Jaden, quite frankly, was sick of all these visiting princesses parading themselves in front of them. It was true, they were mostly, in an entirely conventional way, beautiful, as well as worth many times their weight in gold, but...
They were shallow and petty, and when it came down to it, entirely self-absorbed. He wanted more. Hell if he knew what that was, but he knew it wasn't this.
He wanted someone who could ease the ache of loneliness in his heart.
He leaned against the balcony railing, rolling his eyes as he heart the soft footsteps behind him. His mother, no doubt, there to chastise him. He'd scared off yet another suitor, a shallow, pig-headed girl who seemed to think it was his privilege to have to opportunity to woo her.
His mother, the woman who had taken the full burden of leading the kingdom without complaint since his father had died many years ago, simply leaned against the balcony, for a long moment silent.
He had always been told he looked more like his father, but barely remembering the man, it was his mother he saw his similarities in. They were both dreamers by nature, though his mother had worked hard to focus on the task before her. Though his other features were apparently more like his fathers, he had her pale, cornflower blue eyes and her slight build. His hair was darker and thicker than hers, his facial features sharper, but with the two of them side by side, their relation was clear enough.
"You're going to have to pick one of them soon enough," the woman finally said gently. "It is nearly your birthday."
"They're all so conceited!" he protested stubbornly. "I can hardly help turning them away."
He turned his attention away from his mother, from the simple elegance in the way she dressed that sharply contrasted the way these women, these uppity princesses, overdressed.
"Hmmm," she said after a long moment. "You do have a little time left. Try not to turn everybody away, hmmm?"
"Yes, mother," he said unenthusiastically, already beyond ready to end this conversation. He couldn't help but feel trapped here, unable to leave the palace grounds for worry of harm coming to her only heir, unable to freely choose the woman he would be bound to for the rest of his life...
...but then, he had been considering... yes, it was true that if he simply could not take it anymore, he could slip away in the night, if only for a while, and finally get some air.
Then again, if he liked it enough, he may never return.
Imagine, a life where he would be free to chose his fate. There was much he'd give for such a life.
"Hmmm," his mother said again, as though seeing straight through him. He smiled, not protesting when the woman kissed him on the cheek before living. They were all each other really had, as far as friendship and family went, and though he would feel guilty for leaving her, it was something he had to do. Freedom was worth giving everything up for.
Tonight.
- - - - - - -
Jaden knew that if he let one hint show of what he had planned, he would be stopped, so it was important to complete the day in his usual fashion.
Fortunately, that meant him spending the evening in the gardens, avoiding the company of others, wouldn't seem odd at all. He often spent his time in the gardens, and it was well known by those who worked in the castles that, each day, it was an unerring fact that Prince Jaden needed at least some time to himself. It was as though, after his studies and the time spent with those ridiculous suitors, he couldn't stand human company for a time.
And when nightfall came, he found the area completely abandoned. He slept for a time, outside, where it was peaceful- not very odd either, compared to past behavior, finally waking and moving to make his exit late in the night, only an hour or two before sunrise. He found it startlingly easy to catch a tree branch and make the jump to the palace wall, but then again, the emphasis was to keep unwanted people out. No one would have ever thought Prince Jaden would actually run away. Though stubborn, and, especially when it came to his recent suitors, sometimes rash, he was loyal, quiet, and not exactly self-dependent. The world outside the castle walls- a world he had never been exposed to- wasn't exactly a place where he would thrive.
He made his way away from the palace, through the waking city as the sun rose, with relative ease. The cloth, plain in make and hue, cloak covered his obviously elegant clothing, though it was one of the plainer outfits he owned, and its cloak hid his features from any guard who might recognize him. He quietly wandered the streets, soaking in the sights of the waking people, the opening market, around him. Everything was just so... different.
- - - - - - -
The slums of the Agrabah were the playgrounds for young street rats. The poor lived in cramped living conditions but most still maintained joy in their life, whether it be from their family owned shop or the many freedoms that the Queen had given them. The mud-brick buildings were the place to find a good vendor or even a good assassin.
