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INTO THE FIRE

Part 1

Rajah stirred and lifted his massive head. He looked around, eyes affording him an excellent view in the dark, trying to find what it was that had woken him. Nothing. A movement by the screens separating the balcony caught his attention, but as he watched it proved to be nothing more than an errant night breeze stirring the silken hangings. He grunted and laid his head on Jasmine’s hip and settled in for sleep.

The errant breeze became a gale. Rajah’s head came up again as the hangings and the doors behind them flew open. He reared up, teeth bared and hackles raised and jumped down from the divan. The tiger launched himself at the intruder that stood framed within the doorway as he growled deep in his throat. A gesture from the cloaked figure caused the great cat to slump unconscious to the floor.

The intruder looked down at the tiger, then at the sleeping figure on the divan. “No challenge, Xerxes. How disappointing.” His frown twisted into an evil smile. “How typical.”

Jasmine slept on, unaware of the intruder as he approached. The eel swam along, eager to see what his master was doing. Too eager, as he brushed against the woman’s shoulder, disturbing her.

Jasmine stirred and opened her eyes. “Rajah?” she said in a voice heavy with sleep. And then she saw the intruder. “Mozenrath!” she gasped. The last thing she saw was the face of the sorcerer as a leather-gloved hand covered her mouth and the world went away.

“Xerxes, one of these days, I’m going to find better use for your worthless, scaly hide,” Mozenrath hissed at the eel. Xerxes pulled away. “Like as a trophy over my mantle!”

Mozenrath lifted Jasmine into his arms and strode to the balcony. A flash of blue-black fire engulfed them and then they were gone; a lonely howling wind swept that through the chamber and out and over the city the only sign of their passing.

* * *

The lonely howling woke Aladdin. He pulled the blankets closer about him and turned over on his pallet, and thought of Jasmine and smiled a sleepy smile. She had been in his dreams, laughing and smiling at him in that easy way she had. Eager to get back to those dreams, he shut his eyes and let sleep pull him back.

* * *

Somewhere within a dead land of black sand, a rip occurred in time and space. A tall, elegant figure carrying an unconscious woman stepped out of the rip onto a dune of sand. There is nothing as far as the eye can see as the black sand of the desert blends with the dark sky.

Mozenrath spared none of this a second glance as he approached a pile of wood stacked for a fire. He deposited Jasmine nearby on the sand and turned his attention to the pile.

Xerxes swam along beside his master, curious. Mozenrath approached the pile and held out his gloved hand. He spoke one word and sparks leapt from his hand. The dried wood caught immediately and the scent of burning sandalwood filled the air. He tossed a lump of dried resin into the fire and myrrh mingled with the sandalwood.

Mozenrath stood contemplating the increasing flames as they danced to and fro on the logs. He looked up at the sky, and the firelight fell upon his pale face. He held his hand out and Xerxes swam under it. He stroked the eel absently, taking in the moment. He made an impressive sight standing there, the firelight picking out the golden highlights on his tunic, turban and mantle, the light desert wind stirring his cloak.

He heard a sound behind him and whirled, setting his cloak and headdress flying. He smiled as he saw Jasmine scramble and roll to her feet. She turned and fled into the desert, the black sand sucking at her feet and hindering her progress. Perhaps this wasn’t going to be quite so disappointing after all. He waved his hand and engulfed her in a blaze of light. She doubled over and fell to her knees.

He strode across the sand to where she lay. He laughed at the glare she directed at him as he approached. “Ah, Princess, it appears you are not overjoyed to see me. I’m terribly sorry about the headache, but I was forced to use a rather crude spell upon you.” He glanced at Xerxes in irritation.

When he reached for her wrist, she grabbed him and pulled. He fell heavily as she struggled to her feet. He pushed himself up and ran after her. Faster than she, he grabbed her waist and held her trapped against him. She lashed backward with her foot but missed. Desperate, Jasmine twisted and raked at his face with her nails. Caught by surprise, released her, but recovered immediately. He grabbed her slender wrists, held them trapped in one hand, and administered a quick backhanded slap to her face. She slumped at his feet. “None of that, dear Princess,” he said as he dragged her back to the fire.

“Stop calling me that!” she said as she struggled against him. He pulled her along effortlessly.

“Why not? You are one, aren’t you? Xerxes, it appears that we have a princess with an identity crisis on our hands.” Mozenrath none too gently jerked her to a stop beside the fire.

“I’m not your dear princess!” she spat at him.

She gasped in pain as he pulled her arm behind her back. “Did that hurt? I’m so sorry,” he said in a voice that belied his words.

“Mozenrath, what are you doing?” Jasmine demanded as she clenched her teeth against the pain. “My father will--”

“Your father will do as he’s told or he’ll pay the price, just as everyone else in Agrabah.” He twisted her arm and she went limp. He held her tightly and whispered in her ear. “A small demonstration of my powers, Princess.” She recoiled as she felt his lips brush her ear.

Mozenrath held his gloved hand out as it began to glow. The sand before him began to glow in turn. He brought his hand down and twisted and the sand began to bubble and flow together as it melted.

A hump formed as Mozenrath clenched his fist, willing the molten sand to obey his bidding. It fell back, surged up again, then receded to lie still. Mozenrath gestured again, and the molten sand erupted out of the dune and thrust itself skyward as if it would escape the desert altogether. It twisted back on itself, sprouted projections that looked like malformed human limbs before they fell back into the whole. On and on it rose until it was over twice the height of a man and thick enough that one man could encircle it and only barely be able to touch his fingers on the other side.

The glow faded from Mozenrath’s gauntlet and it stopped moving with a terrible creaking and groaning sound. Mozenrath looked at Jasmine with a light, easy smile that did not touch his eyes, while she looked in awe at the thing that had not been there a moment ago and the sheer power that had gone into making it.

Mozenrath pushed her forward, pulling her hand around and leading her by the wrist. When they were near the column, he pulled her wrist up and pressed it against the pillar. Jasmine flinched, expecting to find it hot. Instead, it was impossibly cold. She shivered as the cold sucked the warmth from her body.

Her attention was directed back at Mozenrath as his gauntlet glowed and the glass flowed outward and encircled her wrist, holding her immobile. He repeated this process until she was bound into the very column itself with similar bands of glass at her waist and ankles. Curiously, he left her left arm unbound.

He stood back a moment, as if to examine his handiwork. “You know, Princess, I must say that’s an attractive look for you.” He smirked at her, and leaned in close to trace the line of her chin with a feather-light touch. “Very attractive.”

Jasmine jerked her chin out of his grasp, but a quick snatch at her hair had her facing him again. His face was very close to hers now, and she could see the gleam in his eyes. “You will obey me soon enough, my little princess.” He grasped her hair harder, hurting her, as he tilted her head back. He brought his mouth down on hers and kissed her--hard. It was cruel and brutal, quite unlike anything she had ever known. She flailed at him with her free hand, trying to mark him with her nails, but he grabbed her hand and held it.

At last he released her. She looked away and gasped for breath. Her mouth twisted with revulsion. Without warning, he slapped her, knocking her head back against the column. Lights flared and everything went fuzzy for a moment.

She returned to her senses to find a hand in her hair and a stone cup held to her face, collecting the tears the pain had brought forth. She tried to pull away, but his hold on her hair increased, bringing more tears.

“Mozenrath, this is wrong. Take me back to Agrabah. Please.” She blinked away the tears.

Mozenrath examined the contents of the cup. “Want to go home already, Princess? But you just got here and I so enjoy your company. You might say that I find captive audiences the best kind.” He smiled wickedly at her as he tilted the cup side to side, then nodded. “That should just about do it.” He released her hair and she wiped her face.

Jasmine let her curiosity get the better of her. “What are you doing?”

“Just getting something I need.” He turned and moved toward the fire.

She tested the restraints while his back was turned. She could barely move and the glass held securely. “Aladdin will stop you--” she said with more bravado than she felt.

Mozenrath laughed. He didn’t even turn around to give her a gloating look. Just a low, throaty, evil laugh.

Unnerved more by his lack of response than by anything he might have said or done, Jasmine watched him set the cup carefully on a low rock by the fire. She saw several other items there that she hadn’t noticed before now. A decanter of cut crystal, a length of cord and--She gasped as he picked up the last item. He turned to her and she could see the firelight glint against cold steel.

She began to struggle in earnest. Mozenrath ignored her and grabbed her hand and laid the flat of the blade upon it. Something made her look into his eyes as he laid his left hand over the blade and twined his fingers with hers. Jasmine could feel the heat of his touch around the cold, sharp outline of the blade. His mouth twisted into that insolent smile that came so naturally to him--

She gasped as with a quick motion he twisted the blade and jerked it from between their palms. The knife bit deeply into them both and she felt the blood flow hot and thick. It gave her little comfort to see his face twist in pain.

He beckoned and the cup floated through the air towards them. “This is the part I always hate: Blood seems to be such an important part of spells. Personally, I find it quite distasteful,” he remarked in a conversational tone as he held their hands up and let the blood drip from between their palms into the cup.

After a moment, he released her and she curled her hand around the pain from the wound. Carefully, he picked up the decanter and added what appeared to be water to the cup, then stirred the solution with the knife.

Uneasy over the elaborate proceedings, Jasmine watched with growing dread. Mozenrath saw her watching him and grinned at her over the cup. “Oh, don’t worry, Jasmine, you’ll find out soon enough.”

He turned and moved the rock closer to the fire, setting the cup close to the blaze. Xerxes swam over and looked as if he were about to take a sniff, but Mozenrath swatted at him. “Keep away, you idiot! I don’t want this spell ruined before it’s begun.” Xerxes swiftly swam out of reach. “Remind me to deal with you later.” He picked up the silver cord and returned to Jasmine. He grasped her hand and lay his own upon it. She hissed as he pressed against the wound there.

“This is probably going to hurt you as much as it hurts me, so I would advise you stand still.” His grip was amazingly strong. Jasmine steeled herself and twisted her hand, bringing her nails up to rake over the wound on his palm.

Mozenrath grunted and caught her hand and twisted. Between his crushing grasp and the pressure upon the open wound, she cried out.

“Next time I’ll cut off your hand,” he sneered at her. He laced his fingers through hers, and looped the thick silver cord around their wrists then around their hands, and finally with Xerxes’ help, tied the ends together. He tested the binding. “Time for the show to begin, Princess.” He leant down and picked up the cup. As he brought it near her face, she realized what he was going to do and turned away, disgusted.

He sighed. “Xerxes,” he said. “It seems the princess needs some persuasion to cooperate.”

Xerxes flew close to Jasmine and nipped her. When she involuntarily opened her mouth, Mozenrath poured a bit of the potion in and forced her mouth shut with their bound hands. He held the cup up and said a word that was unknown to her and when he released it, it remained floating in the air. With his now freed right hand, he pinched her nose. She shut her eyes and tried to resist the urge to swallow. It was no use; it was either swallow the noxious substance or choke. She gasped, swallowed and he released her. The potion made her stomach twist into knots.

“There.” He wiped away the bit that had run down her chin and of course, refusing to soil his own clothes, wiped his hand upon the fabric of her gown. “It would have been so much easier to have just done as you were told.” He plucked the cup from the air and took a sip himself. He made a face and nodded. “Well, perhaps I shouldn’t blame you.”

Then his manner changed. His face set in hard lines that reflected hours of poring over tomes of magic and diligent study. Gone was the bantering voice and the insulting speech. He threw his head back and began to speak in a strong, clear voice:

“The Phoenix burns and the jackal howls.

Man cowers as the leopard prowls.”

His voice began low and clear, but increased in volume as the wind picked up and carried his words into the night. The fire snapped and crackled and the mingled aromas of sandalwood and myrrh made Jasmine dizzy.

“The Stallion’s thunder is a shiver of pain.

The price to pay and power to gain.”

Jasmine’s stomach roiled and the cut on her hand burned. Her vision swam, and his face went in and out of focus. She was sure she was going to be sick.

Mozenrath felt the beginnings of the wave of power deep within. Slowly, like the pressure of steam inside a pot, it grew from inside. It burst from him in a wind of psychic power that made the fire dance upon the sandalwood and sent Xerxes flipping tail over fins out into the desert.

