//------------------------------// // Arabian Night Part I // Story: The Disney Tales of Equestria // by DreamsCanComeTrue //------------------------------// The Disney Tales of Equestria Arabian Night Part I ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After a lengthy travel, the train slowed to a stop at the station in Agrabah, a kingdom perched in the midst of a hot, sandy desert. As the Disney Team, along with the Mane Six and Silver Dream emerged, they came upon the bazaar of which was Agrabah’s notable marketplaces. As it was still evening, it seemed rather empty. "Here we are, everybody!" said Minnie. "The Kingdom of Agrabah." "It doesn’t look as lively as I imagined it be," said Silver Dream "Just wait till you see it during the day," said Clarabelle. "I’ve been here many times and let me tell you-- This city may look amazing to visit, but even the greatest city has its dark corners. Watch out for sleazy traders and pickpockets or you’ll leave this city empty-handed." "If that were to be the case…" said Rarity, turning towards Donald and Goofy, who have been hulling her luggage since leaving the train.* "Can we get moving, please?" Donald panted. "As I was saying," Rarity cleared her throat. "I simply must ask one of you to escort me from this retched street until we’re inside the palace. "Aw right, aw right…" Donald groaned in pain. He turns to "Goofy. "I don’t know why Rarity has to bring this much luggage! "Gawrsh!" Goofy strained. "I assumed she’d bring lighter things!" Seeing how Goofy and Donald were struggling immensely, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash approached the boys. "We’ll take it from here, guys," said Rainbow Dash. "You carried them long enough." With a loud heave, Goofy and Donald hurled the luggage into the air. One by one, each suitcases landed on the backs of their Equine friends. Soon as all that weight was off, Goofy and Donald practically collapsed on the ground from exhaustion. "Oh now really gents, this is no time to take a rest." said Rarity. "Rarity's right," said Twilight. "We should move right along so as not to keep the Sultan and the Princess waiting." "Just remember guys," said Mickey. "We should stay close together to avoid any trouble." "Oh please, how much trouble can we get for walking?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Have a little faith." Rarity and Minnie walked ahead with Pinkie, Rainbow, as well as the recovering Donald and Goofy, while Mickey and the others followed close behind. As they looked from one empty stand to another, a mysterious peddler had eyed on the group for a while particularly some ponies he’s never seen before. Suddenly, the peddler emerged from his stand and stood before Mickey and Twilight’s group. "Salam and good morning to you, worthy friends," the peddler greeted with a bow and extended his hands. "Welcome to the fabled city of Agrabah, city of flying carpets, soaring heroes, famous love ballots, and more glitz and glamour then any other city in the world." "Um...thanks?" Silver Dream spoke nervously. "Be careful," Clarabelle whispered on Silver Dream's ear. "These peddlers will do anything to make newcomers buy their stuff." "And I reckon you met this peddler before?" Applejack asked. "Well…" Clarabelle paused. "Come to think of it, no." "Then where did he come from?" Fluttershy asked. "Good question." The whisper came from the peddler, who popped his head in front of Fluttershy. She yelps in surprise before zooming behind the group, as the peddler continues on. Peddler: Oh I come from a land From a far away place Where the caravan camels roam. Where it’s flat and immense And the heat is intense It’s barbaric, but hey it’s home. Where the wind’s from the east And the sun’s from the west And the sand in the glass is right. Come on down, stop on by Hop a carpet and fly To another Arabian Night! There is a moment of silence in the group. "Well, that’s good to know," said Twilight, making an attempt to back out. "But we really need to get going, so--" Before Twilight could walk ahead, The Peddler mysteriously appeared in front of Twilight with his hands behind his back. The surprised unicorn turned her head back from the stand to in front of her, wondering how he got there so fast. "And of course, you know what Agrabah’s famous for?" said the peddler. He revealed in his left hand--an oil lamp. The group looks down toward the Peddler’s hands to the so-called “magical” lamp. Though their eyes, it wasn’t as they thought it would be, particularly the Ponies. "Um…" said Fluttershy. "No offense, sir. That looks more like an old oil lamp, if you don’t mind me pointing out." "Ah… Do not be fooled by it’s “commonplace” appearance. Like so many things, it is not what’s on the outside, but what’s on the inside that counts." He opened a lid, wanting to reveal what was inside the lamp but suddenly he closes it. "Whoa, got a little deep there for a second. Heh." "Sir," said Twilight, getting aggravated. "We’ve had our share with magical artifacts in the past. How is this lamp any different?" "This lamp put Agrabah on the map." "I wouldn’t know about that," said Applejack. "Then again, it’s our first time here." The peddler had widen his eyes in excitement. "You’ve never been?" the peddler asked. "Well...we can fix that!" The peddler opens the lid again, only this time smoke suddenly bursts from the lamp cutting Mickey and Twilight’s group from Rarity's. They closed their eyes and coughed the smoke from their mouths, as the smoke continued to swirl around. Rarity and the others turn to see that a strange smoke bank swirl behind them, yet their friends were nowhere in sight. "Mickey?" Minnie gasped. "Mickey, where are you?" "Twilight? Applejack?" said Rainbow Dash. "Where’d they go?" Pinkie asked. As their friends continue to shout, though their voices were strangely inaudible, Silver Dream opens her eyes slightly to see The Peddler motioning the pony into a building. "Follow me!" the peddler shouted before he disappeared. Silver Dream follows the peddler into