M.n.K: Hello everyone. I would like to apologize for the long delay. Recently, things have been a bit chaotic since after my trip to Asia. But, I've managed to pull through, so things have been going fine for me. Though, some moments have been pretty stressful lately.
Yugi: What kind of stressful moments?
M.n.K: Well, it's something that only I can handle personally and privately.
Yugi: Oh. .
M.n.K: However, the good news is in the next month, one of my favorite holidays is coming soon and I can hardly wait. :) Now anyways. Now that I've taken my time proof-reading this, let's get this chapter rolling. Ryou? Will you do the disclaimer?
Ryou: It will be an honor. Kaoru doesn't own the Aladdin story or Yu-Gi-Oh. They belong to Disney and Kazuki Takahashi. She only owns her character.
M.n.K: Thank you very much! So, let's get ready, people! Chop, chop!
YGO Cast: (Everyone gets ready.)
M.n.K: Ready everyone?
YGO Cast: Ready!
M.n.K: Alright, let's keep it quiet on the set. Stage setting ready, check. Lights and effect ready, check. Places, and. . . action!
Chapter 6: Serka & The Sphinx of Wonders
Deep in the palace dungeons, where it is all dark, cold and crawling with rats, scurrying here and there, Serka is in her cell, cuffed tightly to the wall by her wrists. She tries getting herself free, but to no avail.
After ceasing her struggling; due to the fact it's no use, she sighs to herself. She is still having thoughts about Yugi and how she met him. "He is the Crown Prince. I can't believe it. . . Oh, I must have sounded so stupid to him!"
Then, she hears four familiar voices. "Kuri! Kuri!
"Yo! Serkie!"
"It's Duke, Tristan, and. . ."
"Joey!"
She looks up and it's her friends, sitting up on the sill of an old window! "Ah! You guys! Down here!"
So, all four of them climb their way down to Serka's cell.
She asks them. "Can you help me out of these?"
Well, the boys hem and haw for a bit. Then, for their answer, Tristan said to her. "All right. But next time you fall for a pair of cutesie eyes, don't travel home with them! Especially if it's a royal in disguise."
"Kuri! Kuri!" Kuribon also states her point for she would never have thought that the boy turned out to be the Grand Pharaoh's youngest grandson. Most of all, she couldn't believe that her mistress had almost fallen head over heels for him. Especially because he's a prince. On top of that, if she hadn't interfered with the situation between him and Ushio, she wouldn't end up being in the dungeons.
Serka smiled sheepishly at her furry friend. "Hey, hey, hey. He was in trouble. If it weren't for me, he would have lost an arm. Hah. . . He is truly worth it."
"Yeah, yeah." The boys replied as they took out the tools they have for picking the lock in order to free her.
She heard their doubting of her statement and said. "Oh, don't worry you guys. I won't be seeing him again. You know how I've decided to move on since Atem married Téa."
"Yeah. . ." Said Joey. "Like many girls around here, you used to have the hots for that guy. He's really popular back then."
"Of course. But, I'm talking about me and Yugi, Joey. I'm a street rat, remember? And there's a law. He's got to marry a princess." She responded.
Duke then assured her. "You don't have to beat yourself up about it. You can always find another suitable guy." He and the other two boys picked the lock some more until it finally clicked and unlocked the cuffs, releasing her hands. "Got it!"
"We got you out, Serkie!" Exclaimed Joey.
But, Serka's head is too full of thoughts about the young prince. "Yeah. . . He really deserves a princess. Oh boy. . . Why am I such a fool?"
Everybody looked at her bewildered expression and sighed a little too.
Next, their silence is broken by a rather sinister and snake oiled voice which came from a dark corner of the dungeon. "You're only a fool when you give up, young lady. . ." Also, a pair of sinister-looking eyes turn their gaze towards Serka and her friends. They even made Kuribon scurry away to hide behind her back.
Serka squinted her eyes to try and make out who this shadowy figure is. "Who. . . Who are you?" She asked.