“A peacock’s cry on Tirich Mir,

The key is found in True Love’s tear.”

Now her hearing began playing tricks on her. She swallowed, but the rushing noise and the fullness in her ears only increased. She felt the impact of the words rather than heard them. They were stinging, biting and she cried out.

Mozenrath saw Jasmine begin to glow with an unearthly, silver glow. The power around them grew, whipping his headdress and cloak about them until he feared for losing his footing. He ripped the cloak from his neck and it went flapping off into the night like some demon unleashed. The fire danced more wildly than ever, and he could see the pain in Jasmine’s contorted face.

“The Dark of Moon is Night’s tuition.

Light the dune and bring fruition.”

She gasped against the sudden pain in her abdomen. She hung her head and clenched her teeth against the pain. “Stop!” she cried. “What’s happening to me?” Her voice sounded strange. She twisted against the restraints in pain.

“Argent blaze, obey thy lord,

Bound by blood and silver cord!”

Jasmine screamed in pain as something burned its way into her hand. She looked up and saw Mozenrath pouring the contents of the cup over their hands. She struggled. He closed his hand harder over hers, taking a firmer grip against the thick liquid that made their skin slick.

The fire in her hand ran up her arm and into her chest. Her whole body soon felt on fire, consuming her. A strange sensation began over her heart, and a flower of pain erupted in her chest.

Mozenrath steeled himself against the pain in his hand. The silver glow brightened; her hair danced with the light. The glow became more than just the presence of light; it began to burst forth from her skin as tiny flames; burning blue and silver. Jasmine’s large, dark eyes, wild with pain, pleaded with him, but the fire that rippled along her skin filled them until they were no more than pools of liquid fire, as blue as the flame of a spirit burner.

“To me enslaved, thy will suborned,

Cleave to me, the rest forsworn!”

She could no longer see the world around her as the pain engulfed her. She heard someone screaming and knew it was herself, but she couldn’t make herself stop. The pain turned to fire, and the world went dark then lightened. Everything looked to be fashioned of liquid silver. From the dunes beyond, to the small, pitiful blaze that snapped and chuckled beside her. She could hear it, mocking her, talking to her, calling to her. Fire, that was what she was, and fire thirsted for fire, and--She turned her head this way and that as if seeking the answer and she found it. She turned her attention on the thing that held her. Yes, there was life nearby, life to be consumed; to be eaten...

Mozenrath felt a twinge of fear as the spell transformed Jasmine from flesh and blood into a creature of living fire. She had opened her mouth to scream and instead dark blood and silver fire had poured forth. The blood soon stopped as the fire consumed her, turning her into something elemental, a being with a natural affinity for fire.

Like an animal with nothing but instinct to rule its desires, she cast about, turning her head first this way and then that, searching, questing for something. She stopped and lifted her eyes to his, and Mozenrath felt the twinge become a stab of fear. What she quested for was himself.

He fought that fear with the knowledge that she would be his willing slave, if he could but conquer her now. But the fear at seeing the hunger in her eyes made him back away. She stretched her hand towards him, and the glass that bound her to the column melted away like so much wax. The column itself fell back on itself as the heat from her body liquefied it. She followed him, mindlessly, knowing only that she needed, thirsted for blood and fire.

But, oh, how beautiful she was! he thought. Her hair danced with a life of its own, unbound and dark as night, while her skin shone against it. Her eyes, mindless though they were, were sure to strike fear into the hearts of those who had loved her. The Sultan, her father; the people of Agrabah; that wretched Aladdin--

It was the thought of how Aladdin would suffer that gave Mozenrath the will to survive the attack.

He backed away, keeping his grip on her hand even though it burned. “Obey me; I am your Master!” he shouted. The powerful psychic wind ripped at his clothing; tugged at his headdress. He ripped it off as she reached for it. It flew into her and flared into a fine shower of ash.

She reached for him with her free hand, and he stopped. Her hand came near his face as if she would smite him, but even as he felt the incredible heat of her on his cheek, something stopped her.

Her empty eyes flared and she opened her mouth in a wordless scream of rage. She tried to pull away, dragging him from his feet as if he weighed no more than a feather. She grew, becoming taller than him by half. With strength born of the transformation, she lifted her arm high above her head; his feet dangled above the sand. She turned to the stone by the fire and effortlessly swung him toward it. He managed to catch himself and prevent his head from smashing into it as he rolled to his feet. He grunted as his hand smacked against its surface, but he scrambled to his feet before she could do more. He planted his boots in the black sand and grabbed their bound hands with his free hand, so hers was trapped between his two. He lifted his hands then brought them down sharply, forcing her down.

“You will obey me!” he commanded. “You must obey me! You are bound to me by blood and spell and by all that is unholy, you will acknowledge your master!” She looked up at him with hate evident in her eyes of fire. She tried to rise, to pull him off balance, but he pulled her around again. “Kneel before me!”

They struggled a moment more, then she went limp in his grip. She hung her head, her black fire hair dancing about her face, before looking up at him. That which had once been the Princess of Agrabah, knelt before him, acknowledging his power over what she had become. Mozenrath felt the will drain from her, the monstrous will that was the legacy of Simin Golnar, what Jasmine had become. It came rushing into him as the silver cord that had bound them together at the moment of transformation slipped through her hand. He clenched the now-fused cord tightly in his fist, its loops burning with the same intensity as the transformed Jasmine, flung back his head and laughed. His laugh rose and was carried away by the night wind and was flung higher and higher until it finally became part of the lonely sound that haunted the land of the Black Sand.

Part 2

Aladdin groaned as the sounds of the early morning routine dragged him out of a peaceful sleep. He grimaced and pulled the blanket over his head and tried to ignore it.

“I’m starved. When are we going to get some grub?” a raucous voice demanded. Someone screeched and there was a wild flapping and squawking.

“I said ‘grub,’ meaning something to eat, you missing link! Not insect larvae!”

Abu chittered with laughter. There were sounds of a scuffle, some random chitters from Abu, mutters from Iago and Aladdin felt several small objects land on the blanket. He jumped up and threw back the blanket as something slipped underneath the blanket and fell on his neck; something small, wet, cold and moving.

“Hey!” He twisted around and found a bunch of small white grubs squirming on the blanket, and one behind him. He flicked them away. “What are you guys doing?” he demanded.

Abu and Iago fell back, looking sheepish. “Ah, nothing, Al,” Iago said. Abu nodded vigorously in agreement. “But, are you going to sleep all day or what? We’re starving here!” Iago and Abu clutched their stomachs and tried to look wan and emaciated.

Aladdin sighed. “All right, since I’m up.” He rose, grabbed his fez and put it on. “Give me a minute then we’ll head on over to the palace.”

“Great!” Iago said.

Minutes later, they set out for the palace. They had to pass through the market on the way there, and already it was busy with people trying to beat the heat that would later paralyze the city. Aladdin strolled by the stalls and Iago and Abu nearly fell from his shoulders as they eyed the food. He rolled his eyes and bought them some fruit and split it between them. The munched happily as he made his way to the palace.

Aladdin strode through the palace gates. He was thinking of Jasmine and smiling blissfully to himself so that he didn’t hear the Captain of the Guards approach him.

“Aladdin!” Rasoul bellowed. Aladdin started, recovered quickly and turned.

“Ah, Rasoul, you’re looking officious this morning. What can I do for you?” Try as he might, Aladdin could never resist baiting the Captain.

“The Sultan wants to see you,” Rasoul replied without his customary sneer he reserved for Aladdin. If Aladdin hadn’t known better, he would have thought the Captain seemed agitated.

“Why, what’s happened?” Aladdin asked.

“The Princess is missing,” Rasoul said simply. He turned and hurried into the throne room. Aladdin followed on his heels.

“Missing? What do you mean ‘missing?’” Aladdin spotted the Sultan and strode quickly to his side.

“That’s just it, Aladdin, we don’t know,” the Sultan answered. He bobbed up and down in agitation as he paced the throne room. “We’ve looked everywhere. She simply isn’t here.” he wring his hands. “And Rajah was sound asleep when I went to her room. You know how protective Rajah is of Jasmine. He wouldn’t just let her wander around without him.”

Aladdin nodded. “Have you checked the gardens? Perhaps she’s just taking a stroll.”

“Yes,” the Sultan answered.

“What about the kitchens?” Iago piped up. “The monkey and I could check the kitchens.” He ducked as Rasoul glared at him.

“We’ve looked everywhere in the palace and no one has seen her since last night. The guards who were on duty last night reported that she has not left the palace. I’m worried, Aladdin. It’s not like Jasmine to go off like this.”

Aladdin put his arm on the Sultan’s shoulder and steered him towards the throne. “I’m sure there is some simple explanation, Sultan. She may have just wandered off someplace in her sleep. I’ll go take a look around.”

“Yes, yes, my boy. If anyone can find her, it will be you.”

Aladdin turned to leave when a beefy hand on his arm stopped him. “And just what do you think you can do that Agrabah’s finest can’t do, street rat?”

Aladdin shrugged off the Captain’s hand. “You forget, Rasoul. I have certain talents you don’t.” He patted his sash meaningfully.

“Let him go, Rasoul. He’s right.” The Sultan waved Rasoul away.

“As you wish, Your Majesty.” Rasoul reluctantly obeyed his liege. Aladdin gave him an impudent grin and hurried off.

Aladdin pushed open the door to Jasmine’s room. “Jasmine?” he called. A low rumbling answered him.

“Ah, Rajah,” Aladdin said as he went into the room. The tiger lay curled on the divan, dejected and unhappy looking. He looked up as Aladdin approached and rumbled deep in his throat, questioning.

Aladdin stroked the tiger’s head. “Don’t worry about Jasmine, Rajah. She can take care of herself. Why don’t you go get your breakfast.” The tiger shut his eyes and butted at Aladdin’s hand. He got up and slunk miserably out of the room.

Aladdin looked about the room. Nothing looked disturbed, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. He took a plain-looking brass lamp out of his sash and rubbed it. A plume of blue smoke issued from the neck, growing and solidifying to become Genie. He was dressed in green, with a rounded hat, and his beard was red. He held a bowl filled with multi-colored shapes in milk and a spoon.

“Top o’ the morning to ye,” he said in a strange accent. He held out the bowl. “Want some Lucky Charms?”

Aladdin pushed the bowl aside. “No thanks, Genie. I need your help.”

There was a flash and Genie was his old self again. “You need help? That’s me! Mr. Help!” He swirled around and came to rest with an elbow on his vapor trail, chin propped in his hand. “What can I do you for, Al?”

Aladdin was about to speak when Iago flapped to his shoulder. “The princess is missing, Mister Slug-A-Bed. We have to find her or our free meal ticket to Easy street is up the creek without a paddle.”

Al shrugged Iago off. Iago flapped wildly as Genie zapped a long wooden oar into Iago’s feet. Iago squawked and dropped like a rock.

“That’s what you get for mixing metaphors,” Genie remarked. Abu chattered at Iago and clutched his sides in laughter. Iago grumbled at him.

Aladdin looked at Genie. “Jasmine is missing, Genie,” he said.

Genie morphed into a bloodhound and looked around. “I’ll sniff her out, Al. Don’t you worry.” He began snuffling around the divan.

Abu scurried off to help in the investigation. He picked up several pillows and peered under them when Iago commented. “She’s got to be here somewhere, it’s not like she can hide under the pillows!” Dropping the one he had, he made for the draperies that hung before the pierced screen across the balcony. He sniffed around a bit then started making chattering noises to attract attention.

Aladdin turned and went to see what he was making all the fuss about.

“What is it, Abu?” Abu held up the hanging and pointed to a small drift of fine dust. Aladdin crouched down and Iago flew over to stick his beak into the scene.

“There’s nothing here but a bunch of sand. Trust the monkey to make a big deal over a pile of sand. You want sand? There’s a whole desert full of the stuff right out there. I’ll even sell you some if you’re interested. I’m going to go see what Toby’s sniffing at.” He flapped back over to the divan.

