Chapter Text
Thursday, February 15th, 1398
Jasmine woke up early that morning. She left Aladdin sleeping in her bed and got up to do her morning hygiene. Dalia was surprised when she entered the room with breakfast and found her lady already dressed, adorned, and perfumed.
— You woke up early today, Highness. — Dalia remarked, placing the tray on the table. — You also seem much more cheerful.
Jasmine smiled. — I truly am. — She replied, adjusting the golden bracelet on her arm.
— Hmm, and is there any special reason for that? — Dalia asked, smiling as she approached the princess to adjust her tiara.
Jasmine grabbed Dalia’s wrist and pulled her aside to the corner of the room.
— I have a plan. — The princess whispered, cupping her hand around her mouth.
— A plan?! For what?! — Dalia whispered back. — And why are we whispering?
— Because the walls of this palace have ears. — Jasmine said. — And a very big beak.
— Oh right, the parrot. — Dalia replied.
— Everyone knows he has a habit of eavesdropping around. — Jasmine whispered. — What if he’s here? I don’t want to risk him hearing us. I have a plan to defeat Jafar.
— Okay, but what plan is that? — Dalia asked, worried, keeping her voice low.
— Here it is: We know that ever since Jafar took the lamp, he always carries it around. — Jasmine said. — If I can get it, not only could I strip him of his powers, I could also use one of the wishes to become an alpha and take Agrabah for myself, without having to wait for some prince.
— And more. — Jasmine went on. — I could undo what Jafar did to Aladdin, remove his bond mark, and after I’ve achieved all of this, I could even lend you the lamp, so you could wish for his freedom and you two stay together. Isn’t that amazing?!
— Incredible, but… how do you plan on getting that lamp? — Dalia asked nervously. — Last time you and Aladdin tried, you almost died buried alive, and Aladdin...
— Oh, Dalia, that happened because we were reckless, we acted on impulse. — Jasmine said. — But this time will be different. I’ll be cautious, I’ll slowly get close to Jafar, gain his trust.
— How? — Dalia asked.
— Simple. — Jasmine replied. — I’ll start by having breakfast with him, make it seem like I want peace, that I’ve accepted the idea of being his queen.
— When the wedding day comes… — Jasmine continued. — I’ll act on the wedding night. Remember that remedy I gave Aladdin to make him sleep yesterday?
— Yes. — Dalia replied. — He fell asleep right away.
— Exactly. And I plan to use that same remedy on Jafar, but in a much larger dose. — Jasmine said. — The wedding preparations will take about two weeks, by then Aladdin should be better. If I can bring him into the bedroom with me on the wedding night, I’m sure Jafar will go insane, making it even easier to distract him.
— Then while he’s asleep, we grab the lamp and make our wishes. — Dalia said, smiling. — And when he wakes up…
— He’ll wake up in a dungeon, completely subdued and powerless. — Jasmine said, laughing. — And I, as sultana, will order his public execution for high treason and for what he did to Aladdin. Isn’t it perfect?
— It truly is perfect. — Dalia agreed.
— But look. — Jasmine said. — I only told you because you’re my friend and I trust you. Don’t mention this to anyone, not even to Aladdin. He’s still too shaken by everything. I’ll decide the right time to tell him.
— Don’t worry, Highness. — Dalia replied. — I’m a tomb, you know that.
— Of course I do, that’s why I told you. — Jasmine said, caressing her servant’s face. — But it doesn’t hurt to remind you, hmm? Now I’ll go. Stay with Aladdin and give him this breakfast when he wakes up.
━─━────༺༻────━─━
Jafar and Iago were having their morning meal in the palace garden. The sorcerer was surprised when the princess arrived, well-dressed and wearing a friendly expression.
— What a pleasant surprise, my dear! — Jafar said with a cordial smile. — Sit down and eat with me, hmm? — He gestured to the chair beside him.
A servant immediately pulled out the chair, and Jasmine, without a word, sat with a smile still on her lips.
— So, my dear, how was your night? — Jafar asked.
— I slept well. — Jasmine replied, picking up a fruit. — And you? Did you sleep well?
