Chapter 7
Sora stretched his tired limbs, and began to crawl out of his tiny bed. They'd locked up Traverse Town good and tight, and even directed a little kid to Leon and the gang for assistance. The unfortunate little guy had woken up there, and was scared, wondering what had happened to his folks. They felt for him, especially Sora.
After letting everyone know how thankful they were, they headed for the Gummi ship. There really wasn't any time to waste. They needed to get moving. The King could be anywhere out there, and the same went for Kairi, and to some extent Riku. Though, Sora had thought how little saving Riku needed, he was still determined to be reunited with his childhood best friend.
Besides, locking up worlds was almost more important than anything they wanted to do in the first place. Sora exited his room, and found the kitchen empty, again. He headed for the fridge, and fetched a small carton of milk. With a tear, he'd taken gulp after gulp, and finished it rather quickly. He then headed for the cockpit, and smiled upon entry.
"Hey, guys."
"Mornin' sleepy head!" Donald teased. Goofy chuckled, whilst Sora ran a hand through his hair, "Yeah, yeah. So, where we headed?" He asked, taking his seat. Donald turned back to face the screens he captained, whilst flying the Gummi ship.
"We just got into atmosphere, and the radar says this place is hot. Really hot, so get ready." Sora snickered, "Oh, don't worry about me. I can handle hot."
"Holy crap this place is hot." Sora groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. Indeed, they had landed smack in the middle of a desert, and a scorching one, at that. There appeared to be a sprawling city in the distance, but Donald had landed the Gummi ship far away from it, as to avoid attention. With the cloaking device active, the trio began the long walk towards the city's gates.
"You couldn't have parked a little closer?" Sora groaned.
"Aw, quit your whining." Donald replied.
The sky above was the clearest Sora had seen in a while, and the most beautiful shade of blue. Beneath their feet, the sand, whilst blisteringly hot, was also a gorgeous shade of tan. The dunes seemed to rise and fall like waves in an ocean, and it went on forever, in every direction, except for the one they were headed in.
"Let's play a game!" Goofy suggested.
"No." Donald quacked. Goofy either didn't hear Donald, or just didn't care.
"I spy, with my little eye, something that starts with the letter..." Goofy thought for a moment, "S!"
"Sand." Sora replied immediately.
"Gawrsh, Sora! You're pretty good!"
Donald sighed, "Of all the people in all the worlds to get stuck on a long walk with in a desert..."
Meanwhile, the bustling oasis of Agrabah was busy as usual. Peddlers, and merchants alike did their best to sell their wares, outshouting, and undercutting their competitors at every turn. The customers were nearly as shrewd themselves, making up fictional shops where the prices were much lower than the one they currently shopped at. It was as hot here, if not even hotter, than in the tranquil sea of sand, yet deafeningly louder. The streets were cobblestoned at least at one time, as most of them had been covered by sand over the years, and the buildings varied in height. All bore a resemblance to one another in their color scheme, which was a light shade of tan, presumably to relfect the harsh sun. Some were tall, others were short, but all had flat roofs, and tile floors, with an assortment of rugs lying about.
This place had also seen war, apparently. Or battle, at the very least, as some of the many walls had charred holes that had been blasted open, revealing the modest interiors. All in all, it was a vibrant hub of commerce, and life, with a mix of excitement, and peril around every corner, and down each alleyway.
High above, and in the distance of all the chatter, price gouging, and subsequent price busting, that was the city proper, stood an enormous palace. With royal baths, courtyards, and lavish lounges to boot, it was the model of Sultanic living. Its large, domed roofs gave it an almost mushroom like shape in many places, and the stark white paint, with gold trim was all you needed to know that this was no ordinary building. It was a marvel.
There, in a cool room, with elegant tile work adorning the floor, and walls, two nefarious fiends stood, looking out over the city. Both dressed in black, the man fit in much better, than the vile witch he stood next to.
"And the Keyhole?" She asked.
"The Heartless are searching for it, as we speak." The man answered, stroking his thin, well manicured, black beard. His eyes were piercing, like that of a snake, and his figure was that of a scrawny, but very tall man. He was the Vizier to the Sultan, and he was a conniving, treacherous, elitist, snake in the grass.
Jafar, of Agrabah.
"I'm sure we'll find it soon enough. Which, just leaves..." He paused, as a small red parrot flew in from the other room, panting. He'd been flying around town, apparently.
"Jafar!" He hollered in a shrill, and horrible little voice. "I've looked everywhere for Jasmine!" The bird landed on his shoulder, still breathing heavily. "She's disappeared like magic!"
Jafar rolled his eyes, "The girl is more trouble than she's worth." The horned witch didn't turn to face him, but frowned. "You said you had everything under control."
Jafar scoffed, "Agrabah is full of holes for rats to hide in. But, why worry about Princess Jasmine, I wonder? With, or without her, surely this world will be ours, once we've located the Keyhole." Jafar felt like he was being purposely kept in the dark on something, and he didn't like that.
"We need the Seven Princesses of Heart, to open the final door." She sighed, "Any fewer, is useless."
Jafar grimaced.
He wanted to know what was so damn important about this 'final door' she spoke of. But, if playing along meant he could harness the power of these blood thirsty, and powerful Heartless, then so be it.
"Well, if the Princess is that important, then we'll find her." With a snap of his fingers, Jafar summoned forth a band of turban wearing Heartless, all equipped with sharp scimitars, and one particularly large one, who weilded no weapon, but had massive hands with claws.
"Find Jasmine, and bring her to me at once!" He ordered, the parrot nodding in response, as well as the Heartless running off in all directions to find their prey. The witch smiled. "Do not steep yourself in Darkness too long. The Heartless consume the careless..."
Jafar had already begun to walk away, "Your concern is touching, but hardly necessary." He replied, with condescension. He hated working with her, and he hated her. This sickly, and ugly witch. She thought she was so much better than everyone, when in fact it was he that was the superior. He was nearly done taking orders, and soon, he'd show her just exactly who she was dealing with.
The blood of a great lineage would surely usurp this horned hag, and he would quickly and effortlessly deal with the rest, after she was good and gone. He smiled at the thought, as he left the room.
"Excuse me. Pardon us. Sorry!" Sora, Donald, and Goofy all did their best to navigate the crowded streets of Agrabah.
"No, I don't want any!" Donald shouted angrily at a merchant, while Goofy was busy being swindled out of his shoes.
"Gee, they are nice. All ya want are mine?" He asked.
"Goofy, c'mon!" Donald quacked.
"Oop, sorry pal, gotta run!" Goofy tipped his hat to the irritated peddler, and followed along behind the duck Mage. Sora lead the group, trying to find a quieter, and higher spot so that they could get a good look around. They'd already paid a hefty fee for three glasses of water at the entrance, and now they needed to get the lay of the land.
"You, boy, how about a nice meal, huh?" Sora heard one call out. He was sort of hungry, "What do ya got?" Sora asked, stepping up to the counter.
"Baklava. Here, try free sample." Sora took one bite, "Oh, man, that is nice. How much?"
"Your friend there. He'll make a nice meal." The merchant pointed at Donald.
"Wak! Why I oughta..." Donald stewed angrily.
"Sorry, pal, no deal." Sora said firmly, before taking the corner at the food merchant's stall. It was here he'd found their break.
"Look, a ladder!" The Keyblade Master, began to climb, rung after rung, followed by his companions. They'd found themselves in the second story of a dingy little house, with a massive hole in the wall to their left, that looked down over the crowded streets below. To their right were a set of stairs that led to somewhere, presumably.
The whole place looked a bit thrown together. A sloppily made bed laid at the foot of the hole in the wall, and a crooked and half folded rug laid on the ground. The ceiling above had a nice looking chandelier, but it was nearly falling out. A table with a small pillow for a chair sat in the corner, and directly across from the trio stood an old chest of drawers with a few trinkets atop it, and something else rather curious.
Very curious, indeed.
A blue and gold carpet's edge seemed to be stuck under it, but what was curious, was that it seemed aware of it! The carpet was tossing and pulling violently, as if trying to free itself, when it noticed them climb in. It jumped, but, with its tassels for hands seemed to gesture to its stuck 'foot', anatomically speaking.
"Please tell me you guys see the carpet playing charades." Sora groaned.
"Oh, I see it alright." Donald quacked. Goofy walked over, "It looks like it needs some help!" He said with a smile, beginning to push the drawer off of the poor thing's tassel.
"Goofy, don't! What if it's a Heartless?" Donald cried. Sora laughed, "Oh, yeah, forgot about the scary carpet monster. Wouldn't wanna free it." He threw his hands behind his head.
"Now you listen here!" Donald turned, pointing a finger up at Sora. Goofy meanwhile had completed his objective, with a push, and watched in awe, as the Carpet leapt for joy, and shook the Knight's hand, before taking off into flight, and heading out of the hole in the wall, toward the desert.
