Chapter 12: Amplifier

Aladdin's hardest task that night wasn't getting the book of spells Nefir and his fellow imps needed. It probably would have been if Genie wasn't occupied with making the cure and if anyone else had been in the room and not sleeping. The hour of the night was closer to morning that evening by that point. The prince's hardest task wasn't even trying to stay awake. Despite snoozing for maybe a few hours, he was wide awake, unable to sleep unlike the others, with the exception of Genie.

The hardest task was walking away from Abu, who was trying his best to convince Aladdin that he was walking into a trap.

"This is a bad idea. A very, very bad idea. You don't know what you're up against," Abu complained while they were both in the usual hiding place. Aladdin was in the middle of changing his clothes for the brief trek to the outskirts of the city to meet the group.

"If I'm certain about anything, whatever comes next will be hard. But it's better than risking anything else happening to any of you while Genie's still making the cure." Aladdin slipped his arms into the vest he wore, nothing too fancy for a task he wasn't sure what he'd end up doing. He didn't want to go overdressed, especially for a trek into the desert - wherever they were going.

"Times like these I wish I was a monkey so it would be easier to slip in and out of notice. At least you wouldn't be alone."

Aladdin looked over his shoulder. "Abu, you know I would take you with me if I could. Nefir told me to come alone, or else the deal would be off. He definitely made it clear he'd bring whatever means of attack he could against the Palace to get those bracelets back if I didn't follow his terms. Those guys can level whole cities if they don't get what they want. I also don't want what happened to Carpet to happen to any of you."

Abu's shoulders slumped. "I know. Believe me, I'm freaked out just thinking about what could have happened. Doesn't mean that I'm not aware that they'll try to trick you into doing something awful, Aladdin. Maybe even hurt you too. I'm not worried about you doing what you need to; I'm worried about them doing the awful stuff."

"I get it. But I need you to trust me to get through this. Well, not only that - I need you to keep watch at the Palace. Just in case Nefir tries something against his word. I'll keep my end of things, but I don't trust him not to test the limits of the 'agreement' we were under."

"You think I'd be better at the Palace helping out?"

"Not think," Aladdin said honestly. "I know. You're my best friend, I know you'll do everything you can to keep everyone safe. That's true whether form you take on - human or monkey."

Abu nodded without words, but he still appeared unsure.

"I'll be back as soon as I can. Take care, pal." Aladdin shouldered the bag containing the tome on his back. He winced as he bore the weight of it. "I did my best to balance this out to be able to carry it, but it's still way too heavy."

Abu raised a brow, biting back what was a smile. "For us non-magic folk, it's the worst, right?"

Aladdin nodded. "Yeah. Good thing I'm only going to the outskirts of the city to meet with Nefir. But I'm wondering how effective this thing will be to someone who couldn't read the spell right the first time around."

Abu considered that thoughtfully. "That's a good point. Didn't remember that until you mentioned it. Is that the reason you're not too worried about them having the tome?"

"No. Definitely not underestimating what they can do with it. They may not be able to use it for certain things, but hard to know if there might be other things they could do. Just have to play it by eye and ear."

Aladdin and Abu walked out of the hiding place to the streets of Agrabah, the full moon shone fully over a nearly cloudless sky in the night.

"Aladdin?"

"Yeah?" Aladdin looked over his shoulder at Abu, concern creasing his brow.

Abu sighed, his hair flaring up over his brow from his breath. Aladdin noted that Abu really was like him in a lot of ways, down to some of the same mannerisms. "Just be careful, okay?"

Aladdin smiled. "Count on it."

"Hey Abu?" Jasmine hadn't meant to startle him when she spoke. From the way he screeched with alarm, Abu wasn't too far from removed from being like his usual monkey form in that moment. It had only been a few moments since she saw Aladdin walk away. She wanted some distance to be between them if she were going to follow him, after all.

"Princess? H-how long were you standing there?" Abu said, wincing.

"Long enough. He's headed out of the city to meet Nefir, right?"

Abu caught on quick. "I can't tell you what he's doing. Sworn to secrecy."

Jasmine placed one hand on her hip, frowning at him. "You can't even confirm what I was able to overhear?"

The former monkey's glance was weary, his brows narrowing slightly. "How much did you hear?"

Jasmine smiled. "Enough to know Aladdin took the tome from the Palace and plans to deliver it to the imps, alongside some other task that he has to do for them to prevent the Palace being attacked. Which, in fact, might be a trap."

