Chapter 9: Princess Amira

In Agrabah, the Sultana was once again weaving. She nearly finished what's to be her masterpiece when Jasira slammed the door, causing her to accidentally rip it. "Ohhh." The Sultana groaned.

"Your highness, I may have found a solution to the problem with your son." Jasira said, holding up a scroll.

"Awk! The problem with your son!" Desdemona squawked repeatedly.

"Do you?" The Sultana asked eagerly. She heads to the throne to hear this. "Let's hear it!"

"Right here." Jasira unrolls the incredible long scroll and reads, "'If the prince has not chosen a wife by the appointed time, then the sultan shall choose for him'. Or in this case, you, the regent queen, will have to choose for him."

"Shoo!" The Sultana tried to get the parrot away from her throne. She then sighs. "But Jamal hated all those suitresses." She then thought for a moment. "And so do I, actually..." Even she sees a lot of the potential brides were real brats. "How could I choose someone we hate?"

"Not to worry, my lady. There is more." Jasira assured as she continues reading. "'If, in the event a suitable princess cannot be found, the prince must then be wed to'...hmm...interesting."

"Who?" The Sultana asked.

"A lady of the highest rank in court! Why, that would be...me!" Jasira grinned with a smirk.

Puzzled by this revelation, the Sultana take a look at the scroll herself. "But I thought the Law clearly states that a prince can only marry a princess. I'm quite sure that-" The Queen was cut off as Jasira pulled the scroll from her hands.

"Desperate times to call for desperate measures, my lady." Jasira pulled out her staff out again and put the Sultana in a trance.

"Yes... desperate measures..." The Queen droned.

"You will order the prince to marry me."

"I... will order... the prince... to..."

Rumble

The Sultana suddenly broke out of the trance. "But you're older than him, aren't you?"

"Why, you-!" Jasira hates being reminded of her age.

"Ack! Cool down!" Desdemona whispered.

"Okay..." Jasira pinched her temples, and then put Sultana back in a trance. "The prince WILL marry me!"

"The prince will marry..." RUMBLE "What? What is that rumbling?" The Queen asked as it got her out of it.

The Queen walked out to the balcony. "Jasira, you must come and see this!"

Jasira came out to see what the commotion is about. They all see that it's a parade was marching through the main street as a fanfare plays.

Marchers: Make way for Princess Amira!

Several girls in colorful harem outfits dance through the streets, swinging ribbons around.

Women: Say hey! It's Princess Amira!

Coming from behind the girls is the Genie, who took the form of a dark-skinned girl in a blue harem outfit, and swinging two firesticks around. She then excitedly ran into the crowd and started singing.

Genie: Hey! Clear the way in the old Bazaar

Genie toasted a couple of passerby's butts with her one of her firesticks. Then she put the other in the female fire-breather's mouth, leaving her confused.

(The same female fire-breather Jamal bumped into in chapter 4.)

Hey you! Let us through! It's a bright new star!

Genie grabs two men by their hands and dance around with them.

Oh come! Be the first on your block to meet her eye!
Make way! Here she comes!
Ring bells!

Genie swing some metal bowls hanging on a cart.

Bang the drums!

The parade drummers bang them. Genie then sits on the husky saleswoman's cart. (The same saleswoman Aaliyah saved Jamal from in chapter 4.) Genie puts an arm around the saleswoman's shoulders as she points her to the parade.

Are you gonna love this gal?!

In the back of the parade, Aaliyah, aka Princess Amira, rides on Elephant Aba's back. She gives a bright shining smile at the crowd and waves.

Princess Amira! Fabulous she!
Amira Ababwa
Genuflect, show some respect, boys
Down on one knee!

Genie pulled a carpet out from under Razoul and the guards, making them bow. Aaliyah and Aba noticed and waved at them with smug smiles on their faces. Of course, Aba waves with her trunk.

Now, try your best to stay calm
Brush up your Friday salaam

Desdemona was dancing to the catchy beat before Jasira glared at her, making her stop.

Then come and meet her spectacular coterie

Princess Amira! Lovely is she!
Amira Ababwa
She's essayed quite a parade,
for you to see!
So get on out in that street
Got someone I wan'cha to meet
Come on, start kissing the feet
Of Princess Amira

Jamal, hearing the noise, walked onto a balcony to see what's going on.

Genie says "Fellas, she's got..."

Servants: ...seventy-five golden camels (Genie: Lovely, aren't they?)
Women: Purple peacocks, she's got fifty-three (Genie: Sing it, girlfriends!)

Servants are holding up a large gorilla balloon. Genie is riding on a parade of animals, including ostriches, leopards, and goats.

Genie: When it comes to exotic-type mammals

"Just mammals?" Genie asked.

Marchers: She's got a zoo
I'm telling you,
Chorus: It's a world-class menagerie

Genie is then disguised as a bearded man appearing behind a trio of men who were gazing at "Amira", lovestruck by her beauty.

Genie: Princess Amira! Lovely is she, (Men: There's no question this Amira's alluring)
Amira Ababwa (Never ordinary, never boring)
That beauty! How can I speak? (Everything about that girl)
Weak at the knee! (Just plain gorgeous)

Genie used her magic to make Aaliyah shine and her hair flow to the wind as she winks at the boys. While this made them fall for her more, Jamal just rolls his eyes. "Is she for real?" he thought.