Goofy ran over during the course of Sora and Donald's shouting match, and leaned out, to see exactly where it was headed. His eyes though, could only notice one anomaly. What looked like the tell tale signs of Heartless, a few black holes that appeared, seemed to drop something in an alley, then disappeared. Goofy's superior hearing gave him all he needed to know, as he heard a young woman shriek from the alley across from the building they stood in.
"Hey, I think the Heartless are here!"
"What!?" Sora and Donald asked, heading for the hole, and looking out where Goofy pointed. Sora summoned his Keyblade, and, without any abandon, simply leapt out of the window, down into the streets below.
"Hey!" Donald quacked, turning and heading for the ladder behind him. Goofy followed along, but Sora had crashed through a now incensed shop keep.
"Why, you little!" He hollered, but Sora didn't have time to apologize. He needed to get to that alley. Sprinting in that direction, he shoved citizens aside, left and right, clearing a path for the trailing Donald and Goofy. Squeezing through the small gap in between buildings, he emerged, and found just what Goofy had said.
Turban wearing, scimitar wielding, and seemingly agile, Heartless, about the same height as the Knight Heartless. He sliced through the nearest with his Jungle Keyblade, and quickly slashed through the next. He blocked an incoming attack from a third, and kicked it in the chest to create separation.
"Ice!" He shouted, impaling the offender with icicles. The final one prepared for a duel, and spun at Sora, blade in hand, but the Keyblade Master was simply too fast. He rolled out of the way and swung at its legs. Donald and Goofy slid into the alley, weapons in hand, but Sora had already vanquished the beasts.
"Oh..." Donald quacked. Sora smirked, before they heard a soft, sweet voice coming from a pile of rubble.
"H-Hello? Who's there?" Sora dismissed his Keyblade.
"It's okay. They're gone. You can come out now."
From the broken boxes, and crates, emerged a girl. With raven black hair, and a petite frame, she appeared to be the prime example of beauty on this world. Her eyes were dark, and soulful, and her skin was the most marvelous, flawless shade of brown. She wore a small tiara atop her thick hair, and a weather appropriate outfit, pink with her mid drift exposed.
"Who are you?" She asked.
Sora pointed to himself, "Well, I'm Sora. That's Donald, and Goofy." He introduced. She kept a suspicious eye on them, though she had an innate feeling that she could trust them.
"I'm Jasmine. My father is the Sultan, of Agrabah." Goofy scratched his head, "So that makes you a princess, right?" Donald looked up at him.
How'd he know what that meant!?
"Yes, but, he's been deposed by Jafar who now controls the city."
"Jafar?" Goofy asked. Jasmine was surprised, "You've never heard of him? He's the Vizier of Agrabah, and he's gained evil powers, somehow, and taken over the city. He's searching for something, desperately. Something he calls the, 'Keyhole'." At that the trio visibly jumped.
"You know of it? He caught me trying to escape, but someone helped me." Sora looked over his shoulder, making sure no more Heartless had gotten wise to her location.
"Who helped you?"
"We were hiding together, earlier, but he left to go take care of something..." Jasmine drifted off, "Oh, I do hope Aladdin is alright."
"Aladdin? Where might I find this filthy little street rat?"
A vile, and sinister voice echoed from a ledge above them, causing all eyes to shoot upward. There, they saw him. Sora guessed this guy must be Jafar. "Jasmine, my dear. Allow me to find you more, suitable, company." He smiled, "These little rats won't do, you see."
Sora called forth the Keyblade, "Jasmine, run!" He ordered, whilst Donald and Goofy armed themselves. Jasmine did as told, and took off, back out into the crowded street. Jafar watched with disinterest as she fled, and whispered something to the tired looking little parrot on his shoulder.
"Ah. The boy with the Key." He sneered. Suddenly, Heartless surrounded the trio, whilst Jafar laughed, and slowly walked away. Goofy lunged first, bashing one, before blocking an attack from another. Donald's blizzard spell quickly destroyed that one, whilst Sora stabbed through one, and diagonally sliced another.
Yet, simply more appeared in their place. Sora rolled out of the way, and managed to kill one that was ready to heave its scimitar at Donald's head. Goofy crashed through two in a row, and Donald managed to finish off another on the higher ledge with a thunder spell. With a deep sigh of relief, Sora dismissed the Keyblade, "I sure hope Jasmine is alright."
"Me too." Goofy concurred. The carpet from before suddenly flew into the alley with the adventurers, and frantically began to gesture toward them, as if to say 'come with me!'
"Wak!? What's it want, now!?" Goofy studied the dancing rug, "Hmm. I think it wants us to follow it."
"So you speak carpet now?" Donald asked. Goofy was puzzled.
"I don't know. Do I?" He asked. The carpet looked as if it sighed, before heading for the skies and flying toward the desert again.
"Worth a shot, anyway. Let's follow it!" Sora said, keeping his gaze upward, as he made it back out onto the crowded streets. A few more rude bumps and shoves later, and the gang had arrived back at the city's gates.
"Where are you going?" A guard asked.
"Back out into the desert." Sora responded with a smile.
"Why? Nothing out there but scorpions and sand."
"We gotta follow the flying carpet!" Donald quacked. The guard smirked.
"Ah. Been sampling some of Ishmael's famous home brew. Nice knowing you." He laughed heartily, opening the gate. Sora shrugged, clearly not in on the joke, alongside Donald, and Goofy. There, just outside, back in the desert, stood the carpet, looking as if it were panicking. It laid flat, and, with one its tassels motioned toward its back.
"It wants us to get on?" Sora asked. Goofy nodded, and stepped on, apologizing, "Sorry about the sand, pal. C'mon fellers!" Sora shrugged, and Donald sighed, before both tried wiping their feet, and climbing aboard.
"Just anywhere oka-- whoa!"
Sora hollered, as the carpet lifted into the air. Then, as if guided by the wind, or some natural instinct, it flew, and it flew fast, into the setting sun. Night was falling on this world, and Sora couldn't help but notice how beautiful the brutal sun looked as it finally laid to rest on the desert. The carpet flew through the air, fast enough so that the wind whipped around you, but not so fast as to throw you off, and to Sora, it didn't look like it was going anywhere in particular. He hoped this thing wasn't just looking for some folks who looked green, to take on a joyride, then dump in the middle of the desert, for fun.
Night had officially come, and the trio couldn't help but shiver. For as hot as it was, it sure had gotten cold all of the sudden! The moonlight was bright enough to show the way, thankfully, and they could just make out some sort of rock formation, ahead. The carpet appeared to be heading straight for it. That must be its destination. Swooping in, it hastily deposited Sora, Donald, and Goofy, who all happened to spot a young man, and what appeared to be a monkey, trapped in a sink hole.
"Whoa!" Sora cried out, as he rushed toward it.
"Sora! Don't! You'll get pulled in too!" Donald hollered.
"What're we supposed to do!? We can't just let this guy die!" Sora replied, turning. Sora summoned forth the Keyblade, and angled it down toward the man, just as he stood on the edge of the sinkhole.
"Grab on!"
The young man, tried his best to grab the edge of the Jungle Key, but his arms just weren't long enough.
"What should we do?" He asked.
"Behind you!" The young man shouted, causing Sora to turn. A lightning bolt shocked a Heartless away, as Donald fired off a thunder spell on the approaching offender. Goofy bashed through another one, whilst Sora sliced through one of his own.
"Where'd they all come from!?" Sora asked, vanquishing another one.
"Who cares? Just keep fighting!" Donald quacked, casting a blizzard spell through another Heartless. Meanwhile, the young man in the sinkhole was nearly underneath the sand. Rifling his pockets, he discovered what he was even here for in the first place, and raised it into the air. A beautiful gold lamp. He rubbed it vigorously, "Genie! Get rid of these things!" He commanded.
Sora looked up, into the night sky and found there an enormous being, yawning as if it had just been awoken. Blue, from head to wispy tail, with a black strand of hair atop its otherwise bald head, with a matching black beard, it also had gold cuffs bound to its wrists.
"Wish, number one, coming right up!" It shouted, with a booming voice. With a snap of the fingers, the Heartless were simply disintegrated, and Sora, Donald, Goofy, and the young man and his accomplice found themselves back aboard the flying carpet. He was well built, with black hair and dark eyes, and his voice was full of youthful vigor. He wore a blue vest with no shirt, and billowy white pants.
"Hey, thanks a lot, but..." he patted the carpet, as if telling it to slow to a stop. It did. Once they all got off, he continued, "But, who the heck are you guys?" He asked.
"Sora!" The Keyblade Master proclaimed.
"Donald, and that's Goofy." Donald quacked. Goofy waved, happily.
"Aladin. Nice to meet you." Just then, the small monkey from before crawled out of Aladdin's vest, and laid atop his head, screeching, and dancing. "Oh, and this is Abu." He chuckled. "You guys aren't from around here, are you?" He asked.
Sora was ready to answer, but, as usual he was cut off, by Donald, "No. We're from far away." Aladdin nodded, but it wasn't a convincing nod. Goofy got the feeling he knew more than he was letting on.
"Okay, our turn. That carpet flew us here to you, but what were you doing out here in the first place?" Sora asked.