Aladdin wasn’t quite so quick to dismiss Abu’s find. He scraped the fine stuff into a small pile and scooped as much as it into his hand as possible. “I think I’ve found something, Al!” Genie had abandoned his bloodhound morph, and was hovering over the divan.

“What is it, Genie?”

“I smell something rotten over here--something really foul!” He pointed at Iago, who sat under him.

Iago shook a fist at him. “Hey, I took a bath just last week! And I always smell like fowl!”

“Not you; you’re sitting on it.” Genie gave Iago a quick zap. Iago squawked, fell off the divan and hit the floor with a thud.

Aladdin suppressed a smile and looked up at Genie. He was examining the area on the divan with a strange polished glass on a stick. It had several smaller bits of rounded and polished glass attached to it at various spots. Genie looked up at Aladdin, his eye magnified several times by the glass. He blinked.

“A sleep spell. A nasty one, too.” Genie shivered. “Someone has been using magic here.”

Aladdin rubbed his chin. “Hmm. Abu found this sand over there...” He held up his hand so that Genie could see. There wasn’t much to the small pile; it would barely have covered a dinari.

Genie took a pinch and held it up to the light. He examined it under his strange glass. “It looks like sand.” He took a pinch and sniffed it. “It smells like sand.” Genie put the sand on his tongue. He turned green and put his hand over his mouth as he made gagging noises. “Tastes like rotten camel meat.” He stuck out his tongue and wiped it off on a cloth he produced. “And something else...”

Aladdin went through the pierced screen onto the balcony and into the bright sunlight. He held his palm up. Iago, who had followed him landed on his arm and looked down at the stuff.

“I don’t know why you’re so concerned with this sand. Like I told the monkey, there’s a whole desert full of the stuff. And it’s just your typical black sand, after all--” He caught what he was saying and turned to Aladdin. Aladdin nodded and clenched his fist. Genie floated around so that he could look at his friend.

“Black sand? And magic? Are you pondering what I’m pondering?”

Iago piped up. “Yeah, but where are we going to get another Princess at this stage?” He flapped to Aladdin’s shoulder.

Aladdin ignored him. “Mozenrath. He’s taken Jasmine right out of the palace.” He turned and strode angrily through the room. “Come on, we’ve got to tell the Sultan.”

Genie flew in front of him and blocked his way. “Are you sure that’s such a good idea?”

Aladdin paused. “Why?”

Genie morphed into a soldier’s uniform with a false horse around his middle. “Because he may want to send an army in to rescue her. You know how the Sultan is--he’ll be on his stallion in a moment leading the charge of the Light Brigade, and I don’t have to tell you what happened to them.”

Aladdin nodded and turned back into the room. “He’s bound to get either himself or Jasmine or both hurt. Mozenrath doesn’t play around.” He rubbed his neck and shook his head as he picked up Jasmine’s robe that she wore when visiting outside the palace. “But what are we going to do, Genie? What does Mozenrath want with Jasmine?” He sank onto the divan and bunched the robe up in his hands.

Genie popped back into his usual shape and sat next to Aladdin, his vapor trail flowing slightly. Abu crawled up beside Aladdin and looked up helplessly at his friend. Iago, for once, was speechless. This, of course, didn’t last long.

Iago flapped to Aladdin and grabbed him by the vest. “Listen, kid, I know the Princess meant a lot to you, but isn’t it time to face facts?”

Aladdin glared at him. “What are you saying?” Iago shifted position to Aladdin’s shoulder.

“What I’m saying is that the last time we dealt with Mozenrath, he almost turned Agrabah into the biggest slag-pile this side of Pittsburgh. He’s mean; he’s nasty; there’s no telling what he’ll do to her.” He waved his wings around and brought them together and then apart in a quick dismissal. “No, if Mozenrath the sewer rat has Jasmine, I suggest we cut our losses and write her off.”

Aladdin jumped up, dislodging Iago. “How can you say that, Iago? After everything Jasmine’s done for you?”

“It’s very easy, actually. Want to hear me say it again?” He cleared his throat. “What I’m saying is--” Abu turned a bowl of fruit over his head and cut him off.

Aladdin plucked Iago up by the scruff. “Iago, just think. You said it yourself, with Jasmine gone your meal ticket is no longer free.”

Iago looked stricken. “I know, but meal tickets aren’t worth risking life and limb in the Land of the Black Sand. And besides, those Mamluks make me all shivery and goose-pimply.”

Genie took Iago out of Aladdin’s hold and held him up by the tailfeathers. “You’re goose-pimply all the time, you foul-weather fiend!”

“I don’t care!” Iago crossed his wings. “I say it’s a hopeless cause and I won’t risk my feathers over hopeless causes.”

Aladdin snapped his fingers. “But there’s the Sultan.”

“What about the Sultan?” Iago said as he eyed him suspiciously.

“Imagine how grateful the Sultan will feel towards the one that rescues his daughter. Think of the reward.” Aladdin smiled slyly at his feathered friend.

Iago perked up and pulled his tail feathers out of Genie’s grasp. “Reward?”

“Yes,” Al said.

“Treasure?”

“Treasure.”

“Jewels?”

“Jewels.”

“Reclining chairs that vibrate?”

“Reclining chairs that vibrate.”

Iago flapped up and grabbed Al’s vest. “Listen, kid, it’s up to you. And us. We’ve got to go in and save the Princess from that demented Merlin!”

Aladdin smiled. “So we agree on that. But we can’t take Genie or Carpet. Mozenrath would know immediately.”

“But you’ve got us!” Iago flew to the back of the divan and fluffed up his feathers. “Me, the monkey,” Abu puffed up as well. “You. We rush in, duke it out with the Mamluks, dump Mozenrath in a shallow, unmarked grave for the jackals, grab the Princess and get out before anyone even knows we’re gone.” He added a few swings with his wings for emphasis.

Aladdin grinned. “You’re right, Iago. Let’s go!” Abu scrambled to Aladdin’s shoulder and Iago, Carpet and Genie followed Aladdin out of the room.

* * *

Aladdin and the others dashed into the throne room just as a breathless guard burst in. They hurried to the Sultan’s side as the guard fell on his knees before the Sultan. He would have fallen forward on his face if Rasoul hadn’t rushed to help him. The Captain drew back, aghast at the terror he saw in the guard’s eyes.

“The horror!” the man gasped.

“What?” Rasoul demanded. He shook the man, who cowered. “What have you seen?”

“Rasoul, stop.” The Sultan looked down from his throne. “Tell us,” he commanded gently of the guard.

“The Princess!” The terror in the man’s eyes turned to madness as he fell and cowered at Rasoul’s feet.

“Jasmine?” the Sultan exclaimed. “What about Jasmine?” He hopped off his throne and knelt before the guard, but the man’s mind was gone. The Sultan turned to Aladdin. “Aladdin, have you discovered anything?”

Aladdin looked from his friends and then to the Sultan and knew he couldn’t lie to him. Aladdin looked down. “We think Mozenrath took Jasmine, Sultan.”

The Sultan sprang to his feet. “Mozenrath!” He gestured to Rasoul. “Captain, we must mount an expedition to the Land of the Black Sand at once. Nothing is as important as getting my daughter back!”

“You’ve missed me; how touching,” drawled a new voice. The group whirled as one as a lone figure strode through the open palace doors. They could hear the sounds of screaming in the distance. “And now that I’m here, you can throw me a party.”

“Mozenrath! How dare you come into my kingdom! Captain, take that man!” the Sultan ordered. Rasoul drew his scimitar and advanced on the sorcerer. He was stopped by Xerxes flying at his face.

“Still thinking with your biceps, eh, Captain? How quaint,” Mozenrath sneered. “You’d better think again.” He gestured and another figure entered through the great doors of the throne room. A figure of terrible beauty. She, for it was female, strode towards them, a glow emanating from deep within her. Tendrils of flame dripped from her as she walked. They lay burning in little pools of liquid fire upon the flags. As she walked, she ran her hand along the wall leaving long smears of melted stone behind. It ran down the wall in gruesome patterns. The stone flags beneath her feet melted and ran in rivulets. As they cooled, they could hear small popping noises as the stone cracked. Even at this distance, they could feel the heat from her. Her dark hair danced as if blown by a gale. And the face she wore was that of Princess Jasmine.

The Sultan stared at her. Aladdin moved in close as the Sultan started to sink to his knees. He took the Sultan’s arm to steady the little man.

“Allah preserve me, what have you done?” he whispered in a stricken voice. He pulled away from Aladdin and crossed the distance that separated him from his daughter. He stopped when the heat emanating from her became unbearable, some five or six feet away. “What have you done?” he asked again, this time stronger.

Aladdin followed, unable to say anything. A tight band had formed around his chest, making it difficult to breathe. Mozenrath turned his malicious smile on the boy as he savored the reactions of those around.

The Sultan reached out towards what had been his daughter. At the same moment, Aladdin, breathing hard against the pain in his chest, leapt at Mozenrath. Jasmine moved between Aladdin and Mozenrath, blocking Aladdin’s attack. Her dancing hair brushed against the Sultan’s fingers and he fell back with a cry of pain. Aladdin pulled up and turned to the Sultan, helping and protecting him from one side as Rasoul did so from the other.

The Sultan, wincing but defiant in spite of the pain, turned on Mozenrath. “What have you done!” he shouted at the sorcerer.

Mozenrath gestured languidly. “Not much, just transformed her into a--”

“A Simin Golnar!” Iago shouted, plainly terrified but filled with something akin to awe. Mozenrath scowled and turned to the parrot. Iago cowered behind Aladdin as Mozenrath shook his fist at him.

“Don’t interrupt me again or I hurt someone. I won’t have you stepping on my lines.”

Aladdin pulled away. “Leave him alone, Mozenrath.”

Mozenrath looked up from Iago to Aladdin with contempt plain on his face. He straightened. “A Simin Golnar. Yes. A mindless creature of destruction.”

The Sultan shook his head. “No, it can’t be. Jasmine, it’s me, your father!” he implored.

“Save your breath, Sultan, you’ll live longer,” Mozenrath said in his fiendish way. “Her mind is gone; as if there were anything there to begin with.” He chuckled at his little joke, before sighing dramatically. “I suppose you’re going to demand the customary demonstration. How cliché, but then some people never tire of the same storyline.” He swept his cloak around him and strode to the throne. He mounted the steps to it and turned to look down on the others. “Jasmine, hear me.” He paused and looked around and saw the guard who had collapsed forgotten on the floor nearby. “Destroy that man.” He gestured toward the guard.

The thing that had been Jasmine turned to the man and strode over to him. He looked up at her, and seeing her terrible beauty screamed and tried to scurry away. She put her hand out and leaned close to him. He screamed as the heat of her fire set his clothes aflame. His flesh began to bubble and sizzle like meat thrust into the fire to cook. The others tried to rush forward to help, but were helpless as they watched the guard consumed by the fire. His scream rose to one of unbelievable agony before it was cut off with sudden abruptness. The smell of charred flesh assailed their nostrils and they turned away sickened as he was reduced to a pile of greasy ash. Soon even that was gone.

Mozenrath nodded, and examined them through heavy-lidded eyes. “Gratuitous violence is always so uplifting, isn’t it?” He swept his cloak from behind him and sat on the Sultan’s throne.

The Sultan recovered from his shock and took a step forward. “You evil, evil man! Release my daughter at once!” He considered. “Release her and Agrabah is yours.” He sank to his knees before the sorcerer.

Rasoul rushed forward. “No, Sire, you cannot do this!”

Mozenrath threw back his head and laughed. He wiped a tear from an eye and examined it on his finger a moment before flicking it away. “You are amusing, old man. You don’t have a kingdom. It’s already mine. I have your daughter and she’s chosen her master. Me.” He looked at her. “Isn’t that right, dearest?” He held out his hand and she mounted the steps to the throne to stand beside him. The others watched in horrified silence as she turned and put her hand on his shoulder. He covered it with his own. The Sultan bowed his head.

