Chapter Text
Does any one else think Wonderland ought to have been continued? Especially since it finally got good enough that I was looking forward to episodes? Ah, well. Originally I thought it would be fun if Aladdin [having been Cyrus' master as a boy until his 'death'] had been kept a prisoner of Jafar all this time, to be used against Cyrus or some such. But the idea got put into my head about if...someone else had been Aladdin. Bwahaha! And meanwhile...We'll be seeing more faces from Agrabah, Wonderland, and maybe even some Storybrookers down the line when I reveal that the Knave has family after all. And who the Jabberwocky really is. Bwahaha. Enjoy!
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Agrabah, Many Years Ago
Of the many masters Cyrus had served over the years, his present one was far from the worst. A cautious if slow-witted man, he had wished for a prosperous business, and for Cyrus' assistance in tending his shop. It hadn't occurred to him that he could have simply ordered Cyrus' complicity, but the wishes were simple enough that they seemed inconsequential as far as the balance of magic went. For several weeks, he had been working as a shop keep under the name 'Abu' per his master's orders. As far as being an eternal slave went, it wasn't a terrible existence. His master let him basically have free run, so long as he didn't reveal he was a genie and kept up his work. One of his jobs included fetching supplies from the marketplace, and it was there that he met his 'very best friend'.
"Aha! Caught you, little thief! You thought you could steal from me, eh? I'll have your hands, boy!"
Cyrus, who had been examining produce, quickly turned to find a gruff man holding up a small boy by the scruff of the neck. He was a slight thing in shabby clothes, with a mess of black hair and large brown eyes, and he looked terrified.
"I-I didn't steal! Let me go! Please!" The boy squirmed, and Cyrus didn't miss the slight bulge in his pant's pocket. A thief could always recognize a thief.
"Let us find out, shall we?" The man tossed the boy down roughly, but before he could examine him, Cyrus stepped forward and caught him by the hand. He stepped in front of the boy and spoke genially. "What seems to be the problem, good sir?"
The man was startled and then angry as he tried to shove Cyrus aside. "Get out of the way! That boy is a thieving little-he's getting away!" He ran past Cyrus then, and the boy it seemed had taken off like the hounds of the Sultan were after him. But he had a feeling he knew where the boy was headed...
Small hands gripped a golden necklace inlaid with pearls, and the boy who'd stolen it breathed heavily as he gripped his prize and hid behind a pile of boxes in an alley. The street was rarely used, and the path not easy to get to.
"That's quite a prize you have there." The boy yelped as he jumped up and started to run, but Cyrus caught him by the wrist with a smile. "Now, now, little rabbit. You needn't be afraid. I don't mean you any harm."
The boy stilled, but seemed no less wary as he stared up at Cyrus. Silence passed a moment before the boy squirmed uncomfortably. "What do you want from me, then?"
"Well, mainly, I just wanted you to keep your hands attached." he chuckled and wiggled his fingers at the boy, who seemed fearful again at the thought before Cyrus released him and he tensed again as if he might run. Cyrus smiled and sat down as he pulled out a pair of apples and held one out to the boy. "You look hungry, would you like one?"
The boy looked surprised and stared at the apple as if it might bite him, before he looked to Cyrus suspiciously and then back at the apple. After a moment, he shoved the necklace into his pocket and took the apple which he began to eat hungrily. Cyrus patted the space beside him and after a moment, the boy sat down although several inches further away. Cyrus took a bite from his own apple thoughtfully before he spoke again. "That was a pretty daring steal...but not very wise. The market is busy enough to distract from the deed, true enough, but the stall-keeps are more vigilant, and there are more people to stop you from escaping."
The boy didn't seem to know what to make of that, and just eyed Cyrus silently.
Cyrus considered that and then held out a hand. "My name is...Abu. I'll be honest with you, many years ago, I did my fair share of thieving as well...I cannot betray you for doing what I myself have done. You can trust me. Although I wouldn't advise risking it again." he added.
The boy stilled then and stared doubtfully at the offered hand, he seemed to think it over before he held out a hand sticky with apple juice and shook Cyrus' hand lightly. "My name...is Aladdin."
