A/N: Trying to take each scene and make it it's own chapter to keep things interesting. Not everything is going to go by the movie. I'm just borrowing a few things from it to make this work, lol
Disclaimer: I do not own YGO or Aladdin. I do not claim anything form their concepts for my own.
Chapter 2
The sun was setting over the desert as the wagon approached the mouth of the cave. To their shock, Yugi and Joey gaped in awe to see that it honestly was a mouth. The cave was shaped like the head of a wild jungle cat. More notably, the head of the great Tiger God. There was an ominous aura that surrounded it and set Joey's heart to pounding like a race runner's. He had never seen anything like this, but he had heard of it.
"Yug, you didn't tell me Grandpa found da Cave of Wanders!"
Yugi continued to stare in front of them. "I didn't know. Grandpa, I thought you needed a special key to find this place."
"You do, typically. But it seems as though someone found it, located the cave and then disappeared," his grandpa explained.
Joey gulped. "Disappeared?"
"Yup."
Joey stared at the cave. I know you guys will be able to enter, but with my history, I don't know that I can."
Yugi shrugged. "You're a good person, Joey, I don't care what others think because of your station in life. I don't see why you wouldn't be allowed."
They all climbed down out of the wagon and stood before the mouth of the cave. There was a collective draw of breath as they peered deep into the mouth. There was flickering light as if warm fires were to be found below, and with the dropping temps of the desert, the fires were a welcomed thought. Together, they moved to take a step into the cave when they were halted by a whooshing sound and a forceful shove of wind that came from its depths.
"Know this," the cave warned them. "This cave is filled with Riches and magics untold. But know this: Only one whose worth lies within may enter. All others will perish."
Joey felt Yugi's hand tremble, not realizing until that point that his friend had even reached out to him. He offered a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, Yug. You are one of the most worthy people I know." Joey looked to the mouth of the cave again. "You both go ahead. I'll wait here and watch the wagon."
"You sure, Joey?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. It's okay. I'll be alright."
Yugi gave his friend one last, lingering glance before turning and facing the cave with his grandfather. The cave took a breath and allowed them entrance. Within moments, Yugi and his grandfather had disappeared into the mouth of the cavern. Joey returned to the wagon and climbed inside, leaning back to stare up at the sky. He counted the stars and thought over his plans for his life. He had so many things he wanted to do. He just did not know how he was going to go about doing it all.
There was a rumbling in the ground beneath the wagon that brought Joey upright. He rubbed at his tired eyes and stared at the mouth of the cave, realizing something had unsettled the God. He jumped from the wagon and ran to the mouth, peering down into the depths. His heart pounded when he couldn't see Yugi or Grandpa coming back up the stairs.
"Yugi! Where are you, buddy?"
"Joey!"
Yugi and his grandfather were trying their hardest to run up the stairs that had begun to crumble. Joey reached out to grab their hands, grasping Yugi's and managing to pull him through the mouth of the cave and behind him into the sand. When he looked back, Yugi's grandpa had fallen on the stairs and made no effort to move.
"Grandpa!" Yugi cried out, tears filling his violet eyes.
Joey's heart broke. "I won't let him fall, Yug."
"Joey, wait!" Yugi called out as Joey chose to dart into the cave, racing down the stairs toward the older man. The stairs crumbled even faster as the tremors in the ground grew more fierce.
Joey grabbed one of the older man's arms and slung it over his shoulder, trying to help him to stand and hurry up the remaining stairs. They had just about neared the top when the last stair gave and Joey lunged for the edge. Grandpa's satchel fell as they jerked against the side of the cave and Joey almost lost his grip when the older man tried to grasp for it.
"Joey! Hang on!"
"I don't know how much longer I can, Yug," Joey grunted out. His arm was feeling the strain of little grip he had left on the ledge. He managed to somehow get a small foothold that gave him just enough leverage to help get Yugi's grandpa up over the ledge. Yugi helped him away and ran back, reaching a hand out to his friend just before the ledge gave and Joey fell backward.
"Joey!"
"Yugi!"
"Joey, no!"
Joey closed his eyes as he fell, all his dreams and hopes shattered in the darkness of his eyelids. He felt the tears sting his eyes and fall from the corner of his lashes. This was not what he had ever visioned for himself. He feared for his sister. He wondered who would take care of her with him gone.
I'm sorry, Serenity… I'm sorry, Yugi…
I'm sorry…
A/N: This chapter wasn't as long as I thought it was, I apologize. But the story continues.