“That makes me Sultan of Agrabah. Oh, I am sorry, Aladdin, but it seems Jasmine finds me infinitely more desirable than you. I mean what more could a girl want?” His gauntlet glowed. “Power, wealth, good looks. And a much better kisser. You might say I light her fire.” He threw back his head and laughed at the way Aladdin’s face twisted in anger. “I must say, it’s moments like these that mean so much to me. I just can’t wait to be king.”

Aladdin climbed to his feet. “Not yet, Mozenrath. Believe me; I haven’t given up.”

“I’m sure you haven’t. You go right on deluding yourself, Aladdin. We all need our little fantasies to help us get through life.

“Aladdin, Aladdin,” Mozenrath said as he rose and descended the steps to the throne. He went and draped a friendly arm around Aladdin’s shoulders. “Don’t you know when you’re beaten? No?” Mozenrath shook his head and walked away. He turned suddenly and engulfed Aladdin in a snare of magic. He dragged the Aladdin to his knees and left him gasping for breath. “Good. I was hoping you wouldn’t disappoint me. Don’t you understand, Aladdin? I’ve won. It’s that simple.

“Oh, there is one last thing.” He gestured at the Genie and Carpet and they were enclosed in golden manacles. “You’ll remember my anti-magic manacles, I suspect. Good.” He turned to Rasoul. “Leave those two here and take the others to the dungeon.” He turned away, dismissing them and producing a large scroll from the air.

Rasoul looked helplessly from Mozenrath to the Sultan. The Sultan was plainly in no condition to protest.

Mozenrath bristled at the hesitation. “Captain,” he said dangerously, “with the little gray matter that hasn’t been muscled out from between your ears, try and imagine yourself in the same condition as our dearly departed friend over there.” Mozenrath studied his nails. “I’m sure even someone with the limited imaginative capabilities you possess will have no problem with that.”

Rasoul paled. “Sultan?” He took the Sultan’s arm to lead him away.

The Sultan came back from some distance. “What? Yes, yes. Better do what he says, Rasoul.” The little man straightened to his fullest.

The Captain and Aladdin took the Sultan out of the throne room with one last miserable look back at Genie, Carpet and Jasmine.

* * *

“So now what are we going to do?” Iago demanded as they entered the dungeon.

Aladdin stopped and looked at the Captain. “Rasoul, you’ve got to let us go.”

Rasoul lowered his brows at Aladdin. “I can’t chance that, Aladdin. What if Mozenrath should find out? I have to think of the Sultan’s safety.”

“Mozenrath is never going to let the Sultan go. If you value his safety, you have to let us go and fight him.”

Rasoul was about to protest when the Sultan came out of his stupor. “Captain, do what he says.”

The others looked at the little man. He grinned at them, a half-hearted grin laced with misery, but he was nowhere near the dejected little man they had escorted from the palace.

“Oh, I’m not quite so broken as I led Mozenrath to believe, I assure you. Yes, Rasoul, we’re going to let Aladdin and his friends try and rescue Jasmine. It’s our only hope to save her and Agrabah.” He hurried along ahead of them.

Aladdin grinned and followed, as did the others. Rasoul looked puzzled. “Where are we going?”

“To escape, of course, Rasoul.” The Sultan paused and looked at Aladdin. “I assume there is some sort of escape tunnel down here.”

Aladdin pulled up and grinned, caught off-guard. “Uh, why would you say that?”

“Oh, I have my ways. I’m not quite so dim as I lead people to believe, my boy. Now, where is it?”

Deciding it wasn’t the time to debate the pros and cons of revealing the escape tunnel, Aladdin hurried over to the block of stone that Jafar had shown him. He pushed and it slid back. A quick trip through the tunnels and they were outside the palace. The Sultan gripped Aladdin’s hand.

“Save my daughter, Aladdin. I’m counting on you, my boy.” Aladdin nodded and took off with the others as Rasoul and the Sultan headed out into the city to find a place to hide.

“So. What does everybody say to a quick trip to Getzistan?” Iago asked.

Aladdin and Abu ignored him.

“We have to get Carpet and Genie free. That’s where you and Abu come in.” Aladdin quickly scaled the palace wall and slipped into the gardens outside the throne room. He peered through the columns and spotted Mozenrath and Jasmine. He was busy berating some guards and she just stood by and looked menacing. “Think you can get in there without being seen, Abu?”

Abu smiled and nodded. He cocked his fez and crept forward. Aladdin turned to Iago. “If Mozenrath spots him or what he’s doing, you have to be ready to go in there and distract him.”

“Why me?” Iago demanded. “Why do I always have to be the distraction?”

Aladdin fixed him with a stern look. “Iago, I’ll make it up to you later, but now is not the time for this!”

Iago fell silent and they turned to watch Abu creep slowly around the throne room, scurrying from column to column. There was one moment of suspense as the Simin Golnar seemed to sense his passing and turned to look at him. He froze as she kept her baleful gaze on the spot where he had just been a moment before looking away. Abu heaved a sigh of relief and started on his way again.

He made it to the side of the throne room where Genie and Carpet sat dejected and apparently forgotten and crept up behind them. They perked up a bit as Abu began picking the locks of the manacles, trying not to attract Mozenrath’s attention.

Something made Mozenrath pause in his study of the scroll he had produced and looked up and around. He spotted Abu just as the locks clicked open and the captives burst out.

“You can’t keep a good Genie down, Mozenrath!” Genie shouted as he leapt up and flexed his muscles. “Just in time, Al. Mozenrath was about to annex Agrabah into Black Sand city limits.”

“How--?” Mozenrath started then spotted Abu. His eyes narrowed to slits and he pulled back his hand and sent a wave of magic towards the little monkey. Carpet jerked him up and away and carried him out of the room.

“Aladdin! Why are you always spoiling my fun?” Mozenrath turned to the Simin Golnar as Carpet swooped back into the room with Aladdin on board. “Do you want to see Agrabah as a smoking great hole in the ground?”

“Threats, Mozenrath, are so much hot air.” Carpet swooped down and around Mozenrath as Aladdin reached out and grabbed his cloak. They spun him around and around. “Now, Genie!”

Genie looked at Aladdin. “What?” he asked.

“Turn Jasmine back!” Aladdin shouted.

Mozenrath shoved his cloak out of his face. “Jasmine, destroy!” he shouted at the same time.

Genie drew back and flung a surge of magic towards the Simin Golnar just as she began pouring fire out of herself. The magic of the genie and spell met in an explosion that sent shockwaves radiating outward from a new sun that formed with Jasmine at its heart. It knocked everyone from their feet as heat and light and the smell of burning stone flung them backwards. She flung her arms up and glowed incandescent as wave after wave of liquid fire poured from her hands and hair. She howled in fury.

“Idiots!” Mozenrath cried, on his knees and gauntlet blazing. “Jasmine, stop!” he yelled as the fire continued to pour from her. The floor was running with molten stone now, and the walls were beginning to buckle under the weight of the stone above the weakened sections. He lifted himself above the liquid stone and sent his magic to engulf her.

“Genie! Iago! Where are you?” Aladdin called from Carpet as he circled just out of range of the Simin Golnar’s fire.

They came hurrying towards him and Carpet slowed. Genie matched speed and Iago settled beside Abu. Carpet took them out of the throne room as they looked back in shock at the terrible destruction Jasmine wreaked on the throne room. They breathed deeply of the clean, and cool air; cool in comparison to the furnace that the throne room had become.

“Got any more bright ideas, Al?” Iago asked, but his voice shook.

“My magic doesn’t effect her except to make her mad, Al. There’s nothing I can do.”

Aladdin looked back to see the howling Simin Golnar suddenly dim and cool as she fell to her knees before Mozenrath. He loomed above her commanding her to obey him and even at this distance, Aladdin could hear the contempt in his voice.

“Let’s go, Carpet. There’s nothing we can do here.” Carpet twisted in mid-air and took them over the city and out into the desert.

“Where to?” Genie asked.

“I don’t know, Genie. Just somewhere away from Agrabah for the moment.”

* * *

Back in the palace, Mozenrath straightened and inspected the mess that was once the throne room. The entire inside had melted smooth and the large dome above creaked and groaned under the weight of stone. The elephant throne had melted and now the gold mixed with the molten stone in swirls of color. Deciding to abandon the place before it collapsed completely, Mozenrath directed his flight into the gardens. The Simin Golnar plodded along after him into the gardens. He took a deep breath of the dry desert air and savored the clean scent of it after breathing the heated fumes from the molten remains of the throne room.

He turned to inspect the damage just as the dome caved in. He tossed a fireball into the mess just to help it along and was rewarded with a spectacular explosion. “All right, Aladdin, if that’s the way you want it. Get ready to become part of the Land of the Black Sand, Agrabah!”

* * *

Carpet raced across the desert. Genie put a hand on Aladdin’s shoulder. “Sorry about the fireworks, pal. I should have known better than to try and mix magics like that.”

“Forget it, Genie. It was my idea.” He hung his head. “How are we going to turn her back to flesh and blood?” he asked miserably.

Iago looked up at the boy he had come to call a friend. He looked torn for a moment, then stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Excuse me--” he said in a squeaky voice.

Aladdin barely looked up. “What is it, Iago?”

“Look, I’m just as shook up as this development as you are.” He paused as Aladdin smiled.

“Thanks, Iago. I always knew you had a heart of gold under that brash exterior.”

Iago cut him off. “Don’t go getting sentimental on me, Al. I have a reputation to maintain. If I did have a heart of gold, I’d cut it out and sell it in an instant.”

Aladdin sighed. “What is it you wanted, Iago?”

Iago looked blank, as if he hadn’t a clue what Aladdin was talking about. Then he turned evasive. “It’s just that--well--It’s like this--” He paused again.

“Iago,” Genie drawled. He leaned close to the bird and stuck his nose into Iago’s face. “Spit it out!” he shouted.

Iago went tumbling head over tailfeathers off Carpet. He flapped desperately and landed again. “Hey, watch it!” He fluffed himself up. “Jerk,” he muttered.

Iago turned to Aladdin. “Look, Al, I think I might know a way to reverse this spell--” He cowered as Abu, Genie and Aladdin leaned forward eagerly and put his wings over his head. “Hey! Don’t crowd me; I’m claustrophobic!”

Aladdin ignored him. “Are you saying there is a counterspell?”

“I may be,” the parrot said evasively.

Aladdin sat up straight. “Well, are you or aren’t you?”

Iago shifted from one foot to another. “I suppose I am.”

“Why didn’t you say so before Jasmine blew up the throne room?” Aladdin demanded.

“Hey, I’m not perfect, you know!”

“Got that right,” Genie said. Iago glared at him. “Well, what is it?”

“I don’t know.”

Genie sat back. “You don’t know? Then how do you know there is a counterspell?”

“Because I remember seeing one in one of Jafar’s spellbooks. But Jafar wasn’t interested in counterspells; only spells, and he wasn’t interested in the Spell of Simin Golnar to begin with.”

Aladdin held up his hand. “Mozenrath referred to Jasmine as being a Simin Golnar. What is a Simin Golnar?”

“Simin Golnar was some sorceress that lived centuries ago. Real nice person, turning her enemies into living fire and using them to do her dirty work. She and Mozenrath would get along famously.”

Aladdin began to look hopeful. “So where do we find the counterspell?”

Iago got evasive again. “In the spellbook with the spell.”

“And where’s that? Jafar’s library?”

“Well, no, you see, it’s--” Iago started until Genie leaned forward again. “The book with that spell was stolen.”

“What?” Aladdin exclaimed.

“Yeah. Sorry, kid, but that’s the way the spell crumbles. If we had that spellbook, we’d be sitting pretty, but we don’t.”

Genie eyed Iago suspiciously. “You know this spellbook being stolen and all is very convenient, Iago. How is it you happen to know that the one spellbook of Jafar’s that had this spell and it’s counterspell in it was stolen? Out of the dozens that Jafar had?”

“Are you accusing me of stealing it?” Iago demanded. “What use to I have with spellbooks, anyway? All I want is money; that’s where a spellbook’s real worth lies--” He clapped his beak shut suddenly.

Aladdin leaned closer to Iago. “You stole that book and sold it, didn’t you?” Aladdin accused.