"Oh, you know, same old stuff. Hunting legendary treasure."
Donald Duck didn't like much, that much was true.
However, he did have a few weaknesses. Daisy Duck of course was one, but another was that sweet, sweet thought of millions in gold and jewels.
Treasure.
"Treasure...?" Donald quacked softly.
"Yup. Just paid a visit to the Cave of Wonders. That's where I originally found that carpet. It follows me around now, even lives with me. But, it's also where I found this..." from his back pocket, Aladdin produced the shining golden lamp, from before.
"Wow..." Donald gawked, Goofy and Sora simply looking on.
"Pretty, but it can't be worth much, right?" Sora asked.
Aladdin smirked, "You'd think, but, legend has it, that whoever holds the lamp, can summon the powers of an all might--"
He was cut off, as the same boisterous, and blue figure from before burst into the middle of their little powwow.
"Please, KID, leave the introductions to a professional, will ya!?" He performed a flourish with his hands, "The one, the only, the all powerful and all mighty, GENIE, OF THE LAMP!" He shouted, as a small neon sign somehow appeared above his head, flickering the word "APPLAUSE".
The carpet clapped as hard as it could manage, and Goofy shrugged his shoulders, and began clapping slowly alongside it. Sora couldn't resist, and brought his hands together a few times before Donald had enough.
"Stop doing that!" He shouted at the two of them.
"Sheesh, tough crowd." The Genie sighed. "Look, it's like this. Give the ol' lamp a ruba-dub-dub, and have your dearest wishes granted. And today's winner is," a drum roll sounded all around them, before a group of horns somehow blew a victorious tune, "ALADDIN!" He said, enthusiastically.
Placing a massive hand on Aladdin's shoulder, he shook the young man's hand, hard, "Congratulations, pal!" Donald's curiosity was piqued, however.
"Any wish?" He asked.
"Patience, my fine, feathered friend!" The Genie turned around and like everything else he did, amazingly, there were suddenly three of him.
"Any THREE wishes! A one wish, a two wish, a three wish, then I make like a banana and SPLIT!" He disappeared all together, before reappearing in front of Goofy, smiling at Goofy's surprised reaction. "And, our lucky winner here already used up one wish, and lemme tell ya," Genie cozied up next to Sora now, as if confiding in him, causing him to laugh, "it was a DOOZY." He vanished, and reappeared as two, "So now he has TWO left!" He roared.
"So, Master, what'll it be for wish, ah numba two?" He asked, shining a spotlight on Aladdin, again, somehow. The treasure hunter pondered it, for a moment, with a smirk, "Hmmm. How about making me a fabulously wealthy prince?"
Genie seemed to like that, suggestion, shooting into the air and exploding as a firework, before materializing back as himself, "WHOA! Money! Royalty! Fame! Why didn't I think of that, kiddo!?" Genie warmed his arm up, as if ready to throw a fastball, "Okay, you asked for it, buddy! One hundred servants, and one hundred camels all LOADED with gold, comin' right up! Just say the word, and I'll deliver in thirty minutes or less, or your meal is free!"
He vanished, and reappeared around Aladdin's neck and shoulders, shaped like a scarf, "Hey, I'll even throw in a cappuccino, why not?"
Aladdin seemed to think for a moment, rubbing his chin. "Ah, actually, I think I'll hold off on that until we get back to Agrabah." The Genie of the Lamp reformed as his usual self, with a defeated look, whilst Goofy openly wondered, "Uh, why a prince, Aladdin?" Now, the young treasure hunter appeared visibly shy, and even a little flustered.
He hadn't expected to have to talk about this, right now, with his new friends.
"Uh, well, you see, there's this..." he paused, rubbing the back of his neck, and even blushing a bit, "Girl. Jasmine..." He said softly, looking away. "But, she's a princess, and, well..." he looked back up, at Sora in particular, "I'm aw... Let's just say that she could never fall for a guy like me."
"Uh, princess?" Donald quacked.
"Jasmine?" Goofy asked.
"Oh, right!" Sora put two and two together.
"Jasmine! Aladdin! She's in trouble, back in the city!" Aladdin snapped back into his energetic self, but much more alarmed, now.
"What!? C'mon then! What're we waiting for!?" He, Sora, Donald, and Goofy hopped aboard the carpet, whilst Genie simply flew along behind whilst they flew back to Agrabah fast. The sun was coming back up, now, and Sora couldn't believe that the night was already over. Either it had been a long night, or the nights on this world just weren't that long.
Sora heard the Genie of the Lamp behind them, "Ah! Fresh air! The great outdoors!" He hollered loudly, with a massive smile plastered to his blue face.
"I guess you don't get out much, huh?" Sora asked. He sighed, "Comes with the job. PHENOMICAL COSMIC POWERS! Itty-bitty living space..." Sora, Donald and Goofy snickered. He was a bit off, but this Genie was funny, at least.
"It's always three wishes, then straight back to my portable prison. I only get to see the light of day every, oh, century or two..." As happy go lucky as this Genie seemed, he clearly wasn't happy being an all powerful slave to some lucky schmuck. However, little did he know, his own luck may have been ready to turn around. Aladdin had an idea.
"Say, Genie. What if I used my third wish to, I don't know, set you free?" He asked. Genie flew in front of the gang, matching the carpet's speed, "You-- You'd do that..?" He asked. Aladdin smiled, "Genie, it's a promise. After, we help Jasmine." Aladdin's attention now turned to the trio of foreigners.
"So, what're you three doing here? Not much in Agrabah but thieves, and swindlers." He snickered.
"We're looking for someone." Donald replied.
"Three folks, actually." Goofy replied. Sora, looked over at the Knight with a smile.
"Right," Sora said, "I'm looking for my friend Riku, and a girl named Kairi."
"A girl, huh?" Aladdin teased.
"Yeah..." Sora replied softly. "They're looking for--"
"Our good friend. You wouldn't know him." Donald interrupted. Donald didn't like the feeling he got from this Aladdin, so he didn't figure he needed to know anymore than absolutely necessary.
"Good friend? I know a lot of people. What's his name? What does he look like?" Aladdin pressed.
"You ask a lot of questions for someone who's pet carpet lead us to save him." Donald quacked.
Aladdin smirked. "Touché. Still, if it's all the same, to you, I'd like to know how you guys met Jasmine."
"She was running from some guy. Jafar. We heard her scream, and saved her from those monsters we fought earlier. They're called Heartless." Sora explained.
"Jafar!? Oh no..." Aladdin sighed. "Heartless? What kind of bad guys are they?" He asked.
"It's a long story, and we're almost there!" Donald quacked. Sure enough, the flying carpet deposited the gang just inside the city's walls, and it was unusually quiet. In fact, not a soul was walking the streets, at the moment.
"Huh?" Aladdin wondered aloud. "Where is everyone? I've never seen the markets this slow." Goofy equipped his shield, and Donald his staff. Sora summoned forth the Keyblade, and picked up a scimitar from the ground. It looked as if it had been dropped in a fight of some kind.
"I don't know, but I've got a feeling you'll be needing this." He said firmly, handing it to Aladdin. He nodded, gripping the sword tightly. "Oh." Goofy groaned.
"I've got a bad feelin' about this..."
All of the streets were indeed empty, but after having encountered a few run ins with some nasty Heartless, they could all figure why. People had either met their demise, or hunkered for safety somewhere. That Vizier was terrorizing the city. Sora had mentioned the Keyhole in passing, much to Donald's chagrin, in between fights, to see if Aladdin had heard of it. He hadn't.
"Alright." Aladdin said, placing his sword down. They'd climbed their way back up to the room where Sora, Donald, and Goofy had found the carpet, which, unsurprisingly was Aladdin's little hideout.
"If Jafar is after Jasmine, and this 'Keyhole', then there's gotta be a correlation. But what's the play?" He asked, mostly to himself. Genie appeared in the room, only about six inches tall, on the dresser, "Keyhole, hmm? I swear I've heard about that..."
"Oh yeah?" Goofy asked.
"Sure. A long time ago. Like, three or four Masters ago..."
"We can think about it all day, or we can do something about it." Sora said, looking out over the city through the hole in Aladdin's wall.
"Way I see it, it's better to take acti-- Oh, hello?" Sora smirked. "Take a look at that." He said quietly, gesturing to the tall, and thin Jafar leading Jasmine down the street, toward the palace, her hands bound behind her back, and a band of Heartless leading the way.
"Let's follow him. Get the jump on him." Aladdin whispered back. Sora nodded, his thoughts exactly. Aladdin's place had a secret rooftop route that led directly to the palace gates, and the gang took advantage. Creeping along the hot, beige roofs of Agrabah's slums, they couldn't help but notice how eerily quiet everything seemed in the usually alive, and boisterous city. Aladdin shook his head, cursing Jafar.
"You alright?" Sora whispered.
"Yeah, just. I know Agrabah isn't much of a city, but it's my city, you know?"
"Yeah, I hear you." Sora replied. He did sympathize with him, in all honesty. Sora knew how it felt to be protective of something, even if you didn't particularly like it. Or someone.
