The Tales of Aladdin and Zipporah: chapter 13

A few weeks later, when everyone had recovered, Lotus was taking a walk in the marketplace. She had a parasol so she wouldn't burn. Suddenly everyone started screaming and running. A terrible creature came flying along. The strange blue creature was calling out and was coming toward a wooden cart filled with pears. As the pears were unharmed, one was grabbed with a red glow around it, revealing an unknown young man had grabbed it with his gloved hand and he glanced at the fruit.

"Cowards, Xerxes, all of them." the man chuckled to his eel companion.

The eel gave an evil laugh, amused by it all.

Lotus gasped as her Parasol was stolen, glad she at least had long sleeves. Her wrap hood came off as the wind from the  creature did that. The creature had smashed through a pile of pots which alerted Razoul and the other palace guards. They had to protect Princess Lotus and the rest of Agrabah, no matter how ugly or fearsome the creature seemed.

"It is unhuman!" One of the guards, Hakim, said scared.

Lotus sorted out her crown and looked for the head wrap. Xerxes was watching and saw the princess. She was paler than even his Master.

"And I am his match!" Razoul retorted, determined to slay this beast. He drew out his sword to take down the creature and sent it anywhere but here.

"This one has muscle..." the master remarked, moving his hand to eat the pear as the eel was about to eat it.

The creature moved Razoul's sword out-of-the-way, making the guard cower and cry for mercy.

"Pathetic..." the master snorted, then got a look at Lotus. "She's not so bad  on the other hand."

Xerxes laughed a little. He looked at the pear and took a snap at it. "Maybe Master go sees girl?" He suggests.

Lotus found the wrap and dusted it off. She started to put it back on to hide her crown and to shade her face. Her dark eyes looked around and her lips had a deep red shade on them. As the creature advanced Aladdin saved Razoul. The master was thinking and glanced to see Aladdin, wondering what his story was, but he had flair. The creature swooped at Aladdin on the carpet. There was a local man, resting on a bed of nails, not seeming to be in any kind of pain. The creature caught carpet and knocked Aladdin off.

Aladdin fell straight towards the bed of nails. "Oh, no." he says.

Lotus came by the Alley to find a parasol again. As Aladdin was falling, the master looked with keen interest and was very excited. As though he wanted Aladdin to fall for his doom and death.

Genie was watching this from a television and took out a copy of the story's script and flipped through the pages. "Let's see... Al plummets, Al says 'Oh, no', Genie poofs to the rescue... Sorta predictable..." he then looked at his watch and sprung into action. "Oh, no! I'm late!" he disappeared from the palace to save Aladdin from falling.

"Genie! Thanks." Aladdin says.

Lotus blinked as a bitten piece of fruit came flying out of the Alley.

"Oh, just doin' my part, Al," Genie smiled, then took out the script again. "I think..."

"A genie," the master smirked. "Now that's not very sporting... Let's see how the boy handles my magic without the genie's."

The creature was summoned toward Genie to keep him away from Aladdin. Xerxes nodded, laughing.

"Hey!" Aladdin shouts as the creature stole Genie.

Lotus heard the talking and went into the Alley. "Hello?" She asks softly.

"Silence." the master told his eel companion as he noted that the elder princess was coming toward him. He had a little plan going and disappeared.

There was now a woman with a baby shown as the  creature came for Aladdin to take care of him without the Genie's help and the  creature was coming for the poor woman with her child. Xerxes was the baby, though no one knew it.

Lotus came into the Alley and saw no one there. "Oh..." she says and then heard the creature.

Aladdin grabbed the creature's ankles. The creature started to fly up to the woman who was the mysterious dweller and the eel was his baby. Genie was really marveling Aladdin's heroism and started to praise him, not seeming to be all too concerned about the danger. Aladdin attacked at the creature and saved the woman, but before he could attack it again it disappeared. Lotus headed to help in any way she could. The creature just vanished in a puff of smoke, much to Aladdin and Lotus's confusion.

"Come on, Agrabah!" Genie called, dressed like a show host with a fedora and Carpet on his side. "Put your hands and tassels together, he puts the he in hero! Adventure is his middle name...if he had a last name, Aladdin!"


The 'woman' and the 'baby' were still on the balcony.

"Hey, everything's okay." he tells the baby. It ended up being revealed to be Xerxes.