Iago fluffed himself up angrily. “So what if I did? Jafar could never pin it on me and you won’t either.” He turned his back on them, stuck his beak in the air and folded his wings over his chest.

Aladdin’s face darkened, but he took a deep breath and made a visible effort to relax. “Iago, it doesn’t matter if you were responsible. You’ve seen the spell; do you know what the counterspell is?”

Iago looked around, his face long and feathers drooping. “No. Jafar decided that sort of spell was too risky and wouldn’t try it. But there was definitely a counterspell, that much I remember.”

Aladdin’s face fell. “So we’re right back where we started. If only we had that spellbook!”

Genie barged in. “Al, if I know anything, it’s that where there are sorcerers, there are spells. And where there are spells, there are spellbooks!”

Aladdin brightened. “Of course, how stupid of me! We need that spellbook!”

“Wait a minute,” Iago said as he narrowed his eyes at them. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking of getting the book from Mozenrath.”

Aladdin grinned. “Mozenrath must have the spellbook, and we’ve got to get it.”

Iago covered his eyes with his wing. “I asked you not to tell me that. Are you crazy?!” the parrot demanded. “What are we going to do, just fly into Mozenrath’s Citadel, grab the book and fly out again?”

Al smiled crookedly at Iago. “Sure, why not?”

Part 3

Iago sputtered and released Al and dropped to Carpet. “Earth to Aladdin. Do you hear what you’re saying? Or has your brain overloaded from the strain?” He looked up at Aladdin.

Aladdin patted Iago, something that Iago hated. “Look, Iago, where is Mozenrath now?”

“Back in Agrabah, going into the demolition business.” Iago ducked Aladdin’s hand and glared at him.

“So that means Mozenrath isn’t in his Citadel, doesn’t it?”

“I’m aware of that,” he said in a voice dripping with sarcasm. “But Jafar always had traps and things to alert him to intruders. You don’t think Mozenrath won’t have the same? Do you want to go around with your insides on the wrong side of your skin?” He shivered.

“But it takes even Mozenrath time to get from one place to another. I say we do it.” He looked around at the others. Abu cheered, and the Carpet did a fancy swoop that sent the others clutching his sides for support.

“Yes!!” Genie whooped. “I love it when a plan comes together!”

“Come on, Carpet, take us to the Land of the Black Sand!” Aladdin shouted over the wind. Carpet saluted and veered around towards Mozenrath’s domain. Iago crouched down, and muttered something about how much trouble it was going to be to find new friends in power.

The city in the heart of the Land of the Black Sand has long since forgotten its name. It is a city of the dead. Nothing lives there but memories of happier times, and shades who have died horrible deaths and cannot rest.

The smell of death pervades the air, which is never quite clear of noxious mists and vapors. Small things scuttle and scurry in the darkest of shadows; creatures better left in the darkness and not brought into the light.

There are no sounds except the sighing of the wind. Those that have come to this place and have lived to tell the tale will say that it is the wailing of the city’s soul, crying out in pain. It is a memory that makes even the hardest of them make the sign to ward away evil.

Nothing lives here, save Mozenrath and his Mamluks.

The Mamluks are undead slaves, cobbled together from bits and pieces of those who have lived and died here over the centuries and animated by Mozenrath’s power and will. They never rest; they don’t feel pain; they never hunger. They are drawn to life and with the jealousy of the dead, they know only that they needs must destroy life that they can never have again.

The light wind that disturbed the mists on the eastern edge of the city this night was not caused by the sighing of the city’s soul, nor by the passage of the undead. Rather, it was a flying carpet bearing four passengers.

Carpet glided to a halt just outside the city, where the mists began to thicken. Aladdin jumped down, his boots making no noise on the fine black sand. Abu scampered onto his shoulder while Iago settled on the other one. “I still say this idea is about as bright as a burned out light bulb,” he muttered.

Aladdin peered through the mists up at the dark Citadel located on a rocky promontory on the opposite side of the city. The only approach was through the city. He turned back to his friends as the Genie laid a hand on his shoulder.

“I wish I could go with you, Al.”

“I know, Genie, but we can’t take that chance. Mozenrath could return at any moment. Besides, your presence would alert the Mamluks.”

The Genie sighed. “I know. Be careful, huh, pal?”

Aladdin grinned at his friend. “I will. And I’ll be back with that spellbook before you know it.” And so saying, he, Abu and Iago slipped off into the mists. Carpet and Genie found a place to hide and wait.

Aladdin slipped quietly along the dark, and silent streets. Dodging Mamluk patrols required some quick thinking and timing, but it wasn’t hard to avoid them. Getting into the city and to the Citadel, that was the easy part. Getting out again; that was the hard part.

In almost no time at all, it seemed, the gang were outside the Citadel. Aladdin looked up the sheer wall and then left and right. He chose a direction and started off, looking for a good place to get in. “Iago,” he said. “Why don’t you have a look around back that way while Abu and I go this way?”

Iago grumbled, but flew off as instructed. Abu and Aladdin went a bit around in their chosen direction when Iago returned, flapping furiously.

“Trouble!” he managed to whisper in his voice that was unaccustomed to whispering. “Mamluks!”

Aladdin looked around desperately. There was a handy crevice nearby and Aladdin rolled into it just as the Mamluks came out of the swirling mists. He slammed himself up against the rock so hard he gasped. The shuffling steps of the patrol paused and there was a tense moment as they watched the mamluks scan the area. They let out a collective sigh as they heard the shuffling pass on by, apparently dismissing the noise. They remained still for minutes afterward. Finally, Aladdin pushed himself out and took a deep breath. Iago hopped to the edge of the crevice and peered into the gloom.

“All clear. Come on, I think I found a way in.” He flapped off into the mists.

Aladdin hurried after him. The brightly plumed parrot became a flash of muted color as he flew around a corner. Aladdin and Abu followed and stopped. Iago perched on a low wall enclosing a storage yard. Barrels and crates were neatly stacked along the wall, and a plain wooden door led into the wall.

“Tradesman’s entrance. Perfect Iago,” Aladdin said. He pushed open the door.

“I think Mozenrath has been careless with his security. Anybody and his brother could walk in here--” He paused. “I don’t like this, Al. Too quiet.”

Aladdin peered into the darkened space beyond the door. In the dim light, they found themselves looking into a storage room full of more barrels and crates and heavy shadows.

“Al,” Iago repeated. “I don’t like this. It’s too easy.”

Aladdin let his frustration with the parrot get the better of him. “Wait here, then!” He pushed the door open a little further. Nothing happened.

“Since it’s quite obvious that you aren’t entirely thinking with your brain at the moment, someone has to go with you to keep you from doing something stupid. What am I talking about? This whole thing is stupid.”

“Treasure, Iago. Keep thinking about the reward the Sultan is likely to shower you with for risking life and limb to rescue his daughter.” Aladdin grinned his crooked grin at the bird.

“What are you waiting for, then?”

“You.”

“Oh, please, don’t hesitate on my account.” Iago looked around. “Let’s get this over with.”

“That’s the Iago I know. Come on!” Aladdin slipping inside and they passed through into the Citadel proper.

* * *

Mozenrath jumped as an alarm went off in his head. He winced, and forced the word he had been saying out. He fought with it as the previous words and the following ones threatened to go careening off in all directions and not into the neatly ordered pattern he was creating with them. The construct shook slightly at the disturbance.

He pulled the words back, not with brute force, but with care. Force would not work here; the words wanted cajoling, flattery to remain in the construct and meld themselves into it seamlessly. There could be no jagged edges for the words to catch themselves on as they slid by each other on the way to their proper place.

They co-operated, and Mozenrath again found that state of intense calm needed for spells of this nature. He smiled lazily as the power flooded him and he bound the words into the construct then sealed it into its proper shape.

He finished the incantation and released the construct. It snapped into place and with his wizard’s sight he could see it stretching over the city like a shadow: A partial dome that cast a cold, lifeless shadow over one quarter of the city.

Mozenrath took a moment to survey the damage the Simin Golnar had done. Not much, considering. She had obeyed and only kept others from him as he performed the spell without beginning a deadly rampage of destruction similar to the incident in the throne room. She stood nearby, passive and unmoving. Mozenrath smiled. He was gaining better control over her and that pleased him.

He turned his mind to the alarm. Someone had broken into his Citadel. He clenched his fists; he couldn’t return to deal with them at the moment as he had to finish his spell here before he could leave. The construct would not stand unsupported for long and would soon begin to break up. The backlash would be horrendous. Mozenrath frowned; he was going to have to trust to the guardians and traps he had put in place to stop the intruders and the Mamluks to defend the stronghold.

He collected the Simin Golnar and took them to the next stop on the spell circuit and started the spell again.

* * *

Aladdin crept through the darkened Citadel peering into dismal rooms and dimly lit recesses.

“Does this guy not believe in paying his electric bill or what?” Iago muttered.

Indeed the place was heavy with atmosphere. It dripped from the high ceilings as shadows that clung to the corners like cobwebs. They hung in curtains between columns and drew back only slightly when a lighted torch pushed them aside. They crowded forward, playing trick on the eye.

“It is creepy,” Aladdin said. He smiled. “Of course for Mozenrath, I suppose that’s normal.”

Iago glared at him. “Very funny, kid. We’re walking into the land of the dead and you’re cracking jokes.”

Aladdin ignored him and peered into the umpteenth opening they had investigated. “Where would Mozenrath keep something like a spellbook? Aladdin asked.

“I should know? How should I know? Listen, just because I liked to hang out with Jafar doesn’t mean I’m a sorcerer. Jafar did a lot of stuff without me around, you know.”

“I just asked,” Aladdin said.

“Yeah, you just asked. Are you ever going to let me live those days down? Iago, this; Iago, that. You’d think I was a flying encyclopedia or something.”

“Iago, I’m sorry,” Aladdin said placatingly. “No one thinks that. You’re the one that told us about the spellbook, though, remember?”

Iago hunched up. “Mom always told me my big mouth would get me in trouble some day.”

They skulked through the shadows peering into room after room looking for the place where Mozenrath kept his library of spellbooks. They saw not a soul in the place. Yet, there were signs of life. Occasionally, a chair would move, or a candle would light of its own accord. Doors opened and closed and all without help from any corporeal being. It gave the place a haunted feeling.

They passed things both strange and wonderful. A long hall was lined with figures of iron that held weapons at the ready. Abu scrambled up one and peered inside. They were empty. Another room held several items on display behind glass cases: A golden doll-like figure with glowing red eyes; a heavily jeweled idol; a life-size statue of a large bird with golden wings inlaid with rubies. Iago’s eyes bugged as he took in the wealth. A perfect glowing rose floated under a glass dome. A silver mirror and a golden trident and crown rested in a case under the dome. Two halves that formed a golden scarab when joined lay nestled in black velvet.

Aladdin stopped and peered into one of the cases. Inside were three objects: A dark black and purple carved glass bottle; a burnt and rock encrusted black lamp; and a golden ring. Iago peered intently at the lamp and nearly fell from Aladdin’s shoulder as Aladdin continued on his way.

“Al, there’s something extremely familiar about that lamp...”

“Forget the treasure hunts, Iago. We’re here to find books, remember?”

“Yeah, but Al, I’m tellin’ ya--”

“Iago.” Aladdin’s voice was final.

Iago turned and found Abu grinning at him. “What are you staring at, banana breath?”

Down another long hallway lined with portraits. Most were of people unfamiliar to the little group, but one, given a prominent place, was of Mozenrath. He wore his customary garb, and the black curls that peeked out from around his headdress were curled more elaborately. There was an infinitely insufferable look on his face; a look of callous cruelty in the heavily lidded eyes that jarred with the lazy, easy smile. He stood with one hand on the head of a magnificent cheetah that sat beside him. The artist had rendered the cat’s face strangely, and it looked not quite feline. In fact, the eyes appeared almost human. And filled with unimaginable sadness.

“It’s a woman’s face,” Aladdin said as he studied the portrait. “Look, you can see her features in the cheetah’s. The artist laid the cat’s features over hers--” He backed away, shivering visibly.

