Episode 36

**Episode 36** of Forever After is the thirty-sixth episode in the series.

## Summary

Lea and Aladdin watch Princess Badroulbadour as she goes by, and Aladdin decides that she wants to marry her.

## Plot

A loud commotion in the streets gains Lea and Aladdin's attention, and they observe many palace guards calling out the sultan's orders for everyone to shut their doors and windows so Princess Badroulbadour may go to the baths in peace.

Aladdin pulls Lea back as she closes up her shop, and Lea asks what's going on. Aladdin explains that no one may look upon the princess, and Lea slyly asks if Aladdin was sure that she didn't want to take a peek as she pulls the shop curtain aside a little bit. Aladdin blushes, but chooses to watch the royal woman as she passes by.

Princess Badroulbadour calmly makes her way down the street, smelling nearby flowers, and unaware that Aladdin and Lea are watching. Aladdin finds her to be incomparable, that she exudes the grace of the very wind, and desires to look upon her face.

The magic of the Genie reacts to Aladdin's wish, and a gentle breeze removes the face covering to reveal Princess Badroulbadour's face. Aladdin finds that the princess shines even more, and practically climbs over the stall table before being tugged back by an amused Lea. Princess Badroulbadour reattaches her face covering and moves on.

Eyes full of hearts, Aladdin asks Lea if the Genie can make her a Prince worthy of Badroulbadour's love, and Lea replies that there is only one way to find out. A swirl of magic later, and Aladdin is dressed in a fancy outfit worthy of royalty. Aladdin asks if the Sultan will see her, and Lea replies that the big bag of rubies she gathered from the Cave of Wonders will let her through.

The two travel to the Sultan's Palace, and Lea poses as Aladdin's guard and announcer, telling the guards that Prince Aladdin requests a private audience with the Sultan. The guard requests a token of goodwill, and Aladdin whispers to Lea to offer him one of the small rubies as a gate toll. Lea is unamused, calling the bribe what it is as the guard lets them inside and escorts them to the Sultan.

The guard announces Prince Aladdin, and Lea places the rubies in a golden bowl, saying that they are a gift for the Sultan's treasury. The Sultan's Advisor takes a closer look, and declares that they are genuine. The Sultan notes that Aladdin's kingdom must be very prosperous to have such jewels on hand that can be given away for a simple audience.

Aladdin explains that she is there to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage, and praises Princess Badroulbadour's worth. Aladdin claims that a kingdom's cache of riches is scarcely equal to the chance to meet the princess, but it was all she had. The Sultan is moved by Aladdin's words, and claims that his daughter is incomparable to even the rubies, but one who is willing to lay such splendor at her feet may be the one to deserve her.

The Advisor nervously brings up a prior talk of a potential engagement with his son, and the Sultan agrees that such a merger would have brought him great joy, but he must consider the wealth Prince Aladdin can bring and the improvements it would mean to the kingdom; roads could be fixed, and caravans could have more security; and the Advisor acknowledges his wisdom, though is disappointed.

The Sultan agrees to the marriage of Prince Aladdin to his daughter, as long as Badroulbadour agrees. Aladdin asks if she may meet the Lady, and is invited to dine with the Royal Family, though the Sultan warns her that his daughter is hard to impress. At the dinner table, Aladdin nervously await the arrival of the princess as a pair of servants stand off to the side, ready to serve.

Princess Badroulbadour joins her father and Aladdin, who is eager to see her again. Badroulbadour asks her father where he found Aladdin, because she isn't like the usual fops concerned with their clothes or appearance. The Sultan gently chides his daughter's manner, and explains that Prince Aladdin had come to ask for her hand in marriage.

Badroulbadour says that she does not want to live far away from her home, and Aladdin proclaims that they can live nearby, for she will have a palace built just for the princess. Badroulbadour notes Aladdin's kindness, but asks after her kingdom and if she can abandon her place there so easily. Aladdin claims there are others to inherit, and she would bring her mother to reside with them, but no one else would miss her.

Badroulbadour is shocked that a minor prince can bring such wealth, and asks if it is customary to have princes bring dowries, if there are so many that her kingdom needs to get rid of them. Lea laughs and tries to cover it, but Aladdin quickly covers for her by saying that her guard had been with her too long to stand on ceremony before giving Badroulbadour her full attention.

Aladdin declares that she believes in preparing all children for the challenges they may face in the world, and Badroulbadour supposes a handful of rubies would do the trick. Aladdin explains that the rubies are beautiful, but it wasn't their beauty that makes them wonderful. Each stone made a journey through the earth, coming into its clarity and strength though pressure and tumult, and you could only value a handful of rubies if you consider all the marvelous places each one had been.

Aladdin believes that people are the same. All will admire a beautiful person in passing, but it was only by learning their stories one could truly appreciate that person. The wonders they've admired, the experience they've savored, the journeys they endured--those are the stories that shape a heart.

Lea smiles happily behind Aladdin, knowing that she has succeeded in winning Badroulbadour's affection as the new Prince stands up. Aladdin tells Badroulbadour that when she looks at her, she sees a thousand untold stories that she would very much like to hear . In response, Badroulbadour stands, walks around the table, and takes Aladdin's hand, accepting her offer of marriage.

## Important Events

* Lea and Aladdin see, and later meet, Princess Badroulbadour
* Aladdin wishes to become a Prince so she can marry Princess Badroulbadour
* Badroulbadour accepts Aladdin's offer of marriage

## Characters

Aladdin

Lea

Badroulbadour

Sultan

Sultan’s Advisor

Messengers

## Credits

*Written by Violet Matter*

*Storyboarding by Valery Yu*

*Art by Hannah Patten*

Backgrounds by Megan Roberts

*Lettering by Kylie Hunsinger*

*Copy editing by Kat Vendetti*

*Produced by Quinn Sosna-Spear and Wil Kennedy*

## Trivia

This is likely a reference to *One Thousand and One Nights*, a collection of popular Middle Eastern and South Asian folk tales gathered over several centuries, and includes the story of *Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp*.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://americanliterature.com/author/arabian-nights