For one young street rat, this was her home. The many buildings and shop stalls were her playground and buffet. This was where she had grown up and it was where she planned to stay for the rest of her life with Abi, her kleptomaniac spider monkey.
Her birth name was Alexandra, but she had shortened it to Alex at the age of ten. Her parents had abandoned her when she was five and she turned to the streets for comfort and nourishment. She had grown up, self-taught in the arts of fighting and thievery, but the stubborn young girl was never selfish. What she stole she divided the winnings among the orphaned and starving youth of the slums and her best friend, Abi.
On this particular morning, she was running from an angered storeowner. She had no idea a loaf of bread could get her neck nearly snapped. She dodged waking homeless and moving carts, easily outrunning the fat baker waddling after her. She slipped into an abandoned building and pressed her back to the wall, panting hard.
Her olive colored skin glistened with sweat and her plump cheeks were pink. She was panting heavily, trying to calm her pounding heart before it exploded out from behind her bosom. Her loose light blue blouse clung to her body due to the moisture dripping off of her and her black vest began to slide from her shoulders.
Abi came scattering up to her and hopped onto a broken pillar, giving out a small coo. “You’re lucky I love you, Abi…” She handed the monkey a quarter of the bread then slid down to sit, popping a piece of bread into her mouth.
The monkey climbed onto her shoulder and nudged her head against Alex’s before she began to nibble her bread. The human’s amber eyes looked at the animal for a moment before looking at the bread. She sighed. She didn’t want to do this for a living any longer. She wished that, for once, someone would take care of her. She had seen many young couples grow up in the slums and fall in love, but she had never gotten close to a boy.
Her bread was finished after a few minutes of leisurely eating and she slowly stood, leaving the abandoned building. She sighed quietly as she started her trek to the marketplace. She would have droned no, oblivious to everything, if her eyes didn’t catch an odd scene.
A man was in distress, being yelled at by one of the fat men that sold fruit. Alex stopped in her tracks, and then walked over to him. “Excuse me, I’m a so sorry for your troubles.” She stepped in front of the strange man, staring at the vender. “My brother has been sick,” She leaned in and whispered, “He’s a bit crazed”. She handed him a small coin then turned to the stranger, giving him a wink. “Come on, Brother/” She grabbed his arm and began to drag him away from the stall.
- - - - - - -
Jaden wandered the streets with a leisure not present in most around him, quietly and politely warding off any vendor than accouted him to buy their wares as he passed. The city was in many ways unlike he could have imagined. He'd known it must have been busy down here, but the hustle and bustle of morning activities was a bit confusing. And it was loud! Or, at least, it was loud in comparison to those quiet days in the palace garden. And all the things to see! It was like sensory overload.
And despite that, the prince didn't miss the skinny little chlid next to a nearby fruit stall, longingly eyeing the wares. Without hesitation, or regard for the consequences, the man knelt by the little girl with a careful smile. "Are you hungry?" he asked sweetly, the reached up, took a fruit, and handed it to her, rising with a self-satisfied smile as the little girl ran off.
It wasn't until too late that the prince realized his problem, that in his limited experience in the marketplace, his purse had easily been stolen, and now he had no means by which to pay for the fruit he'd taken.
Which meant he'd stolen it. And the punishment for stealing, as he was now being informed, was something he was not willing to pay. An yet, he had not the strength to pull away from the fat-man's grip, nor the sweet-taling ability to talk his way out of the situation.
Fortunately, someone interferred before the man drew his saber and completed the punishment. Jaden couldn't imagine why someone interferred, but for whatever reason she'd done it, he was supremely grateful. The vendor released his arm, surprised, when the girl stepped between them, slipped a coin into the fat-man's hand before half-dragging him away.
After the initial shock, he managed to get his feet fully under him, to run just behind her, still being half dragged by her superior speed. This girl was so fast! Why didn't she slow down a little?
