Disclaimer: I do not own Aladdin. I also do not own the Arabian Nights.

It was dusk in Agrabah. In the royal palace, a princess sits in her room reading a book, Alf Layla wa layla. Her room is cavernous in size; she sits clothed in fine silks embroidered in gold. Intricate carved screens let in the dying sunlight, covering the floor with geometric patterns. Ornate archways towered above her; she seems mesmerized by the tale in the book, seeming not to notice the finery of her surroundings.

Jasmine, princess of Agrabah, finished reading the book and lay back on her bed. "I have read so many wonderful things, I wish that I could one day see the world, instead of being constantly trapped in a palace." Jasmine was full of thoughts when she came down for dinner with her father, the sultan. There was a quite a commotion by the time the princess reached her father's side. Just as the sultan was about to give his court the signal to retire, suddenly a group of wise men and sages appeared before his throne, bearing with them wondrous devices. It was well known that the sultan welcomed learned scholars to the palace and that he loved their new inventions, as fascinated as a child was by toys.

While her father was easily entertained, Jasmine saw that most of them were nothing more than tricksters. Some of their tricks were merely optical illusions that princess Jasmine herself had read about, accomplished by sleight of hand. Finally, the turn came for one final member of the group to present. He was quite young, wearing a red fez on his head, a purple vest, and white billowing pants.

"Your majesty, although I am the last to make my appearance before your highness, I can confidently assure you that none of the wonders you have seen today can be compared to this carpet." He proceeded to roll out a carpet made of emerald colored silk edged with golden tassels. Jasmine's eyes widened. Though the carpet looked the worse for wear, its fine details were still clearly visible; it looked as if it belonged to royalty. The rough handling of the carpet only confirmed the suspicion that the carpet did not belong to that man; it seemed vulgar somehow.

"Your majesty let me tell you the tale of this carpet. It was said that long ago, the Sultan of theIndieshad three sonsHussain,AliandAhmed. All three want to marry their cousin Princess Nouronnihar, so the Sultan said he would give her to the prince who brings back the most extraordinary rare object."

"Prince Hussain, the eldest son ofSultan of the Indies, traveled to the far away Kharidian Desert in search of a magic carpet that could fly. It was said that flying carpets made of camel hair used to be a popular and common method of transportation around the Kharidian Desert, but lost favor after the Emir of Al Kharid, the desert town, fell to his death after mistaking an ordinary carpet for his magic one. Subsequently, all magic carpets were decreed by the new emir to be destroyed. However, it was rumored that a single carpet was smuggled to safety before it could be destroyed. Certain enterprising businessmen have made a fortune in selling cheap goat hair carpets, claiming it to be the real thing…" The sultan's court was spellbound by the tale. Nary a sound was made; all of them were holding their collective breaths in suspense. The princess was the first to break the silence. "How can you be sure that what you're having now is the real thing?"

"Ah, princess, that I know for myself that this carpet can fly. In getting it, I have faced many treacherous obstacles and in return, it helped me escape many dastardly dangers, let me tell you of the time I nearly…'' crowed the young man. Growing impatient, princess Jasmine snapped. " I see nothing in it except a clever tale and an old carpet; any skilled storyteller might do as much."

"Your highness, it is not of its outward form that I would speak, but of the use I can make of it. I assure your Highness, this is a genuine flying carpet. I have only to mount the carpet, and to wish myself in some special place, and no matter how distant it may be, in a very few moments I shall find myself there. It is this that makes the carpet so marvelous, and if your Highness will allow me, you can prove it for yourself."

"Then I bid you mount the carpet and show what you can do," replied princess Jasmine. The words were hardly out of Jasmine's mouth when the man sat on the carpet, and it levitated up into the air. He flew around the royal hall and out of the balcony. He flew around the palace domes and the sky was already turning dark. Swooping in through the balcony once more, the hanging lamps were already illuminated by the time he returned from his flight.

The sultan clapped his hands in delight. "What is your name, young man?"

"Aladdin, your majesty," he bowed to the sultan. The sultan continued, "What would you like in return for the flying carpet?"

"I would give my flying carpet in exchange for the hand of princess Jasmine your daughter."

Princess Jasmine was not amused. "Father, how could you consider such an insolent bargain?" She stormed out of the royal hall and went to her room. "Oh dear, I really wanted a flying carpet. However, Aladdin, I cannot force Jasmine to marry against her will. The only way to win her hand is to woo her. Thus, you shall be Jasmine's suitor and I grant you a stay in the palace."

"Your majesty, I am most grateful for your offer." Once again, Aladdin bowed to the sultan before retiring to the guest chambers.