Summary: Judge Wo Fat is searching for the key to wealth and power, though said 'key' is more of a 'lamp'. A beaten, dusty lamp that has lost its shine and may or may not contain a genie. When Prince Daniel goes on an unauthorized walk in the city and gets himself in trouble, Wo Fat seizes the opportunity to use Steve (lowly palace guard and good samaritan) to his advantage. But it all goes wrong when Steve refuses to hand over the lamp and is left trapped inside the Cave of Wonders and now this new 'Prince Steven' has arrived on the scene to win Daniel's hand and he seems awfully familiar...

Thanks to LandonRichardson for the beta and cheerleading.
Major kudos and thanks to Mr-Ksan for the artwork! Please head to ao3 version to see with integrated artwork (linking images here is something I can't work out how to do if it's even possible!)

Story written for the 2016 H50 Big Bang.

"This is where the Spirit of the Ring led us." Wo Fat stood out on the sand plains but saw nothing extraordinary. If the Cave of Wonders was here, it was well hidden.

"I'm just saying, are you sure you trust the broad? She lives in a ring and she hates you." Victor Hesse stood alongside Wo Fat, tired out from their journey and wishing he had a staff to lean on like his boss did. It could be worse; he could be the stupid thief they'd brought with them who was trailing behind. The fat, useless, buffoon.

"It's here," Wo Fat answered, calm and cool. He twisted the ring in his hand and with a puff of smoke, a woman appeared in front of him. The Spirit, dressed in flowing blue pants and a jewel encrusted bikini top was certainly attractive, but she hated that Wo Fat was her owner even as she helped him.

"Well?" Wo Fat asked, waiting on her to answer. "We're here."

"I can see that," she said, sounding bored. "Give me a minute; I need to link with it telepathically before it'll appear. Don't rush me." She closed her eyes, crossed her arms and concentrated, her eyes screwing up as she did so and then there was a rush of wind around them, the sand whipped up, and before them rose the cave, with its head of a saber-tooth cat.

"Who dares approach the cave of wonder?" It asked, in a deep, booming voice that echoed over the desert. "Only the diamond in the rough may enter."

Their hapless thief finally caught up with them, panting, hands on his knees. "What does that mean?"

"It means you, you fool," Hesse said to him, pushing him forward. "Go get our stuff."

"Bring me the lamp, the other riches you can keep for yourself," Wo Fat stood, eyeing the cave.

"I wouldn't mind a bit of treasure," Hesse mumbled, but his place wasn't to question Wo Fat, and they were partners, so whatever Wo Fat got from the Genie was sure to benefit Hesse too, more than some gold from the cave would. At least, he kept telling himself that.

The thief approached the opening in the cave's mouth with trepidation. A huff of air came from inside and almost blew him backwards. He stepped in, worried about what might happen… and nothing. He turned back to the two men.

"See? Perfectly safe," Wo Fat assured him. "The lamp. Fetch it."

The thief turned back, fully inside the mouth of the cave. He took a few more steps and then there was a grumble, and the mouth of the cave closed. The two men and the Spirit of the Ring watched as the eyes lit up in a fiery yellow and red mix, swallowing the thief whole and descending into the sand dunes again.

"Only the diamond in the rough may enter," it spoke again, echoing around them.

Wo Fat looked at the Spirit.

"What?" She asked, with a shrug. "All I do is lead you here, the rest is up to you."

"Who is the diamond in the rough?" Wo Fat asked pointedly, spelling it out in order to get a straight answer from her.

"I don't know," she said slowly, sarcastically.

"You must know something? You and the cave are connected," Hesse said, frustrated.

"All I know is it's a he. And that he's a good man, and probably lives close by which means he's in this kingdom. Find him, and you can get your lamp," she blinked and disappeared in another puff of smoke.

"This may be more complicated that I thought," Wo Fat grumbled.