The figure slowly stumbled out of the shadows and from under the ray of moonlight, it turned out to be a tall man with long gray hair, tanned skin, and crafty looking eyes. He is even walking with a long magician's staff in his right hand. Just from looking at the crimson robes, the teenagers can tell he might be one of the many spellcaster monster spirits of Egypt. The man spoke to her again with a grin. "A humble magician yet, a lowly prisoner like yourself. But together. . . Perhaps we can be more!"
Puzzled by his peculiar appearance, Serka raised her eyebrow. "I'm listening. . ."
Duke then whispered into her ear. "Serka, you ought to be careful with this spirit in front of us. He's the infamous Arkana Dark Magician. I hear he can be a tricky person, so be careful."
The magician crept closer to the girl and her friends and spoke. "There is a cave, lassie. . . It is called the Sphinx of Wonders!" He even reaches into his pocket to pull out a handful of glittering jewels and Egyptian jade before showing them to her. "A cave filled with treasures beyond your wildest dreams!"
Seeing how those beautiful jewels sparkle, everyone is amazed! "Oooh!" Even Joey felt the temptation to reach out and touch them.
However, the magician pulls his hand away before taking an awkward backward glance, with his back facing them. "Treasure worthy enough to impress even your dear prince, I'd wager."
Just then, a small lizard and an insect-like creature pop out from underneath his cloak. The small bug whispers. "Dartz! Will you hurry this along? We're dying in here!"
After that, he pushes them back inside before turning back to the girl and her companions, resuming his grin.
Serka is thinking about what he said earlier and she answered. "Hey, your story is nice but, the law says that only a princess can. . ."
But, the Arkana Magician interrupted her as he rears in his head closer to her. "Perhaps you never heard of the 'golden rule', haven't you? 'Whoever possesses the gold makes the rules'!" Then, he gives her a really malevolent smile!
Joey kind of grimaced at the sight as he shuddered.
As the group stands up, Duke asks the sage. "So, why would you share all of this wonderful treasure with us?"
"Well. . ." First, the magician looks at Serka for a bit, then taps his staff upon her knees before patting her back. "I need someone with a young pair of legs and a strong back to go in after it."
She blinks at him at first. But, she asks one more question. "Um, one little problem: it's out there, we're in here?"
The magician, however, chuckled while waving a finger at her. "Ah, ah, ah. . . Things aren't always what they seem. . ." He takes up his staff and pushes away a part of the brick wall, revealing a hidden stairway.
Serka, Joey, Tristan, Duke, and Kuribon all stared idly at the hidden opening as they approached slowly.
Arkana Magician then extends a hand out to the only girl of the group. "So. . . Do we have a deal . . . ?"
Well, for that matter, they all don't know what to say at first. The group exchanged looks at each other. Kuribon shrugged at her mistress. Then, Serka looked over at Joey, who asked. "Well, we're all going to be in this, right? I mean he promised us the riches, right?"
Serka pondered aloud. "I believe there's a catch."
So, it has been decided! The Arkana Magician leads the four street urchins and the little monster spirit out into the Egyptian Desert. It is already late at night and there's a rather repulsive storm in the air. The wind is blowing harshly, the sand is swirling around in all directions, and thunder roared while lightning strike throughout the cloudy sky above. Everyone in the group is bracing themselves through the storm.
They soon came to the same spot where the magic sphinx cave is waiting for them.
As Serka and her friends take some small steps towards the formidable cave, they also took a moment to look at it. Joey, Tristan, and Duke were kind of shuddering and Kuribon hid under the torso of Serka's dress.
Serka then turned to the magician. "I don't like those odds." She mumbled, a little squeamishly.
"There's absolutely nothing to fear, lassie." He replied. "I've consulted with an ancient oracle. You are the one who's capable of entering the cave as the 'Diamond in the Rough'."
"Are you certain?"
"Of course I am. Now, go on, go on!"
After swallowing a little, Serka continued to approach the cave with the others.
Before they can get any closer, the sphinx bellowed out. "Who disturbs my slumber. . . ?!"
Serka glanced a bit. Then she answers. "Uh. . . It is I. . . Serka."
The cave's eyes looked down at her. It is examining her for a few seconds before replying. "Proceed. . . Touch nothing but the Millennium Locket!" After that, it opens its mouth to reveal the passageway inside!
