Fic: Arabian Nights - Ch. 6
Title: Arabian Nights
Author: starrdust411
Fandom: Heroes
Pairing: Mohinder/Gabriel
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The story of a prince, a watchmaker, and the magical lamp that changed their lives.
Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes or Aladdin.
Warnings: Humor, Slash, AU, Language
Prologue| Chapter 1| Chapter 2| Chapter 3| Chapter 4| Chapter 5
Thompson could feel his entire being trembling as he slammed the thick wooden door to his secret chamber shut. His mind was reeling, his body was tingling, and strangely enough, he was certain it had nothing to do with the fact that every guard in the palace was ready to put his head on a stick.
No. In fact, he was positive that it had everything to do with what he had seen in Mohinder's bedchamber. When he had first met Prince Sylar, the vizier had had a strange feeling that there was something familiar about the boy. Now he knew exactly what that something was. The flash of a glimmering golden lamp tucked away inside the boy's turban did not go unnoticed by Thompson's sharp eyes and suddenly it all made sense: the parade, the conveniently timed arrival, and the fact that the young man had miraculously survived his assassination attempt.
From the depths of his shock, a glimmer of hope started to emerge, and suddenly Thompson couldn't stop himself from shaking with laughter.
"Thompson? Thompson!" Candice squawked, flying around his head in a whirl of feathers and panic. "Eric! Snap out of it! We've gotta get out of here. The Sultan's gonna kill us!"
"No Candice, sweetie," he laughed, because the whole situation was just too good to be true, "we don't need to go anywhere."
The bird frowned, landing on the man's out stretched hand and cocking her head in confusion. "What are you talking about? Those guards-"
"Aren't important," he cut in, stroking the bird's ruby feathers with a gentle finger. "Prince Sylar is nothing more than that pathetic little watchmaker Gabriel Gray. He has the lamp."
Candice blinked -- startled, confused, and unwilling to believe this new piece of information. "Whuh... what? How do you-"
"It doesn't matter," he cut in, gently holding the parrot's yellow beak shut with his thumb and forefinger. "What does matter is that we now know exactly where the lamp is and you are going to get it back."
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The royal guest house was really quite breath taking. It was placed far away and from the palace, surrounded by lush greenery and a clear lake, filled with exotic birds and fish. The inside of the quarters were just as luxurious. There were velvet throw pillows, fresh flowers, and extraordinary works of art decorating every inch of the gold and marble space. And the bed was beyond belief. It was bigger than a small island and as soft as a cloud.
It was a shame that Gabriel hadn't been able to fully experience such luxuries. After the frantic events of the previous night, Mohinder had been so worried about him that he refused to let Sylar out of his sight. They shared the prince's bed, much to Nirand's displeasure as the jungle cat was more than a bit reluctant to give up his prized spot by Mohinder's side. The two boys had kissed and touched each other gently, but things hadn't progressed any further and for that Gabriel was thankful. After the night he had had, he wouldn't have been able to fully enjoy such a wonderful experience. He had barely been able to enjoy being able to go to sleep with and wake up next to the beautiful prince.
The watchmaker sighed; his head hung low as he rested heavily against the stone railing. The serene view did nothing to calm the feeling of unease that had settled into the pit of his stomach. His head was spinning, his mind reeling at the thought of the future that was now placed firmly at his feet.
Sultan. He was going to become sultan.
It was more than he had expected, more than he had ever wanted when he made this prince wish. It had all started as a way to get to see Mohinder again, but now he was trapped. Trapped in this disguise and trapped as Sylar forever.
And maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. After all, as Gabriel, he was no one, a pathetic watchmaker who had to struggle just to get a poor excuse for a meal on his plate. As Sylar, he had a palace, servants waiting at his beck and call, and most importantly the love of a beautiful prince.
He groaned, squeezing his eyes shut as that familiar sting in the back of his head began to overcome him. Maybe being Sylar was for the better and maybe he deserved a break after so many years of misery and struggle, but the fact remained that he hadn't accomplished anything on his own. His success, this life was all because of Elle.
A cloud of blue smoke and sparkles began to pour out from the spout of the lamp resting at his hip as Elle appeared as if summoned by his thoughts.
"Hey there tiger," the genie beamed, wrapping her small arms around his neck and lying on his back. Fortunately her legs were nothing more than intangible smoke, allowing her to float in the air easily without resting too much weight on the young man. "Sleep well last night?" She giggled, tousling his hair playfully. "Or at all?"
"Not now, Elle," he sighed, brushing past the genie as he slinked miserably back towards the guest house.
Gabriel had barely passed the archway, when Elle was at his side, her elbow resting heavily on his shoulder as she floated a few feet in the air. "Okay Gabe, you just won the heart of the prince. What are you gonna do next?"
The young man sighed, shrugging away from her and walking towards a pile of velvet throw pillows. He collapsed onto the floor, leaning miserably against a small, polished table.
Again, Elle was at his side, this time she was holding what looked like a metal book with a mirror and tablets in place of pages. "No, nope, I don't see mope around in self pity," she mused, tapping on one of the tablets thoughtfully. "It says here you're supposed to free the genie."
"Elle," he began, feeling the energy draining from his being as he attempted to speak. "I... I can't."
"Sure you can," Elle began, placing a hand on his shoulder. The humor was slowly evaporating from her demeanor as the realization that he may be backing out on his end of the deal slowly began to dawn on her. "I mean, you already got everything you wanted-"
"Not on my own!" he snapped, slapping her hand away from his shoulder. He was tired, frustrated, and in need of an enemy, something to be mad at and at that moment Elle fit the bill. "Not because I earned it! I'm going to become sultan -- sultan Elle -- and I am absolutely unprepared for it!"
"But, Gabe, you've won."