Abu groaned. He seemed to realize that Jasmine had been listening even in the hiding space. Jasmine had hidden on the stairs while Aladdin was getting ready for the trek and Abu was trying to convince him not to go. "So...everything then?"

"Everything."

Abu appeared to weigh his next words carefully as he frowned at her. "Are you going after him? He wouldn't want that."

"What Aladdin wants and what he needs are sometimes two different things. This is one of those times when it's true, especially if Nefir plans on double crossing him. Someone has to be able to watch out for that. And I think if you're restricted from being with him like Carpet is, per Nefir's instructions, then of course neither of you can't go with him. But I'm not bound by the same restrictions. Not to mention I know what's going on."

Abu appeared surprised that she'd overheard that part of the conversation too. He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. "You really were there the whole time. Not that I don't agree with you, but if something goes wrong..."

"I'll be there to support him, from a distance. I promise I won't get caught by Nefir or the other imps. After all, I was able to hide from you and Aladdin up there, didn't I?"

Abu rolled his eyes, but relented. "Fine. Guess that means I'm going back to the Palace to make sure everyone else is okay. If you were around to hear me say it to Aladdin, I'll say it to you too. Please be careful, Princess."

Jasmine responded by planting a kiss on Abu's forehead, making him blush from the top of his forehead to his neck. "I definitely will. We'll see you as soon as we get back. Count on it."

Jasmine had to hold back a laugh as she saw Abu shyly wave to her as she left, the former monkey still flushed and speechless.

It didn't take long for Jasmine to catch up to Aladdin. He was walking at a steady pace, but with a little bit of strain. The book of spells that Aladdin carried on his back must have been heavier than she expected. She'd never held it for herself, but she remembered how hard of a time Aladdin had holding it when Nefir first tried to steal it.

It wasn't long before she found a sand dune to hide behind as Aladdin met up with Nefir and the other imps.

"Looks like you followed our instructions to the letter, Aladdin. Good. Now hand over the spellbook." Nefir held out his hand, as if he expected Aladdin to place the heavy tome there.

"You can get it yourself." Aladdin removed the pack from his back, placing it carefully in the space on the sand between himself and the group of imps.

Nefir motioned for one of his imp henchmen to get the sack containing the tome. One did eventually volunteer, but not eagerly. He flew over to the sack, sniffed it suspiciously, then took the tome out. The imp seemed to think the tome had a bad smell to it.

"It's been in that lair for a while, I would imagine it would smell musky," Nefir said dryly. "Hurry up and bring it over!"

"Okay, okay." The imp picked up the tome like it didn't weigh much. Jasmine saw the expression on Aladdin's face - one of disapproval, considering he'd had so much difficulty bringing it there. The prince folded his arms across his chest, waited as the imp carried the tome over to Nefir for his inspection.

"Ah yes," Nefir said, a wide grin spreading over his face. "This is the real article. Good." Nefir met Aladdin's attention then. "You did well to bring it this time, not trying any of your usual tricks."

"I held up my end of the bargain. Now what's the next part of the plan so that you can leave my family and friends alone?" Aladdin said, his tone firm.

"Patience." Nefir held up a hand. "We'll get to that part in a moment. Our task takes us a little closer to Getzistan. We don't have to do too much to get there, though."

Aladdin scoffed. "Glad you think so. Unless you plan on using magic to get us there before the sun rises."

"Precisely. Waiting until sunrise for this task is not an option. So, we'll portal over there." Nefir recited an incantation that neither Aladdin nor Jasmine could make sense of. But sure enough, when Nefir used his finger to draw a circle in mid-air, a glowing peach-colored portal appeared.

"After you, your highness," Nefir said, mocking. "Don't want you getting any ideas about stepping out of this deal prematurely."

"No chance of that happening," Aladdin said. The prince looked wearily at the portal as he approached it, as if he expected it to be a trap.

As if Nefir could sense the prince's hesitation, he laughed without humor. "If you're worried, you needn't bother," Nefir said with a sneer. "I have uses for you that favor you being more alive than dead. For the moment at least."

That made the other imps laugh, but their laughs mocked Aladdin's weariness. Jasmine saw Aladdin ball his hands to fists at his sides, but he didn't say anything further as he stepped through the portal and disappeared.

Aladdin took a moment to breathe out his surprise when he realized they were in an underground passage, a hidden path stuck between two sand dunes in the middle of the desert from the look of the entrance leading out to the moonlit night above them. But the only path that wasn't behind him faced forward, down into the darkness past boulders.

