An Odd Grouping

Carpet flew forward hesitantly. What could be awaiting him around the corner? This tunnel was designed to test him in particular, so it probably contained his worst fears...

As Carpet rounded the corner, his light purple patterned form shook with apprehension. Fire, moths, scissors... then he stopped. He mopped his 'brow' with one tassel.

The next part of the tunnel had no floor- the first trial was just a big hole in the ground- well, actually it was a huge hole, around sixty feet. No problem for him though. Reading the sign with non-existent eyes, he realized he had to get across the hole and over the other side.

Carpet glided over the hole with ease, then he noticed a sign on the other side. All ten will face this challenge also. The next challenge will be facing your worst fear.

It was then Carpet began to worry. How were his friends going to get across? Still worrying, Carpet flew deeper into the dark cave, then hesitated. Worst fear? What-

CRASH! Carpet was crushed under a huge avalanche of rocks. He struggled, but he couldn't get free. Carpet silently grumbled to himself. How many times did he get pinned under rocks? It was irritating, but hardly his worst fear...

It was then Carpet saw the moths flying along. They were heading this way, and they were going to get him... he began struggling, but couldn't get up. The moths flew closer...

Abu hopped along, quietly humming, until he came to a huge gap in the floor. There was no way he could jump it...

No problem. He was a monkey. Abu climbed around the wall around the edge of the gap and climbed onto the other side. He spotted the engraved rock- he peered at the writing on it:

All ten will face this challenge also. The next challenge will be facing your worst fear.

Abu stared, open-mouthed for a moment, then shrugged. He couldn't read. He rounded the corner, then froze. The next room...his worst nightmare.

The room was filled with gold monkey statues, all in different poses, all holding a big, red jewel. Some were holding their jewel in their golden tails, some in their paws, and others had their arms wrapped around it.

These were his worst fear, as not only were all the golden statues were similar to the one from the Cave of Wonders, they also all looked like him. It was his worst nightmare- Abu, becoming the gold treasure he adored so much, having people sell him, steal him, stare at him... Abu screeched, and then fainted.

In their tunnels, Iago, Xerxes and Genie simply flew over. Genie was immediately captured in a tiny bottle, whereas Iago and Xerxes were met with seemingly empty rooms.

"So where's my worst fear?" Iago said apprehensively. He glanced around, then understood. "Oh, I get it. I'm scared of having nothing. No wealth at all. Huh, boring."

Part of the rock fell away, and Iago continued flying, until he found another sign- Now, you shall meet up with some of the other ten.

"Just as long as it's not Mozenrath or his creepy eel. Hope it's Abu...wait, what am I saying? I would rather not risk fleas, thank you." Iago muttered.

Xerxes flew around his empty room slowly, looking for his worst fear. He spotted a skeleton in the corner. He flew over, and realized the skeleton was wearing old, mouldy versions of Mozenrath's clothes.

"Master? Gone?" Xerxes wailed. "No!" He sniffed the skeleton, then frowned. Xerxes batted the skeleton with his tail. "Just dust." He said as it disintegrated. The rocky wall opened, and Xerxes hesitated, before flying around the corner- smack - into Iago.

"Yeurgh!" Iago spluttered, flying backwards, wiping dribble off of his beak. Then he groaned. "Oh, great. It's worm-boy."

"Found parrot." Xerxes said, ignoring Iago's comment. Iago sighed, and looked over Xerxes.

"Anything back there?"

"No. There?"

"No- I think we go..." Iago looked up, placing a single feather/finger to his chin. "Up there!" He pointed at a hole in the ceiling. Xerxes and Iago quickly flew up, and froze.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Iago screamed. Then he breathed out. "Phew, thank heaven. I thought it was a room full of monkeys."

Xerxes and Iago looked around the room- which was full of golden monkey statues- Abu's fear trial. Iago headed over to one of the statues, clearly intending to take a ruby.

"No! Found monkey!" Xerxes called.

"Huh?" Iago turned to look at Xerxes, and Abu, who was lying unconscious on the floor.

"Monkey!" Iago went over and shook Abu, but nothing happened. Iago grabbed Xerxes and slapped his tail across Abu's face a couple of times.

Abu gave a shriek and sat up. He promptly shrieked again when he realized where he was. He began talking to Iago in his chattering way.

"These statues are what you are scared of most, and if you touch them they turn to lava?" Iago said, raising a black eyebrow in disbelief.

"Uh-huh!" Abu insisted. He chattered again.

"And they are all statues of you?" Iago rolled his eyes.

"Uh-huh, uh-huh!" Abu said.

"Yeah, I believe you, monkey. Not. You just want all the treasure to yourself." Iago said angrily.

"No, no!" Abu cried, grabbing Iago.

"Not good idea." Xerxes croaked, wrapping his tail around Abu and flying upwards.

"Ah, shuddup." Iago said, reaching for a statue. His feathers brushed it. Instantly, the cave began to shudder, and the statues began to melt into lava.

Iago hastily took flight, and flew next to Xerxes, who had Abu wrapped up in his tail. Abu began chattering furiously at Iago.

"What? Like you've never done it." Iago retorted. "Ah!" He gasped, dodging a fireball, that whizzed past him. The room began to fill with lava. "Argh!" Iago screamed. "Make it go away!"

Xerxes looked at Abu. "Only monkey can."

"Huh?" Abu said, his eyes growing big, and bottom lip poking out.

"Lava go when monkey not scared." Xerxes promised.

Abu paused, then clenched his fists – including his feet, gritted his teeth and shut his eyes. Slowly, the lava began to drain away, into nothing, and the door opened. The three of them went through eagerly.

They found themselves in a large, circular cave. In the centre was a stone table, which had a small pyramid resting on the top. A white light shone down on it.

"Well done." Deja's voice came from behind them. "You will now wait here until the other seven arrive to face the final trial, but first you will face another one."

Abu, Iago and Xerxes jumped, then turned to look at Deja apprehensively.

"I will show you some memories, ones that may cause you to separate. Your task is to try to stick together." Deja finished, then swung his head, his twisted black horn slashing the air, making an image appear.

Iago, Abu and Xerxes saw flashes of themselves whacking each other. As Aladdin sneaks up on Jafar, trying to get Genie's lamp, Abu muffles Iago's shouts. Abu knocking Iago out, Abu and Iago wrestling with Xerxes... the images continued, until finally, they stopped.

The three of them looked at each other, then roared with laughter.

"AH HAHAHA!" Iago laughed. Abu sniggered, and even Xerxes cackled. "You really are good at this, aren't you, Abu? Always distracting the evil sidekicks whilst Al sneaks up on the bad guy."

"Glad you three handled it so well." Deja said. "But will the others be able to do the same?" Then Deja disappeared into the shadows.

"Uh oh." Abu said, and chattered to Iago.

"Oh no. Mozenrath and Al..." Iago said.