"Because of you!" he barked, suddenly standing because he needed to move, to walk and throw his hands up wildly. "Because you made me this way! You're the one who turned me into Sylar. I'm not a prince, I'm a watchmaker and if I told anybody that all of this would be gone."
He sighed, running his hands through his hair. "I can't go back to being Gabriel... and I can't keep this disguise up on my own. Elle... I can't wish you free."
She stared at him, bright blue eyes wide and filled with more emotions than she'd ever shown him before. She looked hurt, betrayed, and absolutely livid. "So that's it?" she whispered, standing up on fully formed feet and staring up at him. "You're taking back your promise. Gee, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. After all, I'm just a genie. I've only waited a thousand life times for my freedom."
"Hey, you're the one who used one of my wishes to save my life!" he snapped.
"I can't give free wishes, Master," she sneered, shoving him in her anger. "You already cheated one out of me before."
"That's bull and you know it!" He shoved her back, probably with more force than she was expecting as she collapsed onto the floor. Gabriel winced as her head slammed against the table and the young man had to wonder if genies could feel pain.
The tears filling her red eyes were all the answer he needed as his stomach quickly filled with guilt. "You're just the same," she whispered brokenly. "I thought you were different, but you're just like all my other masters. No. You're worse, because you made me dream and now you're taking it all away!"
"Elle, I'm..." he began, but he didn't get a chance to say anymore as the girl evaporated back into the golden lamp.
Gabriel sighed, holding the lamp in his hands. It had never felt this heavy before, now it was like a hunk of lead in his hands. Elle was right; he was being selfish and unfair. He had made a promise and he had to fulfill it. He couldn't live as Sylar forever. What's more, he had to come clean with Mohinder, because he had made the other boy fall in love with a lie and the prince deserved to know the truth.
"Sylar? Sylar, are you there?"
The watchmaker jumped, stiffening at the familiar voice calling for his pseudonym. He panicked, scrambling to tuck the lamp away underneath a few stacks of pillows before grabbing his turban and walking towards the door. Yet as he stood under the gapping arches, he didn't see a single trace of Mohinder.
"Mohinder?" he called. The young man had to squint against the harsh sunlight, yet still there was nothing. "Where are you?"
"Out by the menagerie. Hurry."
"Oh," he said quietly, his fists gripping the soft white cloth of his turban anxiously. "I'm coming."
He had to come clean with Mohinder and it seemed as if it were now or never. Gabriel sighed, taking one last look around at the beautiful guest suite, the exotic birds populating the manmade lake, and cherishing the feeling of being loved, important, special. He was going to miss being Sylar.
The young man had barely taken a step away from the guest suite when he felt Luke's trunk at his shoulder, tapping at him tenderly as if to reassure the young man that he was making the right choice. He smiled, just as Carpet drifted by his side. At least when all this was over he would still have his friends.
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Leading Gabriel away was all too easy. The boy was in love, pathetically so, and the sound of the prince's voice drew him like a moth to a flame. Fortunately for Candice, she had a knack for impersonating others and Prince Mohinder was certainly a favorite of hers.
The bird grinned as she watched the young man and his cohorts wander away, chasing after nothing more than an echo, before slipping into the royal guest suite.
She had heard the entire exchange, had watched as the boy and the genie argued about giving up his disguise and setting the mystical being free, before he tucked the lamp away under a pile of pillows. It was there that she found it, gold and glimmering and wonderful.
Her talons gripped the cool metal, lifting the lamp with no trouble at all as she flew back to the palace. Thompson was going to be quite pleased.
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It was strange, but Gabriel had more trouble than he would have expected finding the prince. He had gone to the menagerie just as Mohinder had said, but the royal wasn't there. He had wandered the palace grounds for a while before one of the guards -- Captain Parkman of all people -- spotted him, ushering the boy towards the main gates.
"What is this about?" he asked as he followed the older man step for step. It was awkward being near him after the events of last night -- after his arrest only a few days ago -- and Gabriel could tell by the way the man refused to met his gaze that he was feeling just as uncomfortable.
"The Sultan is about to announce your engagement to Prince Mohinder, Sir," Captain Parkman said simply, unaware of the terror his words put into Gabriel's heart. "He's had the entire palace looking for you all morning. You're to be presented to the public."
"What?" he gulped, his voice coming out as a strangled whisper and suddenly everything that had happened between him and the captain of the guards was nothing compaired to what he'd soon be facing. He was in far too deep. How was he supposed to confess everything to Mohinder in front of the entire kingdom? His only hope was to get the prince alone and tell him everything face to face.
Yet once he was less than an inch away from Mohinder, the other boy was a whirlwind of business like rush and gleeful enthusiasm. "Gabriel? Where have you been?" the prince cried, grabbing his arm and practically dragging him towards the steps that lead to the balcony where Chandra was standing, addressing what was no doubt a crowd of impressive size.
He swallowed, his eyes falling on the prince who was currently wearing an outfit similar to his own, only more ornate. His robes were a soft, pale blue, lined with golden trimming and a magnificent blue crystal placed in the center of his turban. The prince looked regal, beautiful, and like everything Gabriel didn't deserve to have.
"Mohinder, there's something I have to-"
"Not now," Mohinder chided once they had reached the top of the steps. He smiled, straightening Gabriel's clothes before grabbing the turban the boy had stuffed in his belt. "The entire kingdom has turned out to hear Father's announcement."
The watchmaker swallowed. That was exactly what he had been afraid of. "Mohinder, wait-"
Once again the prince cut him off, this time with a quick kiss. It was only a brief peck to the cheek, but it had the desired effect as the young man was startled into stunned silence before being spun around and thrust through the thick curtains that had been separating him from the cheering crowd.