Cyrus smiled. There was something about the boy that struck him as odd, and as a former con artist himself, he recognized that the boy wasn't quite telling the truth. But this was a good start. "A pleasure to meet you, Aladdin."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
England
"Papa! Papa, wake up!" Small hands tugged impatiently at him, and Cyrus awoke from his memory-turned-dream with a start and then a smile as he mock-groaned. "Little imp...go hassle your mother."
"Pardon?" his wife chimed from beside him, as she cast him a false imperious look before she smiled lovingly at their daughter, Louisa.
"It's snowing!" The child cried insistently, "We must go out and play! Oh, please, say we can!"
Cyrus groaned again and buried his face in his pillow, only to be tugged on again by those wonderful, warm little hands. He had never dared dream that such a beautiful thing could exist in his world, let alone have been created by him. And he had not only her, but Alice as well. He was blessed, there was no other way to describe it.
"Mama!" Louisa pleaded, and Alice chuckled as she rolled over and pressed a kiss to the back of Cyrus' head. "It seems we are being summoned, Cyrus."
"So it seems." came the muffled reply from the pillow before Cyrus lifted his head with a warm smile and caught Alice's lips in a kiss. "Good morning, my love."
It was Louisa's turn to groan, and both of her parents chuckled. Cyrus sighed, although his smile was wide as he ruffled Louisa's hair. "Go get on your coat, and give us a bit of time to wake up and get ready, then we'll play in the snow." "Hooray!" The girl chimed, and dashed off in excitement. Both of her parents chuckled again as they wore similar, loving smiles.
Cyrus watched his daughter leave, the head of dark hair dashing off, and was reminded of another small, dark-haired child running away. He hadn't thought of Aladdin in so long, not with all that had gone on, let alone having such a vivid dream. It made him strangely nostalgic, and with a pang, he pushed away the thoughts as he done many times before. Aladdin was another world and many years gone, and now he had his own life to lead.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
It had been four months since 'Aladdin' and 'Abu' had met, and they'd met at least twice a week since in 'secret'. The very street Aladdin had hidden in that fateful day led to an abandoned building, and the top most room provided a good hideout and view of the city. Neither knew very much about the other, but it hadn't been necessary to, theirs was a unique friendship. Cyrus, who never had the opportunity to make something like a friend, or form a bond, took a great comfort in mentoring the boy who reminded him so much of himself. And Aladdin, who had never gotten on well with the few boys his age he knew, had never had much by way of friends either. He had also gleaned that Aladdin's name was not truly Aladdin, and was an attempt by the boy to cover his actions from his mother lest she hear his name brought up in local gossip.
So it was that when Aladdin entered their little meeting place looking glum, Cyrus was genuinely concerned, and he crouched down in front of Aladdin with a frown. "You look as though the world has come crashing down, Al. What's wrong?"
Aladdin shifted and stared down at the ground with a trembling lip before he swallowed hard. "It's...it's nothing.."
Cyrus placed a hand on the small shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. "You know you can tell me anything, Al. If something's troubling you, please let me help."
The boy bit his lip and after a moment he confessed in a rushed tone, tears spilling down his cheeks. "It's...my mother. She's...she's very sick...I don't know what to do!" he cried, and his body trembled.
"Oh, Al..." Cyrus pulled the boy in close, and he stiffened for a moment before slender hands slid around Cyrus' neck and hugged him tightly. "Shh...shh...it'll be alright...what is her illness? We can call for a doctor."
Aladdin sniffed and shook his head as he pulled away, although Cyrus kept his hands on Aladdin's shoulders. "M-My mother is a healer...she says she will be better soon, but...I think...maybe she...I can't do anything for her!" he finished with, although the implication was there. Perhaps she was only saying she would get better to protect him.
"Now that's not true." Cyrus said firmly, and Aladdin blinked at him through teary eyes. "My mother was something of a healer too, so she was rarely sick...but do you know what she told my brothers and I was the best medicine?"
"You have brothers?" Aladdin was distracted a moment, and Cyrus nodded and continued.
"She said that our love healed her better than any medicine. As long as we were well and smiling, that gave her the strength to get better herself."
"Really?" Cyrus nodded solemnly. "A mother loves her child more than anything...if you are by her side, how could she not be better?"
Aladdin seemed to ponder that and then brighten as he sniffed and rubbed at his eyes. "That's true...thank you, Abu..." The boy paused and then gripped Cyrus' neck in a tight hug again. "Thank you for everything...you're...you're the very best friend I've ever had..."