Xerxes hissed at Aladdin. Lotus was allowed to go up to the balcony through the house.

The woman started to glow and was revealed to be the mysterious man from before. "Good work, you beat a magical monstrosity." he came close to Aladdin, seeming to be amused with the former street rat.

"Uh, yeah..." Aladdin says, shocked.

Lotus came onto the balcony. Xerxes came over to her, looking her in the face.

"Oh, a poor damsel that wasn't in much distress," the stranger looked to Lotus. "I hope my little creation didn't play too rough with you both."

"YOU turned that monster loose?!" He asks angrily.

Lotus petted the eel creature, walking over to the two males.

"Think of it as a test," the stranger smiled. "The good news is, you passed."

Aladdin narrowed his eyes. "A TEST?!" He exclaims.

"People could've been hurt!" Lotus scolds, getting right into the man's face.

The man looked at them, then exchanged glances with his eel, then back at them. "And your point would be...?" he sounded not too concerned he could've killed people, then came close to Lotus and Aladdin. "Look, the important thing is, we found each other. See, I have a job for you, Aladdin."

"Who are you?" Aladdin asks.

Lotus had already gone close, but backed up a little.

"I am Mozenrath," the stranger revealed with a bow. "Ruler of the distant land  of-" He was cut off.

"Ruler? Hah. Yeah, right. You're barely older than me." Aladdin scoffs.

Lotus, due to her upbringing, curtseyed back.

"Which is more your problem than mine, at least someone knows how to treat a royal."  Mozenrath noticed Lotus's proper way to greet with him.

Genie then appeared beside the two with two sandwiches in his hands. "Come on, Al and Lotus, lunch is on me!" he then noticed   Mozenrath, not recognizing him. "Who's your friend?"

Aladdin looked at Genie. "He's no friend, he's a creep" he says.

Lotus straightened up and looked at Aladdin. "Don't be rude..." she says. She smiled apologetically at  Mozenrath.

"Well, I had a hunch, at least Lotus and I were being polite." Genie replied to Aladdin's statement.

Mozenrath looked at Lotus, a little surprised she stood up for him, but said nothing. Aladdin merely whistled for carpet. Carpet came flying.

"Forgive my future brother-in-law..." Lotus says softly.

Genie was ready to fly with Aladdin and Carpet back home.

"I'm offering a huge reward too, he doesn't know what he's missing!"  Mozenrath said that loud enough for Aladdin to hear.

"No, you don't get it!" Aladdin says coming back.
Lotus stepped back towards Moze as Aladdin flew close.

"You'll risk your life to save others, but not for gold?" Mozenrath sounded insulted.

"That's right!" Aladdin states, turning off to go away with Carpet.

Lotus shook her head at the males. She then looked back sheepishly as she was closer to him. Genie flew off with Carpet and Aladdin.

"This won't be as simple as I thought." Mozenrath told Xerxes.

Lotus looked at him. "What do you mean?" She asks frowning confused.

Xerxes grinned as he was stroked.

"Oh, don't worry, it'll be much more fun this way." Mozenrath said as he stroked his eel.

Lotus looked confused still. "I don't get what you mean, Lord Mozenrath." she says. She took down her hood to look clearly at him.

"It's just business, my dear, I'd hate to see you get hurt, but I'm sure Aladdin will find my promises hard to part from."   Mozenrath said to her, sneakily.

Lotus looked confused and shook her head. "Well, excuse me..." she starts softly. She was already feeling a little fatigued.

"You run along home, it's such an exhausting day." Monzenrath told her, a little softly and gently, not as dark and mysterious as he was with Aladdin and Genie.

"Oh, I'm staying with Aladdin and Zipporah, but thank you for your concern." she smiles softly touching the  gaunleted hand. She flashed briefly and suddenly Mozenrath felt a little stronger.

Monzenrath smiled a little at Lotus before she went off, then looked down at Xerxes. "Not quite a strong princess, but still rich in manners as she is in diamonds and rubies."

Xerxes laughed. "Girl glowed." he cackles.

"She did, didn't she?" Mozenrath smirked a little.

"Xerxes saw." he nods.

"Maybe we could use her." Monzerath suggested.

Xerxes smirked.

Lotus went to Aladdin's home.

"This is our old place." Zipporah told Lotus since she was visiting it.

Lotus smiled softly.