His face turned beet red, his heart hammered so loudly in his chest that he could practically see it, and even as the sultan gave him a reassuring pat on the back, the boy felt as if he were going to collapse and die from humiliation. His dream had quickly turned into a nightmare.
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His nightmare was finally coming to an end and all of his dreams were about to come true. Thompson smiled. Even the sight of the entire city cheering over a pathetic little watchmaker couldn't bring him down, not when he was holding everything he had ever wanted in the palm of his hands.
His smile widened as he gazed at his own reflection in the polished golden surface of the lamp. It was almost too good to be true. So many years of plotting and struggling, just to get to this moment and it was finally here. All of his wishes, his dreams, his deepest desires would come true. The world seemed so much brighter.
"Good work Candice," he said, too distracted by the beauty of the lamp to even look at his companion.
"Thanks Thompson," she returned, puffing her feathers happily. "As a reward, maybe you could throw a wish my way?"
He scoffed, rolling his eyes at the parrot's words. What could a bird possibly have to wish for? "Don't push your luck," he sneered, taking the lamp in hand and rubbing its smooth surface.
A cloud of sparkling blue smoke poured out of the lamp's spout, swirling and expanding until the smoke cleared, revealing a beautiful young girl with pale, flawless skin and flowing golden locks pulled into a tight pony tail on top of her head. Her lower half was a transparent swirl of blue smoke that swished and flickered haughtily in the air. The genie's back was facing him and her arms were crossed firmly over her chest indignantly. Obviously Gabriel didn't know how to keep his servants in their place.
"You know Gabe, if you're going to apologize, then it's a little too... oh!" Her words faded away when the genie finally turned around to meet his gaze. She stiffened, her sparkling blue eyes widening at the sight. A nervous laugh escaped her lips as she rubbed at her arms sheepishly. "Oops, looks like I've got the wrong guy."
He smirked, his fingers swirling in the air, wrapping the tip of her tail around his digits.
She frowned, a pair of spectacles appearing out of thin air as she leaned in closer, studying his face the way a scholar studied his text. "Hmmm... Tonight the role of Gabe will be played by a tall, dark, and sinister ugly man."
Thompson sneered. That last comment was completely uncalled for. He reached out and grabbed the young woman by the back of her head, his fingers gripping the soft golden locks so tightly that it actually caused the genie to yelp in pain as he dragged her closer to him. They were practically nose to nose as she gasped, squirming and fighting to get away.
"Genie, I am your master now," he declared firmly. This girl obviously needed a strong hand.
"Yeah," she cringed, still struggling in his grip. "I kinda figured that."
He frowned, yanking harder. A pathetic, strangled cry escaped from the genie's lips as her face reddened in pain. "Genie," he began again, because the genie was going to learn to take him seriously, "grant me my first wish; I wish to rule on high as sultan."
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It didn't take a genius to see that something was very, very wrong when the sky suddenly turned a deep ominous gray and wind began to blow with enough force to literally rip the cloth banners off of their poles. Even from his place high above them, Gabriel saw the sea of once smiling, cheering citizens squirm in panic at the weather's abrupt shift.
Gabriel frowned, instinctively gripping Mohinder protectively in his thin arms as the world around them began to change.
The sultan gasped, taking a shaky step away from the railing of the balcony as his clothes began to shimmer, shifting from the crisp, clean royal robes to rough, dirty rags before their very eyes.
"What on earth...?" the man whispered, studying his unfamiliar wardrobe with wide, frightened eyes.
"Father," Mohinder began, pulling away from Gabriel and stepping over to the sultan's side.
It was then that they heard the laughter: a sinister, malicious, gleeful sound that was all too familiar. The watchmaker turned to see Thompson standing before them wearing white robes that were nearly identical to the ones Chandra had just been sporting; only now there were specks of dark red where there had once been calming blue.
"Thompson!" Chandra barked, glowering at the man as if he were still beneath him, but even Gabriel could see that things had shifted in the former vizier's favor. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Sorry, Chandra," the bird on the man's shoulder said -- and the fact that the parrot was speaking was enough to throw Gabriel off completely, "but Sultan Thompson doesn't have to answer to you anymore."
The young man didn't understand for one second what was happening, but he knew one thing for certain: he had the power to set everything right. This may not have been how he was planning to use his final wish, but he didn't really have much of a choice. Thompson ruling Agrabah would spell disaster for the already struggling kingdom. The watchmaker knew that Elle would understand, especially since the fate of an entire city was at stake.
Without a second thought, he all but ripped his turban off of his head, ready to grab the lamp and make his wish to set things right. Yet -- much to the young man's dismay -- the turban was bare. Gabriel cringed, his body visibly paling at the sight. It was only then that he remembered his argument with Elle, how he had been so lost in thought and distracted by Mohinder's sudden appearance -- or lack thereof -- that he had hidden the lamp under a pillow instead of taking it with him.
The knot of dread that was already building in the pit of his stomach doubled -- tripled -- at the sound of Thompson's smug cackling. He turned his wide, frightened eyes towards the man only to see that the royal vizier turned sultan was now holding Elle's lamp firmly in his hands.
"Looking for something, Prince Sylar?" the man smirked, saying his assumed title as if it were the world's greatest joke.
It was then that he knew why Thompson had looked so familiar. Thompson had been the old man, the one he had met in the dungeon, who had told him about the lamp and taken him to the Cave of Wonders, the same old man who had tried to murder him. Thompson had used him, played him for a fool just as he had done with the true sultan. The young man felt as if he had been slapped in the face. He felt like such an idiot.
Yet their situation only continued to worsen as the already dark sky turned nearly black and the ground beneath them shook. He turned around just in time to see a dark mountainous figure that look like a column of smoke come to life grab at the base of the palace, ripping it out of the ground like a weed being plucked from a garden. Gabriel instantly knew that the ominous visage before him was actually Elle.
