Genie of the Puzzle

10: The Magic Rug thing

Quickly but in a hushed nervousness, Yami and Joey entered the cave to be greeted by a long staircase. It was thin, with about a 50 foot drop around it, and it had no banister.

"Do you think that guy was just try'na scam us?" Joey asked, quiet for the first time in a long time.

Yami just continued down the steps, amazed by the hidden cave under all the sand. "I think he was serious." He was headed toward the bottom of the steps, seeing there was an illuminated room at the bottom. When he finally reached the bottom, he sat down to catch his breath.

Joey finally made it too, but looked ahead with wide eyes. "Yams..." He pointed.

Yami looked up, seeing shiny things from the ceiling to the floor. Treasures, gold coins, jewels, beads... Yami whistled. "Just a handful of this stuff will make us richer than the Sultan!"

Joey sped toward it, saying, "Then what're we waitin for?"

But quickly, Yami rushed to him and yanked his shirt, pulling him back before Joey could touch anything. "No, Joey! You know what the cave said: DON'T. TOUCH. ANYTHING."

"Yams, do you see this? We could really use this stuff! Besides, it's probably something it says to scare off thieves."

"Joey," Yami gestured for his to come closer. "Lean closer for a second."
Joey offered his ear, and Yami's voice boomed. "WE'RE THIEVES."

"Poor thieves!" Joey frowned, rubbing his ears. "Not even one gold coin?"

Yami shook his head. "Let's just find that puzzle. The old geezer said we could take anything we want after that."

He grabbed Joey's wrist and tugged him onward, deeper into the cave. Joey wriggled free, though, and, pouting, walked behind him.

As they walked on a rug, it awoke and began to float in the air behind them. It gingerly tapped Joey on the shoulder, then hid on the ground when he turned his head.
Hesitant, Joey turned back around and continued.
The carpet did it again, and Joey turned more quickly, but he just missed him.

Finally the carpet tugged on Joey's vest. He turned, eyeing the flying carpet, and shrieked.

The carpet hid behind gold coins, and Yami turned. "What's happening?"

Joey sped behind him and used him as a shield, pointing. "There! Right there! This thing is givin' me de creeps, man!"

Yami finally saw it after it peered around the coin pile, waving a nervous tuft of string. Yami's eyes sparkled. "A magic carpet...!"

"How do you know what that is?" Joey trembled. "That thing is just freaky!"

Scared, the carpet floated closer, and Yami stroked the fabric. "Come on, Joey, I think it's more scared of you." He looked closer. "Hello, little guy. Do you think you can help us?"

Ecstatic, the carpet did flips and spins and did a full rotation around Yami and Joey. Finally, after its little cheer session, it settled down and waited for instructions.

"See," Yami looked at Joey, who was still cowering. He looked back at the carpet and said, "We're trying to find this puzzle. Do you know where it might-"
Before he could finish, the carpet had been pushing them from behind, urging them onward and finally led the way, down a path through the Cave.

"How do you know it's leadin' us to the right place, Yams?" Joey asked,following swiftly behind the two.

Yami shrugged but kept running. "I don't."

***

Yugi sat on his bed, crying into his pillow. Jaden sat beside him on the floor, comforting him.

Solomon entered, sighing in relief at Yugi's presence. "There you are, Yugi! There were some rumors that you had been kidnapped and I was going to celebrate, but then I was informed that that'd be irresponsible of me, and-" he saw Yugi's tears and sat beside him. "Yugi, what's wrong?"

Yugi sniffled. "Grandpa, Ba-Bakura did something....awful...!" He blew his nose.

Solomon let him cry, comforting him. "There, there, Yugi. Don't worry, whatever happened, we'll set it right!"

Yugi looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "...are we supposed to, like...glue his head back on or something?"

"... His head?" Solomon was baffled, and concerned. "...what exactly did Bakura do...?"