As the four teens and the monster spirit stared at the glowing path, Arkana Magician called out. "Remember, young lady! First, fetch me the locket! And then, you shall have your reward!"
Serka nodded. Then, she turns her stern eyes back to face the entrance. She is ready to enter with her friends by her side. "Come on, you guys." She whispered. So, she got everybody together and stepped inside!
With Kuribon chattering her teeth a little, Tristan shuddered. "Oh man. . . I think I'm having a bad feeling about this."
"Me too. . ." Shuddered Joey, next.
"Everything will be okay, right?" Said Duke, a little uneasily. "Just go inside, grab the Millenni-something locket, give it to the creepy magician, and call it a night."
Serka just shook her head and said to them. "Relax, you guys. What will you fear? I am right here for the sake of your protection, okay. I was raised to be a battle dancer by my dad, remember that? But, in case you get more queasy, we'll just have to take every emotional issue down one little step at a time."
"Okay, as long as you're brave enough." They all answered. So, they continue their way down the stairs.
Now, it hasn't been too long when they all made it to the bottom of the cavern and then coming across an open corridor where a golden ray of light is shining brightly.
Once everybody walked inside, they all gasped for they can scarcely believe the sight their eyes are showing them!
"Woah . . . !" Gasped Joey, Tristan, and Duke altogether.
"Oh my Ra. . . Would you look at that!" Sighed Serka as well as her eyes glittered in delight and awestruck wonder!
Even Kuribon poked her head out of her hiding place to see what they're seeing. "Kuri. . . !"
What they're all seeing is that the room they had set foot into is a giant treasure room filled with heaps of glittering gold, shiny jewels, colorful minerals, sparkling urns, golden statues, and statuettes! Even exotically exquisite Persian rugs!
Everyone looked around and about at the glorious spectacle that surrounded them. Duke sighed. "Oh! Is this. . . Is this for real?! I've never seen so many treasures in all of my life!"
Neither did Serka, who chuckled with inspiration. "To think, just a handful of this stuff will make each one of us richer than the Grand Pharaoh!"
"Kuri. . ." Kuribon sighed again.
"Oooh!" Then, Joey started to jump up and down like an eager jackrabbit. "Well, I'll be as rich as a king, myself! Heh heh!" With a foolish grin, he started running towards a pile of gemstones! "Hoo hoo! Mine, mine, mine!"
Serka and the others quickly notice his foolish behavior and shout out, putting his giddiness to a complete halt! "Woah! Woah! Joey!"
Once he's stopped in his tracks, Joey slowly turned around and he looked at them nervously. "Eh. . . They have to be paid first?"
"No, you numbskull!" Remarked Tristan.
Then, Serka reminded him. "Remember what this cave said earlier? It said, 'Don't touch anything'! We got to find that locket." So, she and the others continued onwards down the path.
Of course, Joey followed from behind, grumbling. "Hurgh. . . Rules, rules, rules! And I thought a room full of gold doesn't have any rules. . ."
A small moment has passed when one of the gemstones was magically picked up from the pile and its floating into a jar with a dragon's face on it. After the jewel went inside the jar, chomping noises are heard, and some small remains of the jewel were tossed out of it.
Next, out popped a small, infant-like orange dragon. He tumbles out of the jar, yawning slightly. "Aaah. . ." It went over to the jewel pile and began to chomp on some more jewels. As soon as he is through with eating, he licked his chops. "Mmm! That is good!" He said cheerfully as he rubbed his belly. "Good thing my breakfast hasn't been stolen."
Then a deeper voice echoed from inside the dragon-faced jar. "It would have happened if you leave your gemstones exposed for too long, I hope you know."
However, the little dragon didn't seem to be listening to the voice for he happens to catch a glimpse of Kuribon and the four street urchins. "Oh! Visitors!" He chirped before fluttering off quietly with his little wings.
The voice from the jar then called out to the small dragon. "Hey! What do you think you're doing? Get back here!"
But the little dragon is still not listening. He began creeping up behind Kuribon first.
Just when the furry spirit is getting the feeling that she is being followed, she quickly turns around. But, to her surprise, she sees the little dragon lying down flat on the ground, like a mat. She looked at him skeptically at first, then continued walking.
