Approaching the Cave of Trials
Carpet was no longer flying thanks to Genie- who was keeping to himself, feeling miserable. Genie had turned into a big blue Viking ship.
Sitting at the front of Carpet was Iago, Abu and Xerxes, who all seemed to be deep in hushed conversation, Cassim- leaning against the edge of the boat-was looking at them, eyebrows raised as all he could actually hear of their discussion was the occasional outburst from Iago. He gathered they were making fun of the palace guards.
At the other end of the boat, Jasmine was sitting down. Aladdin lay unconscious beside her. She had his head against her and was stroking it gently, looking at all the rings on his skin.
Meanwhile Mozenrath had his elbows propped up on the side of the boat, looking at everything passing below, which at the minute was just ocean.
Mozenrath looked at Xerxes talking to Aladdin's dumb pets. He felt odd without Xerxes flying above his shoulders. Mozenrath wondered if he could ever be that comfortable around Aladdin...
"And what have they ever accomplished? Nothing! They have never managed to do anything successfully." Iago yelled.
"Uh huh." Abu said, followed by some chattering.
"Oh yeah. I forgot they've tried to kill Al... how many times?" Iago paused and Abu began to count off his fingers.
"Kill Aladdin?" Xerxes looked confused. "Kill- not guard?"
"Yeah, well they guard royalty only. Not Al and his loyal friends." Iago grumbled. Cassim chuckled to himself. Mozenrath watched him, frowning. He had to admit, his, Cassim's and Aladdin's face shapes were similar... and his eye colour was definitely the same as Aladdin's... it was obvious now that Aladdin's irises were covering his whole eye.
"Land ho!" Genie the boat called.
Mozenrath quickly went to the front of the boat. He could see a huge rock shaped similarly to a large bowl. In the middle was another rock- the entrance to The Cave of Trials. He glanced back at Aladdin and Jasmine. Aladdin was still unconscious.
He had a good reason. Destane is really hitting him hard this time. Mozenrath found himself thinking. He looked around at everyone else, as if to see if anyone was overhearing his thoughts.
Genie anchored himself to a rock in the middle of the 'bowl'. He then turned into a slide, and everyone slid down it. Iago wasn't too pleased. ("I'm moulting enough as it is. I don't need any more input from you. Blue moron.")
A yelp from Aladdin caused everyone's attention to snag back to him. Two tiny horns had sprung up on his forehead above his eyebrows. Mozenrath's jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed. Destane was clearly hurting Aladdin- and soon, Mozenrath. He couldn't let that happen.
Aladdin sat up. "Oh boy." He muttered, putting his hand to his aching head. "Ouch!" Aladdin instantly yanked it back again as he pricked it against one of the horns. As Aladdin examined his hand, he then saw the claws, the rings and his tongue touched his pointed teeth. He looked crestfallen.
"Aladdin, it's all right. We'll find he cure." Jasmine said, smiling encouragingly. Aladdin tried to breath easier, and lay down, head resting against Jasmine. He then abruptly sat up, eyes wide, mouth open.
"Aladdin? What is it?" Jasmine asked, worriedly. Aladdin just simply stared at the spot he had been resting his head on.
"The baby. The baby kicked. I felt it." Aladdin said, a smile spreading on his face. Jasmine looked at him and smiled. She squeezed his hand. "I'm going to be a father."
Iago flew onto Aladdin's shoulder. "Took ya long enough!" He yelled into Aladdin's ear. Aladdin flicked him off.
"Hey Al, we can talk about the bundle of joy later." Genie said softly. "Right now, I think we should get going." Genie turned and pointed to the large rock. Aladdin slowly got up, and edged towards the rock cautiously.
It was then a creature came out from behind the rock. It was a horse, a light, sandy colour. It had light brown swirls and patterns on its body. The creature had a black, curved horn coming out of its head. Its mane was thick and wavy, and its tail was thick and vine-like, with a feathery puff of hair sprouting from the end. Everyone ran to Aladdin's defence- even his older brother, but they were blocked by a swirl of wind, that flew around Aladdin and the creature like a tornado, stopping anyone from intervening.
