He turned a part of the spyglass, sending a signal.
After a few seconds, he noticed a glaring, blinking light from a distance beside the palace as well.
"It seems that the leader has also made it through the checkpoints and is closer to the palace than we are," Sa'Luk said, with a hint of disappointment in his voice, as he closed the spyglass and placed it in his pocket.
"Let's go, before this place is surrounded," Sa'Luk said, gesturing to the other members as he stepped toward the carriage and pulled out a disguise to wear.
With the number of guards stationed around the city, he was certain that someone must have already spotted the suspicious blinking light and was already on their way here.
Realising the urgency, they knew they had to get out of there as quickly as possible. The others quickly understood that this might be their most dangerous heist yet.
They quickly put on their disguises and released the carriages and horses into the streets, creating chaos, to use as cover for their escape.
Before long, several figures dressed in Imperial Guard uniforms landed on the rooftops beside the alleyway. Seeing that it was empty and that a ruckus was being caused in the streets, they diverted their attention to calming the chaos before anyone could get injured, then investigating the source of the blinking light.
Within the Royal Garden Courtyard
The pillars were decorated with colourful banners and flowers. Musicians played their flutes, ouds, and drums, filling the air with soft melodies.
Royals, nobles, and foreign dignitaries from across the Seven Deserts filled the royal garden courtyard.
"Prince Aladdin Ababwa!" the master of ceremonies announced.
The master of ceremonies was none other than Genie, dressed in a black tuxedo-tailed suit. He moved fluidly with a serious expression.
The courtyard fell silent as Aladdin made his way in.
A magic carpet soared into the courtyard, and seated on it was Aladdin.
Soldiers dressed in both the Kingdom of Agrabah and the Empire of Ababwa uniforms stepped behind him.
The guests gasped, murmurs spreading through the air as they finally noticed the groom, as well as the unfamiliar forces behind him, wondering if they were also part of Agrabah's royal guard.
However, the murmurs vanished as quickly as they came.
The soldiers immediately took their positions around the wedding altar as Carpet soared through the air before landing within the formation.
Carpet transformed into steps, allowing Aladdin to step down.
"Sultan Hamed Bobolonius II and his royal court officials!" Master of Ceremonies Genie announced once more.
Then, the Sultan and a group of middle-aged and elderly men and women following behind him made their way towards the wedding altar.
Upon reaching the wedding altar, the court officials stood below beside the soldiers, while the Sultan nodded at Aladdin with a smile before climbing the altar.
Aladdin responded with a similar gesture of his own.
"Princess Jasmine Hamed Bobolonius II!" As Master of Ceremonies, Genie completed his announcement, and a bridal party entered the courtyard.
They were Nadine, Sabina, and the others, carrying baskets filled with flower petals. They scattered the petals along the entrance path leading to the altar.
Jasmine made her entrance, standing at the end of the procession.
Flower petals were scattered along her path, and the air was filled with incense and fragrance as she stepped forward.
Soon, she arrived at the wedding altar.
Jasmine held Aladdin's hand as he led her up the altar.
Her bridesmaids stood below the wedding altar.
Jasmine winked at Aladdin as she took her position in front of him, with her father standing between them.
Master of Ceremonies Genie quickly walked into the crowd and vanished into thin air. He reappeared in another location within the royal garden courtyard, with Carpet and Abu beside him.
Soon, the music slowly died down.
A servant carrying a pillow with a small golden sceptre resting on it walked up to the altar and presented it before the Sultan.
The Sultan took the golden sceptre and faced the crowd.
"Today, under the watch of the heavens and our ancestors, we are gathered here to witness the union of my beloved daughter, the Princess of the Kingdom of Agrabah, the priceless jewel of Agrabah, Jasmine Hamed Bobolonius II , and Aladdin Ababwa, Prince of the Empire of Ababwa, in marriage.
After years of waiting, I believe that my… Jasmine has made a perfect choice in choosing a perfect suitor. May their days be filled with laughter, kindness, and understanding. May their love deepen with each passing year, and may they inspire those around them with their devotion.
To stand beside each other in rule and hardship. To protect the people of the land. To remain truthful in heart and action."
Jasmine and Aladdin knelt before the Sultan.
The Sultan used his sceptre to touch their shoulders.