The dragon chuckled softly to himself as he got up into the air, floating. He crept up to Kuribon as slowly as he could and just as she is about to turn around, he quickly hid inside a nearby jar, with his tail sticking out.
Kuribon again looked oddly at what's hiding in the jar. Then she quickly scurried up to Serka, trying to grab her attention. "Kuri! Kuri! Kuri!"
But, Serka raised an eyebrow and muttered. "Hey, Kuribon? Will you knock it off?"
That made the small spirit pause before scoffing as she resumed walking.
The small dragon also resumed what he wants to do. He pops out of the jar and crept up even closer and closer up to Kuribon. Sneaking up from behind, he taps on her head, then swiftly stays behind her as soon as she is about to turn. While she is busy looking around for whoever seemed to be the one patting her, he gives her tail a quick tug, making her squirm as she spins around with him still behind her back.
Finally, while the furry one is grumbling softly to herself the small dragon made his last trick. He quickly unties the ribbon from her tail and wears it over his nose as a pretend mustache. Then he creeps over to one side beside her and taps her head again.
Kuribon looked over at the dragon with a bored expression at first. But, after a small pause, "Kuri!" She screeched at the dragon as she jumped! The little dragon also screeched and jumped in surprise as the ribbon fell off from his nose! They scrambled around at first, then flew off in opposite directions; one went behind a pile of gold and the other flew towards her mistress, colliding against her back while doing so!
"Ow!" Serka fell to the ground and tried grabbing hold of the panicky spirit.
"Hey! What's the matter with you, fuzzball?" Exclaimed Joey as he knelt down with the others.
Kuribon continued to struggle against her mistress' arms as she finally got her to lie down on her stomach with her on her back.
"Kuribon, are you crazy or something?" Serka asked before her head is pushed to see what's the problem.
The small dragon peeked from behind the pile of gold to see Serka and her companions.
"Oh. . ." Everyone stared.
Serka's eyes softened as she stood up, never taking them off the sight of the small creature. "Ah. . . How cute! A Baby Dragon spirit!"
"In a cave like this?" Wondered Tristan.
Then, Serka spoke to him in a gentle manner while beckoning him to come over. "Come on, come on out. We're not gonna hurt you."
The little dragon hopped out from behind the pile of gold. Then, he took a few baby steps toward the red ribbon that's lying on the ground. He picked it up, blew off the dust from it, and fluttered over to give it back to Kuribon.
However, instead of being thankful, Kuribon screeched again and climbed back up to perch on Serka's shoulder.
Serka tried calming her down. "Woah, now! Take it easy, Kuribon. He's not gonna bite you." So, she is going to receive back the ribbon for her. "Thank you."
Then, as soon as she took it from Serka, tied it back around her tail, Kuribon screeched out something mean towards the Baby Dragon.
"Oh. . ." Hurt by what she said, the little dragon slowly walked away.
Just then, a large black, red-eyed dragon appeared before them. He bowed his head humbly to them. "I would like to apologize for the silly actions my friend did to your fellow monster spirit. He always does that to visitors for his. . . 'ahem', amusement."
"Oh, that's fine. No harm has been done." Said Joey. "We were just walking along, in search of something."
"By the looks of it, you all are seeming to be doing so." Said the dragon.
Serka however, is gazing at the spirit with wide eyes. "I recognized you from an ancient scroll I've read long ago. You must be. . ."
"Yes." The dragon nodded. "The Red Eyes Black Dragon." Then, he began turning around, taking the smaller dragon with him. "Now, my friend and I must return to our domicile, so we won't disrupt your mission."
"Aww! But, I want to stay outside for a little longer!" The Baby Dragon whined.
"Don't you start." He replied sternly. "Come along."
Before the dragons can walk off, Serka called out. "Hey! Wait a minute. Don't go." When the dragons looked back at her, she continued. "Since you're both in this cave as well, perhaps you can help us."
"You really mean it?" Asked the small dragon.
"Are you certain?" Asked the Red Eyes Black Dragon.
"Of course!" Is her reply.