He remembered one time when he'd punched a kid's lights out for saying his Mom never wanted him in the first place. He definitely felt that way, at times, but that was his right to feel that way, not some punk's to tease him with it.
Before long, they'd made it to the sandy square that stood directly in front of the goliath wooden doors that separated the palace from the city. Jafar, Jasmine, and his minion Heartless below, Sora, Donald, Goofy, Aladdin, and somewhere around, Genie, above.
"Alright, here's the plan..." Aladdin whispered back to Sora. "I'll go around, swoop in front and save Jasmine. You take that cool sword of yours, and tangle with the shadow guys. Your friends can handle Jafar. Got it?"
"Got it--" Sora was interrupted.
"Ah-ah-ah-CHOO!" Goofy's nose also happened to be more sensitive than everyone else's, which, meant that he could pick up on things that no one else could.
Unfortunately, it also meant that it was more ticklish than others, and with all this sand being kicked up, it had been tickled one time too many.
He was also at the back of the line.
His loud, and terrific sneeze had scared Donald right out of his feathers, causing him to shoot forward, into Sora. Who, was shoved so hard forward, that he barreled into Aladdin. Who, had been leaning just over the edge, so as to get the best look possible. Like some sort of big, silly dominoes set, Aladdin, Sora, and Donald all tumbled forward, crashing through another poor, but thankfully absent, merchant's stand. Tearing through the cloth that was the overhang, and rolling forward, through the sand, they found themselves at the feet of their target.
"Aladdin!" Jasmine cried.
"Jasmine!" Aladdin responded, standing quickly.
"Setting your sights a bit high, aren't you, boy?" Jafar growled, with disgust. Just the sight of this street urchin made him sick. He waved his hand, dismissively, "Back to your hole, street rat. I will not allow you to bother the princess, any further." Aladdin had a plan, though.
Afterall, rats always have escape routes, right?
Rubbing the lamp behind his back, he muttered aloud, "Genie, help Jasmine!"
"Genie? Hm?" Jafar suddenly felt a presence behind him, and turned to discover that the princess was now airborne, in the arms of a massive, blue Genie.
"One wish left, and boy are you making this easy, Al!" He laughed, floating toward the gang consisting of Sora, Aladdin, Donald, and a now present Goofy, after having climbed down. Jafar wasn't stupid, however.
"So sorry, boy. Your second wish, must be denied."
"Yeah, that's not how that wo--" Aladdin suddenly realized, he was no longer holding the lamp behind his back. It was too late, by the time he discovered that Iago, Jafar's wretched little parrot familiar, had nabbed the golden lamp, and was already depositing it in the Vizier's hand.
"I..." Genie sighed, dropping Jasmine onto the ground. "I'm sorry, Al..." Like a magnet to steel, he was sucked back into the lamp, that Jafar was waving about victoriously. A large Heartless snatched Jasmine up, and threw her over its shoulders, "And now, I bid you all farewell. Attack!"
Jafar ordered his Heartless, as he slowly and confidently strolled away. It was his plan all along. To bait them into following him, then trap them in the square with all these Heartless. Plus, one that the adventurers hadn't seen yet.
Agrabah had many pots lying about, some in use, others decorative, and some simply forgotten by someone. Sora couldn't help but notice, that every single one seemed to be shaking, in this district, and suddenly all grew legs, similar to that of a spider, shooting out from the sides. Behind them, a small Heartless materialized that had pincers like that of a scorpion, and another by it's side that had a tail of one.
They rushed the gang, causing everyone to jump out of the way, but as they did, every clay, terracotta, or even stone pot formed into the middle with the two Heartless, forming a long centipede, scorpion hybrid Heartless.
"Whoa!" Sora, and Aladdin exclaimed in surprise. Goofy slung his shield, directly at the beast's head, but it's long body, built of pots, simply whipped the projectile away, with a swipe. Sora did notice a crack within one of the pots, however. Aladdin headed for a nearby stall, and began to climb, heading for one of the roofs, so as to get a better angle on this thing.
"Blizzard!" Sora heard Donald quack, and saw several ice chards imbed themselves in the pot body, of the monster. With a tightened grip on the Keyblade, he charged the head, ready to swing, but felt the familiar sting of pain, as the tail side of the Heartless crashed into him, sending him flying through the air, and into a pile of rugs.
"Oh..." he groaned, barely raising the Keyblade in time to block an attack from the scorpion monster's claw. It hissed as it attempted to shatter the unbreakable Keyblade. The wood from the Jungle Key did sound as if it would break, however, under the claw's immense squeeze. It reared back in pain, as Goofy had climbed aboard it, and began breaking each pot with a hard bash from his shield. He was thrown off, however, but his landing wasn't so bad, as Donald had cast a wind spell over him, and, Sora, the Keyblade wielder noticed.
He looked up, smiling at the now elevated Donald. He'd climbed higher, as well. Now moving on the offensive, Sora stood, and stabbed through the 'underbelly', and broke through another pot. The Heartless was getting shorter, in length, and continued that way, as Sora sliced through a second consecutive one.
A thunder spell from Donald burst another one, and finally, after having been absent from the fight, handling a few scimitar Heartless of his own, Aladdin leapt from a much higher roof, and crashed through the tail, dividing it in two, and watching as it dissipated, into the sky. He turned, and was now face to face with the powerful claws of the head, but he was in no danger.
Goofy hopped in front of him, blocking an attack with his shield, whilst Sora diagonally swung, finishing the screeching head off. They all sighed, and Sora even chuckled a bit.
Through heavy breaths, Goofy asked, "Everyone all right?"
"I think so..." Sora said, checking himself over.
"Sure." Donald quacked. Aladdin, meanwhile held onto his arm tightly. He'd sustained a nasty cut, "Sort of..." he groaned.
"Let me see." Sora said, angling the Keyblade at his arm. "Heal..." He said, softly. Aladdin watched on in shock, as his arm's wound began to clear, and seal.
"Whoa..." He mumbled, as even the blood began to dissipate. "How'd you do that?" Aladdin asked, before interrupting, "Nevermind. We gotta go save Jasmine!" He stood, picking his sword back up. Donald hopped down.
"How? We don't know where she is!" Goofy dismissed his shield.
"Well, we can't just do nothin'. Let's think about it."
"Oh, yeah, you and thinking always works out."
"You're so helpful, Donald. A least he's trying!" Sora retorted.
"What's that supposed to mean!?" Donald asked.
"Guys, I've got it! We gotta get back to the Cave of Wonders!"
"Huh?" Sora, Donald and Goofy all asked.
"Look, think about it!" Aladdin shouted, as he whistled for the flying carpet. "Jafar wants her, and the Keyhole, right? Who was the only one of us who's heard about it? Genie! Where did I find the lamp?" Aladdin hopped aboard the carpet, as it flew down into the now quiet square. Sora climbed aboard, as well, "The Cave of Wonders!" It all clicked now. Donald and Goofy got on as well, and with that, the carpet lifted high into the air, and shot forward, heading for the desert, in the direction it called home.
The flight over was long, as once again, night had fallen by the time they arrived back where they had all met. There was something very different this time, however, to Sora and his companions.
A huge head, that resembled that of a Bengal Tiger, yet, made completely out of the sand from which it rose stood in the middle of the rock formation, mouth agape, with a warm glow coming from inside.
"I knew it!" Aladdin said, dashing forward. Suddenly, a few turbaned Heartless appeared, ready to block the way. Aladdin didn't have the time to deal with them, wildly, and madly slashing through all six, with determination.
"C'mon!" He ordered, Sora, Donald, and Goofy barely keeping up, behind him. They entered the cave, via the Tiger's mouth, and descended several sand stairs, before they started to become stone steps, and finally found themselves in a dark room, with tile floors, and walls.
A few pillars stood in front of them, and beyond that an elevated platform, that seemed to peer over a black pit, in the floor. Aladdin had traversed this place before, but in his rush to get to her, he charged toward the torch lit doorway at the end of the narrow room. In the process, he'd forgotten about the bad tile in the room that activated a massive rolling stone ball, which was now on a course to kill them all.
"Wak!?" Donald cried, as the trio did their best to keep up with the young treasure hunter.
"Shoot, sorry! C'mon!" Aladdin ordered, as he slipped into the next room. Sora was quick enough to slide in, even as the door slammed shut, but Donald and Goofy were only lucky enough to avoid the boulder.
"Crap!" Sora cursed, looking back at the now slammed door. "You guys okay?" He asked.
"I think so!" He heard a muffled Donald reply.
"But, how're we gonna get in there, now?" Goofy asked.
"There's a ledge next to you! Drop down! It's got deep water at the bottom! Find the stairs down there, and they'll lead you up into the room we're standing in!" Aladdin replied, glancing around the current room he and Sora occupied.
"No thanks!" Donald replied. Aladdin sighed loudly, "Look, it's the only way to meet back up with us! You don't wanna take it, fine, but I've gotta go save Jasmine!" Aladdin took off toward the next door. Sora took notice of his surroundings.