"H-hey!" Once they were safely away, he stopped rather suddenly, hoping the girl would do the same, or at least slow down enough for him to catch his breath. He wasn't used to running around like this. "Thank you. . . for that."
- - - - - - -
She turned abruptly; spinning on her heel to face him. "Are you stu-" Her eyes went wide. He was gorgeous. "If you're going to steal, you need to be smart about it..." She stepped forward but she did not release his wrist. She cocked her head and looked him over. "You aren't from here...You're too clean..." She bit her bottom lip lightly as she leaned forward. "Where have I seen you before..."
Abi scurried up her leg, circled her waist, and perched on her shoulder. She squeaked as she reached out and poked Jaden's soft cheek. She blinked and reached out with her other hand and squeezed his nose. Alex batted her friend's hands away and sighed. "Sorry, she's a curious little monkey."
She rubbed the back of her neck and smiled. "You shouldn't wander around here if you don't know the ways of the people." She pulled out a silk coin purse and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry...I figured, if you had this much, you would have more somewhere else." She placed it in his hand and curled his fingers around it. "I didn't mean for you to get in trouble."
She bit her lip again and looked around. They were on a side street. "I can lead you to a safer part of the market. Just...Keep an eye on your purse..." She took a deep breath and shifted on her feet.
She was embarrassed. She had never run into a person she had stolen from and now the guilt began to set in. She stole from this beautiful man...
"Who are you exactly, anyway?" She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. "You didn't grow up here...Where are you from?"
- - - - - - - -
"I didn't know I was stealing when I did it! I - " he started to protest, immediately falling silent as monkey poked his cheek, then startling as it suddenly squeezed his nose. What the - ?
He frowned as she pulled out his purse. Ah. So that was why she'd helped. Guilt. Well, at least she had enough shame to feel guilt. That was something. And was it really her fault if she had to steal to survive?
"I would appreciate that, thank you," he answered as he pulled his hood back up to better hide his features, completely unaware that even his language, his tone, disguised him from those around him.
To steal to survive. . . honestly, it blew his mind. It was one thing to know, logically, that there was an opposite end to the spectrum, but quite simply another to meet some pretty (abeit dirty) young scoundrel on the streets. It made it more real. . .
Finally, he flushed slightly at the question, silently grasping for an explaination.
"Do I really stand out so much?" he finally managed, tucking the purse away in what he hoped was a safer location. He added a small, awkward shrug, "like you said, I'm. . . not from around here."
It wasn't like he had a specific story.
- - - - - - -
She tilted her head and leaned forward. Personal space didn’t exist in the streets. Her lips hovered inches from his as she examined his face. Her warm breath curled against his skin. “So familiar…” Her brown eyes glistened with curiosity. “Do…Do you work at the palace?” She leaned back slowly and smirked.
“I’ve seen you around there, I swear it…” The young girl was talking more to herself then to him. She was lost in thought as the large female guard came wobbling up, her hand on the hilt of her sword. “Get out of here, Rats!” She shoved Alex and she turned quickly, shaking her head. “We weren’t doing anything wrong!”
“You’re loitering!” She growled, gripping her fists. Her sharp eyes turned on Jaden and she froze. A look of horror replaced the confident expression she had once held. “Y-Your Majesty…” She stumbled over her words as she quickly vowed. “Why are you talking to the filth? You…You should be at the palace!”
It felt like a cart hit her. Alex stood still, her eyes wide with shock as she looked at the prince. She took a step back. “I…” She looked towards the worried guard, then back at him. “You…” She felt idiotic! Royalty had tricked her! She actually felt something for this liar! “Sorry.” She quickly turned on her bare heel and sprinted off. Aby clung to her owners shirt tightly.
- - - - - - -
Did he work at the palace? Heh. On one hand, it was unsurprising that he was recognized, given who he was, but on the other. . . he'd never actually left the palace grounds. One would have to be damned fixated on the palace and those who lived within to have seen him and remembered it.
