A/N: So, yeah, don't own Genie or Carpet.

The length on this one was intended to make up for all those short chapters earlier. Besides, it took me a while to update, given that school hasn't given me much of a break since I got back. There's going to be some death in this chapter, though no one I think people will miss. Still, upped the rating a bit because of that. Enjoy, all.

Chapter 8: Raging Cage

Carpet cowered throughout the whole time the boy had bent over the dragon, evoking the roar-screeches of protest that could split one's eardrums in two [if he had them]. It reminded him of the man that he had been wished for by. The beady-eyed, magic hoarder that squandered his wishes on powerful supernatural concoctions and items, including him. However, when it came down to it, he wound up throwing Genie's lamp into a fire, because he no longer could give him any wishes. Given that the jinni couldn't do a thing about it, he had all but had a very audible panic attack [and turned the palest shade of blue that Carpet had ever seen]. When that happened, Carpet did two things he ordinarily would not have had the guts to do. One, he dove directly at the fire and scooped out Genie's lamp before it could melt [thankfully with only minor singes to show for it], and two, he flew directly out the window with the jinni-prison, never to see the man again.

However, things were noticeably different. While it was hard for him to stand idly by and watch, he hardly had a choice in the matter, seeing as he was pinned to the floor. It also wasn't hard to notice the fact that Ribadore's muzzle was still free, given that she hadn't moved to attack the boy. It suddenly hit the rug; the Healer was using Marid as a human shield from the dragon's wrath. No matter where the boy was, the Healer was behind him.

Suddenly, Carpet's world was thrown off-kilter when the river dragon's tail lashed furtively, and caught the table in mid-swing. The Healer, taken by surprise, dashed over to secure his find, this time with a flashing knife that had fallen from the table. Easily slipping into panic mode, Carpet reeled off to the flailing reptile, and knocked into the chains holding it's left forearm to the ground. Responding to the slack, her arm rose up, fully disconnecting the chains from their secure positions. Marid reeled back from the display [apparently the spell had not completely gotten rid of his self preservation], and the Healer's face immediately went from vengeful and angry [as he had finally managed to stick the rug when he jetted back from the stirring reptile] to shock and fright. Fumbling with Genie's lamp and holding it in front of him like a shield, his mouth formed the familiar phrase just before the dragon bore down on him like a five-star hurricane.

Genie, on the other hand, watched the scene with a mix of surprise, at the rapid shift of events, and rapidly growing terror, given that his lamp had just been placed directly in the path of the very angry dragon and her tormentor.

However, the Healer's half-uttered wish was cut off with a sick groan, as three steely ebony claws sank

The lamp, Genie's lamp, had been entirely missed in the onslaught. Each talon had purposefully given the thing a wide berth. Pulling her implements out, the dragon watched expressionless as the man's body fell, the lamp falling from his nerveless hands. For a long, long moment, all in the room were silent. Then, almost as though she remembered something, Ribadore turned to the still-stuck Carpet and deftly plucked the knife out.

Also remembering the fact that someone was here that should not have been, Genie turned to Marid, whose harsh aura was squashed as soon as the Healer died. Aside from the fact that his chest was rapidly rising and falling, one might have believed he was a statue. His eyes were suddenly drawn to the bright shade of blue that stood out against all the gray stone surrounding them. The boy's eyes were disbelieving, then grew hostile to mask the hurt.

"You did this. You-." The rest of the tirade remained to die in his throat, but Marid was not done speaking. "I-I wish for you to leave. Go away."

Cold, hard, and unforgiving as the words were, Genie did have the full intention of obeying them. After all, Marid was his master, like it or not.

Suddenly, the dragon descended on the boy, staring deep into his eyes, her own giving off an hypnotic luster. Almost immediately, the much smaller human slumped, falling into a deep sleep. Ribadore reached out, catching him with a partially skinned forearm before he could hit the ground. Genie hovered nearby, unsure of what to do or how to respond. Somewhere inside, he had to agree that Marid was right. If he had never come into the picture, none of this would have happened. The river would still be there, Marid would never have been taken in by the Healer, and Ribadore would not have had to go through…that.

Carpet hovered uncertainly behind him, flopping a bit in midair from the tear that adorned the side. It wasn't bad, but it was enough to make him feel lopsided. Almost absently, he braced himself against the blue djinn, but it didn't stop both from jumping when the river dragon unexpectedly spoke.

"I did this."

That…was not what Genie had expected at all. He had expected everything from rage to resentment. She had helped him, and this was the thanks she got [he was already very familiar with the human's idea of overlooking the jinni's ambivalence in the matter]? Despite the fact he felt it would be better if he simply zipped his mouth [literally] and stayed quiet, he couldn't help but find himself talking.

"I don't buy that. Heck, I blame myself more than you."

With alarming quickness, Ribadore turned and fixed Genie with a steely gaze.