"We've lived here all our lives, make yourself comfortable." Zipporah said as she laid against her spot.

Lotus smiled softly. "It's nice." she says quietly. She went to the blanket they had sorted for her.

"You know when your sister comes back from visiting out-of-town?" Zipporah asked.

"Not for a few days." Lotus says, smiling.

"I think Iago's coming too, I hope that's alright." Zipporah smiled back.

Lotus nodded. She gave a gentle yawn and blushed. Iago came in, looking around.

"Iago, over here!" Zipporah called. She didn't notice Lotus's blush.

Lotus lay down a moment, to just rest her eyes. Iago came over to Zipporah.

Zipporah smiled. "Well, I guess we should get comfortable... I can't believe how late is already."

Abu was already asleep on a cushion next to Aladdin. Lotus fell straight asleep. Iago nodded and after hugging her, he went to the space that had been laid out for him. Zipporah smiled in the hugs and fell asleep like the others.

The lamp was glowing now as it got early in the morning and was starting to float in the air.   Mozenrath was trying to take the lamp. Abu wasn't fully awake, but he had found Xerxes. Lotus was awake and but didn't notice the lamp. Iago was still asleep. Xerxes smirked, hissing.

Abu started to back against Iago. Zipporah was sleeping, but tossed and turned a bit as she felt a slight disturbance. Iago shot awake. Lotus looked at the door, gasping. It was Mozenrath. She stood up to wake the still asleep others. Abu jumped  onto Aladdin and Zipporah which made them wake up. He chattered to wake them up.

"What's going on?" Zipporah asked with a yawn.

"Rise and shine!" Mozenrath smirked at them. "You have a busy day!"

"Mozenrath! What are you doing here?!" Aladdin asks angrily.

Lotus straightened out her navy outfit she was wearing. Her hair was more messier than normal.

"I just can't take no for an answer, your sister can come along for the ride." Mozenrath stated simply.

Zipporah groaned as she was forced to get up now.

Iago sat up, dusting himself off.

"Busy day." Xerxes drools, making Iago let out a disgusted statement. He then flew into Lotus as Iago hit him.

Lotus caught the creature. She came over and handed Mozenrath the creature.

Monzerath took his precious eel and tried to make sure he wasn't hurt too bad. "Nice hovel, you two, but something's missing... Something blue and magical."

"He's probably sleeping like we all should be," Zipporah folded her arms. She then realized the lamp was gone. "Hey!"

Iago looked surprised.

"Genie! What have you done with him?" Aladdin asks angrily.

Xerxes purred and nuzzled Lotus' hand. Lotus looked up at  Mozenrath, blinking.

Monzenrath barely paid attention to Lotus, but he disappeared and re-appeared on the other side of Aladdin. "Why tell you when I can show you?" he then waved his hand, making them all disappear.


He had now taken them to a citadel that had a bridge looking over the town. He was outside the doors with the others, having also taken the girls with him.

"A warning would've been nice! I could have packed a toothbrush!" Iago  snarks.

Lotus looked around. She bit her lip, feeling a little weaker when they transported. Abu screeched a little in surprise and hid behind Carpet.

"Ah, no place like home... Oh, let me get the door for you,  ladies, hate for you to break a nail on something." Mozenrath chuckled at Lotus and Zipporah, getting the doors open where his minions were standing guard.

Zipporah looked annoyed with what this stranger to her just said. Lotus blinked as Mozenrath said that. She frowned at his Sexism, but went through.

"Where are we?" Aladdin asks.

Iago blinked "Wait... The Land of the Black Sand?" He asks.

"My kingdom." Mozenrath clarified.

"I'd expect Jafar to have a place like this." Zipporah looked around.

"Ah, ya kidding... this place is run by Destane... a real headcase, even Jafar stayed away from this place." Iago says.

Lotus looked back, glimpsing inside and to them.

"Ah, Destane..." Mozenrath, seeming to be a little touched. "He was like a father to me... Until I stole his power and his throne."

"Sure you did." Iago says sarcastically.

"Lotus, come back here." Aladdin says.

Lotus blinked and started to do so.

"Then I stole his humanity..." Monzerath continued, then got one of his servants over who looked like a zombie guard. "Hello,  Destane, hello, you shambling, half-dead mamluk!"

The 'mamluk' came and knelt to Mozenrath. Abu recoiled with disgust.

