel so alive, for just a brief ounce of pleasure.

She reached one of the trees that resided beside a wall, she thought to herself and started to climb the tree, feeling herself being pulled back, as though being told she couldn't have what she wanted. She glanced back behind her, believing she had been caught for a second. She had been, but by her one and true friend.

"I'm sorry, Rajah," she said as she tugged the cloth free from the feline's mouth, kneeling down to his level. "But I can't stay here and have my life lived for me," she whispered gently, hugging his soft fur to her, as though it may possibly be for the final time. Prince Achmed was the final snap for Jasmine. These spoiled princes that dared to enter her palace were no match for her wit. Any man that didn't appreciate her or her tiger was no fit for Jasmine.

After a moment of her silent goodbyes, she returned to her feet, stroking him gently before attempting to climb the tree, being assisted in this task, along with whines and whimpers, she managed to gain her footing and climb over the wall, keeping her balance to steal one last look upon that sad face. She herself frowned, allowing herself seconds of glum. Why couldn't she rule Agrabah without a man at her side? That stupid law, she growled to herself.

"Goodbye," she whispered, dropping down to the ground and ran for it towards the streets of Agrabah's marketplace. She wasn't sure where or how she was sleeping tonight, but she was sure she'd find a way. She would miss Rajah, but she knew this was for the best, she was certain of it. Rajah would be cared for, he would have anything a tiger could dream of. Content with this in her mind, she ran as far as her royal legs would carry her.

As much as it was a new beginning for this new female, to our beloved Savannah, this was just the beginning of the end.