This room was similar, though larger. Still lit by torches, it also had the same tile adorning its floors and walls, yet featured two elevated platforms, and an even larger black pit, that Sora noticed had a flight of stairs at the far end of.
"Donald! I see the stairs he was talking about! The water, it must run underneath these rooms, or something!"
"I don't care! There's no waaaakk!!!" Donald screamed, much to Sora's dismay.
"Donald! What happened? Are you okay?"
"Oh, he's fine, Sora! Just needed a little encouragin' is all!" Goofy laughed, before leaping himself, apparently, as was evidenced by his signature howl. Sora chuckled, before turning and heading off in the direction he saw Aladdin run. Sora, however, wasn't as well versed in this cave as Aladdin was, and almost immediately after turning around was shot down into the pit himself, by a powerful jet of water, from an ornate fixture on the wall.
It was a longer fall than he expected, and, after landing in cold water with a terrific splash, he resurfaced, taking a deep breath. "Whoa!" He looked around, blinking the water from his eyes, before finding that he was in a cold, stone, damp room.
"Holy crap..." He muttered softly, as he swam over to what appeared to be stone stairs. Climbing up, he patted his soaked clothes in a useless attempt to dry himself off, before getting a good look around. There was no sound here, barring the occasional drip of water from the ceiling, and he couldn't help but shiver slightly. He took a few steps forward, and discovered a large archway that was back in the water. Without anything else to do, he figured that as a good a bet as any, and leapt back into the chilly liquid, swimming through. As he passed through the hallway of sorts, he could hear voices.
His two friends voices!
"Donald? Goofy?" He called.
"Sora? Are you down here, too?" Goofy asked. Making it through, he found them upon a stone embankment, much like the one he climbed up on, and smiled. "Hey!"
"How'd you end up down here!?" Donald asked.
"Uh, I, well..." Sora was a bit embarrassed, as Goofy helped him up, out of the water. He didn't have time to answer, however, as a loud rumbling could be heard above.
"Wait a minute. If you're down here, then Aladdin is all alone up there?" Goofy asked.
"Yeah," Sora replied, "so we gotta get back up there, fast." Donald ruffled his feathers.
"Yeah, well, good luck with that. This place is huge! How're we ever gonna get outta here?" He asked, walking over to what appeared to be a massive stone pillar, that seemingly ran the length of the Cave of Wonders.
"We could look for days, and still not know where these stairs are!" He cried, before bonking his head lightly into the pillar. Little did Donald know, he'd actually deactivated a block setup by the evil Vizier, in a room that they'd yet to see. The pillar moved, slightly, before it fell dramatically, and a thunderous booming, followed by an unlocking sound could be heard.
"Wak!" Donald quacked, stepping back.
"What was that?" Sora asked, looking all around, and above him.
"Hmmm. I don't know. But, uh, ya think that might have anything to do with it?" Goofy asked, pointing over at a lowering wall in the water, exposing what one could only guess was a secret room of sorts.
"May as well see what's through there, no? Way to go, Donald!" Sora laughed, patting the duck Mage on the back, before hopping back in the water.
"I didn't do anyth-- wait a minute..." Donald thought, for a moment, before a devilish smile crept to his face. "Yeah, see! You two would never get anywhere without me!" He quacked, following behind Sora.
"Gawrsh, Donald! How'd you know that'd work?" Goofy asked, as he too jumped in.
"That's for me to know, and you to think about Goofy. C'mon." Donald replied, as the trio swam through the new archway, and, conveniently, into a new room that housed only one thing. A stairwell.
"There, I think that's where Aladdin went!" Sora gestured to the doorway he'd seen in this room earlier. Donald and Goofy followed behind, and, after a few close calls by more water jets, that threatened to throw the friends into the deep water below, again, they'd made it to the farthest end of another, nearly identical room.
"He musta gone through here." Goofy reckoned, pointing at the best lit doorway yet. They stepped through, and this time down a small flight of stairs, entering into a terrific room.
It wasn't large, but warm, as it was lit by a few torches, and two massive fireplaces that appeared to have giant baboons carved into their tops, with sharp fangs, and an angry grimace.
"Whoa..." Donald quacked at the sight, but not that of the furnaces. No, at the sight of the literal piles upon piles of gold coins, jewels, rings, necklaces, bracelets, anklets, earrings, and any other kind of assorted valuables you could imagine. The room was almost blinding, due to the fire playing off of the amount of treasure in the room. It would have made the Sultan look like a beggar.
"This is..." Sora said, softly.
"A lot of munny." Goofy replied. "And nothing we need. C'mon fellers. That there looks like a door. I'll bet Aladdin went through there!" Sora broke out of his trance, nodding.
"Right. Let's go." The two took off, before noticing that they did not hear the pitter patter of Donald's flippers. Goofy stopped, turning.
"Uh, Donald? Ya comin'?" Donald meanwhile, was too busy drooling over the massive piles of gold and jewels. "Wahhh..." He sighed, hypnotized. Goofy quickly went back to fetch him, snatching him by the arm.
"C'mon buddy! We gotta save Jasmine!"
"Huh?" Donald's spell was broken. "Sure, sure. Just let me grab a few hand fulls!" He began to shovel gold into his pockets, before Goofy simply picked him up, and began following behind Sora again.
"We don't have time, pal!"
"No, no, NO!" Donald protested. "Put me down, put me down! Goofy! NOOOOOOO!" He quacked loudly, before simply slumping over in defeat. "Awww..." he sighed.
"That boy, again?" The horned witch asked.
"He's proving to be more persistent than we had anticipated." Jafar replied, with a sigh.
"Why not explain the situaion to the other one. Riku?" He asked. Jafar had nearly had enough of her games. "Doing so may actually prove useful to our curr--" he was cut off.
Through the dark passage, they'd made it into a round room, with a circle of shallow water lapping at the base of a sandy stone. This room too, was torch lit, yet the walls were all red brick, with a few ornate carvings of what appeared to be angry djinns, not the happy-go-lucky Genie they'd come to know and love.
An air of horror, and fury hung over this room, and at the far end, upon a raised stone surface, stood Jafar, Jasmine lay, and skulked what appeared to be a thin, black, horned figure.
Like a devil.
Jafar had already spent his first wish, making the Keyhole appear before him, in this very room, and there it stood, at the far end, its signature shape impossible to ignore. Much to Sora's chagrin, Aladdin was nowhere in sight.
"You!" Sora angled the Jungle Key at the sickly woman. "Are you... Maleficent?" He asked. Based off of everything he'd heard, this one seemed to fit the bill. She radiated a nasty aura. With a blaze of green fire, she was gone, with a humorless chuckle. Goofy gripped his shield tightly.
"Where's Aladdin?" He asked, looking up at the Vizier.
"The street rat? I haven't the faintest idea. Why should I, the grand Jafar, concern myself with the location of common vermin?" Then, out of nowhere he appeared. The young, charismatic treasure hunter dropped from somewhere above, down behind Jafar's back, brandishing his scimitar. Bringing it to just inches away from Jafar's throat, he shared a glance with the surprised trio.
"Let Jasmine go." He ordered. Jafar merely chuckled, much to Aladdin's amazement.
"Not a chance, boy. You see, she's not only the princess of Agrabah, but one of a group of seven, that somehow hold the Key to opening the Door."
"Open?" Goofy asked aloud.
"The Door?" Donald quacked, Sora looking back briefly.
"I swear Jafar. I'll do it. Let her go, or else." Aladdin growled, gripping his sword tighter. Jafar grinned, "Ah, the foolishness of common filth. Not only are you negotiating in such a barbaric manner, you seemed to have forgotten about one critical bargaining chip, that I still possess." Jafar took the gold lamp from his robe's pocket, and smirked devilishly.
"Genie! My second wish!" He hollered. The typically optimistic Genie appeared behind the both of them, shoulders slumped, and head hung low. He looked defeated.
"Crush them!" Jafar ordered.
Aladdin suddenly felt lifted off of his feet, by his shoulders, and flung forward, landing hard in the shallow water. "Aladdin!" Sora cried, rushing to help him up. The young treasure hunter took his hand, giving him a nod, before turning.
"Genie! No!" He pleaded. Genie simply shook his head, slowly, and sighed.
"Sorry Al. The one with the lamp calls the shots, I don't have a choice." He raised his fist high, and sent it careening toward the four. They all leapt out, narrowly avoiding the blue hand. Aladdin watched on in horror, as Genie turned his attention to Sora, lifting him from his feet, and slamming him into the stone wall.
"Sora!" Donald and Goofy cried, as they rushed over to assist. Goofy flung his shield at Genie's head, whilst Donald called out a useless thunder spell. It was no good. The Genie was an all powerful, and all mighty being. Jafar laughed maniacally, as he witnessed the chaos he'd unleashed. Sora managed to summon the Jungle Keyblade, and even managed to swing it, connecting with Genie's head.