"You turned him into a lowly servant... Nice touch, this kid is twisted!" Iago says.

Lotus looked at the 'mamluk'. She blinked and looked surprised. The mamluk looked back at her, not seeming to know who she was. Lotus cringed away a little. She moved closer to Mozenrath a little, away from the mamluk.

"Cool," Zipporah said simply. She then looked around. "Where's Genie?"

Mozenrath put his hand to his ear with a slimy smile on his face. "There's your answer now, the distinctive cry of the Thirdac."

"Thirdac? Never heard of it." Iago says.

"Thirdac dangerous." Xerxes informs.

"Indeed, the beast devours magic, and all things magical," Mozenrath explained, really engrossed with the disasters. "With the Thirdac in my corner, no other sorcerer could touch me. I will be-"

Zipporah looked a little horrified with his wishes and was clinging to Iago.

"All powerful!" Xerxes exclaims, bumping Lotus to Mozenrath.

Lotus stumbled.

"It's Jafar Junior!" Iago exclaims, then looked shocked.

"If this thing eats magic, won't it bite the hand that feeds it?" Aladdin asks, smirking.

"Yes, once bitten." Mozenrath held up one of his gloved hands, but didn't emit magic from it this time.

"Twice shy." Xerxes finishes flying around the two.

Lotus caught herself on Mozenrath's arm.

"How do you plan to do that?" Zipporah asked. " How're you gonna pull that thing off the Thirdac.

Mozenrath glanced down at Lotus, then continued, trying to ignore her a little. "Other mortals have tried and failed, but your brother has no choice, collar the beast... Oh, and do it before snack time, if you want your genie, you'll have to... You know... Live," he then left with Xerxes, abandoning the others. "That princess seems drawn to me somehow..."

The Thirdac was heard again as they were out the citadel doors now.

"Girl pretty, Master should have pretty girl." Xerxes says.

Aladdin went up to the doors, banging on them. The doors suddenly swung open randomly.

"That was weird..." Zipporah muttered as they were all okay to go in now.

Abu clung to Aladdin.

"Why do people build places like this?! Ever hear of a sunroof?" Iago jokes.

"You, Zipporah and Carpet go find that collar, the rest of us will get Genie." Aladdin says to Iago.

Lotus went ahead a little. She with Zipporah and Iago. After a change, Zipporah decided to go with Lotus and Iago. Iago went down one way.

The lamp is shown to be in one of the rooms and Genie came out in his pajamas, only to find the  Thirdac staring him down and scaring him. Both yelled out and Genie tried all he could to get out and avoid it, seeing that the  creature was indeed a magic eater.

Lotus went to look in a few rooms. Aladdin checked along too. Genie  was shown being chased by the horrible creature. Aladdin followed, quicker than Lotus could. Lotus tried to keep up but fell behind to catch her breath. Genie found himself lost on where to go as the   creature was chasing him down with nearly no options.

"This way." Zipporah whispered to her brother and monkey friend to save Genie from the foul beast.

"Uh-uh." Abu disagreed with her suggestion.

"Calm down guys, we're safe, we aren't magical." Aladdin says.

Lotus came up to see them at the end of the corridor and walked towards them. Iago was with Zipporah.

"B-But, I am!" Genie squeaked, feeling very doomed.

The Thirdac wasn't seen or shown yet.

"Genie, you're safe!" Aladdin shouts running to hug him.

Lotus looked around. She blinked as she saw the creature. Genie was growing hysterical due to the monster after him.  Thirdac cried just as Aladdin said nothing would happen. It leapt over Aladdin went to corner Genie and suck the magic out of him.

Aladdin tugged at the Thirdac's body. "No!" He shouts.

Lotus blinked shocked still. She rushed forwards towards her friends. The  Thirdac pushed Aladdin off and continued to do what it was trying to do. Even Carpet tried to help. Aladdin jumped back on, punching it in the eye. Lotus gasped softly as she got there.

The Thirdac cried in pain, having trying to focus on Aladdin now to destroy him, even if Aladdin wasn't a magical being. Aladdin   was knocked off again. Lotus tried to stop the Thirdac. The Thirdac spotted Lotus and came dangerously close to her. Aladdin groaned and sat up. Lotus looked up at it, her eyes flashing.

