Street Snake chapter 2 (Patreon)

Aladdin parody: Bad Day/Tier 1

Chapter 1 

Chapter 2 A Snake’s Gifts

There were many rumors about Lord Mamba, some believed him to be a god banished from the heavens. His abilities in the mystical arts seemed far beyond any mage or sorcerer, power was one thing, but the man had knowledge and understanding of things. Others believed he was some kind of demon. His desire to make deals and pacts is what led to such thoughts.

Some saw him as a saint, others saw him as a nasty. Mamba didn’t care for what people believed, people came to him time and again, seeking a gift of sorts. Poor souls with no one else to turn to. He helped, making a deal, often times on his whims he gave gifts, but said gifts always had strings attached.

With his deals many thought he was nasty as people suffered from them. It wasn’t Mamba’s fault that people didn’t understand the ways of the world/universe. More often then not, people got what they wanted but lost what they had. Chasing a want, while being blind to what they need.

There were others who thought they were clever, clever enough to best Mamba, to cheat him somehow or trick him. Despite the deals and pacts being pretty clear most of the time, the maker of the deal would go against it, blatantly so. Their punishment was very fitting, just, fair, and clever, possibly just fairly clever.

It led to all manner of rumors and whispers about him. Even living on the streets Aladdin had heard things, enough things to peek his curiosity. The whole city was abuzz about Mamba’s visit so he decided to take a peek. Maybe laying eyes on him did leave you cursed, as after seeing him he ended up getting his home invaded and caught.

He always dreamed of one day finding his fortune, living in a palace, and having people see him for who he really was. After being caught and thrown in dungeon, his only friend taken from him Aladdin felt his world crumble. Even if he did escape he couldn’t go home, he had nowhere to go.

A street rat caught in a trap had only two futures, be sold ending up as a laborer, a servant, or a pet, or rot in the cage. Aladdin didn’t have time to think about which future he’d accept before he was bought by Lord Mamba. Everything had happened so quickly, and Aladdin felt he was sinking in quick sand with no way of escape.

“Here.” Lord Mamba handed him a bag. “This is yours.”

Aladdin blinked in confusion but opened the bag. “Abu!” The monkey sprang out and hugged him. “Oh Abu!” The embrace was returned. “How did...you…”

There was something else in his bag his father’s dagger. Aladdin’s eyes widened. He had hidden it in a place no one but him could find it. “I know many things, I’ve known of you since before you were born. Come…” He led and Aladdin followed.

“Long ago a man and his wife came to me, they wished to have a child but were having problems. They offered me money, they offered me favors, they offered everything they had and more. There was something I wanted, that dagger!” He pointed at it. “The man hesitated, as it was a gift passed on to father and son and had been for many ages. A life time of tradition so I found it all the valuable. The man looked to his wife and for a moment knew their love was more important than a dagger so they had given it to me for the means of having a child.”

Aladdin was smart enough to put the pieces together. His parents had made a deal with Lord Mamba. “Then something happened while my magic had gifted them a child, even I was not expecting the fair maiden to have twins.” Aladdin’s eyes widened.

“I have a brother…” Mamba nodded.

“Life can be cruel, fate unkind, events played out that caused him to be lost.” Bandits had raided their small village and took whatever was valuable. Aladdin’s mother had managed to hide him, but before she could hide his brother, she was forced to run. They chased her down and took the baby.

Cassim became changed by the loss of his son, had he had money he’d have been able to do something, if he had power he’d have been able to do something, if he had an army he’d have been able to do something. “Dark thoughts slipped into your father’s mind and he lost sight of what he still had.”

He had sought Lord Mamba out once more, to get his son back, for vengeance, anything! “I saw a desperate man, and I saw what he would do.” Aladdin didn’t quite understand. “Some of the worst things imaginable have been done with the best intentions in mind, when people are desperate they do not think clearly, they begin to craft wishes in their hearts that will have consequences.”

Mamba told Aladdin the story of Midas, a king desperate to save his impoverish kingdom. Nothing he tried seemed to turn the tides and in desperation he turned to dark magic with a wish. Without knowing what he had done he had ended up with a curse to turn what he touched to gold. Things were going well at first, the vaults of his kindgom now overflowed with gold and jewels. He first learned of the terrible price he had paid when he tried to eat and food turned to gold. The true horror came when his wife tried to console him and she was turned to gold as well.

“Midas came to me begging for help, believing my power could undo what had been done. I granted his wish, taking his hand and the power with it.”

“Couldn’t you have saved his wife?”

“He asked for that, and I was willing but I told him I’d take away all the cursed gold he crafted with his power. Midas’s greed was too great and he believed he did the right thing in sacrificing one for the sake of his people, but choices have consequences. His children never forgave him, and by becoming the wealthiest kingdom in the land, he had made enemies.” Midas ended up losing it all, and people sought the power he once had and so began a terrible cycle.