Nefir was quick to appear at Aladdin's side, flying next to his shoulder. "You will be going down there to fetch something for us. Something that will amplify the power of this tome for what we need to use it for."

"Amplify it how?" Aladdin asked, raising a brow. "What am I looking for?"

"Deep in the pathway of this particular passage is an artifact that looks like a smooth tigerstone. A summoning stone. A guardian spirit shields it. That spirit said to be one of the most deadly forces in the seven deserts. Not as powerful as your Genie, but enough."

The other imps seemed to tremble at the mention of the spirit, which made part of Aladdin's stomach twist. Whatever was in there didn't sound too friendly.

"And you want me to go in there and get the stone?"

"Yes," Nefir rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Because you're the only goody-two-shoes I know that can get past that spirit's rule of not openly antagonizing or deceiving them. Though with your history of lying and deception, you may have a little bit of trouble."

Aladdin's jaw clenched. "I've definitely changed since my days as a street thief, Nefir. Not that you would care."

"At any rate," Nefir said, ignoring the prince, "You get that stone, bring it back to us intact, and your work with us is done. We will be on our merry way, and you can go back home without any further disturbance from us. We will leave your animal friends alone."

Aladdin narrowed his eyes. "What's the catch? What aren't you telling me?"

"I could tell you a few things." Nefir casually shrugged. "I could tell you that no non-magic mortal has emerged from that pathway alive. I also know that the room that contains the stone has a rare medicinal flower, which you will certainly need for the journey back."

"Why?" Aladdin had a feeling he'd regret asking the question. When Nefir didn't answer, Aladdin made the mistake of looking over to the imp. He hadn't realized that Nefir was muttering an incantation of some kind. The moment that Aladdin's eyes met the imp's, the flash of Nefir's eyes indicated that some kind of magic had passed between them.

Aladdin's head exploded with fresh pain, making the prince's yell echo through the cave before he fell to the ground.

The laughter of the imps made the ache in his head grow worse, affecting his sense of balance and displacing him as he lay on the ground. "W-what did you just do to me?" Aladdin managed to say, using one hand to hold the side of his aching head.

"Just a little spell for insurance, courtesy of the tome you just gave me. To keep you focused on the task ahead and not wandering off or stalling for time. But I suppose having the continuous pain of a migraine wracking your senses in spell form won't help you focus, will it? Unlike a regular headache, this won't go away. Not easily."

"You double crossing...!" Aladdin's head surged with another wave of pain that made him clench his jaw. He barely managed not to bite his own tongue.

"Now, now," Nefir said, his tone feigning concern as he floated over where Aladdin lay on the ground. "Take it easy, your highness. If you focus hard enough, you should be able to control the surges on your own. They'll ease to give you enough room to go forward. But they're not going away until you get the flower in the same room as the stone. And there's a certain way you'll have to take the medicinal flower in order for your headaches to go away."

"How?" Aladdin asked, wincing.

"You'll find out when you return, once you hand over the stone. That's the condition."

"Was this your plan the whole time? Make me do something you failed at once before?"

Nefir's jovial mood faded very quickly. The other imps began to laugh at Nefir, but a quick glare from Nefir stunned them to silence. Aladdin realized he'd struck a nerve in the imp at the sound of his voice. "How did you know that?"

Aladdin's breaths were shaky, but he managed to speak after finding his focus. "Not hard to tell. The fact you'd know what was in the room and know to put this spell on me, not to mention knowing everything you did about the spirit gave it away. The spirit didn't give you the stone like you wanted, probably even chased you out of the room. You - a magic being - lived to tell the story of your failure."

Another burst of laughter came from the imps, but they were quick to silence when Nefir glanced over his shoulder to sneer at them. "The past is the past. The now is the only thing you have to worry about," Nefir snapped, turning his attention back to Aladdin. "We don't have all night."

Aladdin knew that was his cue to get going. If he could only focus. He closed his eyes, tried to focus his thoughts past the pain in his head. The control of his thoughts gave him enough strength to push past the initial dizziness he had. He stood, slowly, using a nearby wall for support.

The other imps began to laugh and whistle taunts towards Aladdin as he regained his balance, but the glare he gave them made them fall silent again. They really are cowards, aren't they? Aladdin thought. That's probably why Nefir didn't send any of them to do this, either. Not to mention that the spirit probably would have rejected them too.

Aladdin watched as Nefir used his magic to light several torches that showed the turns in the path ahead. The prince walked down a short staircase and forward, his breathing heavy as his head throbbed. The sooner I get this done, the better.