The Thirdac was close to coming toward Lotus, but was grabbed by its tail from Aladdin as soon as he got back up. It was then lunged for the ceiling. Abu climbed to Lotus and checked to make sure if she was okay or not. Lotus petted the monkey. Aladdin had to let the   Thirdac go. Abu smiled at her, then climbed up on Aladdin's shoulder. Genie was nowhere to be seen or found by the others, he seemed to have vanished from the room as the  Thirdac attacked him.

"It... it got Genie..." Aladdin said sadly.

Lotus rubbed her head gently and then looked sad. Abu started to cry and was mourning of the loss of the one they never had a friend like.

"Is it gone?" Genie came from Abu's hat, very small and white, but then came out, back to his normal size.

"Genie! You're alright!" Aladdin smiles, hugging the blue man.

Lotus hugged him too. But then let go.

"It got a taste of me, guys!" Genie shuddered, visibly afraid.

"Don't worry, that thing's not so tough." Aladdin soothes.

Lotus looked around then.

"Oh, yeah?" Genie scoffed, turning from Aladdin to Lotus. "You're not magic, you're not edible!"

"This'll be over soon, I bet Iago and carpet will have found the collar." Aladdin says.

Lotus looked at Genie. "It came towards me..." she says.

Genie hugged her and smiled at Aladdin. "Right!" he then paused and grew curious. "What collar?"

Lotus blinked in the hug. She, however, broke free gently.

"Oh, Iago..." Zipporah sounded worried.

Genie suggested they should get going for that mysterious collar now, wondering what it was and what it was for.

Monzenrath and Xerxes were together as they came to the closed citadel doors.

"Hero fail." Xerxes says.

"Patience, Xerxes," Mozenrath told his companion. "Aladdin and Zipporah will not let their genie become the  Thirdac's victim."

"Too quiet." Xerxes says, flying past his Master.

Monzenrath grabbed Xerxes by his tail. "Not quiet enough, Xerxes..."

Lotus looked around. She heard the doors close again and frowned. Should she go and see?

"Xerxes quiet..." he says.

Lotus went to see, trying to keep hidden. She was curious of  Mozenrath.

Monzenrath felt a presence in the room and looked around. He didn't see Lotus fully. "I feel we're not alone..."

Lotus blinked and took a step back. Xerxes wondered if he should float off and look.

"Why don't you go take a look?" Mozenrath allowed Xerxes to search around.

Xerxes snuck around, very fast. Lotus started to sneak back hoping nothing would give her away. Zipporah heard Iago's voice as they were searching for the collar. Mozenrath waited patiently, which with his patience, wasn't enough time for Xerxes. Xerxes bumped into her biting her arm, not recognising her. Lotus yelped, stepping out, shaking her arm.

Mozenrath grew tired of waiting. "Xerxes, will you hurry? I don't want my victims to suffer without me there to gloat about it!"

Xerxes growled loudly.

Lotus whimpered. "Xerxes..." She gasps.

"XERXES!" Monzerath raised his voice.

Xerxes let go rushing back to Mozenrath. "Was pretty girl!" He shouts.

Lotus looked at her arm.

"Pretty girl...?" Monzenrath was thinking whether he meant Lotus or Zipporah. He didn't want anyone to know this, but he found Lotus to be the pretty one out of the two girls they met today.

"Crownie." he says, meaning the one with the crown.

Lotus rubbed her arm, hiding back in the shadows.

Monzerath decided to go find Lotus and try to look for her, but didn't seem to see her anywhere.

"Shadow..." Xerxes hisses, sniffing.

Lotus tried moving.

Mozenrath didn't see anything and whacked Xerxes. "Stop wasting my time..."

Xerxes whined and cringed. Lotus scowled and let out an annoyed breath. No one hurt an animal in front of her.


"Welcome to the sorcerer Mozenrath's land of enchantment," Iago starts. "Also known as  Thirdac Central." he says.

Genie whistled as they looked around. "This Mozenrath guy has done his homework."

"Are you all right?" Zipporah came to Iago.

Iago nodded softly. Abu came up to a statue, pretending to fight it. Carpet had found the collar.

"The collar! Good job, Carpet." Aladdin praises.

Genie was reading the instruction scroll. Abu was now by the tapestry.

"A tapestry tells the tale, boys. In the  Thirdac's world, magic is everywhere. Like water." Iago says by the tapestry too.

