Aladdin changed into his nightwear as he appeared in his bedroom.
Jasmine was already lying on the bed, leisurely reading a scroll. As he appeared, she folded the scroll and put it away.
"You're back," she said. "How was your day?"
"Terrible," said Aladdin as he fell forward flat onto the bed. He bounced softly on it and turned onto his back.
"What happened? Did you manage to find time to speak with your father?" Jasmine asked, observing Aladdin.
After Aladdin revealed his father was the King of Thieves, Jasmine was more shocked than when she learned about the genie, Aladdin's wish to be a prince, or Jafar's plot against him.
Now, she realised why she saw a certain resemblance between the two of them. It wasn't just a fluke. However, if it were any other time, she would've put on a banquet to welcome the arrival of his father, but considering his infamous status and the things he had done to the Kingdom of Agrabah, Jasmine felt that Aladdin was under immense pressure.
After placing herself in his shoes and pondering what she would do after finding out that her mother, whom she once thought was dead, was infamous, she realised she would also feel the same way as he did.
Aladdin explained to Jasmine the conversation that transpired with Cassim.
"I don't understand why he's still choosing the Forty Thieves over me. I'm his son!" Aladdin spat.
He wondered if it was because Cassim's fight with Sa'Luk over the Hand of Midas hadn't happened yet. Cassim never had to choose between treasure and his son, making it hard to turn him from his current path.
Jasmine gently rubbed Aladdin's cheeks.
"Have you thought that maybe he's afraid?" Jasmine said.
"Afraid of what?" Aladdin turned onto his side with a frown.
"Maybe he's scared that he might disappoint you and one day return to his life of thievery. A title such as the King of Thieves isn't something that he can throw aside whenever he wants," Jasmine responded with a smile.
"Besides, his son, whom he thought was dead, lived his entire life as a street rat, yet did not walk the same path he did. Instead, he did something incredible—he became the heir to an empire, won the heart of a Princess, killed the vicious Royal Vizier who had been plotting to overthrow the Kingdom, defeated his sister—a dark sorcress, and on top of all that, captured him in the middle of his life of crime," she explained.
"Even if you say the first few were luck, I can assure you that winning my heart and saving Agrabah wasn't... If you think about it that way, it's a little difficult for a 'King of Thieves' to live up to. It's much safer for him to retreat back into his shell and avoid disappointing you further."
Aladdin stiffened. He hadn't thought about the matter from this angle. He turned onto his back against the bed and folded his arms, lost in thought.
After several seconds, he breathed out deeply.
"So you're saying that I should let him go," he said, glancing at Jasmine.
"No. I meant to give him a home that he can always come back to. If he wants to do something good to redeem himself, then let him… Of course, with some boundaries. We don't want to discover something valuable is missing and then see it on the market the next day," Jasmine chuckled, taking an apple from the platter of sliced apples beside her and eating it.
"As for the Forty Thieves. Since this is our first meeting, I'll leave a good first impression. I can pardon some of their crimes and compel my father to do the same," she added.
"Are you certain?" Aladdin asked.
He knew what would happen once the people of Agrabah found out the Forty Thieves were forgiven for their crimes. It would also send the wrong message to the nobles and criminals. He didn't even want to think about the aftermath.
"I've thought it over. Although it would be difficult, it's not impossible. I would have wanted all of them to be freed. But unfortunately, someone needs to pay for their crimes," Jasmine replied elegantly, licking her fingers.
"Thank you."
Aladdin rolled to her side and hugged her affectionately.
"You're welcome, darling," Jasmine returned the hug affectionately.
"Go and discuss with him again. You shouldn't allow your conversation with your father to end on such a sad note," Jasmine said.
"But before you leave, what's that other thing that you wanted to talk with me about?" she asked nonchalantly.
"It's complicated. I'll tell you everything when I return," Aladdin said, hurriedly getting up from the bed.
Without changing back into his princely garment, he teleported out of the room.
Jasmine narrowed her eyes at the space where Aladdin was previously standing.
"I smell something fishy. Hopefully it's nothing serious," she muttered to herself. Her expression reverted to nonchalance as she pulled out the scroll and unfolded it. She took a bite of her apple as she studied its contents.
***
"I wonder if he would be angry if I decided to take a look around the city. I've been trapped in here all day, so I don't think he would see it as a bad reason. I'm still his father after all," Cassim muttered, stepping onto the balcony with a bedsheet wrapped around his body.
He stopped at the stone guardrail and spoke loudly, "I am the ghost of Cassim. Not the real Cassim… Wandering through the material world to have some fun."
Seeing that the stone beasts Aladdin had warned him about didn't react, he breathed slowly. Then, he climbed over the stone guardrail.
"What are you doing?" A sharp, commanding voice resonated behind Cassim.
"AHH!!"
Cassim yelled in fright, but he held onto the guardrails and even attempted to jump back onto the balcony before he stopped. He summoned the courage to turn and see who had spoken.
His eyes widened, surprise painting his face.
Aladdin stood in the air behind him.
Cassim immediately snapped his face back forward.
"Ahem! This is not what it looks like. I was just admiring the view from the other side of the balcony," Cassim cleared his throat and said.
A deep sigh echoed from behind, causing Cassim's shoulders to slump.
"Okay, you got me. I was thinking of sneaking out to see the city. It looked so beautiful that it was a waste simply viewing it from afar. Some things need to be admired up close," Cassim said, before he hurriedly added.
"I don't mean it like that! I don't want to take anything. I will put down everything I touch, even if it belongs to a wealthy merchant with a gold-woven pouch… I think it's best I keep quiet now."
He winced at his own words. Sweat beads gathered around his neck as the silence stretched.
Finally, Aladdin spoke, "You are lucky that I came in time, or else the stone beasts would've had you for dinner."
"Wait! Are they real?" Cassim asked, his tone and expression filled with disbelief.
"See for yourself."
Cassim turned to look at the stone guards at each corner of the balcony.
A shiver ran down his body because at this moment, the stone beasts' heads were bent low, and their hardened, non-reflective granite eyes were fixed on him.
"AHHH!!"
The sight caused Cassim to quickly let go of the stone guardrail in fright.
Before he could continue falling, he landed on a soft, almost weightless object.
Cassim first confirmed that he was alive before turning below to see what had saved him. His expression shifted into confusion, seeing as he was seated on a Carpet.
He saw Aladdin standing on the carpet behind him. He hadn't noticed it before because the environment was too dark, and he had thought that Aladdin was flying with one of his magic tricks. Now he realised that he was using a magic flying carpet.
"Is that a monkey?" Cassim asked suddenly, noticing a small monkey in a white princely garment slightly similar to Aladdin, riding on another magic flying carpet at their side.
Aladdin waved his hand, launching magical energy at the stone beasts. They returned to their original positions, staring into the open as though observing for intruders.
He withdrew his hand and responded, "That's Abu. He's my familiar."
Abu gave a nod at Cassim. He had been caught flying out in the open night sky by Aladdin and was dragged here. He wasn't a child anymore, yet for some reason, Aladdin kept treating him as one. He needed to find a way to show Aladdin that he was an adult.
"Even a monkey gets a magic flying carpet," Cassim whistled in amazement.
"I made my decision and want to discuss the matter with you," Aladdin said. "That's if you're still capable of continuing our conversation today or leaving it for tomorrow…"
"I'm still capable of continuing our earlier conversation," Cassim said as he stood up. "So what's your answer to my wish?"
//////
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