Author's Note: This is an Aladdin story I've been working on for the past few months and it's finally in some coherent form.

Premise: While in flight from a diplomatic mission between desert nations, Aladdin, Jasmine and the others come across an isolated seaside town terrorized by a sea monster. One of the villagers swears vengeance against the beast for his brother's death, but in trying to protect the man, Aladdin and Genie are caught in a fight for their lives, which reveal more history about the town and the beast than they ever bargained for.

As usual this story is my own creation and the original characters are my property as well, but everything from the Aladdin franchise is the property of their original creators. I'm only writing this as an exercise in creativity and for fun on a franchise I love. Hope you enjoy.

Terror in Waves

Chapter 1: The Mysterious Town by the Sea

Abu yawned and stretched out his limbs as he looked to the fading sunrise upon the horizon. Carpet held him, Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, and Iago as they sped back to Agrabah from a diplomatic trip in another kingdom. Jasmine, Aladdin, and Genie had been named as allies for a newly established kingdom that had suffered many moons of social unrest - namely at the hands of a ruler who wasn't as just for finances as the Sultan was in Agrabah. Jasmine mentioned it would take many more for the kingdom to work out difficulties - as any newly formed kingdom would - but they were well on their way.

"Monkey, stop yawning. You know how contagious you are, especially with yawning," Iago said, just before stretching his own wings and trying to stifle a yawn. "Besides, it's not like you did anything besides eat fruit this whole trip."

Abu waved a dismissive paw. "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Aladdin and Jasmine both laughed at that. Aladdin looked over his shoulder to a sleeping Genie, who softly snored while curled up on the other end of Carpet. "Maybe you guys should take a cue from Genie, he's been sleeping the whole time since we left."

"But he's a semi-phenomenal being! He shouldn't need sleep, not any more than Carpet," Iago protested.

Aladdin folded his arms across his chest. "Let me ask you this, Iago - what did you do this entire trip?"

Iago shrugged. "Eh, I did more than the monkey at least. I actually had to entertain the royal pet - who kept wanting to eat me, and that's exhausting enough for more than a few hours of napping." At that note, Iago couldn't help but yawn. "Isn't there a place we can crash somewhere near here? Possibly an oasis or a casino city?"

Aladdin rolled his eyes. "We're not anywhere near Getzistan, Iago, so no gambling for you. But I guess you're right on one thing. We're still a ways out from Agrabah. We should find a place to settle in for the night." Aladdin covered his own mouth to stifle a yawn. Considering he'd been doing so many meet and greets with the diplomats from the rising kingdom, he'd barely had any time to get sleep. His muscles ached.

"Speak of the moon...Aladdin, look." Jasmine pointed to the west, a town by the side of a large body of water. "I don't remember an ocean being near here. Are we going the right way?"

"Only one way to find out," Aladdin said, as he pulled a map from his tunic. He traced the route he'd known Carpet to go just before the sun began to set. Sure enough, he found a seaside town at the edge of one of the oceans they flew past. "Here's where we are, and the town shows up here. It's called Gloloria. But it's strange. This town's so remote from any nearby kingdom, and there are supposed to be other towns here, but...they're gone."

Genie snorted awake at that moment, after a snore that got caught in his throat, giving him a coughing fit. "Are we at Agrabah yet?" He asked, scratching the small tuft of hair at the top of his head.

"Not yet, Genie," Jasmine said. "But even if that's the only town around this area, I'm sure they'll still take guests, right? Gloloria seems like a traveler's town, and I can see the roofs of inns and smoke coming from the chimneys. We should ask if they have any vacancies."

Aladdin nodded. "Okay, it's a plan. I think we could all use a good place to rest for the night."

Abu scrambled up Aladdin's shoulder after Carpet landed on solid ground. The sun had dipped further below the horizon, yielding to a dark sea of stars overlooking the waves that lapped at the town's shoreline. Abu "ooh"ed and "ahh"ed at the sight of the beach.

"It's so beautiful," Jasmine said, her eyes moving along the shoreline before coming upon the outskirts of the town. "The town is adorable too. I love the rustic look."

Genie used his magic to make a beach chair, umbrella, and a beach blanket appear out of thin air a fruity drink appear in his right hand. "Ahhh, this is the life. Party of one on a quiet beach, sharing drinks with my best buds. Here ya go, Al - first one's on me." He offered a drink with a blue hue and tiny pink umbrella to Aladdin.

Aladdin held up his hands, offering his blue friend a goofy grin. "Nah thanks, Genie. I'm good." His smile faded as he looked around the town. "But it is strange. I wonder why there aren't more people on the beach. The weather's nice, breezy but not too cold."

Jasmine considered Aladdin's words, even as Iago flew to perch on her left shoulder. "Yes, it does seem odd. I don't know. Maybe they have an early village curfew."

Iago made a disapproving face. "Bleh, not my kind of town. I'd like a city that never sleeps, thanks."

"Are you guys travelers?" A voice startled all of the group, just before a small girl ran up to them, her hands clasped behind her back. Jasmine leaned down, grinning at the girl who looked up with eager hazel eyes.

"Why yes, we were wondering if there was a place to stay in your village for the evening," Jasmine said.

