Chapter 03 - A Difficult Truth
"That's everything that happened to me, Sultan. Everything I can remember anyway." Aladdin winced as he finished the story. Not because of recalling events, but from Jasmine putting the final touches on the bandage that covered his head. It had been one of several redressings of the wound since the events of two days before. Aladdin had slept much of the first day. This was the first where he felt more like himself again.
"What a harrowing ordeal. Are you sure you're all right?" The Sultan frowned at him as he sat across from where Aladdin lay on Jasmine's day bed.
"Seriously, much better than before. My head feels only weird when I put physical pressure on it, but no headaches. But...I'm still not allowed to go into town." Aladdin turned his gaze to Jasmine wearily.
Jasmine folded her arms across her chest. "I never said you couldn't go into the Marketplace. Just not by yourself. You have a really bad head wound, Aladdin. It's getting better, but you need to take it as easy as possible. If you want to run errands, it's probably better that Genie do it instead."
"Or he could just go with me?" Genie offered. "I'll take really, REALLY good care of him while we're out of the Palace."
Aladdin winced. "And have you fussing over me every step of the way? No thanks." Aladdin did his best impression of Genie. " 'Oh nooo, Al, don't go that way or you might slip on a banana and fall. We don't want you breaking your head open like an egg again.' "
Even that made the Sultan laugh. "That's a pitch-perfect imitation of Genie." Genie rolled his eyes, but his slight smile at Aladdin had indicated that he knew the prince was joking. Somewhat.
"Nah, I still got the best voice imitation chops among this group," Iago said from the opposite corner of the room, eating a few pieces of fruit from a bowl.
"Still, my point is, I should still be able to go to the Marketplace with Abu," Aladdin's voice didn't bother to hide his sadness. "Really want to spend some time talking to him. I get the feeling he's been avoiding me the last few days."
The silence that lingered after that was an indication that what Aladdin had suggested - as far as he knew - was true. But everyone else had been trying to avoid that conversation. Abu wasn't in the room at that moment.
Genie tried to lighten the mood. "Maaaybe Abu is spending some much needed time with Rajah."
Jasmine considered it. "Actually, that's true. I can vouch for that - Abu has been spending some time with Rajah in the Palace Gardens the past couple of days. He seems okay, considering, if that's what you're worried about, Aladdin. He wasn't hurt as badly as you were. He's probably trying to give you space to recoup."
Aladdin's concerns weren't really eased, but he nodded slowly. "As long as he is really okay. Just wish he'd tell me that himself."
"Why don't you go talk to him now?" Jasmine suggested. "Since you're feeling more like yourself. I'm only saying you shouldn't try to go into public places while your head is still the way it is. I can definitely tell you're getting better, but you're not there yet."
"Well, guess I could. I'll go look for him in the Palace Gardens then." Aladdin swung his legs over the side of the day bed, taking care to stand. Genie was close by, ready to assist him, but Aladdin shook his head. "Seriously Genie, I'm good. I don't mind you walking with me, just in case Abu ends up being somewhere else."
"No worries, my monkey radar is top-notch!" Genie used his magic to make a little controller with a monkey display in the center of the console appear in his hands. Unfortunately, after pressing a few buttons, the springs in the contraption exposed themselves.
"Somehow, I think you still have a few bugs to work out. Good luck with that," Aladdin teased.
After Aladdin and Genie had left the room, Jasmine and the Sultan watched the two as they walked down the hallway. The Sultan sighed with relief. "I am very glad that Aladdin has recovered as well as he has. It's truly remarkable."
Jasmine folded her arms across her chest. "Yeah, it's even surprised me. I'm glad he's feeling like himself again. But..." She trailed off, frowning, seeming to pull back her words.
Her father frowned as he looked at her. "I don't like the idea of you fretting over him so, but I completely understand."
"I didn't tell Aladdin as much, but he was barely standing when he found us. He said when he heard us searching for him, he didn't want to lose time. By the time we met, he passed out from the amount of blood he lost. I don't know how he survived the cliff fall or the river, but I'm glad he did. I just don't want him to undo the progress he's made recovering."
The Sultan nodded. "Very well. If there is anything I can do, please let me know, dearest."
Jasmine smiled, kissing the top of the Sultan's forehead. "Thank you, Father."
Abu was in the Palace Gardens playing kickball with Rajah, as Jasmine had predicted. Aladdin and Genie watched them play a little while between each other. Genie made the first move to be a cheerleader between Team Tiger and Team Monkey, which made Abu even more competitive in keeping the ball moving. In the end, Abu triumphed by 1 point according to Genie's scoreboard.
"And the winner, and reigning champion is...TEAM MONKEY." Genie said in his best announcer voice. He made sure to use his magic to change into a three piece suit and hold a fancy microphone to play the part.
"Nice job, Abu. Knew you could do it," Aladdin said, clapping while on the sidelines. "You really pulled out all the stops in the last part there."
Abu had not noticed Aladdin watching in the heat of the competition. And when the monkey saw him, Aladdin realized from the way the monkey's expression lit up that Abu had definitely not been avoiding him. Abu dropped everything, fake trophy, flowers and all, and raced towards Aladdin. The prince was ready to greet him with open arms.
Abu gave Aladdin a big hug around his neck. "Oh Aladdin."
"I missed you too, pal. Been a long few days." When they pulled apart, Aladdin looked down at the monkey with concern. "You doing okay? I know you weren't as bad off as me, but I wanted to make sure you were good."