— Of course. — Jafar lied. — Why wouldn’t I? And your darling, where is he?
— Sleeping in my room. — Jasmine answered.
Jafar smiled broadly. He didn’t want to let Jasmine know in any way that he’d worried about Aladdin after Almas said he had tried to kill himself. Keeping his cynical façade was the best way to hide it.
— Hmm, you waste no time, do you, dear? — Jafar joked with a laugh.
— Do you really think Aladdin would want anything after what you put him through, you pervert? — Jasmine snapped. — He only slept beside me in my room, nothing else.
— I see… — Jafar said.
— Unlike you, Jafar, I don’t shove my fingers into anyone without consent. — Jasmine replied, crossing her arms.
— DID YOU COME HERE JUST TO IRRITATE ME OR WHAT?! — Jafar roared, rising and throwing his goblet to the ground.
— NO! — Jasmine shouted, also rising to face him in anger.
The princess wanted to throw more at him, but she remembered why she had come that morning.
— Despite everything… — Jasmine said, sitting back down. — I came in peace.
— Doesn’t seem like it. — Jafar muttered, sitting again.
— It’s because you provoke me! — Jasmine said, still irritated, but once again she remembered her purpose, took a deep breath, and calmed down.
— Forgive me. — She finally said. — But Aladdin really was in a terrible state after that, and I don’t have ice in my veins.
— Hmm… how bad? — Jafar asked, feigning curiosity.
— He tried to kill himself yesterday. — Jasmine replied sadly. — If I hadn’t arrived in time, he’d be dead today. I even had to call Amira.
Jafar felt a knot in his throat. He stayed quiet as Jasmine looked at him with her big honey-colored eyes. She resisted the urge to taunt him about guilt, reminding herself she had to keep things calm for her plan to work.
— And did he hurt himself? — Jafar asked, hiding his concern with practiced ease.
— Besides almost drowning in the bath, he cut himself with shards of glass. — Jasmine replied. — And there’s still the cut from the goblet you threw at his head.
Jafar exhaled. — When he wakes up, take him to the harem. He needs to learn to behave like a proper concubine. I’m sure the harem’s dance and music lessons will help distract him.
— How can you be so cold about this?! — Jasmine demanded.
— Don’t think I was happy about what happened yesterday. — Jafar admitted. — Aladdin defied me and deserved punishment, but not in the way it happened. I admit I lost control in my fury and euphoria, and I regret it.
Jasmine shook her head. — As if that changed anything.
— Just take care of him, alright? — Jafar said impatiently.
Then he sighed. — Despite our differences, we’re getting married in a week. Like it or not, you and he are my omegas, and I don’t want to live in constant war with the two of you.
— And to prove it… — Jafar continued. — I’ll give Aladdin time to recover. I won’t seek him out for a while.
— That’s good. — Jasmine replied. — Amira said he really isn’t fit for sexual relations.
— But don’t think this break will last forever. — Jafar warned. — I can be merciful when necessary, but I will want my beautiful omega in my arms eventually.
— Of course, Jafar. — Jasmine replied.
— Well, since you came in peace… — Jafar said with a smile. — I’d like to introduce someone to you.
— Who? — Jasmine asked, intrigued.
Jafar gestured, and the Genie approached in human form, dressed as a servant and carrying a wine tray.
— This is Kaled, our new cupbearer. — Jafar said smugly.
Jasmine laughed. — Jafar, that’s the Genie in human form.
— Yes, indeed he is human. — Jafar confirmed. — But no longer a genie.
Jasmine’s eyes widened. She glanced under the table and saw Jafar no longer wore the lamp on his royal garments.
— H-How?!
— Quite simple, my dear. — Jafar said with a shrug. — I used my last wish to turn the Genie into a human.
— But why would you do that?! — Jasmine asked, stunned.
Considering how power-hungry Jafar had been, the last thing she expected was for him to waste his final wish making the Genie a mere mortal.
— Ah, my dear. — Jafar shrugged again. — I already have everything a man could want. I’m rich, I’m king, I’m the most powerful sorcerer, I can have as many omegas as I please, and soon I’ll have a beautiful queen.