the building, causing the others to turn and catch up with her. Mickey, Twilight, Clarabelle, Daisy, Fluttershy and Applejack follow Silver Dream through a shop, as Silver Dream tries to keep up with the Peddler. They run into carpets that were hung above the ceiling and with all the carpets everywhere it caused them to get turned around a bit. By the time they finally reached the back of the store, they were shocked with what awaited outside. As morning slowly rose in Agrabah, it’s streets were suddenly filled with various opened shops, and it’s owners selling a great number of products. From fabrics to spices, produce and miscellaneous goods, each of it’s corners were filled with street performers doing a vast number of tricks from walking on needles to swallowing fire. "Boy, howdy!" Applejack exclaimed. "This place is bustling’ than a cider mill gone haywire!" "Yep, that’s Agrabah for you," Clarabelle nodded. The peddler leads the group all over the city. Peddler: Follow me to a place Where incredible feats Are routine every hour or so. Where enchantment runs rampant It’s wild in the streets Open sesame, here we go. See the dervishes dance In ridiculous pants Then romance to your heart’s delight. Come on down. Chorus: Come on, in. Peddler and Chorus: Let the magic begin, It’s another Arabian Night. Arabian Nights… Like Arabian Days… More often than naught, Are hotter than hot, Peddler: In a lot of good ways! Peddler and Chorus: Arabian Nights… 'Neath Arabian moons… A fool off his guard Could fall and fall hard Out there on the dunes. Female Peasants and Fillies: In that magical place In that mystical land Is a Genie inside every door. Male Peasants and Stallions: He’ll do all of your bidding Your wishes command. Peddler: It’s demeaning, but hey there you are. "Exactly how is this demeaning?" Daisy asked. Peasants: Unbelievable, yes An unethical mess Nonetheless, no one’s very contrived. Do come here anew Come to a land where any mountain can move. A land of high and treat with tricky logistics Like prophets and mystics. Peddler: And I’ve got statistics to prove. Peasants and Ponies: Arabian Nights. "Yee-Haw!" Applejack shouted. Peasants and ponies from all over Agrabah soon poured out, from one building to another. The street performers danced around the group and while this was nothing new for either Mickey, Daisy or Clarabelle, this was a sudden treat for the ponies. It was enough to put Fluttershy in awe. Peasants: Arabian Nights. Several jumped on the sheet roofs like trampolines before flipping in circles onto the streets. Men and stallions performed hand-stands along bed of nails and others twirled swords and caught others in midair with such grace. All while fire-eaters twirled sticks of wood alight with flames, before swallowing a vial of gasoline and spraying a mist of flames above the air. "Agrabah!" spoke the peddler. "Come for the hummus, stay for the fore-show. Even the poor people look fabulous! And everyone here has a minor in Dance. And now, for the softer side of Agrabah..." The group turned as the Peddler motioned to a group of harem dancers emerging from the doors, twirling colorful fabrics round and round while swinging their hips. This went on for a while, until an old vizier in dark clothes with a cobra cane in his hand and red parrot on his shoulder pass through the streets. Peasants and Ponies: Arabian Nights… Arabian Nights! "And of course, you must watch your step here in Agrabah. For danger lurks around every corner and ugly bad guys too." The peddler motions to the old man with a hunched back themselves, who pass by a few cowering peasants that gave him a unfriendly glare. Even Fluttershy found the sight of the old man intimidating. While they were distracted, they were unaware of a chase going on with a boy on the rooftops and several guards pursuing him. Peasants and Ponies: Arabian Nights! "It’s a city where a pitiless nobody, can turn out to be… A noble somebody." Peasants and Ponies: Arabian Nights! The Peddler takes off his turban momentarily to pull out a bronze telescope before placing it in Twilight’s eye. Adjusting the telescope, the Peddler makes it so that she could see the Princess of Agrabah herself, Jasmine, leaning on the rails of the palace looking solemn and disappointed. A small, white-bearded man, assuming the Sultan, appeared and the two had an inaudible argument of sorts though Twilight didn’t know what for. "It’s a place where a Princess would give up her crown for true love, but her father, the Sultan, is a stickler for the ancient ways." The Peddlers turn to a trio of pickpockets, who were attempting to rob from a distracted Daisy. Daisy turns around, only for the pickpockets to quickly back away and act natural as to not arouse her suspicions. "And our hero’s pals are as thick as thieves.'Adorable'...But thieves. Oh, and did I mention…" the peddler chuckled. "EVERYBODY SINGS!!!" Before anyone can say anything, The Peddler fades within the swarm of peasants, who dance all around the group and belt out the final bars of the song. Peasants and Ponies: Arabian Nights… Like Arabian Days… More often than naught, Are hotter than hot, In a lot of good ways! Arabian Nights… 'Neath Arabian moons… A fool off his guard, Could fall and fall hard, Out there on the dunes… Arabian Nights… Arabian Nights… Arabian Nights… Arabian Nights… Arabian Nights!!!! The residents broke away after the song, resuming their daily lives. Mickey, Twilight, and the others look around in confusion. "Hey, where’d that peddler go?" asked Daisy. "Never mind the Peddler, where’re the others?" asked Mickey Suddenly, a group of guards appeared, running all over the streets, and then one guard spotted a young man with a loaf of bread in his hand on the rooftop. A large bulky man, appearing to be the captain of the guards, also spotted the young man and threatens him with his curved sword. "Stop, thief!" the captain of the guard shouted. "I'll have your hands for a trophy, street rat!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To Be Continued...