The black dragon smiled. "Fair maiden, we honorably accept your request to assist you and your comrades." He unfurled his wings and flew over to meet in front of them.
The Baby Dragon jumps up and claps his paws with glee. "Yippee! I'm so happy you allowed me to join your group!" He even flew around Joey's head in circles.
Joey laughed. "Okay! Okay! You're on our team, so take it easy."
When the little dragon stopped his frolicking and met up with the big one, he asked the group. "So, what is it you're all looking for?"
Serka answered. "Well you see, we're trying to find this 'Mystic Locket'."
"Yes, we need to fetch it for a magician who's waiting for us." Said Duke.
The Red Eyes Black Dragon tilted his head upon hearing their words. "You mean, the Millennium Locket?"
"Oh! We do know the location of that treasure." Beamed the Baby Dragon. "Let us be your guide. We'll even show it to you." So, he flew off towards a distant doorway to a darkened path with the Red Eyes.
With a quick sprint, Serka starts running off after the dragons with her friends following from behind. "Hurry everyone! I think they know where it is!"
As they went after them, Joey exclaimed. "Hey! Wait for us! Don't you know that you're now running faster than when we run from Mai and her 'No-Street-Rats-Allowed Brigade' the first time?!"
Moments have passed since the group had left the treasure room. As they continued to follow the dragons, they were walking through the darkened cavern with glowing rocks for light.
After treading down the cold, stony path, the dragons have led them to what seemed to be the end of the cave. It is a wide, spacious chamber where there's a huge lake of sparkling bluish green water in the middle. A long trail of smooth stones served as stepping stones over the lake, leading towards a large and tall rocky pillar.
The Red Eyes Black Dragon pointed towards the pillar which is standing before them. "There. . . The Millennium Locket is at the top."
Serka, Kuribon, and the boys looked up and to their surprise, the dragon is definitely right! At the top of the pillar, under a shining ray of light is a small scorpion shaped pendant made entirely out of gold! The locket is kept way up there!
The dragon then turned to them. "Since you've come this far, only one of you can climb up there to claim it."
"You got to be kidding me!" Exclaimed Tristan.
"All the way up there is the treasure?" So did Joey.
The dragon nodded once more. "Yes." Then he looks over at Serka. "Young maiden, you are anointed as the 'Diamond in the Rough', am I correct?"
She shrugged. "Well, the Arkana Magician and this Sphinx cave said so."
"Then, you have been chosen to go up and get it." Said the Baby Dragon.
"Hmm. . . All right, then I'll go. We did come this far." So, without further ado, Serka marches over to the edge of the ledge to reach the stepping stones. But, before she can continue, she turned to the dragons. "Oh, if you want to know, my name is Serka."
Red Eyes smiled at her. "A fine name indeed. Now, go."
She nodded and got herself ready to hop over the steps, by sitting over the edge so she can climb down easily.
"Wait!" Joey said as he went over to the edge. "How about we come along too, Serkie?"
"No, wait here." She whispered. Then, she makes her way to the stone pillar.
Joey, however, grumbled silently. Next, it wasn't much of a minute or two when a shiny red light caught his eye. He looks over and gasped! Sitting by a wall that is about a few meters away from him is a large, golden statue of an ominously baleful-looking idol holding a big ruby in his hands. To him, the ruby is so shiny and extravagantly irresistible, Joey couldn't help but look at it. "Wow. . ."
In the meantime, Serka had reached the last stepping stone to the rock pillar. Once she got there, she found that the pillar had a stairway that can take her to the mystic treasure and she began to climb it.
All the while, everybody else is waiting below. Baby Dragon is trying to pass the time too. "Hmm, this may take a while. Hey, Mr. Joey? How about we play a game?" But, when he looks around his surroundings, he's not next to him. "Hmm? Mr. Joey? Where are you?" Then, the realization hit him when he finds him slowly walking towards the ruby, never taking his eyes off it! "Eeep! Oh no!"
While this is going on, Serka has finally made it to the last step. She reached the large stone that had the golden scorpion. She looked idly at it as she approached the stone.
Back on the ground below, Kuribon, Tristan, Duke, and the Red Eyes Black Dragon took the notion of what Joey's about to do! "Quick! Restrain him!" The dragon urged!