— Without a master, the poor Genie would spend centuries buried inside a lamp. Since I gained so much thanks to him, why not repay him with something so simple yet priceless, hmm? — Jafar asked with a wide grin, while Jasmine boiled with rage.
— You demon! You did this so no one could overthrow you! — Jasmine snapped, rising and slamming the table.
— Oh! That thought never crossed my mind! — Jafar said, hand on his chest, feigning shock. — I only wanted to...
— Don’t play the innocent with me, Jafar! It doesn’t suit you!
— Well, I truly wanted to do a good deed. — Jafar said calmly, holding his goblet out for more wine. — But if I was really at risk, then it’s good I took precautions, isn’t it, dear? — He added slyly.
— And besides… — Jafar continued. — I told him he could go wherever he wanted, but he asked to stay and work as a servant here, to be near his beloved Dalia. Isn’t that sweet?
— You snake! — Jasmine shouted, rising again.
— Weren’t you going to…? — Jafar started, but Jasmine stormed out, furious, before he could finish.
— Hmph, omegas… — Jafar muttered, rolling his eyes, while the Genie just shook his head.
Though happy to finally be free, the Genie knew Jafar hadn’t done it out of kindness.
━─━────༺༻────━─━
— Mmm… — Aladdin mumbled in his sleep when a rough tongue licked his face. — Mmm… What…?
The last thing he remembered was having dinner with Jasmine, Dalia, and Almas. Now, opening his eyes, he found a tiger cub sniffing his nose, and his faithful friend Abu staring at him with big curious eyes.
The monkey grew euphoric seeing his human friend finally awake.
— How did I…?! — Aladdin asked, confused, sitting up. His head spun.
— Are you okay?! — Dalia asked, worried, coming closer.
— Yes, yes, just a bit dizzy. — Aladdin replied. — I must have gotten up too fast.
— Ah, hello Abu. — He said, petting the monkey, who clung to his neck in a hug.
— And Rajah. — Aladdin added with a smile, stroking the cub as it purred against his arm.
— How did I end up in bed? — Aladdin asked Dalia. — The last thing I remember was having soup at the table.
Dalia chuckled. — Jasmine put an herb in your soup, remember?
— Oh right! — Aladdin said. — The sleeping herb.
— I don’t think she expected it to work so quickly and suddenly. — Dalia explained. — You fell asleep, and we practically had to carry you to bed.
— And where is she? — Aladdin asked, looking around.
— She went to the garden. — Dalia replied. — But here! She left breakfast for you. — Dalia said, bringing the tray to him.
— No, no need. I’ll eat at the table. — Aladdin said.
— Oh no. — Dalia objected. — You just got dizzy, better stay in bed a bit longer, hmm? — She said, placing the tray on him.
— Let me fix this… — She adjusted the pillows behind him.
— It’s not necessary, it was just… — Aladdin started, but Dalia cut him off.
— There. Now it’s right. — She said, pushing the tray back into place.
— Rajah! Abu! Come get your food and let our patient eat in peace, hmm? — Dalia called, holding two bowls: one large with a slab of raw beef, the other filled with peeled bananas.
Aladdin laughed as both cub and monkey rushed to her. — At this rate, Abu and I will be spoiled.
Dalia chuckled. — The princess asked me to take very good care of you, and that’s what I’m doing.
— If those are the princess’s orders, who am I to complain? — Aladdin joked.
— The Sultan… I mean, Jasmine’s father, was here earlier. — Dalia informed him.
— He wanted to see how you were, but you were asleep. He was the one who brought our furry little gluttons. — She said, laughing at Rajah shaking his meat and Abu devouring bananas like he hadn’t eaten in days.
Aladdin laughed too. He knew his little friend was greedy, but seeing Rajah toss around such heavy meat made him understand why Dalia shooed them from the bed.
— Rajah always liked to play with his food. — Dalia remarked.
— I can see that. — Aladdin replied nervously, imagining what damage the tiger could do if he weren’t friendly — especially once full grown.