Carpet was at his side in an instant, and without a second thought, Gabriel found himself hopping on, flying towards the monster that had once been his friend. "Elle!" he cried once he was close enough to be heard. "Elle you have to stop!"
Sad blue eyes, glanced towards him, an odd fit on the monstrous face, yet Gabriel knew that it was Elle, the real Elle. "Sorry Gabe," she told him, her voice loud and distorted. "I've got a new master now."
His insides chilled as he watched Elle place the palace on top of the summit of a mountain. He felt so cold, small, weak... powerless.
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Thompson couldn't remember feeling more powerful in his entire life as he watched the genie set the palace -- his palace -- on top of the highest mountain in Agrabah, the perfect place for a sultan to preside over his subjects. Everything was going right, just as he had dreamed it would and all from only one wish.
"Eric!" he heard Chandra bark at him. The sound of the man's voice was enough to make him cringe. "I don't know what on earth is going on, but I order you to stop!"
He scoffed, turning to stare at the pathetic little man and his son, both of them glaring at him as if they had any power or say in the situation. Neither of them seemed to grasp the fact that their positions had severely shifted.
"I don't think so, Chandra," he sneered. "There's a new order now -- my order. Now you, will bow to me."
Mohinder, ever the proud young prince, didn't even flinch at his words. He merely kept his head held high as he took several purposeful steps forward and glared at the man before him. "We will never bow to you," he told him firmly, confidently.
Thompson scowled at his words. This simply would not do. "Well then, Mohinder," he returned, an idea quickly forming in his head. "If you won't bow before a sultan, then you'll cower before a sorcerer." He turned, gazing over at the genie, who had already melted back into her original state. She was staring at the ground, sheepish and miserable as the watchmaker tried to talk her into helping him set things right. Poor boy was barking up the wrong tree. "Genie," Thompson snapped, grabbing the girl's attention, "I make my second wish: I wish to be the most powerful sorcerer in the world."
Candice instinctively flew away from him as Elle reluctantly lifted her finger -- much to Gabriel's dismay as the boy physically tried to stop her from completing his wish -- and shot him with a blast of blue sparks. The wave of blue sparks consumed him, changing not just the white clothing he wore into a sinister black and red outfit, but his very being itself. Thompson could feel himself growing stronger, powerful as the golden snake staff he had once wielded reappeared at his side.
He smirked, grabbing the staff -- it felt so much heavier now with all the extra power it contained in its metal structure -- and turning his eyes back to the two men who had done everything in their power to make his life miserable. "Now what was that you were saying about bowing, Prince?" he chuckled. He pointed his staff at Mohinder and Chandra and watched as a red beam wrapped itself around the two men, forcing them to literally bend to his will.
A deep, feral growl greeted his ears, and the man knew instantly that it was the prince's bothersome pet. Thompson rolled his eyes as he spun around, aiming his staff at the fast approaching Bengal tiger and turning him into a small, harmless cub. The creature came to a sudden halt and in its confusion, gave out a pathetic meow.
Thompson saw Gabriel's approach from the corner of his eye and had to marvel at the young man's persistence. He wasn't sure what the watchmaker was plotting, but he was easily taken care of. With a wave of his staff, the boy was surrounded by glowing red sparks and rendered completely immobile. A devious smile pulled at the corner of the man's lips as an idea took shape in his mind, the perfect way to humiliate the boy.
"Prince Mohinder," he began, turning his gaze to the young royal's kneeling form. He smirked, placing the tip of the golden serpent's head under Mohinder's chin and forcing him to meet his gaze. "There's someone I've been dying to introduce you to."
With a wave of his hands, both Mohinder and Gabriel were standing, hovering side by side in midair. The prince struggled, gazing at the boy he had fallen for with confused brown eyes as Thompson grabbed his shoulders and pressed the smaller body close by his side.
"You remember Prince Sylar, don't you?" he began as Gabriel started to struggle in fear, understanding slowly dawning on him. "The wonderful, charming young prince who won your heart? Well, I'm afraid the boy's lies were too good to last. Say hello to your precious, Prince Sylar."
The moment the words left his lips, Gabriel's princely clothes vanished, replaced by the tattered rags he had been wearing the day Thompson had left him for dead within the ruined Cave of Wonders. The boy looked positively destroyed as he gazed into Mohinder's eyes -- sheepish, pathetic, and utterly humiliated.
"Sylar?" Mohinder whispered pouring all of his innocent confusion into that one word.
It was the finishing touch, the final blow to the poor boy's already damaged being as he visibly flinched in response to the alias. "Mohinder," Gabriel began softly. "I'm... I tried to tell you-"
Thompson cut him off there, because this wasn't the time for apologizes. "So Sylar turns out to be merely Gabriel," he went on, pulling Mohinder away from the other boy. "I hate to tell you this, but it was all merely a con created by a poor, pathetic watchmaker."
The feel of the ground rumbling beneath his feet did not go unnoticed as Thompson spun around to see "Prince Sylar's" pet elephant charging at him. Thompson smirked, pointing his staff at the creature and reverting it to its original form. He wasn't at all surprised to see that the elephant was really the watchmaker's pet monkey. Cute. Needless to say, the monkey would have to go as well. He waved his hand, sending both the animal and the street urchin towards one of the castle's tallest pillars.
"I think the boy's flaws and underhanded behavior are more than adequate cause to send the man you've chosen to the ends of the earth, don't you?"
A small, strangled cry escaped from the prince's stunned lips as he watched as the tower where he had sent Gabriel into shook, detaching itself from the rest of the palace. A rug drifted over to the structure, but Thompson paid it no mind. It wouldn't matter. Within the blink of an eye, the pillar erupted from the ground and shot straight into the sky, sending Gabriel far away from Agrabah.
Now there was no one left who could stand in his way.