"Ah!" He exclaimed, letting Sora drop to the ground. Evidently, that proved to sting, if only a little. Goofy watched as the Genie of the Lamp reared back in pain, and couldn't help but notice that he was connected to the aforementioned vessel. He was the Master of the lamp's slave, afterall.
Cosmic power, came at a price.
Aladdin, meanwhile had leapt for Jafar, but was flung backward with a violent swing of the Vizier's staff. Donald noticed that Sora was busy keeping Genie at bay, and that Jafar's attention was elsewhere.
"Thunder!" He quacked, and watched on with joy, as his lightning bolt was true, connecting with Jafar's hand that held the Lamp.
"What!?" He exclaimed as the golden object flew harmlessly into the water. Aladdin dove for it, but Jafar's staff suddenly shot some kind of energy beam from it, burning the young man's hands. Genie meanwhile, suddenly had no reason to attack anymore.
"Huh?" He turned, noticing he had no Master, and suddenly felt himself being pulled back into his miniscule cell.
"Get hiiiim...! " He cried.
Sora smirked. He rushed to the spot that Jafar seemed to be diving for, and connected his Keyblade with the villain's ribcage. His arms were too long, though. Despite the pain in his side, Jafar had reobtained the golden Lamp. In a puff of black smoke, he disappeared and then reappeared, levitating above the group. He laughed, heartily, "Ah, the foolish attempts of roaches, trying to save their meaningless lives, for even a moment longer. Your ends shall be nearly as delightful to watch, as that of the witch's! Let alone that of the Princess!" He cackled.
Sora gripped the Keyblade tighter, whilst Aladdin had a pit forming in his stomach.
"He thinks he's won..." Aladdin sighed.
"I don't know. It kind of feels like he has..." Donald quacked quietly.
"Oh no he hasn't!" Sora said firmly. "C'mon you guys! We've got this!" He said with a smile. His optimism was infectious, and Goofy had an idea.
"Exactly, Sora! Besides! It doesn't matter what you do, Jafar! We've got the Keyblade Master on our side, and you can't stop him! Unless maybe you were a super powerful Genie yourself or somethin', but you're not!" Goofy hollered, much to Donald's, and Aladdin's dismay. Aladdin began to make slashing motions across his throat, whilst Donald stepped on Goofy's foot, hard.
"Yow!" He cried, jumping away from Donald. Sora, though, had gotten wise to Goofy's idea.
"Yeah! And there's no way you can become one, so just give it up, and maybe we'll let this slide!" He said with a smirk.
Jafar was smart.
Typically, far too smart to fall for such a trick.
However, when one's mind, and heart are filled with so much hate, and lust for power, it becomes easy to be blinded by it. He smirked, and produced the golden Lamp, again.
"Genie of the Lamp! My final wish! Make me, an all powerful Genie!" He commanded, much to the chagrin of the magical slave.
"Oh no..." he sighed, before covering his eyes with one hand, and aiming the other at the evil Vizier. With a shaky hand, a burst of energy shot forward, and hit Jafar, sending him into a fit of crazed laughter. Laughter that grew louder, deeper, and more menacing as the room began to fill with dark clouds. The gang could feel the floor giving way underneath them, and quickly made for the platform that currently housed the Keyhole, and Jasmine.
Sora was first to make it, followed by Aladdin, then Goofy, who'd had the wherewithal to kick Genie's lamp out of the room, and into the treasure room, before climbing atop it himself, and finally Donald, who needed a helping hand from Sora.
"Nice goin', you two! Now there's no way we can beat him!" Donald chided. Aladdin was ready to check on Jasmine, but turned to face Jafar, before he did.
"Wait a minute..." he thought, rubbing his chin, and looking into Sora's eyes. "If he's a Genie..." Sora smiled.
"Then he has a Lamp!" He, Goofy, and Aladdin all said together.
"And there it is!" Donald quacked, as they all now saw the little red parrot, Iago, Jafar's familiar doing his best to hold what appeared to be a small, black lamp. It was then however, that they all felt suddenly pushed downward, into the now present hole in the floor. The fall was brief, but terrifying, and once they'd all landed, and gotten their footing, they noticed that all around them, was flaming hot lava. And, that they were standing upon a shrinking, stone platform.
"Wak!" Donald quacked, gripping his staff tightly.
"Oh crap. What do we do now?" Aladdin, asked, before a massive being began to emerge from the lava. Pure red, with piercing green eyes, and familiar looking facial hair, this Genie, no, this Djinn appeared twice the size of the lovable Genie of the Lamp.
"Jafar!" Sora hollered, angling his Keyblade up at the spirit.
"Fools! Now you will know the might of your superiors! Bow before my greatness!" He screamed in a bellowing and deafening voice. With a step back, and a hard toss, Sora sent the Keyblade flying at his midsection, and with a fantastic blast of light, it connected with his gut. He roared in pain, before slamming his left hand down on the now even smaller platform.
"Uh-oh!" Sora muttered, as lava began to flood the ground upon which they stood.
"Blizzard!" Donald quacked, aiming the spell at the encroaching lava. The spell had the desired affect, as the frozen air collided with the boiling lava, and created an, albeit temporary, but still sturdy extra piece of land for the gang to balance on.
"Nice job!" Sora praised, hopping onto the new platform, and throwing his Keyblade up, at Jafar again. He attempted to swat it away, but as is hand collided with the acient blade, it clearly stung him, as he screamed in pain, whilst the Keyblade carved a hole in his hand. The opening in his massive hand simply refilled, however.
It was clear.
The Keyblade hurt him, but it couldn't finish him off.
"Uh, guys?" Aladdin asked, dodging a tendril of fire. "Any ideas?"
"We've gotta find his Lamp!" Goofy cried, blocking a fireball from the lava with his shield.
"That parrot had it!" Donald quacked, creating another blizzard spell, to give them more footing. Sora dodged a swing from Jafar, and slashed at his wrist.
"Where is it!?" Sora asked. Aladdin scanned high above, searching for any signs of the obnoxious little bird. He spotted a red feather, floating down, and followed it higher.
"There!" Aladdin pointed out, finally locating the parrot who was tuckering out, and fast. He couldn't hold the Lamp much longer.
"Whoo!" He hollered, as the heat began to get to him. Sora saw him too, but had to roll out of the way of an incoming hand from Jafar. He narrowly missed the lava as he did, coming a little too close for comfort. Goofy flung his shield, skyward, and managed to knock the black lamp from Iago's grip.
"Huh!?" He exclaimed and watched, as it careened toward the lava. Iago knew when he was beat, and wasn't afraid to split if it came down to it.
Which it had.
So, he did.
Donald quickly cast another blizzard spell, and made more 'ground', just where the lamp was set to land. Jafar noticed as well, and went to swoop in, but was met with the defiance of the ever annoying, and painful sting of the Keyblade. Sora swung at his hand, connecting, while Aladdin managed to snag the Lamp, and held it with both hands, triumphantly upward.
"Okay, Jafar!" He said with a smile, "So long, pal!" He hollered, and watched alongside his three new friends, as the once evil Vizier, now evil Djinn was pulled helplessly into his new, miniscule prison.
"No! No!" He cried in protest. "You imbeciles! I shall have my vengean--!"
He was cut off, as the lamp finally finished its brutal, and efficient drawing back of the hateful spirit. A paper suddenly appeared, seemingly Jafar's, and Sora snatched it from the air, pocketing it, as he did. With what sounded like a bottle closing, the Lamp shook for a moment, before its glow began to wear off. Now, it simply looked like a dark, little lamp. Who could harm no one. They'd have to lock this thing up tight, afterward.
"Way to go, guys!" Goofy yelled, with a smile, high fiving Sora.
"Yeah!" The Keyblade Master shouted in response. "Showed him a little thing or tw--"
"We need to get outta here!" Donald exclaimed, pointing out the encroaching lava. Indeed, they were running out of standing room. Aladdin pocketed Jafar's Lamp, and began to back away from the firey substance, gathering closer to the other three.
"Umm..." he mused, looking around. Sora too was scanning the room for any potential exits, when the most miraculous thing occurred. Suddenly, a long rope flew from the hole above, and landed just behind the four of them.
"There!" Sora pointed out, grabbing ahold of it, and tugging. It was attached to something sturdy, that much was evident.
"C'mon!" He ordered, letting Donald and Goofy go first, before beginning to follow them, and ensuring Aladdin was just behind him. The young treasure hunter was smiling.
"Man I love that girl!" He said softly. "Thanks Jasmine!" He exclaimed. Surprisingly, there was no answer, and, even more shocking, when they all reached the top, and saw that the rope was firmly tied to a pillar in the chamber, also noticed that the princess of Agrabah, and apparently one of the 'Seven Princesses who held some secret power to open some Door', was not present.
Jasmine watched on from above. Her emotions were all over the place. They looked like they'd never make it, at times, and that they were doing just fine, at others. Just as she closed her eyes, tightly, in fear of watching the heroes meet their ultimate demise, she heard a mighty roar from Jafar. Her eyes flung back open, and she watched as they proved victorious, and locked the evil Djinn away in his cell.
