Genie of the Puzzle

20: Prince Yami, meet Prince Sassy

My sleeping schedule has been weird lately so please don't judge a chapter by its title and never bring this up to me in the near future

"Splendid!" Solomon vigorously applauded Yami and his exiting entourage with a wide smile on his face. "Absolutely marvelous!"

Yami stepped off of his carpet and pushed his jacket/cape behind him. "Your majesty, I have journeyed from afar to seek your grandson's hand."

Solomon hopped from his seat and eagerly shook Yami's hand. "Prince Yami Ababwa! I am delighted to meet you!" he gestured to Bakura behind him, and said, "This is my royal vizier, Bakura, he's delighted too!"

Bakura wore a scowl. "Ecstatic."
To Yami, he spoke in a bitter tone. "I'm afraid, Prince Abubu-"

"Ababwa." Yami corrected him, although he wasn't sure why the genie wanted that name for him so badly.

"Whatever." Bakura frowned. "You cannot come parading in here, uninvited, and expect to-"

"By Ra, this is quite the remarkable device!" Solomon inspected the magic carpet, who sprung his facial hair with its tassel-hands. Laughing, Solomon looked to Yami and asked, "I don't...suppose that...I could...um...hm?" He pointed to the ceiling, and Yami nodded.

"Why, certainly, your majesty. Allow me." He bowed and helped him onto it, fighting back a grunt of pain from the sudden weight against his hands.

Before the carpet took off, Bakura stepped on it and said, "Sire, I must advise against this."

"Oh, lighten up, Bakura." Solomon pouted. "Learn to have a little fun!" He pushed against Bakura's leg and took off while Bakura face planted onto the ground, having Marik snicker behind him.

It was quite nauseating just to watch; the Sultan did flips and spins in the air, hanging on to the threads of the carpet.

Getting back up, angrier, Bakura asked 'Yami Ababwa', "Just where did you say you were from?"

Hesistanting, Yami replied with, "oh, uh...much...farther than you've traveled, I'm sure..!" he smiled with his sparkling teeth in hopes that it was enough to cover up his lie.

Marik and Bakura both gave him a glare. "Try me." Bakura spat.

Quickly they both ducked as Solomon flew past their heads.

However, the carpet started chasing Marik, who ran as fast as he could, yelling and screaming "Ah! Watch it! Watch with the feathers! Don't touch me!" Finally, ducking so the carpet flew over his head, he sighed in relief. Still, he skidded across the floor and smacked into a pillar.

"Im coming to land, Bakura! Watch me! Watch this!" he laughed and spun on the floor after the carpet dropped him off. "Oh my!" he gasped and laughed. "That was...! I think I'm having another one of those heart attacks...!"

The carpet, dizzy, walked around, flopped onto Joey's trunk and hung there.

Solomon stood up and pinched Yami's cheek, who smiled but inside wanted to hit him. You dare touch my beautiful face with your old, wrinkly hands!?

"This is a very impressive youth!" The Sultan chimed, and grinned from ear to ear. "And a prince!" he nudged Bakura and whispered, "If we're lucky, you won't have to marry Prince Yugi after all!"

Bakura took him by the shoulders and pulled him farther from Yami, whispering, "I don't trust him, sire-"

"Nonsense!" Solomon broke free from his grasp. "One thing I pride myself on, Bakura, is that I'm an excellent judge of character!"

Marik muttered, "Excellent judge, yeah, sure...NOT."

Hearing people in the throne room, Yugi peered from behind the drapes to see who was there and why they bothered.

"Yugi will like this one!" Solomon smiled at Yami.

Yami, now back to his cockier side, held his hips and gave his most charming smile. "And I'm sure I will like Prince Yugi."

Bakura stepped in between them and quickly intervened. "Your highness, no! I must intercede...on Yugi's behalf." He hip-checked Yami to the side. "This boy is not different from the others!"

Yugi began to walk closer, but remained unnoticed by any of them.

Bakura got right up in Yami's face, spitting his words. "What makes him think he is worthy of the prince?!"

Yami simply smiled and pushed him back with his hand. "Your majesty, I am Prince Yami Ababwa! Just let him meet me! I will win your grandson."

That really set Yugi off. "How dare you! All of you! Standing around, deciding my future?"

They all moved from each other, awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other.

Yugi grumbled, "I am not a prize to be won!" Then he stormed back out like a sassy lil panda.

"Oh dear..." Solomon grimaced, then took Yami's arm. "Don't worry, Prince Yami. Just give Yugi some time to cool down...might be that time of the month for him..."

Bakura stayed behind as they walked off, but still he grumbled to himself, saying, "I think its time to say goodbye to Prince Abubu..."