"Fool!"

The Old Man could not believe his ears.

"My friend, I must go", replied the Prince, "If I do not, I will not survive. Even now the Dahaka hunts for me, I know it."

The Old Man picked up a highly ornate pipe and sucked on its end, releasing sweet-scented smoke into the tight air of the tent he sat in. The Prince leaned against one of the support bars, weary from the fatigue of outrunning the predator.

"The Island of Time is a dangerous place", said the Old Man, "And the Empress does not take well to the world of men."

"Which is why I need your help", replied the Prince, "If there is a way to undo what I have done, I will do everything in my power to bring it about."

The Old Man shouted, "Amir! You know full well you cannot change your fate! What is done is done!"

The Prince knelt now, grabbing the Old Man by his frail and ancient hand, and pleaded, "Is there a way?"

The Old Man pulled away his hand and took another puff on the pipe. "There is…"

The Prince grew excited. It was as if this small bit of hope was enough to refresh his broken spirit and give him the energy to finish his task.

"…On the Island, there are said to be many relics of power; things which were lost to man many centuries ago. Two of these are said to have the power to face up to, and even kill the Dahaka."

"What are they, my friend?" asked the Prince.

"The first is difficult to find. No man has ever managed to procure it, and even the Empress of Time herself knows not of its location. It is said to be able to kill the Dahaka, but leave a great hole within the soul of he who wields it… the Water Sword."

The Prince nodded in acknowledgement. The name was strange and surprisingly simple, and yet it supposedly held the power to stop an immortal beast. "And the second?" he asked.

"The second is a mask, one of many on the island", replied the Old Man, "It bears great markings, but carries no name. I warn you of this, Amir. It contains untold power, greater than even the Water Sword's."

The Prince grew afraid now, unsure of what he would next hear.

"It…" the Old Man coughed, "…it contains no power on its own. But, if worn and you are consumed by the beast that chases you, you will become him."

The Prince's eyes grew wide in shock. "Become the Dahaka?"

The Old Man nodded slowly and took another puff on the pipe, more pink smoke filling the air. "With the power of the Dahaka at your disposal, there will be none to stop you from doing as you please, and your endless chase will be over."

The Prince tried to comprehend the gravity of what he'd just been told. Becoming the very thing that hunted him was not something that the Prince even thought possible, let alone considered.

He stood up and stretched out an arm against the support beam. "I will travel to the Island of Time and prevent the Sands from ever being made. If there are no sands, the Dahaka will have no quarrel with me."

"Go then, Prince", replied the Old Man, "But know this: Your journey will not end well.

You cannot change your fate. No man can…"

The Prince thought back to this conversation now as he ran through a narrow stone corridor. The Dahaka's tendrils pierced through the walls on either side of him, just missing him as he passed.

The creature had found him yet again, now on the Island of Time. The beast always seemed to know where he was, and it annoyed the Prince greatly. He strengthened his mental focus, preparing to rewind time should the monster grab a hold of him.

He jumped down an open hole in the floor, just big enough for one man, and found himself sliding into a pool of stagnant water. The Dahaka brought his massive head over the hole and howled in rage as he slammed the floor with an obsidian fist. The Prince stared him down defiantly, happy for the water beneath his feet. He automatically felt the golden disc that sat in the middle of his breastplate. It was the first piece of the mask, the one the Old Man had mentioned, and it contained the ability to release the Water Sword, should he manage to lengthen his life nine times.

Was it possible? Could a man actually become the Dahaka?

Whichever way the Prince chose to remove his enemy from existence, this small piece of gold was vital. It was also the only thing binding him to the Sands of Time since he'd given up the Dagger…

The Dahaka left in a fit of anger, roaring all the way. Once the Prince could no longer hear him, he climbed out of the hole and stood erect, surveying the area before him. Much of the Island was broken and destroyed, and weeds and vines had overgrown and overtaken everything. He pondered now, deciding which weapon he would use to overcome the Dahaka and how much time he truly had left to get it…