Abu went to touch the tapestry. This shocked him a bit and made him jump on Aladdin's shoulders for protection.

"Then what does that mean?" Zipporah wondered.

"That means he's dying of thirst in this world." Aladdin says.

Carpet struggled with the collar.

"I bet a big, blue genie and a magic carpet would hit the spot." Genie nearly scoffed.

No one seemed to notice that the  Thirdac came back and was watching them. Carpet shivered suddenly. Genie yelped and got  out of the way. The Thirdac then hit the carpet.

"CARPET!" Aladdin shouts.

Carpet was holding onto the table leg.


Xerxes looked at Lotus. Lotus came up behind Mozenrath.

"My senses are tingling... It better be misery..." Mozenrath smirked, then turned sharply to see Lotus, but not surprised. "Oh, it's a poor princess..."

Xerxes snickered.

Lotus blinked as he turned. She was going to shake him from behind. "Don't hurt animals..." she says.

"Oh, you princesses and your thinking of understanding animals  to be your friends." Mozenrath darkly chuckled at her.

Xerxes flinched a little. Lotus scowled and put her arms down which were raised to shake him.

"What are you doing?" Mozenrath noticed her force.

"I was going to shake you," she admits. She then gave a nervy giggle. "Well, I better get going..." she says, sidestepping before walking forwards.

Mozenrath glanced at her. "What a strange, troubled princess..."

"She going to friends, maybe you take her?" Xerxes suggests.

"Princess Lotus, such a lonesome soul... Why kidnap her?" Mozenrath sighed, then smirked. "Oh, because she's there and a woman, she can't fight her own battles."

Xerxes chuckled. Lotus was walking speedily.

The Thirdac was trying to suck Carpet's magic up. Two of the Carpet's tassels were coming loose and was unraveling. Aladdin picked up the collar. Genie held the Carpet to get out with the others and slamming the lab door behind them. This made the   Thirdac crash against the now closed-door, making it dent. Abu fainted on Aladdin's shoulders. Iago held Zipporah gently.

"Steady there, Rug Man." Genie tried to calm Carpet as he had a pair of knitting needles to repair Carpet.

Once healed, Carpet danced.

Zipporah looked at Iago and Abu. "Why don't you guys go distract them and Aladdin and I will try to snap the collar around the   Thirdac's neck?"

"Or the monkey distracts, he snaps and, me and you be moral support." Iago suggests.

"Uh-uh." Abu took Iago's hand and dragged him to do what Zipporah wanted them to do.

"Genie, you and Carpet stay here, safe." Aladdin says.

"Be brave for me..." Zipporah nearly whispered to Iago.

Iago went willingly then.

Abu put his hat on the end of a stick before entering. "Hello...?"

It was a bit empty in the room so far.

"Well, he's gone, let's leave." Iago tries.

Aladdin shook his head. "No, he's here." he says.

"Find him yet?" Genie grew frantic. "You guys'll let me know when you find him, right?"

Abu screeched a bit as a book randomly came down by him, making him go against Aladdin.

Zipporah glanced at her boyfriend. "You're a mess..." she muttered, but had an amused smile.

Iago chuckled sheepishly, having knocked the book off. "Eh, sorry that was me" he says.

Aladdin put him down on the table. Genie was still getting nervous, wondering what was taking so long. The   Thirdac was behind Genie and Carpet.

Xerxes chuckled and gently nudged his Master. Lotus was near the lab. Xerxes sped ahead to stop her. He stopped in front of her stomach. He was going to make his Master happy. Lotus oofed as was hit in the stomach, stopping. Lotus looked at Xerxes and then around for  Mozenrath.

Genie looked to see the Thirdac was right behind them. "ALADDIN! ZIPPORAH!" he grabbed Carpet and ran in the room with it.

Zipporah jolted from the sudden yell. Aladdin chased the Thirdac.

Iago took Zipporah and hid. He was in a tizzy noticing Lotus wasn't there. "It ate the princess!" He exclaims, that being the only explanation he could think of.

"Calm down, she probably got lost..." Zipporah tried to settle him, hoping that wouldn't be right since Lotus wasn't a magical element.

Genie and Carpet kept hiding as the Thirdac was coming for them. Aladdin jumped at it again. Iago looked at her, he did know the princess better than those present. Aladdin had missed as the Thirdac climbed up the wall where Genie and Carpet were, trying to avoid it. Abu was nowhere to be seen.