"No! Joey! Don't!" Cried the two boys as they grabbed the Baby Dragon by the tail while he's trying to pull him by gripping his tunic. Kuribon also joined in. The Red Eyes tried doing the same by gripping Duke's tunic with his teeth!
At the top of the pillar, Serka stared at the scorpion's Eye of Udjat for one more second. Then, she grips her hands on the sides and firmly lifts it off the stone. "Oh. . ." She gazed at the particular item she is holding in her hands. She even treads fibers of the rope that's tied to the top of it too. "This. . . is it? This is where we came all the way down here to. . ."
Just when Serka turned around, she gasped slightly as her eyes widened at the sight of what's happening below! "Ah!"
Joey used the strength he had in him to pull himself away from Tristan, Duke, Kuribon, and the two dragons who are struggling to restrain him! He is heading for the ruby when he's not supposed to touch anything! "Come to papa!"
"Joey! No!" Serka screamed at the top of her voice!
But, it is too late! Joey went up to the statue and pried the ruby off its hands!
When that happened, everyone in the chamber heard a dreaded roar! "Infidels!" It came from the Sphinx of the cave!
Joey finally came back to his senses as he held the ruby once the roar was heard. "Uh oh. . ." He just realized his wrongdoing too late!
"Oh no. . . Look what you've done!" Exclaimed Red Eyes as he held the trembling Baby Dragon close to him.
Well, everybody else stood frozen in fear! Even Serka, whose heart began to pound rapidly!
"What. . . What's happening?" Tristan quivered.
"Kuri! Kuri!" Kuribon squirmed, feeling her fur standing on end!
The Sphinx roared again! "You have touched. . . the forbidden treasure!"
Joey made a nervous grin at everyone as he placed the ruby back onto the place where he picked it out from. "Uh. . . My bad. . ." He said sheepishly.
"Your bad is saying 'my bad'!" Shouted Serka from up on the pillar's top!
"But, Hey!" He protested. "I put it back to where it belongs, right?"
Suddenly, a defining rumble is heard as it resonates throughout the chamber's walls! This made everyone in the room both surprised and alarmed!
Just when Joey is about to say something else, he turned back to see both: the ruby and the golden idol dissolving into a puddle of raw molten material! He gasped at the sight of it too!
Then, the Sphinx growled one more time! "You will never again. . . see the light of day!"
Knowing now that something very bad is going to happen, Serka stuffed the millennium item into the patched pocket of her dress! After doing so, the stone where she got it from suddenly erupts into an enormous flame of fire right before her! "Oh dear!" Panicking, she began hurrying down the stone steps to get back to the others! She had to get out of this place with them and the locket, and fast!
Immediately, the rumbling began to grow louder and louder as the entire chamber began to shake! Rocks are falling down as the ceiling starts to cave in!
"Oh no! This bad!" Screamed Baby Dragon!
"Really bad!" So did the three boys!
"This is one of the cave's punishments!" Exclaimed Red Eyes! "We must flee from here!"
"But we can't just leave without Serka!" Screamed Tristan!
Then, all of a sudden, Kuribon bolted off past them! She is heading for the stone steps, squirming with panic while she's at it. "Kuri! Kuri!" she wanted to hurry over to her mistress!
As for Serka, she is about to come down the stairs to get back to the lower ground, herself! However, her running came to a quick stop when the steps suddenly change shape, sweeping her off her feet! "Ah!" She was pushed into the air before landing on her back, and once she knows it, she is sliding down the flattened slope of the pillar! Just when she reached the curved end, she was hurled into the air again! "Woah!" Once she looked down, she is shocked to have found that the lake had turned into a boiling pool of molten lava and she is about to fall straight into it! "Oh! Great Ra of Egypt! Save me!" Her mind screamed as she winced her eyes shut!
Just when it looked like it was all over for the young street girl, the Red Eyes Black Dragon came to her rescue, catching her from the fall! "Serka!"
Surprised that she didn't melt into the hot magma, Serka looked around for a bit. "Woah! This is some ride!" She quickly braced herself by holding onto the dragon's wings. However, she's not the only one riding him.
