Chapter Sixteen- Outsmarting the Enemy

All hope did seem bleak. The Genie was out of his grasp and he had two lives to care for. No harm could come to Jasmine or her father, not if he could help it. Prince Ali was a pompous, egotistical prick on a spinning wheel of lies. Ali couldn't help him, but the mind of Aladdin could. What would a street rat do?

The skies rained fire, the clouds a dark grey to match his mood and his intentions. It was all so deliciously evil. Jafar curled within himself in excitement. He was about to receive everything he ever wanted, everything he thought he had coming to him. Years of servitude beneath the bumbling idiot of a ruler; he could do far better, he knew it. Marry Jasmine by force since he could not force her to fall in love with him, take the throne. Rule Agrabah with fear and force them all into poverty, let them kill one another for a bone or bean. Let them pluck one another off one by one until hardly any were left.

After several head turns of looking back and forth between Jasmine and Jafar, Aladdin himself disappeared behind a column. He needed only a moment to trick Jafar somehow. The genie, he thought. Genie, magic, the lamp, he listed. His eyes widened. That was it. Jafar cackled taunts to lure Aladdin out. As much as the sorcerer could turn the retch into ash, it was far more fun to play with his prey.

Aladdin stepped back before Jafar, in front of Jasmine as he made eye contact with the man who sought to destroy him to gain his own power. He was at first a ruler, then a sorcerer. But, that power wasn't enough. For good measure, Jafar destroyed a column and caused Jasmine and her father to jump and cower.

"It's not enough for you, is it?" Aladdin asked.

Jafar narrowed his eyes. "And just what do you mean by that, boy?"

"The power, you crave more of it. Being a sorcerer is what you know, right? But what you don't know is the almighty power of a genie."

Jafar appeared intrigued, the skies lightened as the rain halted. It was all powered by emotion and hatred. Jafar was placid with thought. "You're right. The genie's power does exceed my own. A mere sorcerer is not enough. What a clever idea boy, and when I do harness this power, you'll be the first to go."

Grinning manically, Jafar turned to Genie, who stared on with helpless, widened eyes. He was enslaved to Jafar, a sociopath with a vengeance. He only had one master like that prior and destroyed an empire. He was reliving that period in time all over again.

"Slave, I have my final wish. I wish to be an all powerful genie."

He had no choice but to do as he was commanded. He glared at Aladdin, who stood with the royal family. Aladdin's hand held tight to Jasmine's. The genie engulfed Jafar into his magic, sharing with him his own. The transformation cut some of Genie's power and gave it to the willing host. On the inside, the magical being winced as Jafar became a genie, a red demonic being whose cackle boomed into the empty sky.

"The power! Yes! The power is finally mine!"

As Jafar basked in reverence, absorbing the fullness of his power, Aladdin scrambled away. His feet were quiet against the broken pavement, all coming from years of experience to not get caught. He hid behind a pillar again and snaked on his stomach to the other end. The black lamp was in reach. It was elegant, tempting, and yearning for black magic. It oozed and radiated evil. The lamp was so convincing of darkness, Aladdin wondered if it would burn the palms of his hands to protect Jafar.

Aladdin had to test the idea. He grasped the lamp between the palms of his hands. The bottom scraped against the pavement, causing Jafar to snap his head at Aladdin. He growled, though golden cuffs appeared on Jafar's wrists. Jafar was now bound to the man he sought to destroy. The situation was flipped for the former sorcerer and Aladdin merely smiled.

"You wanted this power, right? This power comes with a price! Jafar, I wish you back into the lamp!" He had no choice but to do as his master commanded. The Genie Jafar's eyes widened, hollering as he slowly was sucked into the vortex of the lamp. Feeling that rush of power, Aladdin looked down, barely unable to believe what he had just accomplished. He banished Jafar, and he wouldn't be released until someone rubbed the lamp.

As Jafar was sealed, all of his damage began to unwind itself. The palace back in his glamorous stature, pavement resealed; Jasmine and her father back to their former selves. Everything was as it should been, with the exception of one thing. Aladdin looked down at the lamp, then back up at Genie.

Genie smiled and took the item from Aladdin. He admired the craft and design. "I think a thousand years in The Cave of Wonders ought to give him some time to decide on what he wants in life, how about you?" With the flick of his finger, the lamp disappeared from the royal's eye so their time to forget Jafar could begin.

Aladdin rushed to Jasmine and raised her, swung her in his arms and brought her down in a warm, enclosed embrace. He'd be crazy to let her go after everything that had transpired. He'd be a fool.

The sultan witness his daughter and this boy embrace. This fellow resembled Prince Ali and yet was not Ali at all. Aladdin turned to face the sultan and his smile faded, although the plump father waddled over between the two. Jasmine had been ready to fight, her body stiff, her voice ready to protest.