Aladdin jumped onto a handy table. "Abu, cut the rope!" he says.

Abu nodded, then started to gnaw at the rope. The lantern started to fall. The lantern hits the other side of the table that Aladdin is standing on and plummeted him in air and up to the rafters, where he lands in front of the strange magic-eating  creature.


The Thirdac looks a little frightened now, since Aladdin is cornering him. Zipporah stood with Iago in a safe, solid spot, them holding each other, they shared a glance and blushed as they let go quickly, but smiled. Iago smiled sheepishly. Aladdin had the collar and jumped to put it on him.

Lotus sighed, shaking her head. Xerxes was keeping her distracted until his Master decided to come.

"This better be good..." Mozenrath muttered to his eel, coming, and now saw Lotus and blinked with a dark smile. "Well, well..."

Xerxes was still keeping her distracted. Lotus shivered as she felt a presence coming up behind her. Xerxes cackled. Lotus backed up, til her back hit a pillar. Xerxes floated aside to watch his master. Lotus blinked as her back hit the pillar.

"You're coming with me." Mozenrath held Lotus close and allowed them to disappear from the room.

Lotus gasped and her eyes flashed, and he felt stronger in his power a little, the gauntlet not hurting him.

The Thirdac jumped off the rafters, but its tail had been turn into a spring and Genie was taunting it with his magical abilities. Aladdin jumped up again , onto its back. Genie is still watching, very nervous with Aladdin and the Thirdac. Aladdin was knocked off, falling with the Thirdac. Iago blinked.

Aladdin had the rope, but  Mozenrath had the rope. "The Thirdac is under my control."

"Hey, let go of our sister-in-law!" Zipporah yelled, even if Aladdin and Jasmine weren't married yet.

"What now, Al?" Genie grew worried.

Aladdin looked worried and defeated. "It's over..." he says.

Lotus glowed lowly, but only visible if you were looking for the glow.  Mozenrath looked happy as Aladdin started to leave.

"Huh?" Abu couldn't believe it.

"No!" Zipporah let out a strangled gasp.

"The kid's calling it quits?" Iago asks.

"Hero quit?" Xerxes asks.

Lotus even looked surprised.

Aladdin reached the door and turned. "Guy's, we're done here... he would hurt Lotus too..." he says, sounding depressed.

The others left, surprised and defeated, but Lotus in custody.  Zipporah decided to follow her brother.

Mozenrath pulled Xerxes back. "The hero knows when he's beat."

Xerxes settled against his Master's neck. Lotus was pressed against him and couldn't even turn. Mozenrath smirked as he had Lotus in his grip and smiled evilly, even toward Xerxes, not hurting him this time. Xerxes was relieved. Lotus looked up at him. Now he wasn't using magic or planning on, yet the glow faded.

"Whoa! I can't believe you've actually figured out how sensible cowardice  can be!" Iago says

Aladdin smirked "No way! That was just to throw off  Mozenrath." he says.

Iago looked annoyed almost "Figures..." he mutters, but listened to Aladdin's plan.

"So what's the plan?" Zipporah whispered.

Aladdin explained his plan.
"You don't look too bad..." Mozenrath said to Lotus lightly. "Why haven't you had any suitors?"

Lotus blushed slightly. "I've always been a sickly child and my father didn't want to risk me dying, so I wasn't allowed suitors..." she says softly.

"You poor thing... I never had suitors back home either..." Mozenrath sounded genuinely sympathetic as he was going to his laboratory, making her come with him, but was gentle with her this time.

Xerxes floated after them. Lotus looked at him, not resisting though. A man actually holding her like that felt pretty nice, she hadn't had much physical contact. The Thirdac is tied to a wheel, looking sad.

"No matter, I must conquer..." Mozenrath tried to look villainous again and looked through his wheel of kingdom. "Decisions... Decisions... What to conquer first?"

"Quarkistan?" Xerxes suggests.

Lotus looked annoyed. She was still held and glared at the globe.

"An enchanted land blessed with an enchanted king," Mozenrath sighed. "An intriguing target..." he then spun his wheel to find another possible kingdom to conquer. "Perhaps the subterranean world of the Almuddi?"

"Definite maybe." Xerxes agrees.