“Al, let’s get out of here.” Iago hunched closer to Aladdin as if suffering a chill. Abu did the same. Aladdin nodded and hurried off.

On the next turning, they came to a long gallery. Marble floors stretched before them into shadow. A line of carved columns easily ten feet tall defined an area of deeper shadow to each side. The three of them looked up nervously as they passed down the gallery.

A quick inspection of the deeper shadows beyond the columns provided no other entrances or openings off the gallery. They made for the opposite end where an opening in the wall was just a darker shadow among many.

As they neared the opening, light suddenly flooded out of the room. Aladdin gasped, Iago squawked and Abu screeched.

Aladdin paused then crept forward into the light and peered into the room. A long black table stood in the center of a large room. Its top was littered with strange oddments: Cut crystal decanters full of dark liquids, jars stopped with colored glass stoppers stood among clay pots and stone bowls. Shelves lined the room, crammed with more items of interest: A stuffed bat; a camel skull; a roundish carved jade bear. Some items were more mundane, as in the several bolts of silk, while others were more esoteric, including a strange model that hung over the table comprised of a number of round spheres mounted on wires around a great globe that provided the light. A large mortar and pestle could be seen half hidden behind a stack of black bound books.

“I think we’ve found something.” Aladdin stepped into the room. A moment too late, Iago squawked.

“No!” He flapped off Aladdin’s shoulder and landed on a chair back.

Aladdin whirled. “What, where?”

“You idiot! You don’t just go barging into a sorcerer’s library! Mozenrath is sure to have some traps and alarms about--” He broke off, staring wide-eyed over Aladdin’s shoulder. “Bah, buh, a buh...” he stuttered.

Aladdin turned his head to look over his shoulder, and his body twisted around to follow as he caught sight of what was forming out of the air behind him. He took a step back as an efreet with a beak-like face full of sharp teeth, and claws for hands shimmered into being. A heavily muscled tail balanced it as it walked upright like a man. Wings spread upwards and outwards. Glowing red eyes stared balefully at him as it advanced on him.

“I’ve seen prettier faces on gargoyles!” Iago shouted.

“Iago! Abu! Find the book! I’ll take care of this thing!” He pulled the sword from his belt and swallowed. “I hope,” he added.

Abu scampered down and onto the table as Iago flapped to the shelves that held books. The efreet ignored them, and roared at Aladdin. It leapt at him, great wings beating at him as it grabbed at him with its claws. Aladdin dodged and twisted out of its way. “Hurry!” he shouted at them. One of its wings caught him and sent him spinning into a wall.

Abu scattered the litter on the table everywhere searching for the book. Iago examined the books on the shelves, shook his head, then flew to the table. He examined covers and pushed them aside. Several crashed to the floor and fell open. Sparks flew as the efreet trod on them. It lashed out at Aladdin with its claws and he danced backward out the door and into the gallery.

Suddenly, the gallery was flooded with lights that streamed out of the deep shadows on either side, depriving Aladdin of hiding places. He chanced a quick look to the side and the efreet leapt at him.

Aladdin’s eyes widened as it glided toward him wings wide and claws extended. He waited a moment, then ducked forward under it and rolled. He came to his feet as the thing banked and brought itself about. Massive talons on its hind feet gouged long furrows in the polished marble of the floor as it landed lightly before leaping into the air again. For all its size and weight, it was surprisingly maneuverable.

Aladdin swung his sword at the thing and felt the steel bite deeply into flesh. It screamed and grabbed the sword and yanked it out of his grasp. It went skittering across the floor.

Aladdin risked a glance back at the lab entrance. “Hurry up, guys!” he shouted. He rolled after the sword as the efreet lunged for him. The speed of its attack sent them sliding across the floors.

Aladdin gasped as he felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder and his arm went numb. His other hand felt the hilt of the sword and he grabbed it as the efreet hauled him upright and threw him across the gallery.

He landed heavily and slid into one of the columns and lay gasping for breath. He looked up as the thing loomed over him. It opened its beak-like face and screamed as it flung open its wings. It brought its claws up and they made a buzzing sound in the air from the speed of their passage. Aladdin watched hypnotized as the wickedly sharp claws came flashing down at him--

* * *

“Nothing. I don’t recognize any of these books--” He broke off as he spotted the bookholder at the far end of the table. “Waitaminute!” He flapped over and landed on it. “Here it is! The spell!” He read through it quickly as Abu jumped up. “And the counterspell. Quick, rip it out!” He flapped up as Abu grabbed the page and yanked. “Carefully, you stupid monkey!” Abu chattered at him, but changed his grip so that he wouldn’t tear the important counterspell.

When they had the page, Iago grabbed Abu roughly and flapped off. “Monkey, you gotta lay off the banana parfaits!” he said as he flew down the gallery.

Just in time to see the efreet bring its claws up and begin the downward swing towards Aladdin.

Iago shouted a wordless war cry and flew directly into the thing’s face, deflecting its attention away from Aladdin.

Aladdin rolled out of the way as the thing started slashing after Iago. Iago flapped back and forth a moment to enrage it then broke off and flapped out of range.

Aladdin got his feet under him as the efreet screamed again and lurched after him. Aladdin ducked and the wing went over his head. Its claws dug into the column above his head and sent stone shrapnel flying as it crushed the stone. Quickly he brought up his sword and slashed through the wing membrane, ripping it from bone to edge.

The thing lurched into him, screaming with pain and batting him with the now useless wing. It grabbed him around the throat and he dropped his sword to claw at its arm. The pressure on his neck was incredible. The room started going dark as he fought to get a breath past the heavily muscled arm. His lungs protested as it brought its other arm up and pulled harder against his throat.

Abu scrambled up the efreet’s legs and onto its head. He grabbed a handful of long white hair and pulled as hard as he could. The thing released Aladdin, who crumpled into a pile at its feet and lay gasping for breath.

“Get it in gear, Al!” Iago shouted.

“What is that thing?” Aladdin croaked. He scrambled up, narrowly missing being trampled, and slashed at the thing’s tail as it staggered about trying to grab Abu. Abu tugged and yanked, then started attacking its eyes.

Torn between the attack on its eyes and tail, it spun about, nearly knocking Aladdin from his feet.

“It’s mad! That’s all we need to know! Run!” Iago flapped past the monster, past Aladdin and down the gallery. Aladdin scrambled to follow.

“Abu!” Aladdin called. The monkey leapt from the thing to Aladdin.

They hared down the gallery. Aladdin scooped up his sword as Abu clung to his shoulder. Each step jarred the wound on his shoulder but the thing was right on their heels and he couldn’t stop.

The lights that had flared on earlier stopped halfway down the gallery, leaving the half furthest away from Mozenrath’s library in darkness. Iago flew out of the brilliant lights and into the darkness, winking out. Something flared ahead of him. “Duck!” they heard him screech. Aladdin didn’t hesitate. He hit the floor as a ball of fire flew over his head. Aladdin rolled over and looked back as the fireball engulfed the efreet. It screamed as several more impacted after the first.

Aladdin scrambled backwards. The efreet blazed a moment before the flames died and fell from it. It lumbered towards him, unbalanced by its useless wing.

Aladdin gripped his sword and waited until it was almost upon him then rolled aside as it attacked. He brought the steel down on the thing’s ankle, neatly hamstringing it.

Aladdin didn’t wait for results. He ran into the darkened half of the gallery, ducking under the fireballs.

Abu chattered and pulled on him. Aladdin looked up to see the huge stone columns flaring incandescent. The stone ran molten then reformed into strange creatures that defied description, as their forms shifted and twisted. Like the Al-Muddi, but they were living stone, not mud.

Aladdin saw most of the stone men converge on the struggling efreet and flow over it. He didn’t wait around to see the results, but he could hear it screaming. As he dashed out of the gallery and through the shadowed halls of the Citadel, that screaming was abruptly cut off.

“Nice pets,” Iago commented as they ran out of the place.

They ran through the Citadel, not bothering with stealth or with the entrance through the storage room. They were almost out the main entrance when they were spotted by the stone men. Aladdin put on a last desperate burst of speed and burst through the doors. He knocked aside a patrol of Mamluks and kept going. The stone men fell on the Mamluks.

Aladdin kept going. He smiled a tired smile. “Wonder how they’ll like the taste of Mamluk?”

“Hopefully, it will be to die for,” Iago commented with a touch of his old sarcasm. Aladdin chuckled and slowed his pace a bit. He had to stop and lean against one of the deserted buildings in the city for a moment when he could go no further.

“Have to stop,” he panted, pressing a hand to his side. He stuffed the sword into his sash and slid down the building to lean his head against his knees.

“Come on, Aladdin, this is no place to stop! We’ve got to get out of here!” Abu tugged on his shirt as Iago landed on a wall over his head.

Aladdin pushed himself up. “I know. Just winded, that’s all.” He looked back and saw the stone men leaving behind a pile of bones and heading toward the city. He sighed and pushed himself up. “Come on,” he said to the others.

They had to dodge the stone men through the city and the chase taxed even Aladdin’s street rat know-how. He would dodge down a corner and one would form and block his path. It was finally Iago who figured out the trick.

“Al, take to the rooftops. They’re moving through the sand like they can swim in it.”

Aladdin looked around and scrambled up onto the nearest rooftop. Indeed, the things lost track of him, but every time he was forced to go back to the ground by a break in the buildings, they would know immediately and be right there. Plus, there were more Mamluks. And Aladdin’s condition worsened with each step. He could barely move his arm now, and each step sent stabs of pain through him. He began stumbling long before they reached safety and Abu and Iago had to wheedle and cajole him to make it. He kept up, barely, and finally they made it past the edge of the city. Aladdin staggered out onto the open sands and collapsed.

Iago deposited Abu near Aladdin. “Stay here. I’ll get Genie and the rug.” He flew off into the night as fast as his wings could carry him.

“Genie!!! Carpet!!! Where are you?!!” he shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Right here, Birdman. Where’s the beef?” Genie, morphed into a little blue-haired old lady, and Carpet popped up from behind a dune.

“Back there. Aladdin needs help!” he managed between gulps of air.

The Genie morphed into a man on a horse, wearing a funny hat, and a blue uniform. “Don’t worry, Al! The Calvary’s coming!” He blew a quick tune on a trumpet he produced before racing off over the dunes, losing the horse and uniform. The Carpet followed closely with Iago.

They burst on the scene, with the unconscious Aladdin lying prone on the sand, Abu crouching above him chattering angrily at a knot of Mamluks who were rapidly approaching. As they flew up, the Mamluks pulled back as the stone men rose out of the sand around Aladdin.

The Genie swooped down and scooped them up, and swung around. He put him down on the Carpet and they sped off post-haste to get out of this accursed place

The Genie sat next to his friend and creased his brow. “Al? Al, wake up!” Aladdin wouldn’t wake. Abu jumped up and down and lifted the cloak that Aladdin wore. A dark stain spread over Aladdin’s chest from his shoulder.

The Genie morphed into white coat and with strange looking instrument around his neck. He lifted Aladdin’s shirt and gasped. “He’s been wounded. What should we do?”

“How about getting the bleeding stopped?” Iago suggested. “And people wonder why health care costs are so high, because of incompetents like you, that’s why.”

Genie conjured up some bandages and they managed to stop the bleeding. It was a shallow wound, hardly more than a scratch, or so Aladdin said when he came around during the binding procedure. A final strip made a sling.

“I’m okay, really.” He sat up and winced. “That thing just scratched me. See? It hardly even hurts.” He moved his arm up and down, in a very unconvincing manner as he grimaced the entire time. He gasped and let it lie in the sling.

“Sure, Al. You’re in no shape to meet Mozenrath should he show up,” Iago said.

“But he’s not going to, is he? He’s obviously not as smart as he thinks he is. He never showed up even when we got into his library.”

Iago gestured with his wing. “He didn’t have to, did he? That efreet thing nearly took your shoulder off and the stone heads and Mamluks would have finished you off--”

“But they didn’t, did they?” Aladdin grinned. “We’re smarter than he is, that’s all. Did you get the spell?” he asked Iago.