"Enough. I don't have his view on the matter. If I had not left the river, even in human form, none of this would have happened. Marid would not have been tempted by my image, and you would not have been used."

He couldn't help but put up his hands in self defense. Her rebuke carried more of a scold than an insult, but the coldness in it was enough to make him wonder if speaking up had been a mistake.

He could leave, right now. Marid had wished for him to go away. And judging by the scene he was viewing, it would probably be a better thing for all of them. Passing a quick look to Carpet [wincing slightly when he saw the tear], he raised his hands, preparing to magic them both out.

"Wait."

Man, today was just full of surprises, wasn't it? The azure being turned back around, and was slightly perplexed by the sight that met him. The dragon carefully held the small golden lamp in one sinewy, blue-scaled paw.

"I might not be able to be fully pardoned, but I can at least fix some of this." She observed the scuffed lamp thoughtfully.

The villagers had been both terrified and awed by the sheer size of the stone dam that had been set across the spring from which the river flowed. The wall was part of the cliff around it and, at the same time, not, making removal of the thing crawl like a snail. Many were worried. They relied on the water from the river to irrigate their crops, as well as bathing and drinking. Without it, their little village would cease to exist.

Suddenly, a thunderclap sounded overhead, forcing all heads to the sky. A peculiar group of dark clouds hung in the air, drawing puzzlement out of the previous hopelessness. With what seemed to be a lightning strike, a bolt of electricity shot down at the dam, disintegrating it upon contact, and releasing the water that it inhibited.

A little while later, Marid mysteriously turned up at his family's house, claiming that the Healer had vanished in the night and could not be found. He had hardly and memory of what happened the night before, but after a thorough search of the Healer's house and property, the boy's story was proven true.

All through the excitement, no one noticed the small party of magical entities present on the river bank, partially obscured by a cloak of mist. The river dragon, the jinni, and the magic carpet all stood together, watching as the events unfolded.

"And life goes on." Ribadore spoke sagely into the silence, before turning to both Genie and the still tipsy Carpet. "My second wish is for his recovery. It would truly be a shame to confine such an entity to the ground."

It didn't take much, just a small burst of magic [and with a few clicks of a pair of sewing needles], and Carpet was zipping in the general airspace above them both, as happy as could be. Genie watched the rug with his usual bravado.

"Folks, the rug is in the house!"

However, the excitement was short-lived when Genie caught sight of a very familiar boy walking among the houses in the nearby village, doing what appeared to be chores of some kind.

"I-I wish for you to leave. Go away."

As Ribadore had pointed out, Marid's wish had never specified exactly when he was to go, but the jinni felt as though it wouldn't be a good idea to stay much longer. And besides, despite the fact the human had no memory of the wish, it was still valid [chances being that someone would sic the union on him, and above all, Genie did not want to deal with that]. Catching the look on the blue entity's face, Ribadore spoke up.

"Any idea where you will go?"

"Don't know. I hear Albuquerque is nice this time of year."

Carpet seemed to notice the somber mood, floating down to hover next to his azure friend. Ribadore thought hard for a moment.

"Have either of you heard of the Cave of Wonders?"

"Yeah. Big place out in the desert, only the pure of heart can enter. Guarded by a spirit of the desert. What about it?"

"Why not go there?"

For a few seconds, Genie floated there like a nitwit, staring at the dragon as though she had just recommended that he jump in a pond of hungry piranhas. Then his brain caught up with the fact that no, it was not a joke, and yes, she was waiting expectantly for him to answer.

"I don't…I mean…"

Rather than be disheartened by his response, Ribadore seemed to grow even bolder.

"Think about it. Only the pure-hearted may enter, and remove certain objects within. You might actually get an honest master, for once."

An honest master? Something about that rang a longing note for him after this mess. Still…the thought of going on as someone's servant, as a slave. It definitely knocked his mood down a few notches. Before he could stop himself, Genie blurted out something that had been plaguing him for quite awhile.

"You think any master coming through there could ever be pure-hearted enough to…well…free a jinni?"

A long silence went through the group, during which Carpet reassuringly patted Genie's shoulder with a tassel. Just when he thought the dragon had either not heard him or wasn't going to answer, she replied, the wear from the previous day and a half creeping into her voice.

"You will get that which you desire, Genie." Then a flicker of humor passed over the tired, scaly face. "You've earned it, that is certain."

"So, we believe in karma now?"

"Karma? No, just a good feeling." Then the wit passed, and the azure reptilian face turned serious. "If that is what you want, it will be my final wish."

Once again, Genie was verbally stunned. No one had let him make the choice, not before.

Interesting thing about Genie's character, to the point where it comes up in the TV series, is that he has a hard time with going against the popular demand of the group, or the person that. Handling the complex planning is probably something his other masters always did. Chances are he was more shunted around than in control of the situation.

In any case, this is almost done, just one more chapter to round it off.