Before the girl could respond, an angry parent (possibly her father from what Aladdin could tell) shouted for her to come back inside. "Miza, I told you before that you aren't allowed to talk to strangers or to be outside of the house after evening. Get back here now!"

Miza's expression fell, but she didn't hesitate to give a small wave before she ran back to her home. Jasmine started to say something to the man in the doorway, but he slammed the door shut just as soon as he'd opened it.

Aladdin's brows narrowed. "That was rude. She was just trying to talk to us. At least she was friendly."

Jasmine sighed. "He was probably worried. Some parents are protective, and they have every right to be." She bumped her hip against Aladdin's. "I bet you would be protective if we had any children like that."

Aladdin's face quickly turned crimson in the fading sunlight and he found himself struggling for words. "I...well...I guess..."

Jasmine waved the comment away, her lips forming into a half smile. "Something to consider for the future. For now, let's see if we can find another person to talk to about accommodations."

But at every door the group tried to knock at, either they were met with silence or a person that would open the door only to close it just as quickly. Some were polite refusals, saying they were offering no vacancies. Others were blunt utterances of "Go away" or "We don't want you here."

But one utterance that baffled Aladdin was from a young woman with long brown hair and green eyes, saying they should get out of town while they still could. Aladdin intended to ask her what she meant, but she quickly said she'd said too much before shutting the door.

Genie exhaled slowly, even his usual jovialness deflated. "I'm sensing deja-vu for all the places we've been in this town so far. They really don't want us here. What do they think, we're serial killers? I mean, I wear a clown mask from time to time, but I promise I'm harmless." He transformed into a clown with big floppy shoes, a jovial mask and balloons in one hand, which Iago quickly popped with his claws. The move made Genie give the bird a side eye.

Aladdin shook his head. "Nah, Genie. I think it's something else. They're definitely scared of something, though."

"Of what though? Like Genie said, it's not like any one of us would harm anyone. And this town is definitely built to accommodate travelers," Jasmine said.

"Yeah, but think about it, Jasmine," Aladdin continued. "The map I have says there should be two to three other towns around this area - but this is the only town for miles before hitting the desert again. I wonder if something happened here."

"Something to make them suspicious about taking on new travelers for boarding?" Genie asked.

Aladdin nodded. "Yeah. Question is what and when."

"And why?" Jasmine asked. "You're right, Aladdin. Maybe we should just move along and go back to Agrabah, even if it'll be late when we return. Father might be sleeping by the time we get home."

Aladdin started to agree, before seeing that Abu had curled around his neck and was completely sound asleep. He sighed, a small smile ticking up the corner of his lip as he stroked the fur on Abu's back. "Maybe we should try again, just one more time. Someone's bound to take us in."

"I could accommodate you strangers for the night," a voice came a fair distance from where they stood. Aladdin saw a small elderly woman with curly grey hair and a warm expression as she beckoned them to come into her moderately sized home. "It may be a little tight, but I can certainly make the beds up for you."

"That's very kind, thank you!" Jasmine said. Aladdin followed beside her as she walked to the open door, with Iago and Carpet flying behind and Genie being the last one in.

"Oooh, you're both a prince and princess, are you? You two are just darling together! And you have a cute monkey, a flying carpet, and a parrot with brilliant feathers," the elderly woman said. "And your friend here is a Genie, you say? He's so adorable." The woman reached up to Genie's face, pinching his cheeks and stretching his face like a rubberband. Aladdin couldn't help but laugh at her keen admiration.

"Yes, ma'am," Aladdin said. "We're just passing through before heading back to Agrabah."

The woman turned back to Aladdin and Jasmine as Genie tried to shape his overstretched face back to normal. "I apologize for the way you've been treated. You see, we used to be a much busier town before everyone moved away. I suppose we're not used to getting visitors here anymore. You reach Gloloria and there's nothing but desert after for long stretches. I suppose it's good for not having competition, but..." She sighed softly. "It certainly gets lonely around these parts now."

Jasmine gave Aladdin an equally concerned look, before turning to the woman. "Is there a reason why everyone moved away?"

The elderly woman sighed again. "I suppose since no one else has bothered to tell you, the task is left to me. I will be honest with you. My name is Tani - I've lived in this town my entire life. And if you knew what I knew, you would not want to stay here, not even for a night. I'm far too old to pack up my things and move away to travel by desert - so I must stay here, even if this is the place where I might eventually die."

Aladdin looked alarmed. "Die? Please don't say that, ma'am."

"Oh no, no, dear. It's not what you're thinking I don't say that because I'm in ill health. I'm a feisty gal. I don't get sick in the first, not even for the smallest cold." Tani clicked her tongue. She took a seat in a nearby chair, lighting a few lamps with candles to further illuminate the room as night darkened the sky outside. "No, what I might die from is the same peril that anyone in this village could die from. Tall or little, old or young, native or traveler. Even one or all of the lot of you."

Jasmine's eyes widened. "Us? What would kill us?"

Tani closed her eyes momentarily, bracing herself as she reopened them with a somber expression. "The same thing that prevents us from going outside as normal villagers would do in such nice weather. Let me tell you about the demon that lurks our beach."