Chapter 7 - The Battle
Author: starrdust411
Fandom: Heroes
Pairing: Mohinder/Gabriel
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The story of a prince, a watchmaker, and the magical lamp that changed their lives.
Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes or Aladdin.
Warnings: Humor, Slash, AU, Language
Prologue| Chapter 1| Chapter 2| Chapter 3| Chapter 4| Chapter 5
Thompson could feel his entire being trembling as he slammed the thick wooden door to his secret chamber shut. His mind was reeling, his body was tingling, and strangely enough, he was certain it had nothing to do with the fact that every guard in the palace was ready to put his head on a stick.
No. In fact, he was positive that it had everything to do with what he had seen in Mohinder's bedchamber. When he had first met Prince Sylar, the vizier had had a strange feeling that there was something familiar about the boy. Now he knew exactly what that something was. The flash of a glimmering golden lamp tucked away inside the boy's turban did not go unnoticed by Thompson's sharp eyes and suddenly it all made sense: the parade, the conveniently timed arrival, and the fact that the young man had miraculously survived his assassination attempt.
From the depths of his shock, a glimmer of hope started to emerge, and suddenly Thompson couldn't stop himself from shaking with laughter.
"Thompson? Thompson!" Candice squawked, flying around his head in a whirl of feathers and panic. "Eric! Snap out of it! We've gotta get out of here. The Sultan's gonna kill us!"
"No Candice, sweetie," he laughed, because the whole situation was just too good to be true, "we don't need to go anywhere."
The bird frowned, landing on the man's out stretched hand and cocking her head in confusion. "What are you talking about? Those guards-"
"Aren't important," he cut in, stroking the bird's ruby feathers with a gentle finger. "Prince Sylar is nothing more than that pathetic little watchmaker Gabriel Gray. He has the lamp."
Candice blinked -- startled, confused, and unwilling to believe this new piece of information. "Whuh... what? How do you-"
"It doesn't matter," he cut in, gently holding the parrot's yellow beak shut with his thumb and forefinger. "What does matter is that we now know exactly where the lamp is and you are going to get it back."
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The royal guest house was really quite breath taking. It was placed far away and from the palace, surrounded by lush greenery and a clear lake, filled with exotic birds and fish. The inside of the quarters were just as luxurious. There were velvet throw pillows, fresh flowers, and extraordinary works of art decorating every inch of the gold and marble space. And the bed was beyond belief. It was bigger than a small island and as soft as a cloud.
It was a shame that Gabriel hadn't been able to fully experience such luxuries. After the frantic events of the previous night, Mohinder had been so worried about him that he refused to let Sylar out of his sight. They shared the prince's bed, much to Nirand's displeasure as the jungle cat was more than a bit reluctant to give up his prized spot by Mohinder's side. The two boys had kissed and touched each other gently, but things hadn't progressed any further and for that Gabriel was thankful. After the night he had had, he wouldn't have been able to fully enjoy such a wonderful experience. He had barely been able to enjoy being able to go to sleep with and wake up next to the beautiful prince.
The watchmaker sighed; his head hung low as he rested heavily against the stone railing. The serene view did nothing to calm the feeling of unease that had settled into the pit of his stomach. His head was spinning, his mind reeling at the thought of the future that was now placed firmly at his feet.
Sultan. He was going to become sultan.
It was more than he had expected, more than he had ever wanted when he made this prince wish. It had all started as a way to get to see Mohinder again, but now he was trapped. Trapped in this disguise and trapped as Sylar forever.
And maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. After all, as Gabriel, he was no one, a pathetic watchmaker who had to struggle just to get a poor excuse for a meal on his plate. As Sylar, he had a palace, servants waiting at his beck and call, and most importantly the love of a beautiful prince.
He groaned, squeezing his eyes shut as that familiar sting in the back of his head began to overcome him. Maybe being Sylar was for the better and maybe he deserved a break after so many years of misery and struggle, but the fact remained that he hadn't accomplished anything on his own. His success, this life was all because of Elle.
A cloud of blue smoke and sparkles began to pour out from the spout of the lamp resting at his hip as Elle appeared as if summoned by his thoughts.
"Hey there tiger," the genie beamed, wrapping her small arms around his neck and lying on his back. Fortunately her legs were nothing more than intangible smoke, allowing her to float in the air easily without resting too much weight on the young man. "Sleep well last night?" She giggled, tousling his hair playfully. "Or at all?"
"Not now, Elle," he sighed, brushing past the genie as he slinked miserably back towards the guest house.
Gabriel had barely passed the archway, when Elle was at his side, her elbow resting heavily on his shoulder as she floated a few feet in the air. "Okay Gabe, you just won the heart of the prince. What are you gonna do next?"
The young man sighed, shrugging away from her and walking towards a pile of velvet throw pillows. He collapsed onto the floor, leaning miserably against a small, polished table.
Again, Elle was at his side, this time she was holding what looked like a metal book with a mirror and tablets in place of pages. "No, nope, I don't see mope around in self pity," she mused, tapping on one of the tablets thoughtfully. "It says here you're supposed to free the genie."
"Elle," he began, feeling the energy draining from his being as he attempted to speak. "I... I can't."
"Sure you can," Elle began, placing a hand on his shoulder. The humor was slowly evaporating from her demeanor as the realization that he may be backing out on his end of the deal slowly began to dawn on her. "I mean, you already got everything you wanted-"
"Not on my own!" he snapped, slapping her hand away from his shoulder. He was tired, frustrated, and in need of an enemy, something to be mad at and at that moment Elle fit the bill. "Not because I earned it! I'm going to become sultan -- sultan Elle -- and I am absolutely unprepared for it!"
"But, Gabe, you've won."