"Greetings." The creature said, dipping its head. "My name is Deja. Do you believe you are worthy to enter and survive The Cave of Trials?"
Swallowing, Aladdin spoke. "I hope so. I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't really important. I need to find the Blade of Separation to stop the spell that is upon me. If I don't, I won't be able to control my actions any more, putting other people in danger."
Deja smiled, and the sand ring dropped to the ground. "Your words are not selfish unlike those many others. You wish to obtain the Blade in order to prevent yourself from hurting others." Deja regarded the others. "All seem worthy to enter, except you do not have enough people to get through."
"We were hoping we could get a look at the type of person who could enter before we chose someone who could be unworthy. Is that allowed?" Cassim asked.
"Perfectly." Deja said.
"Wait a second!" Jasmine said suddenly. "I'm pregnant, does that count as two?"
"No. I'm afraid not. Not until your baby is old enough to have accomplished something on its own." Deja lowered his head, and his muzzle touched Jasmine's stomach. "You're lucky it doesn't work that way. It would make things complicated later on. You'll understand once the baby is born."
Deja turned and walked over to the rock, and brushed his horn against it. The rock began to move. It moved into four different sections. Each rock had several different openings, all different shapes, all with different writing beside them.
Deja indicated with his horn. "The rock on the far left is for animals only. The next is for those of another Cave. The rock on the right of this one is for those whose appearances are deceiving. Finally, the one on the far right is for those considered royalty in some way."
Deja trotted over to the rock for the animals. It had three holes. "I need the most faithful familiar, the Liberator and the vanquisher of a cruel master."
"I faithful familiar." Xerxes flew up eagerly and hovered next to a hole.
"Oh, ugh." Abu grumbled, climbing up beside a rock. There was once a village was being terrorized by a prehistoric beast, and according to a prophecy,the only one who could save them was the Liberator, who was Abu. Abu had defeated the monster.
"And I stopped Jafar. Great. And here I was hoping I was going to be forgotten." Iago flew up beside the section he was to enter in. Iago had stopped his old master, Jafar, by kicking his lamp into lava, melting it and thus destroying Jafar.
Deja wandered over to the next rock. "This rock, the entrance for those who are from another Cave. I believe it is the Cave of Wonders that you two originally left." Deja looked at both Genie and Carpet. "Am I right?"
"Er, yes." Genie said. "Ten out of ten!" He held up a large piece of card with the number ten on it in black.
"This is the entrance for the Genie of the Lamp." Genie immediately flew up to the hole. "And this is for the one who is the exception to the rule of the Cave of Wonders." Carpet flew up hesitantly.
"Huh?" Abu asked.
"Wait a minute- The Cave of Wonders said 'Touch nothing but the Lamp'," Aladdin said, thinking. "But Carpet didn't count. He wasn't a part of the forbidden treasure."
"Oh." Abu said.
"Now this is for those considered a type of royalty." Deja continued. "I need the Princess of Agrabah, The Ruler of the Black Sand, and The King of Thieves to step forward."
Jasmine smiled weakly at Aladdin, and her hand slid down his arm, then down to her side. Jasmine walked forward as confidently as she could. Mozenrath and Cassim approached the entrance too, leaving Aladdin standing alone.
"And finally, the entrance for those who are more than what they appear- a two who are known as street rats," Deja looked at Aladdin. "I need the Diamond in the Rough, and the Witch of the Sand."
"I'm... the Diamond in the Rough? What does that mean?" Aladdin asked, puzzled. He had never heard himself being called that.
"That's what the Cave of Wonders calls you. You are the only guy who could enter the cave. You obviously had to have a special name." Iago called.
"Oh. And a witch of the sand... would that be Sadira?" Aladdin shook his head to clear it. "Yes, it must be. Genie," Aladdin said. Genie sprung up and saluted. "Go get Sadira and bring her here."
