Zayn frowned as he unfurled the map. It was the very map he had given the boy all those years ago. He glanced down at his lands, at how vast they had been only ten years earlier.
“Thank you for this,” Zayn said. “Though I’m afraid I have no use for it now.”
“It’s no longer an ordinary map,” the man said. But before Zayn could ask him what he meant, the map began to glow, then shimmer, and then—
“The army.” Zayn stared at the map. “I see them. Am I hallucinating?”
But he was not seeing things at all, for there on the scroll he could see the detachment of ten men on horseback making their way to the palace.
“I am of the magical realm,” the man explained to the astonished sultan. “I had to flee my homeland because the people there did not handle our magic well, even if we only ever used it for good. They wanted to capture us and put us in a life of bondage as they do to genies. We’ve made a fine home for ourselves now, those of us who fled in time, and this map, woven now with my magic, is my gift to you. It will keep you abreast of the army’s locations—any army present or future—and will light up hideaways for shelter and other ways to stay safe and secure during times of war. You may have lost many friends, Your Majesty, but you have my eternal loyalty—I am beholden to you not for the power or wealth you had but for your kindness. Please use this map—it will save your empire.”
The soldiers gathered around the sultan and stared at the map, and then—they jumped up. They sheathed their swords against their waists and strapped their armor to their bodies. Their once-resigned expressions were now animated and full of life. The sultan looked down at the map; he did not know what was to come, but he knew now there was hope. And so, Zayn took his new magical map and strode out of the palace gates with his men to save their kingdom.
IT TURNED OUT Ali had been right about the kingdom of Ababwa; it appeared to be quite the distance from the island. The carpet had slowed down a touch when they’d flown past the pyramids of Egypt and the Red Sea, but now they’d traveled so far that the darkness of night had lifted—here the sun was already halfway up in the sky.
“Are you sure this is okay?” she asked Ali. “I know visiting Ababwa was my idea, but hopefully we won’t be too late getting back to Agrabah? If anyone noticed I was missing…”
“It hasn’t been long at all,” Ali reassured her. “The carpet flies fast. And time works differently when you’ve got a magic carpet by your side. Trust me, Princess.” He smiled. “There’s nothing to worry about. We can stay as long as you’d like.”
Trust me. Jasmine studied him curiously. Those words again. It was simply a coincidence, she knew. Nothing more. And yet…
“You managing okay?” She looked down and petted the carpet. “Not too exhausted with flying around the world, are you?”
The carpet shook its tassels politely.
“The carpet has it covered,” Ali said. “But we will make sure it gets plenty of rest once we reach the palace.”
After seeming so hesitant to visit Ababwa when she’d first brought up the idea, he looked positively giddy about going home now.
A flash of gold glinted against the sun. Jasmine shielded her face with her hand and squinted. At first, she couldn’t be sure what it was she was looking at, but as they flew closer she made out a golden minaret, then another—four of them in all. They were long and narrow with spiraling swirls etched along their spines, and so tall they jutted through the clouds.
“Is that your palace?” she asked, astonished. But what else could it be?
Pink birds with golden beaks and delicate silver patterns on their necks appeared nearby. The birds circled the carpet and somersaulted in the air before diving back to earth. She’d never seen anything like them before. Not even in books! But before she could ask Ali what sort of birds they were, the clouds parted and the kingdom of Ababwa came fully into view. One edge of the kingdom was bordered by a long stretch of craggy cliffs and coastline that looked undeveloped; it contained piles of rubble and towering boulders and was murky gray in color. Further inland, however, the kingdom proper looked to be set upon rolling green hills flanked by tall mountain peaks. Small lakes dotted the region. Peering down, she saw the palace at the center. Pathways wound up and sloped down past shops and cafés. A town square with an impressive fountain was not far from a pier lined with boats.
“That is some port.” Jasmine gazed at the teal blue water and the myriad of ships rolling over its surface. Agrabah had a fairly large dock for boats as well, but this one seemed to stretch out farther than she thought piers could possibly go. “And I’m not sure I’ve seen minarets quite that high up before,” she told Ali as the carpet brought them slowly down. Now that they were lower, she saw rubies and emeralds encrusting the edges of the palace roof and windows. That was…interesting. “Your family spared no expense when they built this, huh?” she remarked.
But Ali didn’t answer. And that’s when she realized he hadn’t responded to anything she’d said up to this point. Turning to look at him, she was surprised to see his lips slightly parted as he gazed at the sights below.
“Sorry.” He flushed when he saw her looking at him. “Got distracted. But yeah, it is amazing, isn’t it? I mean—” His flush deepened. “I should be more modest about it, I know, but…”
“It’s been a while since you’ve been back?”
“You have no idea. I don’t know how to describe it. It almost feels brand-new to me.”
“That’s kind of nice, isn’t it? Helps you not take where you come from for granted.”
“Couldn’t have put it better myself, Princess.”
As the carpet continued its descent, the cobblestoned roads came into clearer focus. The streets indeed climbed up and down the slopes and stretched out in all different directions from the leveled town center. Blue and red lanterns hung from metal poles that lined the roads at intervals. Beautiful awnings graced each storefront with the name of the shop and a corresponding illustration. An animal doctor, an apothecary, and other shops dotted the square.
No sooner did the carpet touch down just across the square than the seemingly idyllic town erupted with noise. People rushed out of their homes and stores, and soon a good-sized crowd surrounded them. Jasmine would have felt a bit intimidated by this were everyone not gazing at them with complete and utter adoration.
“Welcome back!” shouted a tall man. “It’s been too long since you’ve been home, my prince.”
A girl with curly hair approached Jasmine. She held a thick bouquet of pink and yellow flowers tied together with twine and handed them to Jasmine.
“Thank you.” Jasmine took the bouquet from the child.
“These poppies grow all over the countryside. You can see them up and down the hills behind the town square,” the girl said.
“They smell beautiful.”
The girl clasped her hands in delight and hurried back to join the crowd.
“We’re delighted to have you home,” a woman called out. Some of the townspeople held out their hands toward the prince. Ali shook their hands and patted the young children on the head.
Jasmine wasn’t sure if it was normal for people to be this ecstatic to see their prince return. She was fairly certain the people in Agrabah let out sighs of relief when her father traveled out of town with his constant companion, Jafar.
The thundering sound of hooves against gravel echoed in the distance. Jasmine looked up as they grew louder. Six majestic gray horses pulling a cream carriage embroidered with roses advanced. The crowd parted to make way for it to come through.
“That’s for us?” Jasmine asked.
“I think so. I mean, yes,” Ali said quickly.
The coachman wore a navy blue outfit with a matching hat and expertly reined in the horses. They stopped just at Ali’s feet. Hopping down, the coachman hurried over to open the carriage door for Jasmine and Ali.