Well, get on out in that square (She's a winner, she's a whiz, a wonder)
Adjust your fez and prepare (She's about to pull my heart asunder)
To gawk and grovel and stare at Princess Amira! (And I absolutely love what she's wearing, she's glamorous!)

Aaliyah blew a kiss at the boys who began to go crazy, and then faint with Genie struggling to keep them up. Jamal scoffed and walked back into his room.

The parade had just reached the front arches of the palace now.

Chorus: She's got ninety-five white Persian monkeys

Genie knees to some children enjoying seeing a fleet of white little monkeys passing by.

Genie: She's got the monkeys,
a buncha monkeys
Chorus: And to view them she charges no fee

Aaliyah throws some gold coins down to the crowd. For a moment, she felt altruistic seeing how happy the peasants are.

Peasants: She's generous, so generous
Chorus: She's got 10,000 servants and flunkies
Proud to work for her
They bow to her whim,
love serving her
They're just lousy with loyalty to Amira!
Princess Amira!

Two guards standing next to the doors started to open them before Jasira closed them again. Suddenly, the doors burst open with the entire parade coming in.

All: Princess Amira! Amorous she!
Amira Ababwa

Genie came up next to the Sultana, who sat on her throne.

Genie: Heard your prince did not find the rare gem yet

The doors closed to reveal Jasira and Desdemona who had been crushed by the doors.

And that, good people, is why,
she got dolled up and dropped by

Chorus: With sixty elephants, llamas galore
With her bears and lions
A brass band and more
With her forty fakirs,
her cooks and bakers
Her birds that warble on key
Make way
For Princess Amira!

At the end of this parade, Jasira pushed the procession out of the palace and slammed the door shut.

Genie hid back inside the lamp.

"Splended! A marvelous performance!" The Sultana applauded.

Aaliyah walked down the steps to the Sultana's throne gracefully. As she comes face-to-face with the Sultana, Aaliyah clears her throat and speak in a more dignified manner. "Your Majesty, I have journeyed from afar to offer my hand to your son." She curtsies to the Sultana.

"Princess Amira Ababwa, of course, I'm delighted to meet you." The Sultana then gestures to Jasira, with Desdemona on her shoulder. "This is my royal vizier, Jasira. She's delighted, too."

"Estatic." Jasira scowled sarcastically. She then walked over to Aaliyah. "I'm afraid, Princess Ameera..."

"Amira." Aaliyah corrected.

"Whatever." Jasira scoffed. "You cannot just parade in here uninvited and expect to-"

"This is quite a remarkable device." The Sultana said, seeing Carpet. "Its embroidery is a masterpiece that remind me of..."

Carpet then flies around the throne room to impress the Sultana.

"Just where did you say you were from?" Jasira asked the so-called princess. Desdemona sits on top of her staff.

"Oh, much farther than you've traveled, I'm sure."

"Try me." Jasira said drily.

Carpet accidentally, maybe, knocked Desdemona off Jasira's staff. "Hey! Watch it, ya dumb rug!" she yelled. She then found herself on Aba's trunk, which she used to swat the parrot off of her, sending her headfirst to a pillar.

The Sultana then walked up to Aaliyah. "This is a very impressive youth. And a princess besides." She then turned to Jasira. "If we're lucky, you won't have to marry Jamal after all."

"I don't trust her, Madam." Jasira whispered.

"Nonesense. One thing I pride myself on, Jasira, I'm an excellent judge of character."

"Oh, excellent judge of character, yeah, sure...not!" Desdemona retorted.

Jamal then quietly entered the throne room to see what's going on.

"Jamal will like this one." The Sultana said.

"And I'm pretty sure I'll like Prince Jamal." Aaliyah said.

"Your highness, no!" Jasira suddenly stands between them. "I must intercede on Jamal's behalf." She pushed Aaliyah with her hip. "This girl is no different from the other suitresses." Jasira said, glaring at Aaliyah. "What makes her think she's even worthy of the prince?"

Jamal was listening in, suspicious of the advisor's sudden concern for his well-being. Especially since earlier today, he threatened to get rid of her when he eventually does become Sultan.

"Maybe you should wait until I meet him, then you'll see I'm worthy!" Aaliyah retorted.

Jamal clenches his fists upon hearing that. "Or maybe you should ask my opinion first?" He said out loud. "But it did not cross your mind, right? I'm not a trophy here!"

"Jamal, that was very rude!" The Sultana said.

"Certainly, mother. And I won't make things worse by keep on talking with another gold digger." He stormed off.

Aaliyah realized she spoke too fast and now the one she loves got the wrong idea about her.

"Oh, dear..." The Sultana walked with Aaliyah. "Don't worry, Princess Amira. Just give Jamal time to warm up." she reassured.

Jasira just stood there glaring at Aaliyah. "I think it's time to say good-bye to Princess Ameera." she sneered.

Author's Notes:

The trio of guys singing about how beautiful is Amira resemble Tetti-Tatti's sailors from the Disney short Willie the Operatic Whale, only wearing Arab clothing obviously.

A few elements from the live-action version of "Prince Ali" are: Genie appearing behind the other girls as she begins singing, her saying "She's got the monkeys, a buncha monkeys", and use of the lyrics "10,000 servants and flunkies" instead of "slaves and some servants and flunkies".

I also replaced a section of the original song with another from the Broadway version.

I'm guessing that "Amira" is pronounced "Ah-my-ra" and "Ameera" is pronounced "Ah-me-ra".

Elephant Aba swatting Desdemona is similar to when Zazu got swat by an elephant in The Lion King during the "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" number.