Cyrus was a bit taken aback. He'd gotten Aladdin to come out of his shell, and found him to be earnest, intelligent, and even a bit quirky. But rarely did Aladdin become emotional, so the confession was doubly endearing. Cyrus felt a pang as he was reminded of his own older and younger brother, and he hugged the small boy tightly as he pressed a light kiss to his head. "You as well, Al. I never really had friends outside of my brothers, so it's cheating a bit but...you're the best friend I've had too." he chuckled.
Aladdin pulled away to stare up at him with surprised, hopeful eyes before he shook his head and added. "I haven't really had any either...and I don't have any brothers, so..."
Cyrus smiled fondly and ruffled the boy's hair. "Well, then, perhaps you'd like to? If you'd like, we can be brothers."
Aladdin blinked and then seemed confused. "How can we be? We have different mothers already." Cyrus chuckled. "True enough. But if you'd like to be, we can make a promise here and now, and then we'll be brothers forever. Even if we're apart." That sobered him a bit, because in the back of his mind, he'd been a little hesitant to get too close to Aladdin. He was used to losing the people he loved, but Aladdin had never lost any one. He didn't know the truth about Cyrus, and when Cyrus was forced to a new master...would Aladdin think he'd been abandoned?
"Apart?" Aladdin seemed anxious. "Are you leaving?"
Cyrus' smile nearly faltered, but he'd had much practice in keeping up a facade. "I hope not. But we never know what the Fates will bring us...in the meantime though..."
"Can we...really be brothers?" Aladdin seemed on the fence about the idea, excited and reluctant about it at the same time.
"If you want, but we don't have to be. Being best friends is fine enough."
Aladdin considered that and then mumbled. "I wouldn't...mind having a brother.."
Cyrus hesitated, was it truly fair to make this promise of brotherhood if he couldn't guarantee to stay? But then, nothing was ever guaranteed even amongst brothers born together-such was his very existence. Cyrus pulled a small knife from his pocket, and drew a thin line on his palm before he held out his hand for Aladdin's.
"W-What are you doing?"
"My blood and yours, to seal the promise. But only if you want to."
Aladdin hesitated then, before he surrendered his palm to Cyrus who made a thin cut as gently as possible. Blood welled in their respective palms, and Cyrus gripped their hands together tightly as he caught Aladdin's gaze and smiled. "I swear this day, with this blood, that we are brothers. In all things, near or far, we shall forever be family in our hearts."
Aladdin swallowed hard and then said firmly. "I swear...with this blood today, we are brothers...and we always will be...family...I swear."
There was an electric shock that seemed to pass through their hands, and both Cyrus and Aladdin jerked their hands away in surprise. Cyrus examined his palm and found that the slight wound had healed, and the faintest of scars remained, likely not to be noticed unless one were truly looking for it. Aladdin held the same mark. "What was that?" The boy asked, startled.
Cyrus wasn't sure, but he didn't think it could have been anything bad...could it? "Perhaps it is a sign from the Fates that they approve of our vows...little brother."
Aladdin's eyes widened, and look on his face couldn't really be described. Grateful and hopeful wouldn't cut it, nor would love or warmth. It was an expression representative of their bond, the only bond Aladdin had really ever forged with someone besides his mother. "I think so too...big brother." Aladdin tried out the words and found that they warmed his heart, it felt good on his tongue.
Cyrus didn't realize he'd begun to cry until a single tear trickled down his cheek, and he blinked in surprise before he wiped it away.
"Abu?" Aladdin was concerned.
Cyrus shook his head with a smile. "Thank you, Aladdin...you can't know what your friendship...and brotherhood mean to me." His brothers were lost through his own foolishness, his mother dead, he had no family or friends in the world and as a genie...had expected that he never would. Aladdin was a rare gift, and he prayed that he would not soon lose him.