"Uh huh." Abu confirmed.
"That's what I like to hear. I still can't leave the Palace for a bit. Princess's orders, unfortunately."
"Aww," Abu frowned.
"Believe me when I say that I feel that. Former street rat, but I still don't do well in a cage. But it's for the best. Just gotta wait until this head of mine agrees with me."
Aladdin wasn't sure when the shift happened, but Abu suddenly freaked out in his arms, seeming to think he'd overstepped a boundary. The monkey pulled abruptly apart from where he'd embraced Aladdin. He found a perch on Genie's right shoulder instead.
"Whoa, what was that for? You didn't do anything wrong." Aladdin looked at the monkey with concern as Abu seemed equally confused, then surprised as he looked downward at Aladdin's chest. Genie and Rajah watched this sudden shift in exchange with equal confusion as Abu explained. Aladdin had to take a moment. "No, not at all. Think I would have remembered that. You didn't hurt me."
"Phew." The expression of relief Abu gave was obvious, but Aladdin didn't think it sounded convincing. He didn't press it though.
"At any rate, as soon as I'm in the clear, I'll take you out for a day at the Marketplace," Aladdin continued. "How about it?"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Okay, it's a promise." As Aladdin watched Abu and Rajah make their way back into the Palace, Genie approached him. It was dinner time, so made sense they were getting ready for that. Genie noticed Aladdin looked a little weary.
"What's wrong kiddo?"
Aladdin hesitated only a moment. "Abu's reaction just now was really weird. He brushed it off like it wasn't anything, but he thought I had a really deep chest wound. Freaked out about possibly hurting me when he hugged me."
"Hmm," Genie thought a moment. "Jasmine did tell me when Abu was telling her about what happened on the cliffs, you had massive injuries before the ledge collapse. She mentioned that Abu had said it was your head and chest, but when we reunited with you, it was definitely your head."
Aladdin shrugged. "Lucky it wasn't anything else, honestly. Guess my luck paid off this time. Again."
"Wish it hadn't happened at all. Sorry kid."
Aladdin shook his head, looking away towards the setting sun on the horizon. "Don't be. With Mozenrath involved, anything can happen. Not the first time something like that happened and probably won't be the last. Just a really close call this time around. Speaking of which -" Aladdin turned fully to Genie. "Do we still have the artifact?"
At this, Genie grinned. "Yep. Safe and sound in the Treasure Room. Now equipped not only with regular traps but also magic traps. The latter approved by me."
"So Mozenrath can't get his hands on it now?" Aladdin said, raising a brow.
"Nope. Not a glove."
"Good. That's what I wanna hear. Considering the rumors surrounding that thing, I don't wanna think about what could have happened if Mozenrath got it. He knows more about it than we do, so clearly he was going to use it for something."
Genie nodded, expression serious. "I'll keep researching it. Taking me a little bit longer on the semi-phenomenal side, but the only thing I can find so far is that it's an amplifier. Something to do with enhancing magic."
"Black Sand magic specifically or general magic?"
"Any magic, from what I know, but if he knows it's most effective with the magic he learned, he's definitely gonna be after it again."
"Makes sense, Genie. Let me know if I can help with anything, okay?"
Genie smiled. "Sure thing." With that, Genie and Aladdin walked back into the Palace to join the others for dinner.
Lati was learning a lot about Aladdin's personality from his interactions with his friends and family. Granted, both she and Komal had been lying dormant in Aladdin's body for the most part over the past couple of days. It was easier to relax for the both of them when Aladdin was resting or asleep while recovering from his injuries. But as he started getting his strength back, they could feel how much spirit he truly had. Komal was slightly antsy as a result.
As Aladdin slept that night, Lati and Komal found time for conversation. Aladdin wasn't too light of sleeper, so he wouldn't wake up or remember anything in their more dominating presence in his mind and body.
"We may need to consider speeding up our process with this, Lati," Komal said. "If Aladdin remembers too much more about the incident, it could cause problems for us keeping hidden."
Lati pushed back. "It's only been two days. Give him a break. He's still recovering."
"The monkey's statements had me worried. If Aladdin had questioned it further, we may have had to intervene. We need to be vigilant."
"WE don't need to do anything. Please just leave Aladdin alone. We are observing and letting him heal. That was the plan."
"AND finding a way to get our bodies back, remember? How far along are you in healing his wounds?"
Tati sighed. "His chest wound is more serious than I thought it would be, considering I'm masking the impact of it. I think his head is healing quicker than expected because of his awareness of that injury. He wants to get better. I think also since he doesn't have any awareness or suspicion associated with us or his memories, it's making my powers more effective."
"Like I stated," Komal repeated. "The longer we linger in his body, the more suspicious he'll become. And potential for side-effects. As you mentioned, correct?"
"Komal, you're being obtuse. I said things could go wrong with a trio of spirits in one body for a longer time, but we also have to not rush things to the point where Aladdin's not ready or if it's going to put him in conflict with his loved ones. We are trying NOT to be detected, remember?"
Komal was quiet for a little while before he spoke again. "Fine. Just...not too long."
"I want to have my own body back just as much as you do. Remember that," Tati said. She made sure to not say what she was really thinking - that putting their needs above Aladdin's while being in his body uninvited wasn't okay. But they both already knew that.
But it seemed she was the only one who felt guilty about it.