"Let's take some fresh breeze around the city while we talk," Aladdin replied.
Without waiting for Cassim's response, Carpet soared into the sky.
"AHHH!!"
Cassim held on, lying flat on the carpet to avoid falling off.
They soared at breakneck speed into the city. However, they remained unaffected.
Witnessing this scene, Cassim slowly rose up and sat on the carpet. He let out a deep, long breath.
"Warn me when you want to do something like that again, will you?" he said.
"I will," Aladdin smiled at him.
He found the scene oddly familiar and comedic.
Cassim snorted. He turned to look at the view below.
Even though it was nighttime, fishermen cast nets on vast rivers, hoping for a grand harvest. The Seven Deserts burned with golden sands, and places with large bodies of water were guarded by various factions. So Cassim never had the opportunity to witness such a sight before.
Bright lanterns illuminated the streets with a soft golden glow, and the people took a stroll or carried out business as though it were daytime. Even several foreigners could be spotted among them.
Cassim was mesmerised by their attire and carvings. After learning about Ababwa's history, he truly wanted to learn more about them and see what treasures remained from a thousand years ago. He had made a promise to himself not to steal anything, so he hadn't lied when he replied to Aladdin.
Unfortunately, their current relationship was still too strained, so he had to choose his words carefully or risk breaking it apart permanently.
Thinking about this, Cassim withdrew his gaze from below and stared at Aladdin.
Aladdin spoke.
[Most of my life…
I got used to thinking…
I only had myself.
One more street…]
[One more morning…
And after a while..
You stop expecting people to stay…
Because it hurts less that way.]
Cassim was stunned. He was unable to stomach Aladdin's distant gaze, so he stood up, looked further into the distance, and spoke.
[I used to think
That survival was worth any price at all.
Gold and glory
Freedom, power…
I called it living back then.]
[But somewhere in the years between.
I lost more than I ever stole.
And standing here tonight.
I know it now.]
Aladdin stood up as well.
[What do we do…
With all the years between us?
How do we cross…
A distance built from silence?]
Somewhere along the lines, Cassim chimed in, attempting to grab hold of Aladdin's hand. However, Aladdin wrestled free from his grasp and stretched it outward.
[I know I don't deserve easy forgiveness
And maybe I haven't earned.
Been called your father
But if there's still a place for me...
Somewhere beside my son...]
Watching the scene from afar, Abu sneezed into a handkerchief. He still remembered Aladdin's meticulous and carefree attitude while they were still on the streets, making him doubt if he had even been born a street rat. Only now could he understand his emotion.
Where was his own father? He didn't know. However, Aladdin was his family and had led him to a new family and friends, such as Carpet, Jasmine, Genie, his servants, and most especially, Jasira. He gently patted the magic carpet underneath him.
As the melodies came to an end, Aladdin sat back on his carpet and responded.
"I've decided to grant your wish. However, not every member of the Forty Thieves will be set free. Twenty will be beheaded, and the remaining twenty will be set free on the condition that they return every year with proof of every good deed they have done," he said.
"I have several magic carpets and battalions of magicians at my disposal. I'm also a powerful sorcerer. So if any of them decide to escape or lie, they will be beheaded. And I'll hold you responsible."
Aladdin glanced at Cassim as he finished speaking.
"Can't there be a way to free all of them?" Cassim asked.
"The only reason I agreed to your wish was that Jasmine was willing to allow it. Don't push your luck. Besides, I can't let someone like Sa'Luk roam free," Aladdin replied.
"Wait… The Sultana knows about me?" Cassim asked, stunned.
Aladdin nodded.
"If that's the case, then I should be grateful that she agreed to such a thing as well. She must have given us a second chance because of you, right?" Cassim replied. "Thank you."
"I'll pass it on to her or arrange a meeting for both of you to meet in person."
"Thank you."
"You should also show your gratitude to the former Sultan. Although he might not want to see you, you can show your appreciation by keeping your word. I don't want to hunt down the remaining thieves myself."
"Aladdin…?"
Aladdin turned to Cassim.
"Thank you for giving me another chance."
"You're welcome," Aladdin turned to stare at the sky. "Make sure that you don't ruin it."
"I won't," Cassim replied.
"Now give your father a hug." He lunged at Aladdin with arms wide open and hugged him.
Carpet tilted to the side to stop them from falling and also facilitate the process.
"Okay, let's return to the palace."
"Come on! One more hour. I saw a really big fish down there," Cassim responded. "Flying Carpet, can you hear me? How about we go closer to the river and check it out?"
Carpet soared down towards the great river.
Aladdin released a deep breath. Since he couldn't stop either of them, he decided to follow along. He was also curious about what the big fish was. Since this was a newly created magical empire, he wondered if Genie had taken the opportunity to create some new species. Knowing him…
He probably had.
Two hours later, the group had caught a giant star-patterned fish. After ensuring that it wasn't an endangered species and edible, Aladdin pulled one out of the water and roasted it on a fireplace, with him, Cassim and Abu mostly doing the eating.
After that, the group returned to the palace, feeling more refreshed than ever.
Aladdin pondered on what ripple effects would occur this time, since he had decided to behead half the members of the Forty Thieves and free the other half. As important figures, even to the point of getting their own plotline in the movie, he knew that it wouldn't be something small.
If fate wanted to screw him over, then Aladdin wasn't going to take it lying down. His goal remained the same: to enjoy this fairy tale world to the fullest, and no distortions of fate were going to destroy it.
Aladdin placed the rest of the matter to the back of his mind as he and Cassim got down from the Carpet.
"See you tomorrow, son. Tell the Sultana... my daughter-in-law, that I can't wait to meet her," Cassim pulled Aladdin into a hug before gently patting his shoulders with both hands.
Aladdin nodded.
"Good night, Dad."
"Goodnight, Son."
Aladdin teleported away from the balcony.
After ensuring that Aladdin was no longer present, Cassim turned to the flying Carpet and said, "Hey, Carpet. Do you mind spending the rest of the night with me? I want you to tell me about what my son has been up to while I was away."
Carpet shook his edges and pointed at Abu.
"You mean he has more information on Aladdin?" Cassim asked.
Carpet's edges nodded.
The magic Carpet was so expressive that he could guess what he was trying to say after spending several minutes with them. Unlike the monkey that had scared him when he spoke, he still couldn't make out what he meant.
Carpet's edges nodded again.
"Hey, your royal mon…" Cassim turned to Abu and said with a flourishing bow. The only thing missing was a hat to sweep through the air with his hands.
However, before he could continue speaking, Abu shook his head, and the flying magic carpet that he was on soared into the night sky.
Cassim was frozen in his position. He didn't know how to react after his advances had been rejected by a monkey.
Carpet trembled as though holding back his laughter before soaring into the skies, following after them.
"From being a terror to the kingdoms and merchants to being rejected by a monkey and laughed at by a magic flying Carpet," Cassim sighed. His lips curved broadly as he stepped into his bedroom.
Meanwhile, Aladdin reappeared in his room, changed, and got into bed.
"Judging from your expression, it's safe to say that your conversation with your father went well this time around," Jasmine said.
Aladdin nodded in response. He explained everything that had transpired to Jasmine.
"Since everything with your father is handled, explain that thing that you've been keeping secret for some time now," Jasmine replied, curious about what other things Aladdin might be keeping hidden from her.
"It's complicated. But I'll do my best to explain everything to you," Aladdin replied.
He isolated some of the visions he had received from the Book of Destiny, then added and reconstructed parts of his memories about the princesses from his former world, and transferred them to her.