"Because of you!" he barked, suddenly standing because he needed to move, to walk and throw his hands up wildly. "Because you made me this way! You're the one who turned me into Sylar. I'm not a prince, I'm a watchmaker and if I told anybody that all of this would be gone."
He sighed, running his hands through his hair. "I can't go back to being Gabriel... and I can't keep this disguise up on my own. Elle... I can't wish you free."
She stared at him, bright blue eyes wide and filled with more emotions than she'd ever shown him before. She looked hurt, betrayed, and absolutely livid. "So that's it?" she whispered, standing up on fully formed feet and staring up at him. "You're taking back your promise. Gee, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. After all, I'm just a genie. I've only waited a thousand life times for my freedom."
"Hey, you're the one who used one of my wishes to save my life!" he snapped.
"I can't give free wishes, Master," she sneered, shoving him in her anger. "You already cheated one out of me before."
"That's bull and you know it!" He shoved her back, probably with more force than she was expecting as she collapsed onto the floor. Gabriel winced as her head slammed against the table and the young man had to wonder if genies could feel pain.
The tears filling her red eyes were all the answer he needed as his stomach quickly filled with guilt. "You're just the same," she whispered brokenly. "I thought you were different, but you're just like all my other masters. No. You're worse, because you made me dream and now you're taking it all away!"
"Elle, I'm..." he began, but he didn't get a chance to say anymore as the girl evaporated back into the golden lamp.
Gabriel sighed, holding the lamp in his hands. It had never felt this heavy before, now it was like a hunk of lead in his hands. Elle was right; he was being selfish and unfair. He had made a promise and he had to fulfill it. He couldn't live as Sylar forever. What's more, he had to come clean with Mohinder, because he had made the other boy fall in love with a lie and the prince deserved to know the truth.
"Sylar? Sylar, are you there?"
The watchmaker jumped, stiffening at the familiar voice calling for his pseudonym. He panicked, scrambling to tuck the lamp away underneath a few stacks of pillows before grabbing his turban and walking towards the door. Yet as he stood under the gapping arches, he didn't see a single trace of Mohinder.
"Mohinder?" he called. The young man had to squint against the harsh sunlight, yet still there was nothing. "Where are you?"
"Out by the menagerie. Hurry."
"Oh," he said quietly, his fists gripping the soft white cloth of his turban anxiously. "I'm coming."
He had to come clean with Mohinder and it seemed as if it were now or never. Gabriel sighed, taking one last look around at the beautiful guest suite, the exotic birds populating the manmade lake, and cherishing the feeling of being loved, important, special. He was going to miss being Sylar.
The young man had barely taken a step away from the guest suite when he felt Luke's trunk at his shoulder, tapping at him tenderly as if to reassure the young man that he was making the right choice. He smiled, just as Carpet drifted by his side. At least when all this was over he would still have his friends.
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Leading Gabriel away was all too easy. The boy was in love, pathetically so, and the sound of the prince's voice drew him like a moth to a flame. Fortunately for Candice, she had a knack for impersonating others and Prince Mohinder was certainly a favorite of hers.
The bird grinned as she watched the young man and his cohorts wander away, chasing after nothing more than an echo, before slipping into the royal guest suite.
She had heard the entire exchange, had watched as the boy and the genie argued about giving up his disguise and setting the mystical being free, before he tucked the lamp away under a pile of pillows. It was there that she found it, gold and glimmering and wonderful.
Her talons gripped the cool metal, lifting the lamp with no trouble at all as she flew back to the palace. Thompson was going to be quite pleased.
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It was strange, but Gabriel had more trouble than he would have expected finding the prince. He had gone to the menagerie just as Mohinder had said, but the royal wasn't there. He had wandered the palace grounds for a while before one of the guards -- Captain Parkman of all people -- spotted him, ushering the boy towards the main gates.
"What is this about?" he asked as he followed the older man step for step. It was awkward being near him after the events of last night -- after his arrest only a few days ago -- and Gabriel could tell by the way the man refused to met his gaze that he was feeling just as uncomfortable.
"The Sultan is about to announce your engagement to Prince Mohinder, Sir," Captain Parkman said simply, unaware of the terror his words put into Gabriel's heart. "He's had the entire palace looking for you all morning. You're to be presented to the public."
"What?" he gulped, his voice coming out as a strangled whisper and suddenly everything that had happened between him and the captain of the guards was nothing compaired to what he'd soon be facing. He was in far too deep. How was he supposed to confess everything to Mohinder in front of the entire kingdom? His only hope was to get the prince alone and tell him everything face to face.
Yet once he was less than an inch away from Mohinder, the other boy was a whirlwind of business like rush and gleeful enthusiasm. "Gabriel? Where have you been?" the prince cried, grabbing his arm and practically dragging him towards the steps that lead to the balcony where Chandra was standing, addressing what was no doubt a crowd of impressive size.
He swallowed, his eyes falling on the prince who was currently wearing an outfit similar to his own, only more ornate. His robes were a soft, pale blue, lined with golden trimming and a magnificent blue crystal placed in the center of his turban. The prince looked regal, beautiful, and like everything Gabriel didn't deserve to have.
"Mohinder, there's something I have to-"
"Not now," Mohinder chided once they had reached the top of the steps. He smiled, straightening Gabriel's clothes before grabbing the turban the boy had stuffed in his belt. "The entire kingdom has turned out to hear Father's announcement."
The watchmaker swallowed. That was exactly what he had been afraid of. "Mohinder, wait-"
Once again the prince cut him off, this time with a quick kiss. It was only a brief peck to the cheek, but it had the desired effect as the young man was startled into stunned silence before being spun around and thrust through the thick curtains that had been separating him from the cheering crowd.
His face turned beet red, his heart hammered so loudly in his chest that he could practically see it, and even as the sultan gave him a reassuring pat on the back, the boy felt as if he were going to collapse and die from humiliation. His dream had quickly turned into a nightmare.
