Kingdom Hearts

Ch. 51

Agrabah

The Cave of Wonders

Donald and the others huffed and huffed trying to keep up with Sora. The young keyblade wielder sprinted across the desert without slowing down. He kicked the sand in the air with every step he took following the golden trail left by the insect. The bug flew over a sand dune moving out of sight. Sora effortlessly ran up over the dune. The others who were already too tired to run anymore slowed down before walking up the dune. They made their way to the top catching up to Sora watching the golden bug split into two again. They circled around a hill of sand placing themselves in the front of the hill resembling a pair of eyes.

Sora ran up to the hill first. When he did, the ground began to erupt. Sand from all around flew into the air. Strong winds and trembling grounds knocked Sora to his feet. The strong wind threw Sora back from the hill of sand which began to rise into the air. Sora was knocked back towards his friends who fell to the ground helplessly. The sand then began to change shape as it morphed into the head of a tiger with bright yellow eyes.

Aladdin looked in fear as the tiger head began to move. The monolith made of sand jaw began to open. Its nose sniffed the air and its ears twitched left to right. It began to growl staring right at Sora. It spoke with a deep and echoing voice.

"Who disturbs my slumber?"

"By Allah, the Cave of Wonders. Just like in the story," said Aladdin quietly to himself. Abu hid in Aladdin's vest shivering in fear. Goofy rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Tarzan did not know what to think. He remained silent staring into the tigers eyes. Donald shivered in fear as well hiding behind Goofy.

"We woke you. Good Morning," said Sora bluntly.

"It's nighttime!" everyone else shouted in the back. The tiger head breathed slowly before speaking again.

"Know this, all those who touch the forbidden treasure. Will perish here forever. Proceed if you may. But all those who chose to enter shall seek the diamond in the ruff."

"The diamond in the ruff. You mean like the true treasure of life isn't gold or money but personal and sentimental things we've gathered throughout our lives? Is that what you mean?" asked Sora folding his arms.

"Sure, why not," said the tiger head.

"What is wrong with this guy?" asked Aladdin.

"You know. After a while you just get used to it," said Goofy getting on his feet.

"Proceed," said the tiger head opening its mouth like a gate. Sora jumped on the tiger's lip and looked down its throat. Orange and yellow light illuminated from the throat. A long row of stairs formed when he lifted his foot over the tongue.

"Hey, everyone its good. You can come on in," he said calling out to his friends. Aladdin and the others got up and made their way to the entrance. Abu peeked out through Aladdin's vest still shivering. Donald also felt a bit nervous choosing to remain in the back. When they caught up to Sora he pointed down showing them the entrance.

They turned nodding to each other before heading off down the steps. The throat of the beast lead the group down to a large cavern as the steps ended in front of a great doorway with light shining from it. They all made their way down the stairs with Sora in front. Followed by Aladdin with Abu under his vest. Then Tarzan, Goofy, and Donald hanging in the back.

They made their way to the shining door. They walked through the door looking up to see what was reflecting the light. They slowed down as they entered the room as their eyes couldn't handle what they were seeing. Upon entering they all maneuvered their hands over their eyelids before witnessing what lay before them. Mountains and mountains of gold decorated with jewels and other treasures sat untouched. The room seemed to have no end as mountains of gold raised over head. Abu jumped out of Aladdin's hood with eyes sparkling. Donald also creaked his head out from Goofy's back. Seeing the treasure drowned all the fear he had before.

They dashed towards the nearest treasure about to grab it. Aladdin shouted, "Abu!" The monkey froze in his tracks while stepping on a beautiful carpet. This didn't faze Donald as he went for a beautiful red jewel in a treasure chest. He almost touched the jewel before Tarzan leaped at the duck grabbing his head slamming it on the floor. "Donald no!" he said seriously.

"Don't touch anything," Aladdin told the two of them.

"C'mon Donald. You know better than that," said Goofy walking off with Aladdin. Abu gave a frustrated scowl at Aladdin. Donald did the same after being smashed to the ground. Placing one hand under his chin and tapping his fingers on the floor. Tarzan removed his hand after Donald promised to control himself.

Donald got up mimicking Abu's behavior. As the friends headed off the carpet that Abu stood on began to move. It was a multicolored carpet, mostly of purple and gold with a distinctive pattern depicting the Cave of Wonders in all four corners and flames along the top and bottom and a gold pattern in the center that appears to consist of four swords and eight small genie lamps It floated in the air looking at the group as they moved on.