She cheered, though inaudible to them, and leapt for joy. She smiled looking down at the heroic group, and her eyes couldn't help but follow the handsome, dashing, and brave Aladdin.
'What a man...' she'd thought, before an uneasy feeling came over her.
That feeling one gets when they're not alone.
With an instinctive turn, she saw him, for only a moment, before her world turned black. She struggled against her captor, before she felt a sense of weightlessness, and a chill. No, not the kind of chill like when night fell over the desert, but something deeper.
Bone deep.
Almost immediately, with her vision still blocked, she felt her feet connect with cold stone, and her hands had been tied, behind her back, somehow. She was shoved forward, violently, and forced to walk along the dingy cobble stones. Of where, she had no idea, but it certainly felt like a far cry from Agrabah.
"What's going on? Wh--Who are you?" She asked, her voice trembling with fear.
"Shut up." Her answer came from what sounded like a youth. She reckoned the voice must belong to her kidnapper. It must belong to the same young man that she saw, only for a moment when she turned. His eyes appeared far away, as if he wasn't doing this entirely of his own will. His build was lean, and athletic. Perhaps most striking though, was his hair.
Nearly shoulder length, and oddly, silver.
"Jasmine?" Aladdin called, before giving the room a quick scan.
"Jasmine!?" He called again, this time much more frantically. She was no where to be found. Sora was ready to assist in his search, before he felt the tug of the Keyblade. It yearned to complete its goal here.
He climbed atop the platform that housed the Keyhole, and watched on in awe, as it glowed brightly, beckoning the Keyblade. Again, it seemed to act on instinct, rather than Sora's command, and materialized in his hand, its end pointing toward the Keyhole. Donald and Goofy watched as a beam of light shot forth, directly into Agrabah's Keyhole, and, once again all three heard a deep, echoing lock, before it began to vanish in a terrific display of sparkling light. Sora smirked.
"Well," Donald began, "that's that, I guess." A low rumble sounded, throughout the Cave of Wonders, signaling that it was time to go. Aladdin still searched high and low for her, even while the ceiling began to collapse above them.
"Uh-oh!" Goofy held his shield over his head, "I think it's time we got outta here, boys!" He exclaimed, Donald nodding in agreement. As if summoned, the flying carpet shot in from the treasure chamber, swooping in underneath the trio. Aladdin however, wasn't leaving without a fight. As the carpet swung by, Sora forcefully grabbed at his arm, and drug him aboard. Kicking and struggling, it took all three to hold him in place.
He screamed her name, "Jasmine!", as the carpet left the crumbling chamber. Flying through the treasure room was almost equally as torcherous for Donald, but Goofy had just managed to use his long arms to swipe the Genie's lamp from the floor, as they left.
"Hold on!" Sora hollered, gripping the rug tightly with one hand, and Aladdin's shoulder with another. The flying carpet navigated the falling apart cavern with skill, though a few close calls with exploding fire, and cascading boulders certainly left the gang a bit shaken. As fast as it could, it dodged left, and right, under and over, and eventually Sora could feel the cool desert night air blowing in from an opening, that was closing quickly, just ahead.
"We're not gonna make it!" Donald cried.
"Yes we are!" Sora affirmed. It was gonna be close, that much was sure. Thankfully, everyone made it out alive, as the carpet flew from the rapidly shutting mouth of the sand tiger. Sora turned back, watching it crumble and fold, seemingly being swallowed by a sandy sinkhole.
"Whoa..." he muttered softly. The Cave of Wonders, was seemingly no more, and, as Goofy removed the Genie's Lamp from his pocket, he couldn't help but wonder what Aladdin's final wish would be.
By the time they'd made it back to Agrabah, the sun had just risen. It was morning, and the desert heat was beginning to creep back into the atmosphere of the awakening city. Thankfully, the gang were all laid about in Aladdin's place, nursing wounds, resting tired bodies, or in Goofy's case, simply snoozing peacefully. Genie had been summoned from his Lamp, and filled in on the events that transpired.
"Well, Al, buddy, you need to make sure no one, and I mean NO ONE finds that dinky little thing." He said, gesturing to Jafar's lamp.
"That's the plan..." Aladdin said, sadly. They'd won, Jafar was defeated, the Keyhole locked, but Aladdin had lost something more important than all of that, to him, anyway.
He'd lost her.
Sora rubbed the back of his neck, whilst Donald watched the crowd, out of the 'window'. Aladdin looked over, into Sora's eyes.
"Look," he began, "I'm not stupid. I know you guys aren't from here. This world." That certainly got Donald's attention.
"What? Why would you say that?" He asked, turning to face Aladdin.
"I'm a treasure hunter, I learn things. I know all about other worlds. The point is, you knew that creepy lady with Jafar. What's her deal?" Sora replied, "We don't know either, man. I guess they were in cahoots. I know why they wanted to find the Keyhole, but I have no idea what they wanted with Jasmine."
"Somethin' about a 'door', and her being one of seven others who hold the 'key'?" Goofy added, having woken up.
"You've got a Key, right there." Aladdin said, firmly.
"I know..." Sora said, softly, looking down at his hands. "Like I said, man. I don't know. But, I'll bet she's behind Jasmine's disappearance." Sora said, looking back up into Aladdin's eyes. The room was silent for a moment.
"So, Jasmine isn't here, anymore." Aladdin muttered. "Sora. Let's go find her." Sora cringed, looking away, as he did.
"I..." he mumbled, "I can't take you with me." Aladdin was taken aback.
"Wh--Why not?" He asked, furrowing his brow. Sora looked back at Donald in frustration. Goofy mused aloud, "I sure wish we could take ya with us, but..."
"But we can't. If we did, we'd be--" Donald was cut off by Goofy's stuttering, "Mud-- Uh, no, uh, Murd--"
"Meddling! It'd disturb world order!" Donald quacked, looking up at Goofy.
"Aladdin," Sora looked into his eyes, with determination, "we'll find Jasmine. I promise." Aladdin was ready to shout, demanding an explanation, when Genie chimed in first.
"Uh, HELLO, Earth to Al!?" He hollered, causing everyone to jump, slightly. "You still have one wish left!" Genie smiled, patting his back, "Just say the word, pal! I can find Jasmine for you!" Aladdin was ready to do it, too. He wanted nothing more than to utter the right words. Bring her to him. His love.
But, Aladdin was alot of things.
Brilliant for his age, energetic, clever, even a bit crooked, but he was never one to make a promise, and not honor it. It just wasn't who he was.
"I..." he paused, sighing. "I wish, for your freedom, Genie!" He hollered, smiling a bit as he did. Genie was all set, rolling up an imaginary sleeve, when his eyes popped open in surprise.
"Al!" He exclaimed. He hadn't time to say anything else though, as he felt a transformation occurring. His wispy tail that connected to his golden Lamp began to turn, and turn, forming a tornado, until a burst of energy brightened the room, a bit, revealing that he now had two legs and feet! A red sash held up a pair of baggy pants, that led down to two red shoes, with curly toes. He hollered, loudly, as his golden clasps around his wrist also seemed to disintegrate, into sparkling light.
It was done.
With a handful of simple words, Aladdin had kept his promise, and freed him, from centuries of servitude.
"A deal's a deal." Aladdin said with a smirk, still seated. "You're your own Master now, Genie. You can go wherever you want." Aladdin turned, looking out of his 'window', "But, if you can, it'd be great if you could go out there, and try and find Jasmine, yourself..." he mumbled, softly. Genie turned his back, and crossed his arms.
"Sorry, Al. I'm done taking orders from others." Sora, Goofy, and even Donald were all shocked at his ungrateful nature. It just wasn't like him, and Aladdin certainly looked even more defeated, now!
"But..." he said, loudly, "A favor, is entirely different! I suppose I could give THAT a try!" He said, turning to the four, and smiling widely. Nudging up to Aladdin, and placing his arm around his shoulders, he playfully punched his arm, "Besides, Al! We're pals! Isn't that what friends are for?" He asked, with a smile. "You just leave it to me, and maybe these Jokers, huh?" Genie said, gesturing to the trio. Aladdin smiled, softly, and looked over at Sora. With a nod, he confirmed that he trusted them.
Well, mostly.
He definitely trusted Genie though. Aladdin felt good about this, surprisingly, despite hating the fact that he couldn't go find her himself. He knew he could count on Genie. Genie had said it himself, when they'd first met. Aladdin recalled his words, fondly, in his head.
"You ain't never had a friend, like me!"
"That smarmy Vizier could've had 'em, IF someone had stuck around, to give him a hand..." Hades, the overlord, of the underworld said with a derisive snicker, glancing over at the silver haired young man, that his temporary superior seemed insistent on using as a tool.
Or perhaps a pet.
"I did my part. So buzz off. Besides, I brought the one princess, and I got the other one. The blonde." He replied, without even sparing Hades a glance, his eyes still fixed on the three heroes that appeared in miniature on the platform they surrounded.