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His nightmare was finally coming to an end and all of his dreams were about to come true. Thompson smiled. Even the sight of the entire city cheering over a pathetic little watchmaker couldn't bring him down, not when he was holding everything he had ever wanted in the palm of his hands.
His smile widened as he gazed at his own reflection in the polished golden surface of the lamp. It was almost too good to be true. So many years of plotting and struggling, just to get to this moment and it was finally here. All of his wishes, his dreams, his deepest desires would come true. The world seemed so much brighter.
"Good work Candice," he said, too distracted by the beauty of the lamp to even look at his companion.
"Thanks Thompson," she returned, puffing her feathers happily. "As a reward, maybe you could throw a wish my way?"
He scoffed, rolling his eyes at the parrot's words. What could a bird possibly have to wish for? "Don't push your luck," he sneered, taking the lamp in hand and rubbing its smooth surface.
A cloud of sparkling blue smoke poured out of the lamp's spout, swirling and expanding until the smoke cleared, revealing a beautiful young girl with pale, flawless skin and flowing golden locks pulled into a tight pony tail on top of her head. Her lower half was a transparent swirl of blue smoke that swished and flickered haughtily in the air. The genie's back was facing him and her arms were crossed firmly over her chest indignantly. Obviously Gabriel didn't know how to keep his servants in their place.
"You know Gabe, if you're going to apologize, then it's a little too... oh!" Her words faded away when the genie finally turned around to meet his gaze. She stiffened, her sparkling blue eyes widening at the sight. A nervous laugh escaped her lips as she rubbed at her arms sheepishly. "Oops, looks like I've got the wrong guy."
He smirked, his fingers swirling in the air, wrapping the tip of her tail around his digits.
She frowned, a pair of spectacles appearing out of thin air as she leaned in closer, studying his face the way a scholar studied his text. "Hmmm... Tonight the role of Gabe will be played by a tall, dark, and sinister ugly man."
Thompson sneered. That last comment was completely uncalled for. He reached out and grabbed the young woman by the back of her head, his fingers gripping the soft golden locks so tightly that it actually caused the genie to yelp in pain as he dragged her closer to him. They were practically nose to nose as she gasped, squirming and fighting to get away.
"Genie, I am your master now," he declared firmly. This girl obviously needed a strong hand.
"Yeah," she cringed, still struggling in his grip. "I kinda figured that."
He frowned, yanking harder. A pathetic, strangled cry escaped from the genie's lips as her face reddened in pain. "Genie," he began again, because the genie was going to learn to take him seriously, "grant me my first wish; I wish to rule on high as sultan."
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It didn't take a genius to see that something was very, very wrong when the sky suddenly turned a deep ominous gray and wind began to blow with enough force to literally rip the cloth banners off of their poles. Even from his place high above them, Gabriel saw the sea of once smiling, cheering citizens squirm in panic at the weather's abrupt shift.
Gabriel frowned, instinctively gripping Mohinder protectively in his thin arms as the world around them began to change.
The sultan gasped, taking a shaky step away from the railing of the balcony as his clothes began to shimmer, shifting from the crisp, clean royal robes to rough, dirty rags before their very eyes.
"What on earth...?" the man whispered, studying his unfamiliar wardrobe with wide, frightened eyes.
"Father," Mohinder began, pulling away from Gabriel and stepping over to the sultan's side.
It was then that they heard the laughter: a sinister, malicious, gleeful sound that was all too familiar. The watchmaker turned to see Thompson standing before them wearing white robes that were nearly identical to the ones Chandra had just been sporting; only now there were specks of dark red where there had once been calming blue.
"Thompson!" Chandra barked, glowering at the man as if he were still beneath him, but even Gabriel could see that things had shifted in the former vizier's favor. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Sorry, Chandra," the bird on the man's shoulder said -- and the fact that the parrot was speaking was enough to throw Gabriel off completely, "but Sultan Thompson doesn't have to answer to you anymore."
The young man didn't understand for one second what was happening, but he knew one thing for certain: he had the power to set everything right. This may not have been how he was planning to use his final wish, but he didn't really have much of a choice. Thompson ruling Agrabah would spell disaster for the already struggling kingdom. The watchmaker knew that Elle would understand, especially since the fate of an entire city was at stake.
Without a second thought, he all but ripped his turban off of his head, ready to grab the lamp and make his wish to set things right. Yet -- much to the young man's dismay -- the turban was bare. Gabriel cringed, his body visibly paling at the sight. It was only then that he remembered his argument with Elle, how he had been so lost in thought and distracted by Mohinder's sudden appearance -- or lack thereof -- that he had hidden the lamp under a pillow instead of taking it with him.
The knot of dread that was already building in the pit of his stomach doubled -- tripled -- at the sound of Thompson's smug cackling. He turned his wide, frightened eyes towards the man only to see that the royal vizier turned sultan was now holding Elle's lamp firmly in his hands.
"Looking for something, Prince Sylar?" the man smirked, saying his assumed title as if it were the world's greatest joke.
It was then that he knew why Thompson had looked so familiar. Thompson had been the old man, the one he had met in the dungeon, who had told him about the lamp and taken him to the Cave of Wonders, the same old man who had tried to murder him. Thompson had used him, played him for a fool just as he had done with the true sultan. The young man felt as if he had been slapped in the face. He felt like such an idiot.
Yet their situation only continued to worsen as the already dark sky turned nearly black and the ground beneath them shook. He turned around just in time to see a dark mountainous figure that look like a column of smoke come to life grab at the base of the palace, ripping it out of the ground like a weed being plucked from a garden. Gabriel instantly knew that the ominous visage before him was actually Elle.
