Kurt stayed up all night with Mercedes, crying and telling her all about Blaine and what had happened to him. He still couldn't believe that he'd met someone so wonderful only to lose him so fast. To make it worse, as much and Mercedes tried to convince him otherwise he knew Blaine's death was his doing.

“No Kurt.” Mercedes said firmly. “That is blood on William's hands, he had no right to execute anyone without a trail, or asking you what happened, or even talking to the Sultan.” “I d-don't th-think my dad would h-have even stopped it.” Kurt sniffled. “Don't say that. Your father would never have someone wrongfully punished.” “He isn't who he used to be Mercedes.” Kurt said drying his eyes. “Something has happened to him, it's like he doesn't even care about the kingdom, and things are bad out there. William is practically running everything and he is hurting our people.” Mercedes face fell. “I know.” “Why did you never tell me how things really where?” “What would you have done Kurt?” She asked, not unkindly. “I mean a day ago you didn't even know you couldn't just take fruit from a stranger's stall and give it away. You wouldn't have understood.” Kurt smiled ruefully, she was right, he was so sheltered. The very little he knew about the outside world he'd learned from Blaine in the past 24 hours. Blaine. The thought of him made his throat grow tight and his stomach churn again with guilt and longing. “You're right.” Kurt said. “I have to do something, I'm the Prince if anyone can make a change it should be me, right?” Mercedes smiled. “Where are you going to start?” “I'm… I'm going to tell my dad about B-Blaine. And what William did to him. I need my dad to see what a monster William really is.”

Kurt washed up and changed back into his own clothes and then went to find his father. Maybe if he could make things better in the kingdom Blaine's death wouldn't be in vain. He found his father in the throne room speaking to William. Kurt clenched his fist and strode forward.

“Father, I need to speak with you.”

“Of course.” The Sultan said.

“Without him here.” Kurt said glaring at William.

“You can have nothing to say that you can't trust with me, young Prince.” William said.

“He's right. You can have nothing to say that you can't trust with William.” His father echoed.

Kurt looked incredulously back and forth between the Vizier and his father, what kind of hold did he have over him?

“Fine. Then you should know that William is responsible for the unjust killing of an innocent man!” Kurt's voice broke a little as he said it, but he felt proud of himself for not backing down.

“Ah yes, the street rat.” William said.

“He wasn't a street rat!” Kurt shouted. “He… he was…” Tears started to form in Kurt's eyes. “He was kind and smart and he saved me from being severely hurt in the marketplace. Father, he was a good person and now…” He couldn't finish with his throat full of tears.

His dad watched him and his face fell. “Oh Kurt.”

“Oh dear Prince.” William said. “I was just explaining the terrible mistake that occurred.”

“You were?” Kurt asked suspiciously.

“Yes and your father understand that I was just acting out of my deep desire to keep you safe.”

“No.” Kurt said and looked at his father.

“It is a horrible business.” His father said. “But William was just acting out of a deep desire to keep you safe.”

“No!” Kurt cried.

“I am so terribly sorry.” William said with a false look on his face.

“See there.” The Sultan said. “Now can't you two shake hands and we will put this whole messy business behind us.”

“No!” Kurt choked out. “Father p-please!”

But his father just blinked at him, his eyes clouded over.

Kurt felt sick. It was like he'd finally, truly lost his dad, and in his place was some puppet spouting whatever William wanted him to say.

Kurt turned on his heel and ran from the room not knowing what he was going to do now.
_____

William watched Kurt flee the room and turned back to the Sultan, continuing the conversation they were having before the prince interrupted them. He lifted his serpent staff into the Sultan's line of sight.

“As I was saying. I have found a solution to the problem with your son.”

“The problem with my son.” Burt repeated in a trance.

“If, in the event a suitable prince or princess cannot be found.” William read from a long scroll. “The royal heir must then be wed to… hmm, interesting…”

“What? Who?” The Sultan asked.

“The Royal Vizier.” William stood up straight placing his hand on his chest. “Why… that would be me.”

“I thought the law says that only a prince or princess could marry a prince.” Burt said confused.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures, my liege.” William said leaning his staff forward again.

“Yes... desperate measures...”

“You will order the prince to marry me.”

“I... will order... the prince...to... but youre so old!”

William clenched his jaw. “The prince will marry me!”

“The prince will marry...”

Just then there was a loud trumpet call from outside and the sound of music. Burt broke out of his trance. “Wait… what is that?” He got up from his throne to look out the window.

Outside was a big commotion, people streaming down streets and out of buildings to try and get a better look because down the main street, the one that lead to the palace was the most extravagant parade the city had ever seen.

There were elephants, and jugglers, and peacocks and dancers. There were flame eaters and brightly clothed servants throwing food and coins to the people, and there on a huge elephant sat a prince. He wore pure white robes trimmed in gold and blue and a big turban on his head with a rich blue feather sticking out of it. He sat and smiled and waved to the people as music played all around him.