The horned witch, Maleficent herself, spoke, her voice almost soft, and delicate, "Jafar was beyond help, consumed by his own hatred." She smiled. "One should beware of letting it burn too fiercely." Hades couldn't help but feel as if that comment was directed at him.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, I'm as cool as they come. Okay?" He clarified, slicking his firey scalp back, as if it were hair. His own toothy grin was equally as terrifying, as he turned to their young helper. "By the way. Have we got something special for you, kiddo." He snickered. Maleficent, back still turned to the other two, glanced over her shoulder.
"We had a deal. Yes?" She asked. "You fulfilled your end of the bargain. Now allow us to repay you..." With a flourish of her wrist, she changed the subject on the small stone platform. It slowly faded the three heroes out, and became the form of a sleeping girl. She wore a skirt, and tank top, and had shoulder length, beautiful red hair. No, not just any girl.
Her.
His eyes shot open wider, and he took an instinctive step forward. Finally. He'd done it. He'd found her. Whilst Sora was running around, 'saving worlds', and laughing it up with those two yo-yos, he'd actually managed to do what needed to be done.
"Kairi..." he muttered softly.
The witch smiled. She had sensed the boy's weakness for this girl. She knew she could use her, as a means to manipulate him. It wouldn't even be hard. Yes, the boy seemed to be smitten with this Kairi.
"Go to her, child. Your vessel awaits." She said through a sinister grin.
"Just remember, this is no pleasure cruise. It won't be a pleasant voyage." The tall man dressed in red, and wearing a cavalier hat from before spoke, loudly, approaching from behind. The young man frowned, upon seeing him.
"Why are you doing all this for me? What's the catch?" He asked, looking back at the witch.
"Catch?" She asked, stepping forward, her heels clicking against the cold stone. "Silly boy. You're like a son, to me. I only want to see you happy. Clearly this girl means a great deal to--" she was interrupted, as she reached her cold hand to cup his face.
He leapt backward, slapping her hand away, "You don't know anything. Besides, I highly doubt that. People always have an angle. Nobody helps, without it benefiting them. There's a hook, somewhere other than that weirdo's hand." He said firmly.
Maleficent scowled, and stood straight, "Believe what you wish. Lest we forget however, just how much I have done for you, and how little I've asked for in return." Riku shook his head, slowly, before turning, and readying for the journey ahead. He knew she couldn't be trusted, nor could any one of her conspirators, but they had managed to find her.
He was grateful for that.
And, maybe, after they'd been reunited, she'd finally look at him, the way she'd looked at Sora. Riku felt motivated by that thought, more than even he was comfortable with. Nonetheless, it was a thought, no, a hope that drove him.
Passionately.
Another night had fallen upon Agrabah, as Sora, Donald, and Goofy prepared to say their goodbyes. Genie had already begun to take advantage of his newfound freedom, and of course, look for Jasmine, so it was just the four, plus Abu and the Carpet left in Aladdin's little second floor home.
"Big dog, with three heads, you know?" Sora was still telling stories of other worlds, much to Donald's dismay. "It wasn't easy, but we showed him who was boss." He chuckled.
"Wow, that sounds pretty cool." Aladdin snickered.
"Well, anyway..." Sora glanced back at his two companions. "We better get going, man." Aladdin stood, and offered his hand to shake Sora's. Sora took it, but felt something pressed into his palm. A charm, of sorts.
"Here. Take this. And, Sora..." Aladdin paused, still looking into his eyes, "Find her for me. Bring her back to me. Please." Sora nodded, once, before the trio all said their goodbyes, and headed out, down into the now quiet streets of Agrabah. Aladdin watched them from above, as they headed for the city gates, and couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness. He'd grown to like them.
Even the duck.
It was always like this for Aladdin, though. He was lonely, in all honesty. He'd make new friends, and sooner or later, they'd leave him. Those three, he'd only known for a few days, and now, here they were leaving already. On a quest to find the girl he loved, who'd also been taken from him. Meanwhile, the best friend he'd made in a long time, the Genie of the Lamp, had also gone off to find her, and explore some of his new found freedom. Aladdin was happy for him, but still.
Now, it was just him, again, all alone in his little house. Sure, he had the carpet, and his ever faithful companion Abu, the monkey, but he wouldn't mind someone to talk to. Maybe that was why he craved adventure so much. It was a way to fill the hole that was left by his loneliness.
He decided to climb out, onto the roof, for a little stargazing. Maybe he'd catch a glimpse of them leaving. His eyes drawn skyward, he began to reflect about all the things he'd love to do, once he got Jasmine back. They'd explore the dunes together, talk all night, maybe even grab a bite or a drink together in the markets below.
His eyes watched something in the sky burst brightly, before vanishing. 'Hey, was that them?' He wondered, with amazement. His thoughts drawn back to Jasmine, he smiled.
'I don't care if you're on another world. I swear, Jasmine. When they bring you back to me, I'll show you a whole new world. A wondrous place for you and me.'
"A few hand fulls of gold wouldn't have hurt, is all I'm saying..." Donald quacked, as they boarded the Gummi ship.
"Gawrsh Donald, but that'd be stealin'."
"Who from?" Donald asked, opening the fridge in the galley, and beginning to rifle through it.
"Well, I don't know, but still. You don't just take somethin', 'cause ya can." Goofy clarified. Sora nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. You never know who might come along and need it. We certainly didn't."
"Exactly, Sora!" Goofy smiled. Donald just sighed, grabbing what he needed to start making dinner.
"You two are helpless."
Sora rubbed his neck, chuckling. "I'm gonna go kick my shoes off, guys. I'll be right back." He headed for his room, and casually took his shoes off, tossing them in the corner, before sitting on his bed, and beginning to rub his sore feet. They'd been on them for nearly three days straight, now. Once he sat though, he noticed he'd sat on a piece of paper, seemingly.
"Oh!" He exclaimed, reaching into his back pocket. The report! He'd totally forgotten about that! It was a bit wrinkled, but still entirely legible, thankfully. Sora read the report:
Much of my life has been dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge.
That knowledge has guarded this world well. Not a soul doubts that.
I am blessed with people's smiles and respect. But though I am called a sage, there are things I do not understand.
I believe darkness sleeps in every heart, no matter how pure. Given the chance, the smallest drop can spread and swallow the heart. I have witnessed it many times.
Darkness...Darkness of the heart. How is it born?
How does it come to affect us so?
As ruler of this world, I must find the answers. I must find them before the world is lost to those taken by the darkness.
Sora scratched at his head. It was a bit over his, in all honesty. Standing, he carried the paper out, into the galley, where he ran into Goofy.
"Oh. Hey, I was just runnin' to fetch ya. We found this, in the cockpit." He offered up his own paper, with what appeared to be coordinates, though where to, no one knew.
"Huh?" Sora was confused, as he took the paper from the Knight. It was also addressed to him. He thought he recognized the handwriting.
"That looks alot like Riku's writing." Sora said softly.
"No way. How could he possibly have known where the Gummi ship was in that desert? Besides, we never saw him while we were there." Donald said, still stirring the pot of food he was preparing, before adding in some seasoning.
"The note itself is proof someone was on board. The fact that this handwriting looks exactly like his is good enough for me to think it must've been him that dropped it off. The question is," Sora folded the note and pocketed it, "if he knew I was there, then why didn't he talk to me directly? Why sneak aboard the Gummi ship, and leave me a note, with coordinates?" Sora took a seat at the table, whilst Goofy set it with bowls and utensils.
"Well, Sora, you know him best. Any guesses?" Sora shook his head, placing Ansem's report down on the table.
"None. I can't imagine why he wouldn't talk to me directly. That's not like him." Donald was putting the finishing touches on dinner, "What's with that?" He asked, gesturing to the report.
"Oh!" Sora exclaimed picking it up. "Remember that Ansem guy, and his report that Leon and the gang were talking about? This is one of the pages! The first one!" Sora said excitedly.
"Wak!?"
"Huh!?"
Goofy and Donald traded shocked hollers of their own, before Sora read the report aloud. They listened, hanging on every word, but, ultimately were left disappointed. It didn't really say anything about the Heartless or how they could be defeated. It didn't mention any door, keys, or princesses, and certainly didn't clarify anything.
Donald served, before taking his seat, alongside Sora and Goofy. "What do you make of it?" He asked.
"Beats me. I was hoping it'd maybe ring a bell with you guys." Sora replied, taking a cautious bite of his hot meal.
"Well, it sure sounds like this feller was tryin' to find the root of all Darkness, if anything. It kinda sounds like he thought his world was runnin' outta time." Goofy said, through a mouthful. Donald nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. He sounds desperate." Sora thought on it, for a moment. "Maybe..." The next few moments were relatively quiet as everyone enjoyed their meal, before Sora just couldn't keep shut up anymore.
"Donald this curry is the best thing you've made." He said with a smile. The duck mage had a smug look, "You like it, huh? It's the spices." Donald smiled in return. "Yeah, it's delicious. What'd you use?" Sora asked.
"Chef's secret!"
"Oh c'mon!"
Goofy laughed.