"Phew! Thank the gods you didn't fell in!" Said Joey, who peeked from behind her back along with Tristan, Duke and the Baby Dragon.
"Everyone!" Serka exclaimed with relief as she looked behind her back. Her friends were all there. . . except for one! "Where. . . where's Kuribon?"
The Red Eyes made a quick turn with his wings and flight power!
From above, Serka looked down and she found her furry friend, hopping over each stepping stone, one by one!
Kuribon had just reached the middle stone when she spotted the whole group in the air. Then, she hears a distant bursting noise from behind. "Kuri?" She looked back and she saw two stone steps bursting into pieces due to the heat of the magma! Then as she looked up ahead, the same thing is happening the last two stones! The process is also going to continue until it reaches the stone she is standing on! "Kuri!"
"Oh my gosh!" Serka gasped! "Hurry! We got to save her!" So, the dragon quickly dove down towards the pool! "We're coming, Kuribon!"
"Kuri! Kuri! Kuri!" The frightened little monster screamed for her dear mistress! "Kuri!" She can also see that two more stepping stones, one more in front and one behind her back have vanished into thin air and next, it will be hers!
When Serka and her friends have gotten close enough to the middle of the pool, she scooped Kuribon up! "I got you!" She did it just in the nick of time before the last stone burst into smithereens!
Serka quickly placed Kuribon onto her lap safely. "Whew! That was a close one!" She sighed as she looked back at the boiling pool below.
Then, the thing that they've never expected suddenly happened in the most frightful of things! The lava rose up into a large glowing wave and it is heading towards them from behind!
Everyone can feel the heat on their backs once they see it coming! Serka shrieked with alarm in her voice! "Woah! Red Eyes! Let's move!"
So, the Red Eyes Black Dragon carried everyone on his back as they flew their way out of the chamber to escape, for he knew there is no time to waste! He had to get them out of here before the cave crumbles back into sand with them in it!
As they flew down the cavern path, they found that the lava from the chamber is flooding its way after them! It seemed that the Sphinx wouldn't let them go so easily. Even if one has touched a simple ruby by accident!
Joey screamed crazily with panic! "D'ah! We're gonna die! We're gonna die!"
"Save the drama for later, Joey!" Serka shouted back.
They all continued down the path to escape! Then, Baby Dragon gasped! "Oh! Look out! Look out!"
Everyone gasped too! A fallen boulder is coming their way!
"This is nothing!" Red Eyes quickly ducks down while the others on his back do the same! The rock disappeared as it melted into the lava!
Everyone lifted their head back up. Then, Kuribon hopped onto Serka's face, blocking her view! "Kuri!"
Serka began trying to pull her away. "Ku. . . Kuribon!"
"Kuri! Kuri!" She continued to scream, still holding onto her head.
"Kuribon! This is not the time to panic!" She finally gets her friend off her face and places her next to her spot. But, her serious expression turned into a surprised one. "What?!"
Everyone is about to fly directly into what looked like a stone wall! "I take it back. . . ! Start panicking. . . !" Serka uttered slowly.
"Hold on tight!" Red Eyes told them.
Then, through some sort of illusion, everyone felt like they're flying up the wall towards a ceiling which turned out to be the floor! "Woah. . . !" After that, they ended up back in the same treasure room! They went through the corridor as the lava followed, covering the ground with it and melting everything in its path!
As they're hovering overhead, Serka reminded her friends, exaggerating. "I swear! Once we get out of this, I'm sticking to dancing for the sake of the public's entertainment!"
"Seriously?!" They all shouted!
Before anything else can be said, a large pillar of fire shot up from below! Several more pillars rose up like flickering hands in an attempt to catch them in their broiling grasp! Even the treasure, itself transformed into roaring flames! But, Red Eyes evaded them all as he continues to carry them to safety on their way out!
Outside of the cave, the storm in the skies has worsened! More thunder and lightning resonated through the clouds, and the winds have gotten stronger than before, sweeping up more sand!
The Arkana Dark Magician noticed the Sphinx roaring loudly as he slowly walks towards the entrance!
Red Eyes is almost there with Serka and the others just when the stairway is crumbling up!