“My father he…”

“Magic is very powerful, people wonder why wishes back fire or go wrong. Even the most simplest of wishes can have consequences and most people aren’t prepared for that.” He turned to look at Aladdin. “I’m sure you’ve heard I’m a nasty demon, a monster who preys on the miserable, the lonely, and the depressed, the desperate.” Even magic has a price, good magic, dark magic, the scale of the power varied. Dark wizards paid with their bodies, their souls, and the like.

Mamba understood the ways of the cosmos, had he simply healed the Sultan’s wife the balance of life and death would have taken the cost from either the Sultan or Prince Jaz. The extension of her life meant nothing to the grand scheme of things but to a husband and son it meant the world. His powers seemed to be on another level only because of the wisdom and understanding he had. His efforts to gain power had come at a cost but one he has paid. “I’ve heard that, but I don’t believe you are.”

The man smirked. “Your father would have destroyed himself seeking revenge and trying to find your brother. So I gave him a gift. I returned that dagger to him and told him to take his family to Agrabah and live, do so and you and your brother would thrive.”

Cassim had obeyed, but as the years passed the darkness in him ate at his soul. He wouldn’t let go of what happened to him believing it made him stronger. Soon he lost sight of what he had, and left to find his fortune. Again he believed he was doing the right thing, doing it for his family. People tend to do too much or too little, never understanding the need for balance.

“Mom always said he’d come back for us one day, but…”

Cassim did indeed return only to find his poor wife had passed away, his son lost, believed dead as well. This sent him down a darker path losing his way. All he had left was his greed.

All Aladdin had left of him was the dagger. His mother had left it to him. Trinkets like this hold power, and even when things were at their worst for Aladdin he kept the dagger, like a form of good luck charm. “You have lived a hard life, but you’ve always kept your spirit strong and a heart stronger still.”

“Why...why are you telling me this, any of this?”

Lord Mamba chuckled. “I find telling stories helps pass the time.” Aladdin blinked and found they were in front of Lord Mamba’s castle. “We are here!” They had crossed kingdoms and vast sands in just a few short tales.

“There’s gotta be more, I’m nothing but a…”

“A street rat?” Mamba said, cutting him off. “Is that what you are, or just what people say you are?”

“Just as people call you a monster...but you aren’t one...are you?” Aladdin looked at the powerful being understanding setting in. While Mamba’s gaze had felt like a predator’s gaze, it also was seeing him for what and who he was.

“I need an apprentice Aladdin, someone to pass on my knowledge, and take it to the next level. I have reached as far as I can go, but you are full of potential with a bright future ahead of you.”

The world was full of choices, Aladdin could simply serve Lord Mamba, learning from him enough to venture forth and survive in the world. He could also become his apprentice, be taught to understand the world and strike his own place in it. He had always taken what he needed to survive, but he always worked hard in pursuit of his goals. Mamba could see Aladdin would be a great man one way or another. He could also choose to be free and Mamba would magic him to Agrabah or wherever he pleased.

He looked to Abu, and the monkey was just eager for a decent room and food to enjoy. “But why me? There must be all manner of those who’d be a better fit?”

“Perhaps, but know this Aladdin for every action there are reactions, but also inaction will effect the world as well. The king did call for me to heal his wife, but I could have declined his offer. She would have died and you would not have seen me. You’d likely have continued living on the streets, awaiting for fate’s plan to take hold. One destiny is as good as another.” There were many things he could tell Aladdin to alter his choice, but that would just put him in karma debt.

Mamba was many things, but he didn’t do things without reason. The gods may found delight in messing with mortal lives but every deal, every spell, every gift, every pact he made held purpose. When he made a deal with someone he invested in them.

Knowing the cosmos didn’t mean he knew everything, the twin sons was a surprise to him as well. Aladdin could at any point have sold his father’s dagger to feed his hungry belly. He had invested in many futures, with not all the best returns, but he didn’t get to where he was easily.

Mamaba didn’t hover over each one, knowing that would effect the outcomes. Aladdin thought he was lesser but in the end he was one of Mamba’s gifts, a gift to the world, even if the world didn’t appreciate him yet.

If Aladdin was sent back to Agrabah, he’d likely get caught up in Jafar’s scheme, be the diamond in the rough, enter the cave of wonders, find the lamp and meet the Genie. Even if he went somewhere else, Jafar would find him and use him.

Should he serve as Mamba’s servant he would gain an education, learn to fight, he’d be able to venture out into the world, become a knight, a warrior, even a hero. He’d probably save the world a dozen times over.

As his apprentice? Aladdin didn’t know that Agrabah had a blank check to be cashed for Mamba’s apprentice when they arrived. That gaining magic on his own merit, would change many fates not just his own.

To be continued