Abu nodded and held up the page. Aladdin took it from him. “Water from the Fountain of the Rose of Damascus? That’s just a story!” He read further. “Touched by love, stained with sacrifice? What does that mean?”

“Heavy stuff, Al,” Genie said. The boy looked at him. “The Fountain was built by Apollodorus as a place for the Rose of Damascus to rest. The Rose itself has many magical properties and it’s said that since it has come to rest there, the magic has spread to the Fountain itself.”

“We’ve got to get some of that water! Carpet, take us to Damascus!”

“Why are we going to Damascus, Al?” Genie asked.

“Gee, could it possibly be because the Rose of Damascus is in Damascus?” Iago asked sarcastically.

“Silly rabbit. The Fountain of the Rose of Damascus isn’t in Damascus!”

“Then where is it?” Iago demanded.

“Iskenderun, where else?” Genie asked as if everybody knew that. “Where else would it be?” Genie rolled his eyes.

Aladdin took a deep breath and prayed for patience. “Then, Carpet take us to Iskenderun!”

* * *

Mozenrath said the final word of the spell and the construct, like the three he had completed before it, snapped into place. A final spell to bind the four into place and he stepped back, so to speak, and looked at his handiwork.

With his wizard’s sight, he could see the dome-like structure over the city. The sky began to darken as the spell took effect. He looked down as the screams began. A slow grin spread over his face as the dead of Agrabah began to take on a life of their own. He watched a moment more as they pushed their way through the sand, stirring up the black sands of the dead as they came.

He beckoned the Simin Golnar. Now that that was taken care of, he could investigate the small matter of the intruder in his Citadel. She moved to his side and Xerxes floated over to rest around his shoulders. Mozenrath concentrated, and with his gauntlet created a fold in space and wrapped it around the Simin Golnar, Xerxes and himself. A moment in the black nothingness behind reality then they were in his stronghold.

He materialized just outside his library. The lights blazed still and the stone men were returning to their posts. His foot brushed against something and he looked down to see a pile of bloody bones on the floor. He kicked them and scowled. “Good help is so hard to find these days.” The stone men heard him and flowed after him. A negligent wave of his hand and they froze into lumps of stone. Obviously, they had not been the best choices. He would have to think of something better next time.

Leaving the Simin Golnar where she stood, he entered his library. He halted on the threshold as he took in the mess. Rage overtook him and he turned around, gauntlet flaming and pulled back his arm. Xerxes, who had been following him, pulled up in alarm and made a dive for it. Mozenrath threw his arm forward and released the energy on the forward swing. A ball of pure energy flew through the gallery and impacted with the wall on the far side. The wall exploded outward, sending a series of dreadful vibrations throughout the Citadel. Mozenrath’s eyes still burned, but he felt better for the wanton destruction. He turned back, noticing Xerxes cowering behind a tapestry as he did so. “Make yourself useful and get someone to clean that up,” he sneered before entering his library. Xerxes swam off with a frightened nod.

Mozenrath picked up the books that had fallen to the floor and stacked them on the table. None of them appeared damaged. He walked around the table and the room looking for any damage. None that he could see--Wait, he noticed the book on the stand at the far end of the table. He crossed to it in half-dozen strides and took in the remains of the ripped page. He clenched his fist and brought it down on the book with a shower of multi-colored sparks. “Aladdin,” he seethed between clenched teeth.

“Xerxes!” he shouted as he strode quickly and purposely from the room to where he had left the Simin Golnar. “Xerxes, drat you! Stop whatever it is you’re doing and get over here!” The eel swam into view. “We have to stop Aladdin!” He again folded space around them before the eel could answer. There was that terrible nothingness and then they were real again.

Xerxes looked around. “Where is place, Master?”

“We’re at the Fountain of the Rose of Damascus.” Mozenrath scanned the place with slitted eyes. It appeared as if he had beaten Aladdin to the place. He spared a moment to examine his surroundings. The courtyard surrounding the Fountain was tiled in tiny pieces of colored stone and shell depicting ancient stories of the powers of the Rose. The courtyard had several low benches set under flowering and fruiting trees, and flowers decorated the place. The sound of the water tinkling in the pool was soothing and peaceful.

“In Damascus?” Xerxes asked, swimming among the trees.

Mozenrath scowled and returned to his study of the place. “No, in Iskenderun, where else?

Mozenrath took in the round pool of the Fountain, with the shimmering light of the Rose hanging in mid-air above it and the steady stream of water rising from the pool below that seemed to support it. Mozenrath approached, his eyes gleaming in that way they did whenever he came across something of a magical nature. He rubbed his chin and smiled to himself as he considered the possibilities.

“I should have thought of this before,” he said as he smiled. He reached forward with his gloved hand, gauntlet glowing with power, and curled his hand around the rose--and pulled back with a gasp as the thing sent a shock wave of pure energy through him.

He staggered away from the Fountain and glared at the Rose. “So, you’re one of those intolerably good artifacts?” He glared at the Rose, which glowed steadily. It was returning to its pearlescent white from the angry red-orange it had turned when he had tried to grasp it. He drew back his hand, gauntlet glowing red ready to blast the entire thing out of existence.

Then another sound caught his ear. He damped the power, and turned. He looked up at the little group descending rapidly towards him.

“Ah, Aladdin. So good of you to join us.” Mozenrath bowed extravagantly, sweeping out his right hand to throw back his cloak as he did so. He deftly turned that gesture into a directed strike against Carpet, and sent the little company tumbling to the ground.

Part 4

“Mozenrath!” Aladdin shouted as he picked himself up out of the dust.

“Surprised to see me? Well, yes, I suppose you are.” Mozenrath gloated. “So you thought you could steal your way into my library without my knowing, did you? Very poor form, Aladdin. I knew it was you the second I heard the alarm.” He gestured around the place. “I’ve been waiting for you for just ages,” he said in an offhanded manner.

“But, Master, just got here,” Xerxes protested. He gulped as Mozenrath grabbed him.

“Shut up, you idiot, or I’ll filet you with a dull knife.” Mozenrath tossed Xerxes toward the ground and put a foot on him. Xerxes gasped.

Aladdin smiled. “So, it seems you’re not as powerful as you like to think, Mozenrath. Well, we have the counterspell, and we’re going to get Jasmine back.” He held up the leaf from Mozenrath’s spellbook.

Mozenrath zapped the paper and it floated out of Aladdin’s grip. “Hey!” Aladdin shouted and leapt for it. It disappeared in a puff of smoke.

“I believe the operative word is ‘had,’ Aladdin. That was stolen property, but then again, people never change, do they, street rat?” Mozenrath asked in a voice like honey laid over vinegar.

“I’d rather be a street rat than be like you, Mozenrath. At least I care. You care for no one but yourself.” Mozenrath barely contained his laughter. “You have no respect for others and their feelings--” Aladdin squared his shoulders.

Mozenrath could stand it no longer. “Respect for others?” Mozenrath laughed. He removed his foot from Xerxes, who swam away. “You hear that, Xerxes? Aladdin wants me to have respect for others.” Mozenrath doubled over with his arms wrapped around his middle as he laughed. Aladdin moved forward a step but stopped as Mozenrath, ever alert, straightened and zapped the tiles just before Aladdin’s feet. Aladdin froze.

Mozenrath continued to smile as he reached up and plucked an orange from the tree above him. He ripped the rind open and ate a section. He circled Aladdin, his contempt for the boy plain on his face. “Respect for others? Why should I respect people weaker than myself? When I have power and they don’t?” He tossed the rind away. Aladdin turned in place to keep himself facing Mozenrath, which was what Mozenrath wanted. When his back was to the Simin Golnar, Mozenrath sent it a silent command to destroy this upstart. Unseen, the Simin Golnar moved to destroy Aladdin.

“Because, you’re no better than any one else. In fact, you’re worse because you value life so little.”

Mozenrath looked shocked. “I value life so little? On the contrary, Aladdin. I value life quite highly--” he paused. “My own!” he shouted as he blasted Aladdin.

Aladdin went sprawling backwards and landed before the Simin Golnar. He felt her heat at the same moment that Iago burst from the trees. “Behind you, Al!” the parrot squawked as he dove at Mozenrath’s face.

Xerxes intercepted the parrot, and wrapped himself around the bird. Xerxes grinned toothily at him as he held him. “Yum, yum. Parrot wings, my favorite.” They tumbled toward Mozenrath.

Mozenrath batted them away. “Take your food elsewhere, Xerxes,” he ordered.

“Yipe!” shouted Iago. Abu pounced on them from a tree. Xerxes abandoned his hold on Iago and the two fell to the ground.

Iago looked at Abu. “Thanks, monkey.” Abu muttered something and they turned back to the fray.

Aladdin had rolled away from the Simin Golnar and was now trying to keep her between himself and Mozenrath, but he was having trouble as she advanced inexorably on him. Mozenrath was enjoying himself thoroughly.

“It seems I was mistaken, Aladdin. Jasmine seems quite intent on clutching you to her heaving bosom. Perhaps she still has the hots for you after all.” Mozenrath and Xerxes shared another round of mocking laughter. Suddenly Mozenrath turned serious. “But, then again, her embrace is as deadly as clutching a torch to one’s self, isn’t it? Poor Aladdin, destroyed by his own beloved. It’s enough to make one cry, isn’t it, Xerxes?” he asked.

“With laughter,” Xerxes muttered, and then joined his master in a laugh.

“Aladdin, why don’t you just give up? I’ve won, as I always said I would. Give up and I shall let you live. Keep fighting and I’ll let her melt your flesh from your bones.”

“I’ll never give up. I want Jasmine back!”

“You can’t have her, street rat!”

Aladdin smiled. “We’ll see about that, Mozenrath. Now, Genie!” he shouted as he ducked behind a tree. The Simin Golnar brushed it aside. It flared into flame as if it were paper.

Mozenrath frowned and looked around. “What?”

“You got it, Al!” The Genie appeared dressed in strange looking boots, long coat with a funny looking hat. He plunged one end of a hose attached to a strange looking device into the Fountain and pointed the other at the Simin Golnar. Water burst from the hose and engulfed her. She staggered a moment under the onslaught, but only a moment. The water turned instantly to vapor and flooded the courtyard in sudden mugginess. She continued her advance on Aladdin.

“It didn’t work!” Mozenrath crowed in triumph. “Destroy him!” he ordered. “Do it now!”

The Simin Golnar pressed her attack on Aladdin. He stumbled backward away from her, scurrying to keep out of its reach. “Genie! What do we do now?!” he shouted. He backed up against a bench and fell over it. His eyes widened as she continued--right through the bench. It melted before she even touched it and ran in liquid patterns around her feet. Hampered as he was by his injured shoulder, he was rapidly losing ground. He crabwalked backward as she leaned forward, her hand extended toward him. He could feel her heat as her delicately shaped hand came nearer, but it was her eyes that held him. So full of pain...

“Genie!” he heard himself call out weakly as she was barely an arm’s length away.

The Genie was busy examining the end of the hose. He morphed back into his proper shape and turned to his friend. “I don’t get it, Al.” He started, looked up, and zipped over and rescued Aladdin just in time. “It should have worked.”

“You fools!” Mozenrath shouted. “You don’t even understand what you stole!” He gestured and the orange rind he had tossed away earlier shimmered into a huge snake behind Genie. The Genie’s eyes bugged as it looped its coils around him.

“Snakes! Why does it have to be snakes?” he cried as it started crushing him. He fought, but the snake held him captive. “And magical ones at that?”

Iago flew at Mozenrath again. “Keep it up, brat, and you’ll lose your flavor of the month award!”

“You break my heart,” Mozenrath sneered as he blasted the bird. Aladdin turned as he heard the parrot scream. Caught by the blast, he was sent tumbling across the courtyard toward the Simin Golnar. She barely turned as she whipped out her arm and caught him. Iago’s scream intensified as her fire burned him.

“No!” Aladdin cried and watched as Iago was batted into the Fountain. He came to rest in the waters and didn’t move. Aladdin was only vaguely aware that the Simin Golnar had turned back to him. His eyes were glued to the pitiful figure of his friend lying unmoving in the Fountain when it began to change. The water became red and a light began to shine from deep within. Iago’s charred skin and burnt feathers became whole as the Rose turned from white to red.