Carpet was at his side in an instant, and without a second thought, Gabriel found himself hopping on, flying towards the monster that had once been his friend. "Elle!" he cried once he was close enough to be heard. "Elle you have to stop!"
Sad blue eyes, glanced towards him, an odd fit on the monstrous face, yet Gabriel knew that it was Elle, the real Elle. "Sorry Gabe," she told him, her voice loud and distorted. "I've got a new master now."
His insides chilled as he watched Elle place the palace on top of the summit of a mountain. He felt so cold, small, weak... powerless.
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Thompson couldn't remember feeling more powerful in his entire life as he watched the genie set the palace -- his palace -- on top of the highest mountain in Agrabah, the perfect place for a sultan to preside over his subjects. Everything was going right, just as he had dreamed it would and all from only one wish.
"Eric!" he heard Chandra bark at him. The sound of the man's voice was enough to make him cringe. "I don't know what on earth is going on, but I order you to stop!"
He scoffed, turning to stare at the pathetic little man and his son, both of them glaring at him as if they had any power or say in the situation. Neither of them seemed to grasp the fact that their positions had severely shifted.
"I don't think so, Chandra," he sneered. "There's a new order now -- my order. Now you, will bow to me."
Mohinder, ever the proud young prince, didn't even flinch at his words. He merely kept his head held high as he took several purposeful steps forward and glared at the man before him. "We will never bow to you," he told him firmly, confidently.
Thompson scowled at his words. This simply would not do. "Well then, Mohinder," he returned, an idea quickly forming in his head. "If you won't bow before a sultan, then you'll cower before a sorcerer." He turned, gazing over at the genie, who had already melted back into her original state. She was staring at the ground, sheepish and miserable as the watchmaker tried to talk her into helping him set things right. Poor boy was barking up the wrong tree. "Genie," Thompson snapped, grabbing the girl's attention, "I make my second wish: I wish to be the most powerful sorcerer in the world."
Candice instinctively flew away from him as Elle reluctantly lifted her finger -- much to Gabriel's dismay as the boy physically tried to stop her from completing his wish -- and shot him with a blast of blue sparks. The wave of blue sparks consumed him, changing not just the white clothing he wore into a sinister black and red outfit, but his very being itself. Thompson could feel himself growing stronger, powerful as the golden snake staff he had once wielded reappeared at his side.
He smirked, grabbing the staff -- it felt so much heavier now with all the extra power it contained in its metal structure -- and turning his eyes back to the two men who had done everything in their power to make his life miserable. "Now what was that you were saying about bowing, Prince?" he chuckled. He pointed his staff at Mohinder and Chandra and watched as a red beam wrapped itself around the two men, forcing them to literally bend to his will.
A deep, feral growl greeted his ears, and the man knew instantly that it was the prince's bothersome pet. Thompson rolled his eyes as he spun around, aiming his staff at the fast approaching Bengal tiger and turning him into a small, harmless cub. The creature came to a sudden halt and in its confusion, gave out a pathetic meow.
Thompson saw Gabriel's approach from the corner of his eye and had to marvel at the young man's persistence. He wasn't sure what the watchmaker was plotting, but he was easily taken care of. With a wave of his staff, the boy was surrounded by glowing red sparks and rendered completely immobile. A devious smile pulled at the corner of the man's lips as an idea took shape in his mind, the perfect way to humiliate the boy.
"Prince Mohinder," he began, turning his gaze to the young royal's kneeling form. He smirked, placing the tip of the golden serpent's head under Mohinder's chin and forcing him to meet his gaze. "There's someone I've been dying to introduce you to."
With a wave of his hands, both Mohinder and Gabriel were standing, hovering side by side in midair. The prince struggled, gazing at the boy he had fallen for with confused brown eyes as Thompson grabbed his shoulders and pressed the smaller body close by his side.
"You remember Prince Sylar, don't you?" he began as Gabriel started to struggle in fear, understanding slowly dawning on him. "The wonderful, charming young prince who won your heart? Well, I'm afraid the boy's lies were too good to last. Say hello to your precious, Prince Sylar."
The moment the words left his lips, Gabriel's princely clothes vanished, replaced by the tattered rags he had been wearing the day Thompson had left him for dead within the ruined Cave of Wonders. The boy looked positively destroyed as he gazed into Mohinder's eyes -- sheepish, pathetic, and utterly humiliated.
"Sylar?" Mohinder whispered pouring all of his innocent confusion into that one word.
It was the finishing touch, the final blow to the poor boy's already damaged being as he visibly flinched in response to the alias. "Mohinder," Gabriel began softly. "I'm... I tried to tell you-"
Thompson cut him off there, because this wasn't the time for apologizes. "So Sylar turns out to be merely Gabriel," he went on, pulling Mohinder away from the other boy. "I hate to tell you this, but it was all merely a con created by a poor, pathetic watchmaker."
The feel of the ground rumbling beneath his feet did not go unnoticed as Thompson spun around to see "Prince Sylar's" pet elephant charging at him. Thompson smirked, pointing his staff at the creature and reverting it to its original form. He wasn't at all surprised to see that the elephant was really the watchmaker's pet monkey. Cute. Needless to say, the monkey would have to go as well. He waved his hand, sending both the animal and the street urchin towards one of the castle's tallest pillars.
"I think the boy's flaws and underhanded behavior are more than adequate cause to send the man you've chosen to the ends of the earth, don't you?"
A small, strangled cry escaped from the prince's stunned lips as he watched as the tower where he had sent Gabriel into shook, detaching itself from the rest of the palace. A rug drifted over to the structure, but Thompson paid it no mind. It wouldn't matter. Within the blink of an eye, the pillar erupted from the ground and shot straight into the sky, sending Gabriel far away from Agrabah.
Now there was no one left who could stand in his way.
Chapter 7 - The Battle