Serka is about to hop off with her friends when a boulder fell on top of the black dragon's back, causing them to be thrown over to the ledge that is connected to the cave entrance! "Oh!" The boys and the two small monsters have made it to high ground, but she is hanging on to the ledge with both hands, trying to keep herself from falling back into the cave! "Oh my. . !"
Red Eyes had fallen back to the bottom of the cave. He landed upon a smooth rock surface next to the pool of flames with the boulder on his back! "Agh!" He even tried getting back up, but the rock is too heavy!
Meanwhile, Serka is struggling to climb back up to the surface, her arms and hands holding onto the ledge for dear life! As she tries perching her feet on to a spare step, it crumbled underneath! Then, she looks up and she sees the magician, looking at her from the entrance. She calls to him desperately! "Help me out!"
"Throw me the locket!" He shouted back!
"Please! I can't hold on!" She is now feeling that the strength in her arms is about to reach its limit! She tries reaching her hand out! "Give me your hand!"
Again, he demanded out loud! "First give me the locket!"
"Oh!" Now, it seems that there's no option left for Serka but, to save her need for later, she reaches into her pocket and pulls out the locket. "Here! One locket as promised!" She grunted as she tossed it up to his hand!
Once the magician caught it, he smiled wildly as he chuckled loudly! "Ah ha ha ha ha!" Then, he raised it up high into the air! "Yes! At last. . . !" He then places it inside his cloak.
As he looked back, he is seeing Joey, Tristan, and Duke trying to help their friend out by using his staff. Before they are about to pull her up, he shoves them away before grabbing the girl's arm!
Once she is jerked upward, Serka asked the man sharply and skeptically. "What are you doing?!"
He looks at her with a fiendish demeanor upon his face as he reaches back into his cloak while holding her firmly. "Giving you, you reward!" He answers as his voice toned down into a dark one. "Your eternal reward. . . !"
Serka's eyes widened in fear, for the Arkana Dark Magician pulled out a sinisterly sharp dagger. He is holding it over her, getting ready to plunge it into her heart!
Before he can make his move, Kuribon flew up and bite his arm while the Baby Dragon bites his leg and the boys gave his foot a hard stomp! "Yeow!" He cried out painfully! As he dropped the dagger, he also released Serka's arm!
"Oh no!" She is falling back into the cave!
The magician grabbed the two monsters and the three boys all together then shoved them back in as well!
"WOAH!" Along with Serka screaming, everyone is falling back into the underground, down, down, down!
Seeing them falling, Red Eyes struggles himself out from underneath the boulder, then he flies up to catch them!
They were all tumbling down a bumpy wall at first, then they fell unconscious upon the dragon's back. The cave continued to crumble down as they did so.
The last thing that happened is that the Sphinx made one more roar before returning to its previous form as a sandy hill. The rumbling subsided, the earthquake stopped, and everything is quiet.
The Arkana Dark Magician looked around for a few seconds, then he cackled wildly to himself again. "Heh, heh, heh, heh! It's mine!" Just when he removed his disguise, the magician revealed himself as Dartz! He had lured the girl all this way to get what he wanted before endangering her and her friends' lives! "It's all mine!"
However, when he reaches into the pocket of his cloak, his smile disappeared and his laughing stopped with a sudden gasp! "Hey!" He peeks into the pocket for a closer look. "Where is it. . . ?" Once he did so, a shocking discovery is made! The locket is nowhere to be found! "No. . . !" Dartz's hands shook with disbelief! Then he fell to his knees crying out to the dark sky! "NO!"
He was so close to claiming it and now it's gone! Once again, his hopes dashed. Now, the real question is, where is the Millennium Locket?
M.n.K: And. . . cut! Great job everyone! I was at the edge of my seat on that one!
Joey: Man! That was a lot of drama on that one, I can tell.
M.n.K: Of course. There isn't a good story without a touch of that, along with some mystery, chills, thrills, and adventurous moments filled with action, excitement, and danger.
Duke: Right you are.
M.n.K: Yeah. More excitement will happen in the next chapter. Also, a new face will show up too. While that's underway, feel free to leave a comment or a review. Until next time, I'll see you soon. ;)