“Stained by sacrifice!” Aladdin cried as he remembered the rest of the counterspell. He took a deep breath and gathered himself. “And touched by love!”

Everyone, including Mozenrath and Xerxes, froze as Aladdin tackled the Simin Golnar. Unbelieving, they watched as he grasped her to him and flung them both into the Fountain. The water exploded around them--

Aladdin screamed as the Simin Golnar’s fire seared the skin and muscle on his chest and arms. His scream suddenly choked off as the waters engulfed him and the Simin Golnar.

Mozenrath screamed as the explosion caught him and flung him to the tiles and across the courtyard. He twisted as the backlash from the spell engulfed him and his vision went red, then black. The pain became unbearable and he screamed again then went silent. Xerxes swam over and hovered over his master who had turned a horrible shade of grey.

The snake holding the Genie shimmered and became a harmless orange rind. Genie let out a huge gush of air. Abu rushed to him and scurried to his shoulder and they watched the Fountain where they had seen their friends disappear a moment earlier.

The Fountain churned out clouds of steam and multi-colored light. The water streamed upwards, engulfing the Rose in a torrent. For one horrendous moment, the entire fountain was the color of fresh blood; it looked like the Earth itself was bleeding from a terrible wound. The water froze, solid as crystal, every line clearly etched upon its surface.

Genie looked at Abu and Abu looked at Genie. Genie reached a tentative hand towards the Fountain and the frozen water, not quite wanting to disturb it--

And the water cleared. It began moving again, falling back into the pool. The water surged a moment, the Rose hanging above it, unsupported, before the water once again reached up to gently touch the Rose with its wetness. The Rose faded from red to its former pearly white glow.

Lying in the pool, still as death, were a sad looking parrot, and two wet and bedraggled figures. Aladdin, his shoulder and the horrible burns he had suffered when he grabbed the Simin Golnar healed, and--Jasmine. As a woman of flesh and blood, and not the terrible, burning fire that Mozenrath had made her.

Aladdin moaned, stirred and sat up. He put a hand to his head, then to his shoulder and chest. He looked at his friends, then twisted around to look at Jasmine. He gasped with relief and scooped her up against him. “Jasmine!” he cried. Her dark hair formed a heavy wet cloak around them as she remained unconscious. She lied limp in his arms, her large eyes closed. Aladdin cradled her gently as he rocked back and forth, just relishing in the sheer joy of being able to hold her. He pressed his cheek against her hair.

Iago stood up and looked around muzzily. “What happened?”

The Genie scooped him up and morphed a hand into a hair dryer to dry him off. “You saved the day, Birdman! You really did!”

“I did?” Iago asked before catching himself. “I mean, I did, didn’t I?” He looked from Aladdin and Jasmine to the others. “So what exactly did I do?”

Aladdin answered. “It was the counterspell: Water from the Fountain touched by love, stained by sacrifice. When I saw the Fountain turn red when you fell in it, Iago, I figured out the spell.” He scooped her into his arms and prepared to stand. “And it worked.”

“Not quite.” They all turned to Mozenrath as he loomed over them. He was breathing hard and bent double with pain, but his eyes flamed. “You didn’t read the rest of the spell. She’s still mine as long as I have the cord that binds her to me.”

Aladdin started as Jasmine pushed him away and stood up. She stepped out of the Fountain, water streaming from her gown and hair and went to Mozenrath’s side. He gathered himself and took her hand. Aladdin surged to his feet.

“Let her go, Mozenrath! You’re beaten!”

Mozenrath shook his head. “Oh, no, Aladdin, this isn’t over yet. I still have your girlfriend and her will is mine. Maybe I’ll just keep her to look at; put her in a glass box and keep her among the things in my Citadel, how would you like that?” He pulled back and blasted Aladdin out of the Fountain. The blast threw him across the courtyard and sent the others scattering. Abu and Iago landed in a heap and were still; Carpet was swept under a bench that collapsed upon it and the Genie disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Aladdin curled into a ball and let himself roll with the blast. He came to a painful stop against a tree but at least he wasn’t seriously hurt. He rolled and lunged to his feet. Mozenrath watched him carefully. Aladdin looked from Mozenrath to Jasmine. She stood impassively by, but he met her eyes and they glittered in recognition. Yes, she was there, and that gave him strength. He sauntered over.

“Look, Mozenrath, let’s forget this whole thing ever happened,” he began. He saw the spark of anger in Jasmine’s eyes and the shadow of confusion flicker through Mozenrath’s. He strolled toward the two of them casually. “I mean, I can forgive you what you’ve done, but I’m not sure the Sultan can. You’d be better off just cutting your loses and steering clear of him, don’t you think?”

Mozenrath smiled slowly, straightening and squaring his shoulders. “Uh-uh. You’re not getting away with that. I still have Jasmine; he wouldn’t dare do anything to me.” He drew back his hand to blast Aladdin again, but the Carpet flew in front of him. “What--” he cried as he was pushed backwards.

Aladdin leapt on him and they fell. He caught Mozenrath’s hand and pinned it above him. He put a knee in Mozenrath’s stomach to pin him as he struggled to get the gauntlet from Mozenrath. The sorcerer clawed at him with his free hand.

Xerxes swam into the fray and snapped at Aladdin’s face. Aladdin brought a hand up to ward him off, and Mozenrath used his free hand to push Aladdin backwards. They rolled over, Aladdin managing to keep the momentum and bring Mozenrath around and reclaim his position on top. Mozenrath brought a knee up into Aladdin’s back and sent him flying over his shoulders. Aladdin rolled to his feet as Mozenrath was climbing to his, and they eyed one another. They straightened and Mozenrath grabbed Jasmine. Xerxes wrapped himself around his master’s arm. Mozenrath’s gauntlet blazed as he ripped space around them to transport back to his Citadel. Aladdin lunged for them and caught Mozenrath’s cloak before the spell completed itself.

For a moment, he hung in nothingness then they burst into the darkness of Mozenrath’s stronghold. He changed his grip on Mozenrath’s cloak and pulled. Mozenrath, surprised, released the princess and clutched at his neck. He ripped the cloak from around his neck then twisted away, leaving Aladdin holding the cloak and nothing more.

“You just can’t win, Aladdin,” Mozenrath said. He was beginning to regain some of his aplomb, and he again got that look of insufferable smugness on his face. He had the home field advantage, being back in his sanctum, his territory. Merely being here did a lot to combat the weakness that had overcome him at the Fountain. He pulled strength from the surroundings and sneered at Aladdin. He gathered his power and threw a blast of energy at Aladdin.

Aladdin barely had time to throw himself aside as the blast came. Dropping the sword, he rolled, ran along crouched, diving for cover as Mozenrath followed his progress with more bolts.

Aladdin recognized the long gallery where he had fought the efreet. The areas behind the columns were once again thick with shadow and he darted between the columns as Mozenrath continued to blast away. He flitted from column to column, staying to the darkest shadows.

Mozenrath anticipated his moves, and kept him moving with well-aimed blasts of raw power. But a miscalculation put his blasts ahead of Aladdin and Aladdin took advantage to double back on his previous path, moving against the wall.

He was now level with Mozenrath, who had stopped blasting indiscriminately around the room and was listening for him. He stood before a large chunk of masonry, directly across from Aladdin. Aladdin crouched carefully and picked up some fallen bits and chunks, and threw them to try and distract the sorcerer.

“Do you really think I’m foolish enough to fall for that, Aladdin?” Mozenrath pulled back and away from the masonry, putting it between himself and Aladdin. Aladdin knew he would never get a better chance, so he took it at a run.

“No, but you will this!” he shouted. Startled by the sudden and unexpected attack, Mozenrath whirled. Aladdin came at him at a run, mounted the chunk and sent himself flying into Mozenrath at full speed. They fell and Mozenrath’s head cracked painfully on the marble. Unwillingly, Aladdin winced. “That’s going to hurt,” he muttered in spite of himself. Satisfied that the sorcerer was unconscious for the moment, he leaned back and pulled Genie’s lamp from his belt. He rubbed vigorously, hoping his friend could hear him. “Come on, Genie!”

“All right, all right! I’m coming!” Genie shouted as he poofed into existence along with Carpet, Abu and Iago. “You’re giving me a headache, Al. Quit ringing the bells!” Aladdin quit rubbing.

“Sorry, Genie.” He put the lamp away.

The others gathered around the fallen Mozenrath. “So you finally got him, eh, kid?” Iago asked.

“Yeah, but I don’t know for how much longer. And all the noise we made is about to attract the Mamluks. What do I do?” he asked his friends. He gestured over to Jasmine, who had stood statue-like during the battle. “He still has Jasmine.”

“Cut the cord, of course!” Iago said.

Aladdin turned on him. “What cord? What did Mozenrath mean by that?”

“There’s a silver cord that binds the Simin Golnar to him during the original spell. With Jasmine back, he still has her will bound to him by that cord. Find it and cut it!”

Aladdin rolled Mozenrath over and searched him. Sure enough around his neck and under his tunic was a thick silver cord. Aladdin pulled his knife out and slashed through it.

The result was instantaneous. Jasmine gasped and collapsed. Aladdin abandoned Mozenrath and flew to her side. She looked up at him and threw her arms around his shoulders.

“Hold me, Aladdin,” she whispered savagely as she buried her face in his shoulder. He did so, holding her tightly and fiercely. She shook in his arms, but she did not weep.

After a moment, she pushed away from him and turned to Mozenrath. He was just coming around now, bound about with some cord the others had procured somewhere. She looked around and spotted Aladdin’s sword. She rushed over to it and grabbed it up.

“Mozenrath, you’re going to pay for what you did to me.” Her voice was steady.

Defiant to the last, he curled his lip in a sneer. “You don’t have the guts, Princess.”

Shifting the sword to her left hand, she reached out and grabbed his right hand. She dragged him over to the long table and laid it upon it, her anger giving her strength. Mozenrath’s eyes went wide with terror as she raised the sword over his hand.

“No, I won’t end your life, but I will do this!”

“Jasmine, no!” Aladdin cried.

She rounded on him. “Why not? After he turned me into living fire? A being consumed by fire, torment? Don’t I deserve some sort of revenge?” Her eyes burned.

Aladdin spread his hands. “Is that what you really want?”

Her voice was fierce as she turned back to Mozenrath, held in the Genie’s clutches. She looked into his face. “Yes. Genie, hold his hand on the table. I want to make sure he never does magic again.”

Genie looked over at Aladdin, who nodded. The Genie morphed into a large man dressed in executioner’s robes and mask. He held Mozenrath effortlessly as he forced his hand onto the table. Jasmine raised the sword above her head with both hands.

Mozenrath gaped. “No, you can’t do this! Magic is my life!”

“And you used magic to take lives. You used me to take lives.” She looked into his face and saw the terror there. She took a deep breath and gripped the sword tighter then brought it down with all her strength--

Into the table beyond his hand. The wood splintered and cracked. Mozenrath screamed and flinched, and started to strangle as he realized that he still had his hand. She turned to the sorcerer. “How does it feel to be terrified of someone, Mozenrath? In someone else’s power?” He stared at her unable to comprehend what had just happened. She slapped him hard.

“I could have easily taken your power away from you, just as easily as you took my will, but I didn’t. Because I’m better than you.” She turned away. “Release him,” she said to the Genie before turning to Aladdin. The Genie released the sorcerer, who fell into a heap on the floor.

“Let’s go home.” She let Aladdin gather her into his arms and they climbed aboard the Carpet. They hung in mid-air above the defeated sorcerer a moment before gliding out of the Citadel and out of the Land of the Black Sand.

* * *

INT. MOZENRATH’S CITADEL – Night

Long shot -- Xerxes peers out from behind a tapestry where he had retreated to avoid the crossfire and the inevitable notice in the aftermath. He swims over to where Mozenrath sits slumped against a large chunk of fallen masonry. He shakes his fishy head and tsks.

XERXES: “Master lost--”

The sentence is never completed as a hand darts forward and snatches him out of frame.

IRIS OUT.

Finis