The Carpet floated down behind Donald who was in tow with the others. It reached out with its tassel like hand grabbing Donald by the tail feathers. He pulled a feather out of Donald's tail causing the duck to squirm and scream. "Baahahah!" he shouted jumping into the air grabbing his tail. The Carpet went limp falling to the ground.

"Shshsh," the others said in front of him.

"But-" said Donald pointing behind him. He looked to see only the dead carpet on the ground. The others headed off again ignoring Donald. "Must be my imagination," he thought. As he stepped forward the Carpet began to move again. It hovered over Donald's head as the duck kept his eyes peeled.

The Carpet then grabbed Donald's cap hoisting it off his head. Donald new something was wrong. He took his hand and felt for his hat but it was not there. He looked around before tilting his head up. He saw the Magic Carpet wearing his hat despite not having a head. Donald screamed loudly running forward to the others crashing into Goofy. "Donald what ya doing?" shouted Goofy.

Donald grabbed Goofy's head positioning it in of the direction of the carpet. The others looked back to see the Magic Carpet peak from behind a pile of treasure. "Wow, a Magic Carpet," said Aladdin slowly.

The Carpet grabbed Donald's hat dusting it off before giving it back to him. Donald swiftly took the hat from the Carpet placing it on his head. "Yeah, get lost. Scram!" he shouted.

The Carpet gave off a depressed look walking off with its top half folded over. "Donald that's not nice. Maybe he can help us?" said Sora.

This caught the Carpets attention turning back towards the group. "A real life Magic Carpet. Normally I'd say that now I've seen everything. But-" said Goofy.

"But if you had a nickel for every time you had the opportunity to tell that joke. You'd have more money than all the treasure in this room," said Jiminy finishing his sentence.

"Hey, come on you don't need to go. Come here," Aladdin said to the Carpet.

The Carpet slowly walked towards Aladdin. Aladdin stretched his hand out. The Carpet then touched the palm of his hand nervously at first. But when it knew Aladdin meant no harm. It became excited flying into the air then around Aladdin's waist. It then went to the others.

"Why hello there," said Goofy shaking its tassel.

It did the same for Tarzan and Jiminy. Donald remained stubborn turning his back towards it. The Carpet got closer to him causing Donald to say, "Buzz off will you." The Carpet then brushed Donald's neck tickling him. Now smiling Donald's mood changed pushing away the Carpet laughing a bit.

Sora steeped forward grabbing the Carpet. He felt around it's smooth textures looking at the patterns knitted on it. "A real Magic Carpet. I wonder what it's doing here." Hearing these words caused the Carpet to flail over again.

"Aw you must have been trapped here all alone for years haven't you. That must be horrible. I can't think of anything worse than being separated from the people you care about. Are you lonely?" he asked the Carpet. The sentient fabric nodded. "Don't you worry from now on will be your friends," Sora said smiling. The Carpet became flattered flying up spreading its corners out in cheerful excitement.

Aladdin moved forward asking the Carpet, "Say can you help us were looking for a lamp that's supposed to be here." The magic carpet scratched it's top. It then flew into the air pointing down the path.

"Alright guys let's go," said Sora following the Carpet. The others walked behind him in single file line. They all stayed on the path watching out so they accidental don't touch any treasure. They came across a small dark doorway leading to a great cavern. The Carpet flew through the dark door disappearing into the darkness. The others followed before they came into a large room with a shallow pool of water around them. A small path stretched across the pool separating the water into two separate sections. At the end of the path a giant red ruby glowed despite the lack of light in the room. It was the biggest jewel any of them has ever seen before. Donald and Abu gazed at the beautiful stone with it reflecting from their eyes. It was placed in the palm of ape statue with sharp teeth.

"That's the lamp it's more like a light bulb," said Sora scratching his head.

"That's a jewel not a light bulb," yelled Jiminy. The Carpet flew in front of them waving to get their attention. It then flew to the left side of the pool and pointed down in the water.

"Is there something over there?" asked Aladdin stepping towards the water. The Magic Carpet nodded. "Okay if you say so." Aladdin then entered the waist deep pool walking towards the Carpet.

Sora stepped to the other side of the pool. "I think I'm going to go swimming."

"What. Now!" shouted Jiminy.

"Yeah, I'm hot. I'm tired. Besides, I think I still have sand in my pants," he said turning around.

"Well leave me out of it," said Jiminy hopping from Sora's shoulder to Goofy's.

Sora then dropped like a rock falling back first in the water. "Ah, it's so nice. You have to try this guys." Sora kept his eyes shut smiling. He floated on his back slightly kicking his legs moving him through the water. Tarzan then took off his coat and dived in after him taking a nice little swim.