Then, they stretched their hands forward.
The Sultan took a purple silk cloth and tied it around their hands. Then, he lit an incense stick and hovered it around their arms and heads.
After that, Aladdin and Jasmine stood up on their feet.
Within the crowd,
"My babies are growing," Genie said, blowing his nose into a white handkerchief.
Carpet nodded, holding a white handkerchief with his tassels and blowing his imaginary nose into its edges.
Abu gently wiped his tears from his eyes with his hands.
"By the power invested in me, Sultan Hamed Bobolonius II…"
Just as the Sultan was about to complete his words, the entire royal garden courtyard trembled.
"What's going on?" the Sultan said in surprise.
"Ahh!!" The Sultan stumbled on his feet, falling backwards. However, Aladdin swiftly caught him before he could hit the ground.
"Are you okay, Your Majesty?" Aladdin asked.
"I'm fine. I just lost my footing," the Sultan responded.
"I thought the earth was only supposed to move during the honeymoon…" Genie joked. However, there was no one to laugh at his joke; they were lost in the chaos.
"A stampede!!" A scream tore through the chaos.
Countless horses and carriages broke through the courtyard, charging towards the guests.
Aladdin frowned at the scene. He quickly spotted a few individuals in worn-out attire with sinister looks, riding on the horses and slipping into the midst of the guests.
Forty Thieves!
Aladdin recalled removing all the elephants and anything that could cause a stampede or collapse the royal garden courtyard, and restricted the guests to entering the palace only on horses and carriages.
He had even stationed his empire's guards and magicians around the courtyard to stop or alert him of any threat. However, it seemed that even that wasn't enough. He couldn't stop them from crashing his wedding.
Nonetheless, the scene made Aladdin sigh in relief. He had already planned for when his plans failed, to ensure that no one was hurt. Although he didn't know how or why they had decided to raid the palace earlier than usual, he would finally have the opportunity to deal with the Forty Thieves once and for all.
The guards stationed at the sides quickly emerged from all directions, protecting the guests. The guards stationed below the wedding altar quickly formed a protective formation around it.
Some of the guards removed their outer attire, revealing the unique uniforms of the Empire of Ababwa's Imperial Magic Court magicians. Some drew their swords, while others held their staffs.
"Oh my goodness! Jasmine, we're under attack. We need to get out of here quickly!!" Farah said, terrified as she quickly hugged Jasmine.
Nadine, Sharma and Sabina did the same, hugging her tightly with fear in their eyes.
"This can't be..! This can't be happening!! I promise to deal with whoever is involved in this conspiracy. I'll make sure that they never see the light of day again!!" the Sultan said angrily, pulling off his headpiece and throwing it to the ground.
He felt insulted and furious that the wedding of his one and only beloved daughter had been interrupted and turned into chaos, and he couldn't stop it, nor know know who was responsible.
"I'm going to get all of you to safety," Aladdin said, enveloping them with his magical energy.
They vanished into thin air. They reappeared within Jasmine's room.
"You'll be safe here. I'll be back soon," Aladdin said to them.
Just as he was about to teleport once more, Jasmine threw herself into his arms.
"Be safe," she whispered.
"I will," Aladdin responded.
After withdrawing from her grasp, he vanished into thin air.
He reappeared at the wedding altar.
Aladdin quickly spotted Genie, dressed in cowboy attire and riding a horse. He swung a rope over another horse, catching it and riding it toward a corner before chasing after the others.
Aladdin knew that as long as the Genie was here, no one was going to die. However, Genie wouldn't get involved in his problems this early, especially if he was capable of handling them.
He shifted his gaze to other directions.
Abu had transformed into a 12-foot(3.6m) tall monkey with an immense physique, fighting against members of the Forty Thieves.
"There you are," Aladdin muttered, spotting a dark, shadowy figure hiding on top of one of the pillars within the courtyard, quickly moving toward the inner palace.
/////
The name of this fanfic has been changed to "Aladdin: Emperor Of The Seven Deserts."
Also, my novel has finally been contracted. Thanks to those of you who tried it out. Expect more chapters from there as well.
////////
If you want to read 15 chapters ahead, you can join for $10. /patreon.com/Stormwill
Join the family on: discord. gg/ EUmdp2EUVX.