— Don’t worry. — Dalia reassured him. — He truly likes you. In all these years, the only person I’ve seen him cuddle and lick besides the princess… is you.
— That’s good to know. — Aladdin said, sipping his milk.
— And you? Feeling better? — Dalia asked.
— Yes. — Aladdin nodded. — Much better, thank you.
They both jumped as Jasmine stormed in, slamming the door.
— Jasmine! What happened?! — Aladdin asked, worried.
— What happened, my lady?! — Dalia asked.
— That wretch! That snake Jafar! He ruined everything!! — Jasmine shouted in fury, fists clenched.
— But what happened?! — Dalia asked, alarmed.
— What did Jafar do to you?! — Aladdin pressed.
— My plan… my plan went down the drain. — Jasmine said, tears of rage streaming down her face.
— What plan? — Aladdin asked, confused.
— The princess had a plan to steal back the lamp. — Dalia explained.
— Yes, it was a perfect plan, but that fiend ruined it!! — Jasmine cried, sitting on the bed with her back to Aladdin.
— And what plan was that? — Aladdin asked.
— Doesn’t matter anymore. — Jasmine replied. — We needed the Genie’s power for it to work, but…
— But what? — Aladdin asked, alarmed.
— Jafar used his third wish. He… — Jasmine took a deep breath. — He turned the Genie into a human.
— WHAT?!! — Dalia and Aladdin exclaimed together.
— I intended to slowly get close to Jafar, seduce him, steal the lamp, become sultana. You could have helped me, Aladdin.
— Of course I would have, but how could we?! — Aladdin asked. — I’m bound, and even if I weren’t…
— The Genie could have changed that. — Jasmine said. — He turned you into a prince, didn’t he?
Aladdin nodded.
— He could have done the same for me if I wished. He could have stripped Jafar of his powers, removed your bond mark. Then, as an alpha, I could have ruled Agrabah and we could have been together. But now…
Jasmine began to cry. Aladdin pushed the tray aside and embraced her.
— Let’s look at the bright side: at least the Genie is free. — Aladdin said.
— As we’ll never be. — Jasmine muttered. — You’re bound to Jafar, and soon so will I.
— And to think it’s all my fault. — Aladdin whispered, tears falling. — Maybe I really do deserve to be trapped with him, but you…
— Shh… hey! — Jasmine cupped his face in her hands. — I already told you, none of this is your fault.
— Jafar never fooled me. — Jasmine said. — I always, always knew he was a snake, that there was something rotten in him.
— Kaled, my love… — Dalia murmured, tears in her eyes. — To think I’ll never see him again.
— No, Dalia. — Jasmine said, taking her hand. — The Genie is still in the palace. He stayed, working as a cupbearer, still using that name.
— But why would he stay here?! — Aladdin asked, baffled. — He always said his dream was to be free.
— Seems he stayed for love. — Jasmine replied, smiling.
— For love?! — Dalia asked, euphoric. — Then he…
— Yes, Dalia. — Jasmine confirmed. — He stayed out of love for you, stayed to be with you.
— I can’t believe it!! — Dalia cried, jumping with joy. — I’ll… — She paused as Jasmine and Aladdin laughed.
— Forgive me. — The maid said shyly. — Here I am celebr
ating and…
— Don’t worry, dear Dalia. — Jasmine said. — You’ve always been a good servant and a good friend. You deserve a happy ending.
— You both do too. — Dalia replied.
— We’ll find a way. — Jasmine said. — Now go, don’t waste time here. Go see your love, that’s an order. — Jasmine commanded.
— Y-yes, my lady. — Dalia said. She tried not to leave too quickly, but her eagerness to see her beloved was clearly in command now.
— Yes, she truly deserves this. — Aladdin said with a smile.
— Well, as for us… — Jasmine said, drying her tears. — There is nothing we can do but accept our fate. — She sighed. — At least, despite everything, we are together. — Jasmine said, holding Aladdin’s hands, who gave a faint smile.
Indeed, he tried to cling to the fact that he could still be with Jasmine, and to ignore, for now, that sooner or later he would have to face Jafar again.