"Before you can say anything," Sultan began. "I understand what the law states, but am I sultan or who am I then? I declare a new law." He chuckled. "The princess may choose whoever she deems worthy."

With those words in mind, Jasmine ran into Aladdin's arms. Aladdin curled Jasmine close to him and nodded slowly to the sultan, who watched the youths with a tender smile. Aladdin glanced around to see Savannah nowhere in sight. He assumed the worst when she hadn't returned with the rest. Jafar's magic should have returned her. Aladdin had so much to say, but was so focused on getting Jasmine that he neglected the person who really cared for him.

"Al, you know that-" The genie began as he read the look on his friends face.

"I know no one could bring her back."

"I don't think she's dead. I believe Jafar took her someplace no one can reach. Just say the world and I'll-"

Aladdin shook his head. Just like his mother, just like people he had known, once they left they hardly ever returned. There was one thing he could do, however, and it would set things right. Yes, he had two wishes remaining. But, it was time to think for someone else.

"Genie, I wish-"

"That's right, go on," Genie encouraged.

"Genie, I wish you free."

And it was with that that Genie's hands were dismantled from their golden cuffs. Any remnants of genie servitude were dispersed into thin air. He was free. All those false wishes from masters before, all ideas seeded into his head, he knew those two would follow through. He embraced Aladdin fully. Excited, he began to scheme idea as a free entity. He would return to his friend, and he would promise. And as a good friend, he would do Aladdin a favor in his travels.

"If I happen to find Savannah, Al, I'll bring her home."

Aladdin looked up at Genie and released the breath he had been holding.

"Do you really think she's out there?"

Jasmine placed her hand over Aladdin's. "I do."

"You're thinking, aren't you?" Jasmine said as she found him at her balcony, staring off at the sky. He tossed away a flower he had been plucking the petals from, which had fallen on Rajah below, who glanced up with annoyance. "You can't allow yourself to feel guilt for what happened," Jasmine added. "There was nothing any of us could have done."

"I know," Aladdin agreed, sighing. "But where could Jafar have taken her?" He slammed his fist onto the railing. Jasmine shook her head and took his fist into her hand.

"Come, father wishes to speak to you." A look of dread appeared on Aladdin's face. That could never be a good thing.

Aladdin descended the staircase and into the audience chamber, back in his ceremonial street rat garb. The Sultan perked a brow at his appearance, his elder eyes hopeful to see the character of Prince Ali and that he truly was a prince. Jafar had not lied in that regard. Jasmine stood in the doorway, curious as to what her father would say.

"My boy, you came into my palace and deceived me. You wished for my daughter's hand without a penny to your name. I trusted you; I gave you the benefit of the doubt. You took advantage of a Sultan's trust and now you still ask for her hand."

Aladdin cleared his throat; his head bowed the entirety of the Sultan's speech. Jasmine craved to interject, but she saw the look in her father's eye. The Sultan was not yet finished. "But I was not wrong about your character. I'll have my eye on you. I will continue to see you as a suitor for my daughter. You saved us. That is worth something, at least. I meant what I said about Jasmine choosing for her, but you must further prove yourself worthy of my people."

Aladdin swallowed hard, but all hope was not lost. He smiled and bowed his head. "Thank you, your majesty. I will not fail you."

With a small smile, the Sultan nodded and sent Aladdin off to Jasmine's waiting arms. Aladdin scooped her into them and left the room after setting her down. She squeezed Aladdin's hand in a comforting manner and nodded.

"As grim as that sounded, it's a good sign." She leaned against him and walked with him into the courtyard. "So, what will you do about Savannah?" She saw Aladdin's hardened face. A lot weighed on his mind. She frowned gently and desired to comfort him in any way she could imagine.

"I don't know. But, I can't stop trying, Jasmine. She has to be somewhere."

"She could be anywhere…"

"I know. It's a matter of where to start."

Aladdin left the palace grounds, treading areas he used to run. He passed the fish merchant, the blacksmith, the jeweler and then the baker. Each man nodded to the other out of respect. Feet padding against the littered pavement, Aladdin stuffed his hands in his pockets and continued forth. In the end, he got the girl and saved the ruler. By law, he was proclaimed a hero and worthy of the sultan's attention. On neutral ground, Aladdin was relieved that the sultan didn't forbid him from his daughter.

Turning down blocks and passing the families blow out their candles to say goodnight; he prevented the beam from smacking him in the head. Treading up the stairs, he took a moment to survey his hovel, taking a seat down upon the open hole in the wall, glancing now at the view of the palace. Grand as it was, he understood lavish walls and pampered living. His former dream was over and now he could start anew. His dreams were attainable to him. Jasmine was in his arms, he, out of all the men out in existence won the heart of the princess. It was all hard earned and he couldn't have felt more accomplished.

His adventure wasn't over. Part two was just beginning. He regained himself and Savannah wouldn't let him lose himself to his dreams. She made them attainable to him. Memories of love were distant, yet so close.