"Geeh, I wish I brought a bathing suit. I bet you don't have a problem with swimming in your clothes do you Donald?" said Goofy. Without hearing an answer, he turned to Donald to see his friend was gone. He looked over towards the monkey statue with the jewel to see Donald and Abu hypnotized by the red gem They both reached out their greedy hands attempting to grab it. Goofy jumped up in fear while seeing them get near the ruby.

Aladdin felt around the water till he discovered a small metallic object placed at the bottom of the pool. He moved his hand around the object till he felt a tiny handle which he wrapped his finger around. With both his hands he lifted the object out of the water. In his hand was a rusty plain lamp. Aladdin examined the object carefully. "This is it. It looks just like a piece of junk. What do you think guys?"

Aladdin turned to the others seeing Goofy struggling to hold back Donald and Abu by holding onto their tails. "Abu no!" shouted Aladdin as their tails slipped out of Goofy's hands. Donald and Abu rushed towards the glowing jewel. As their fingers were inches away from the ruby. Two wet and beasty hands appeared behind their heads. Abu was grasped by the first hand. While Donald was slammed to the ground with the other. It was Tarzan who leaped out of the water to stop them. Tarzan hit Donald so hard the room began to shake. Sora burst from the water after hearing the slight vibrations.

Aladdin gave off a sigh of relief. The ruby held up by the monkey statue still tilted from the trembling. Without warning it fell from the stone apes hands before almost hitting the ground. Goofy threw out his hands catching the ruby before it hit the floor. He held it up to the others. "Phew, that was a close one."

The others looked at Goofy with confusion and white blatant eyes.

"INFIDELS!" shouted the voice of the Cave of Wonders. Goofy shoke lowering his head. "Uh oh."

"YOU HAVE TOUCHED THE FORBIDDEN TREASUE!"

Goofy smiled nervously placing the ruby back in the hands of the monkey statue like it was never taken in the first place. The ground shoke harder than before as the ruby and the statue began to melt turning into molten lava. Goofy scared for his life ran away from the fiery liquid. "Yowch!" shouted Sora. His submerged legs began to burn as smoke protruded from the water. Sora leaped up into the air removing his legs from the boiling water. He landed on the path with the others. "Safe," remarked Sora whose skin turned red, and smoke lifted from his clothes.

Aladdin began to feel the boiling water over his feet as well. The Carpet came to his rescue. He hopped on top of the Carpet placing the lamp in his pocket. The Carpet flew to the others waving its hands calling for help as the rocks around turned hotter. The entire room lit up like the inside of an oven as the floor around them transformed to molten rock. Jiminy hid in Sora's hood while Donald climbed on Tarzan's shoulders. Abu was waving his hand from atop Goofy's head as the Carpet flew past them. Sora and the others hopped on the Carpet as it flew by. Despite carrying seven individuals the Carpet did not seem to mind the weight. The passengers came close together trying to fit on the tiny square Carpet.

Just as they did the floors turned to molten lava while giant rocks fell from the ceiling. The Carpet flew away with blistering speeds through the crumbling caverns. They made their way back to the treasure room as a tsunami of lava followed them. Flying straight into the treasure room. Gallons of basalt poured in through the room from all the entrances.

"You guys I can't see. But I smell roasted duck," shouted Goofy. The horrified monkey Abu wrapped his arms around Goofy's head covering his eyes. Donald felt it get hotter around his tail. He turned around to see a molten wave of burning rocks getting near them. Donald screamed when he looked to see his tail has caught on fire. He casted blizzard putting out the flame.

Aladdin shouted back to the others "Guys this is no time to panic." He turned back around in front of him as the Carpet flew through the door, they came in only to see a giant stone wall right in front of them. "Start panicking," he said while he and the others looked blankly at the wall.

The Carpet then flew upward over the wall while everyone screamed.

"WOOOOHHHHHOOOO!" "YYYAAAHHOHOHO!" "BAUGHBAUGH!" "AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" "YYYAAAAHHHHHOOOOOO!"

The Carpet then began making its way back to the top of the cave. "Look the exit. I can see it," said Sora pointing to the sand tigers throat. The starry night was visible through the hole. The tiger roared one last great roar before slamming its mouth shut returning to dust. Seeing the only exit they had had vanish the gang gave off faces of numbness.

"Well dang," remarked Sora speaking in a dead voice. The Carpet already flying at blistering speeds could not slowdown in time before crashing straight into the stone wall. The gang smashed face first into the solid limestone before falling back to the bottom of the cave.

The heat and lava subsided on the cave floor the tiger head disappeared. The Carpet quickly gained consciousness quickly flying back down catching Aladdin before he hit the ground. And in an instance, everything went black.