But then, he supposed, to those that lived on the streets the palace looked like a kind of paradise. And here he was, trying to escape it.
"Well, no, not exactly. . ." he started, only to be interupted by the guard. Damn it. Of all the things. . . of all the times. . .
He really couldn't excape who he was, could he?
The prince for a moment froze at the expression on the girl's face - horror? anger? betrayal?
"No, it's not like. . ."
But she was gone. Jaden automatically took a few steps after her, then whirled back around to face the guard, his voice taking an authoritative tone that so rarely came naturally to him.
"It is not up to you to decide," he snapped, "when and where I should be."
With that, he ran after the girl at full speed. No doubt the guard would follow him, and he doubted further he'd be able to catch up to the girl and her pet monkey, but. . .
He felt like he had to try. It couldn't end this easily.
- - - - - - -
”Your Majesty, her highness is looking for y-” The plump guard blinked as the prince ran off after the young street rat. How was she going to explain this to the queen?! The prince wasn’t allowed to mingle with the commoners. It was dangerous.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid…” She paced back and forth in her makeshift shelter; an abandoned tower. “How…Could I have been so blind?! If they catch me…” She gulped and rubbed her neck softly. “We…We will have to stay low for a while, Abi…”
The small monkey chirped in agreement before scurrying up a splintered rafter.
“I…I can’t believe I was so blunt with him…I…” She bit her lip and looked at her feet. “I will surely be executed…Why did he put up with that?”
- - - - - - -
Finally, Jaden stopped, breathing heavily and resting his hands against his knees. He'd barely been able to keep up with the girl before; what had made him think he could catch up with her now, when she wanted to escape him?
He didn't realize she wasn't far away at all, that if he only looked up, just right, he'd see her. He only knew that he'd wanted to catch up to the girl, who had saved him and for a brief moment shown him what fun could be found in the outside world. He wanted to apologize for hiding who he was and explain to her why he'd come out into the market in secret. He wanted to be friends.
But what was he thinking, after all? He was the prince, and that meant he couldn't mingle with street rats, that he was meant to remain trapped in the palace, unable to really know anything else. Even if the palace was beautiful and his every physical want was cared for, even if he had a duty that he knew was important in front of him, a cage was a cage, no matter the form.
Slowly, the prince straightened, an expression mingled with disappointment and loneliness on his face for a moment as he took one last glance at the area in front of him, never thinking to look up, before turning away, heading back the direction he'd come - back towards the guard, the palace. . . after all, his mother was looking for him, right? He'd been a fool to think he could ever escape that. Maybe he should just give up, pick some snobbish princess to marry, and live out the rest of his lonely life in relative peace. Maybe that was all he was meant for.
And in any case, his mother was looking for him. The only way he could move forward now was to go find out why.
- - - - - - -
After finding and returning the prince to the palace, the plump guard, Razoula began searching for the street rat. Jafira had finally given her a reason to arrest and imprison the thief after years of harassment. The palace guard gathered her best women and searched the streets. Finally, they discovered Alex and apprehended her.
Alexandra was still confused and fretful. Abi had tried to warn the dreaming girl, but to no avail. She was forced against a wall, wrists tied behind her back, then forced to walk all the way to the palace dungeons. On her way in, she spotted the prince in the garden. A feeling of betrayal shot through her and her eyes saddened.
She stumbled down the winding stairs of the dungeon and was forced to her knees in front of a tall, slender brunette. "Struggling will only annoy us more, Dear..." A soft, seductive voice murmured. Alex lifted her head to meet the cold gaze of the kingdom Grand Vizier. "You have one way to redeem yourself..." Alex's eyes lit up.
"How?"
"Go on a trip for me and retrieve a lamp." Jafira smirked.
"Where to...?"
"The Cave of Wonders..."
"But, I-"
"Do you ever want to see the light again, Street Rat?"