His prayers, however, were in vain.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Jafar stared listlessly at the wall of his little prison, the lamp, as he lost himself in thoughts and memories because he had nothing better to do. Years had passed, he was a prisoner, no one would fight for him or free him, and even if he returned the water...he'd likely die in attempt of it's return. He would spend eternity as a genie, a slave of the lamp, and even if he were free...what was there to live for? Jafar had killed his father and taken his revenge as intended, and then he'd meant to rule as a supreme sorcerer. Now, even if he escaped, there would be nothing for him. No power, no people, nothing...in the end, that insufferable Alice had been right. Jafar had lost to the power of love. The love Amara bore her children, the love Alice and Cyrus bore each other, Will and Anastasia's love, the love of the people of Wonderland...he'd been bested by something he couldn't hope to have, that had been proven. Or rather, couldn't hope to have again, he ought to have said. There had been two people in his life to love him, three if one counted Amara which he didn't since he had never loved her in return, but that was long ago...
"Genie! Genie, come out! I have my third wish! I wish to be young forever!"
Jafar was summoned out of his lamp to face the rotund and crude man who was his...master. He had wanted desperately to punish the pathetic oaf, and now he had his chance. Jafar's only pleasure was in twisting wishes as best he could. He smiled cruelly. "As you command." Jafar waved his hand as the man lost a decade or so, becoming 'young again'...and from there, his skin began to turn to stone.
The man realized what was happening and started to scream. "No! No! That isn't what I meant! Stop, no, no!" Jafar looked at the stone statue in satisfaction before he snapped his fingers and the stone burst apart. But his satisfaction was short-lived as he was again thrust inside the bottle, and he found himself hurtled along towards his next 'master'.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"Restless flowers bloom, in the evening light, let the old day fade, bring in the new day's light..." A voice sang, a deep and pleasant hum in the fading light of sunset. A cloaked woman stepped over a couple of fresh bodies, fools who had gotten in her way, as she made her way to the place she'd sought. Jafar was dead, the Queen of Hearts and the Red Queens' respective reigns were over, the Jabberwocky was imprisoned, and that insufferable Alice and her beau were gone. Years of peace had taken it's toll and Wonderland was ripe for the taking. True, it wasn't where she'd intended to be in her life, but conquering Wonderland held it's own rewards and perhaps following that...she could see her way to getting all else that she desired.
She opened the door to the little cottage, home to a hermit of sorts who was rumored to have the knowledge she sought. The man was just sitting down to eat, it seemed, and she smiled winningly as she lowered her hood to reveal a beautiful young woman with long, wavy chestnut hair save for one long strand of pure white, and piercing blue eyes. "Hello, you must be Mr. Walrus...I'm looking for someone and I believe you may know where he is...I believe he is called 'The March Hare'?"
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"Ha! Those idiots, thinking they could mess with my little brother and get away with it!" Blood trickled down from his now-slightly crooked nose, and there was a bruise welling on his cheek, but it was worth it.
"But you got hurt, Ley...you...didn't have to do that...if you stay with me...it'll just keep causing you trouble..."
Leyton scoffed. "Trouble schmouble." he pulled the younger boy in to a neck grab and ruffled his hair affectionately before he gave him a tight, one-armed hug. "We're brothers, Jeffy. We always stick together. And I'll kick anyone's butt who says otherwise."
Jeffy sniffed, and Leyton groaned. "There'll be snot on this shirt too now...yer'sucha brat, Jeffy."
The other boy giggled and then sniffed as he smiled. "I love you, big brother."
Leyton scrunched his nose before he gave in with a sigh and a fond smile. "Love ya too, runt."
Leyton Trickt sighed as he took another long drink from a bottle that would never do as he'd like. He could drink alcohol till he was blue in the face, it would never have any effect. And he could eat all the food he liked, but it held no taste for him. Leyton sat at the head of a now rickety-table, adorned with bright colored table-ware and multi-colored, polka-dotted cloth. He wore a raggedy hat and rumpled, tattered clothing, and seemed to be around fifteen years of age. Leyton's eyes were bi-colored, one blue-grey, and one green with flecks of gold. Perhaps his most curious feature though were the hare's ears sticking from his head, drooping rather sadly. And perhaps the feature that couldn't be seen, which was that aside from being cursed, he was quite mad. Leyton busied himself with applying jelly to a pocket-watch which had stopped ticking ages ago as he hummed to himself. "A very merry unbirthday to me, to me..."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Will and Ana next chap, and a familiar Storybrooke-ish face. And by the by, fair warning, I love brotherly love. So...yeah. In case any eyebrows were raised at the brotherly love. Writer's prerogative. But not unrealistic either. So! Reviews are like verbal hugs to me...and enjoy!~ Witchy~