“Would you look at that?” Burt said. “I've never seen someone bring such a huge entourage, he must want to make an impression.”

“Indeed.” William said dryly, upset that his plan had been interrupted. He had come to the conclusion that if the lamp was lost he could still find a way to rule, marry the Prince. Then he could assassinate the Sultan and take his place. He'd keep Kurt around if he behaved, he was an attractive young man, but if not William had no problem secretly killing the royal family and ruling in their place.

It wasn't as good as having the lamp, but it would do. He thought he had the Sultan convinced but now this new comer was coming in trumpets blaring and keeping him from his goal.

The doors to the throne room burst open and a Prince smoothly strode in, he bowed deeply to the Sultan.

Burt crossed his arms and nodded, hiding his smile. “Splendid, absolutely marvelous entry.” he said.

The Prince straightened up and spoke in a deep serious sounding voice. “I am Prince Devon, your majesty. I have journeyed from afar to seek your son's hand.”

Burt finally let himself smile. William could tell he already liked this stupid kid. “Of course. Prince Devon, you are welcomed to our kingdom. Tell me Prince Devon, why would you want to marry my son?”

The Prince looked stunned for a moment before he spoke clearing his throat and using an affected voice again. “Why tales of your son's…”

William expected him to say “beauty”.

“Your son's intelligence and goodness are throughout the land, who wouldn't at least want a chance to meet him?”

William sneered; this kid was laying in on think. He turned to the Sultan trying to get his staff in Burt's line of sight. “I dont trust him, sire.”

“Nonsense. William.” The Sultan answered, “We should at least give him a chance” and then under his breath, “Maybe you won't have to marry Kurt after all.” He then turned back to Prince Devon. “I think Kurt will like this one!”

“And Im pretty sure Ill like Prince Kurt!”

William wasn't going to lose this easily through, “Your highness, no.  I must intercede on Kurt's behalf.”

None of them noticed Kurt slipping in the side or the room and listening with his jaw clenched and his fist balled.

“This boy is no different than the others. What makes him think he is worthy of the Prince?”

“Your majesty, I am Prince Devon! Just let him meet me. I will win your son!"

That's when they all saw Kurt storming further into the room. “How dare you!" He shouted, voice shaking. “All of you, standing around deciding my future?  I am not a prize to be won!” He glared at them all before turning and running from the room.

“No! Please!” Prince Devon called after him reaching out a hand and looking heartbroken.

“Don't worry.” The Sultan said patting him on his back. “Give him time to cool off.”

William just watched them with a stony expression. He wasn't going to let this Prince Devon win.

Mercedes had been just outside in the hallway when Kurt came rushing out towards her. “Can you believe them!” He cried flinging his hands out. “I will not marry someone who only wants me because I'm a Prince, because my Father is the most powerful Sultan across the lands. I am not something that you just get to give away!” He said his voice cracking.

“I know Kurt.” She said as they walked back to his rooms.

“And there are so many things going wrong, I need to talk to my dad without William around. I need to figure out how to help our people. “

They entered his room and Kurt slumped back against the wall, his heart aching. “I need to stop thinking about Blaine.”

Blaine paced back and forth in the garden of the palace. “What did I do! I'm such an idiot.”

“Calm down kid.” The Genie said.

“You don't understand, I ruined my chance. Kurt doesn't even want to see me! I should have known I couldnt pull off this stupid prince wish. Who really thinks I could be a prince?”

“Blaine, maybe you're trying too hard.” The Genie said and the carpet bobbed up and down like it agreed.

“I have to be a prince! That's what Kurt is looking for. Genie I need your help.”

“I'm not sure that is what Kurt is looking for…” He said slowly. “I mean it has been years, well decades, well centuries, since I wooed anyone, but I think you should just be yourself.”

“No way! If Kurt found out I was really some crummy street rat, hed laugh at me.”

“Did he laugh at you when he met you in the marketplace?” The Genie asked.

Blaine opened his mouth to speak and then slumped down on a bench. “No, he was kind and caring and wonderful.”

“See, there you go.”

Blaine sighed and looked up at the Genie, “I just can't mess this up, I don't want to lose him.”

“Be. Your. Self.”  The Genie repeated. “Come on man.”

Blaine stood and put his turban back on. “Thats the last thing I want to be.” He flipped his cape around his shoulders and stood with his hands confidently on his hips. “Okay, Im going to go see him. I have to be smooth, cool, confident. How do I look?”

The Genie sighed, “Like… a prince.”

Blaine nodded even as butterflies swarmed in his stomach, he had been so nervous when meeting the Sultan he knew he said things he didn't mean, now he just had to make up for it. “Come on carpet!”

He called and hopped on as the carpet flew into the air and towards the Prince's balcony hoping to make things up to Kurt.