Lotus shook her head, he had his own land, he didn't need to conquer. Mozenrath was still stuck. Abu had grabbed Xerxes without anyone seeing or noticing and Carpet covered his mouth. Lotus looked up at him, hoping he wasn't going to say the name of her home.

Eventually he did. "Agrabah! Not particularly a magic place... Why conquer it...? Oh, because it's there." Mozenrath spun the wheel, only to find Aladdin suddenly stopping it.

Lotus scowled slightly, but looked surprised at Aladdin.

"Not while I'm here." Aladdin says, fists on his hips. He jumped off the wheel and frowned slightly.

Mozenrath was surprised.

Zipporah helped her brother and got the sorcerer to the wheel and came to Lotus, letting Aladdin handle him now. "Are you okay, Lo?" she asked, giving a nickname like when the elder girl called her Zi.

Lotus nodded. "He didn't hurt me, but I feel a little weak." she says softly.

"He won't hurt you again." Zipporah promised.

Aladdin started to fight him. Monzerath was proved to be a little not as strong as Aladdin, much to his surprise. He was on the wheel now, but thankfully, it stopped and he grew extremely nervous now.  The Thirdac was trying to break free.

Aladdin grabbed Mozenrath by the collar. "Send the Thirdac to where it came from or I'll let him loose on you and your magic." he threatens.

Lotus watched the two men. She looked surprised.

"You wouldn't... You're not that ruthless..." Mozenrath said, nearly scared.

Zipporah pulled Lotus out of the way as the two were fighting.

Lotus checked her outfit feeling something missing. "Oh, he must have my brooch!" She says. She needed to get it back.

"You're right, I'm not, but he is." Aladdin says pointing.

Abu chattered on the Thirdac's back.

"What did he say?" Mozenrath couldn't understand the monkey, even if everyone else could.

"And man, do I feel cranky!" Iago translates.

Lotus went to get her brooch, that was next to the globe.

"No, no, no, no!" Mozenrath feared for his life now.

Abu got the collar off the Thirdac to chase the sorcerer around the room. The Thirdac chased him about. Lotus picked up her brooch and shot Aladdin a look. Aladdin blinked, shocked.

Mozenrath kept running and was then pinned down to the floor.

He made an escape by wiggling underneath it and tried to crawl away from him. Zipporah looked back to Lotus, wondering what she was up to. The   Thirdac started to use its magic sucking ability. Lotus, who wouldn't allow anyone to be killed because of them, reached out to help the older than her, but still young sorcerer.

Monzenrath saw his right hand was drawing the beast's hunger and realized he was in front of the tapestry. He grew courage as he was about to   perform a spell on it to defeat it as a portal opened up. Once the Thirdac was in it, Mozenrath felt accomplished. "Aladdin, Zipporah, I'll--"

Genie appeared in front of him. "You'll what, son?"

Mozenrath blinked in surprise and started to walk away.

"Think of this as a test, Mozenrath... you failed." Aladdin says.

Lotus, who had grabbed his hand as she tried to save him, blinked and took a few steps pulled along a second. Xerxes scowled a little.

Mozenrath saw what Lotus was up to and held her close like a hostage situation. "Don't make me hurt her!"

Lotus blinked and her eyes widened. Her hand came up to his arm as if to stop him strangling her, but she slipped the brooch into his sleeve, so that if it fell, it would fall into his gauntlet. Xerxes snickered, truly amused, but smart enough to sound evil.

Aladdin looked shocked, then mad. "Let her go, Mozenrath!" He says angrily.

"No, there's nothing you can do." Mozenrath said sneakily as he kept her closer.

Genie then grew strong and powerful, using his magic to break Lotus free. After a few attempts, he managed to win Lotus back and   Mozenrath just disappeared.

"Creep." Zipporah muttered.

Lotus blinked and had a dust of pink on her cheeks. Aladdin took everyone back to  Agrabah.

Xerxes looked at his Master. "What pretty girl do?" He asks curiously, once the heroes were gone.

Mozenrath dug into his pocket and took out Lotus's brooch. How did that end up in his pocket? Xerxes cackled a little.   Mozenrath looked back to see the victory of Aladdin and his friends and family.

"Hero wins?" Xerxes asks.

Lotus was blushing, but smiling with her friends.

"For now." Mozenrath said as he clutched the brooch.