Alright, this is the companion story to "Are you in, or out?". It is the story of the Prince's second journey to the Island of Time and the complications that arise when he gets there. I will do my best to fill in non-gamers and those who have never played the Prince of Persia series, but I still believe that looking up the wiki articles for "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time", "Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within" and "Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones" and reading at least the plot summaries would be better than the bits and pieces I have to give little by little to keep the story's pace up. By the way, certain flashbacks can be viewed on YouTube, I'll post links at the end of the chapters if you want to see what the prince saw. can be found at: Anyway, here we go!

My Mentor Breaks His Pots

Prince's POV

Thunder cracked and rain pelted the hull of my ship like thousands of liquid arrows. Although I had pulled my cloak's hood up, I could still feel the sting of each individual drop as they struck me mercilessly. I felt a pang of consciousness, my faithful crew had been sailing with me for months now, through the Sea of Monsters in search of our destination. They had borne the weight of every problem this ship had faced and, even now with this terrible storm whipping freezing rain into their faces and the thirty foot waves rocking the ship, they let not one complaint slip from their tongues.

The Captain, walked out of his cabin and surveyed the carnage. "This storm shows us no mercy!" he shouted, his voice wavering from exertion. "We shall respond in kind! Reef the Mainsail!"

He began walking towards the mast to watch the crew rig it up, but I held my arm out and pulled him closer. "Bring us closer to the wind." He nodded, unquestioningly. I stared out at the water, the Sea of Monsters could read minds, it knew exactly where I wanted to go, and it was showing me the way. All I had to do was beat its challenges.

The storm clouds were shifting, swirling quickly, taking on almost solid shapes. Wait a minute, I thought. Those aren't clouds, that's a ship! There it was, sailing not a hundred yards away, I could even make out the crew, though that fact didn't cheer me up in the least. They were humanoid, but their skin was a pale, grayish, rotting color. Truly ugly faces that were close to human, but held distinctly demonic traits. Beady, black eyes. Short horns were growing out of their foreheads, mouths in permanent scowls. I could hear them yelling, growling in their throaty voices. They all sounded like they needed some eucalyptus for a cold. Most held swords, a few manned giant catapults loaded with flaming rocks.

I noted a dull light emanating from elsewhere and saw that Farah's medallion was glowing. I promptly placed my hand upon my sternum, where the golden trinket was embedded in my armor. That glowing could only mean one thing, Sand Demons. And if they were here-BOOM! An impact rocked the ship. A flaming arrow had pierced the side of the hull, then another, and another. Ropes where trailing from behind them and then grew taught as the demons on the other side pulled with all their might. It only took a moment to realize they were reeling us in like a giant fish. The Captain sensed the imminent danger and drew his blade, holding it high, "Ready your weapons!" and all Hades broke loose. Men were running up and down the ship, some searching for swords, some trying to make sure the ship didn't capsize in the storm.

Our ships were now sailing together, touching at the sides, the entire crew of sand demons had gathered at the walls that separated our ships. All of them screeching, daring us to come closer, to attack. My crew stood before them, gathered at the walls, shouting battle cries and knocking their swords together. I looked over their heads and then I saw her. A women about my age, dressed in an outfit that would make Aphrodite blush. Black fabric managed to cover her more private areas and snake down her legs to knee high boots, but that was all there was to her clothes. She carried two scimitars, which made me wonder why she dressed so scantily, she was a warrior, but she looked more like she belonged in my mortal father's brothel.

The half naked warrior slowly made her way across the deck to the rail. Her black hair whipped in the wind, but through all the chaos and tension, her dark eyes never strayed from me. She was pretty, honestly. She had a beautiful body, and a cute, if curt face. She reached the railing and stood amongst her demons and, without a waiver in her voice or a moment's hesitation she gave her order. "Kill him!"

The demons scattered, blades flashed and five of my crew died before they could even draw their swords. The demons released their catapults, and flaming boulders crashed against my ship. All around me my crew were battling the evil creatures. A pair of them charged me and quickly found themselves decapitated by my blade. Five more surrounded me and began to egg me on, goading themselves into a false sense of security. I reached up to my collar and pulled a string. My cloak caught in the wind and was carried off to Zeus knows where.

The demons now found themselves facing a six foot tall back haired Persian price wrapped in leather armor, wielding a royal sword in one hand and a dagger in the other. My sash danced in the wind and one of the fools was distracted by the quick moving red fabric, he soon found out that he should have kept his eyes on the birdie. The others then found similar fates. I turned around, a giant pile of flaming cargo lay in front of me, I ran around it, cutting through another demon.

Above me, in the crows nest, my lookout was squaring off against three of that woman's men. He swung and cleaved off the head of one, but another clubbed him over the head and he slipped over the edge. "Oh, shit!" I yelled, bracing for the impact. The lookout landed on top of me and the deck gave out, sending us crashing through the floor and into the cargo area. I rolled over, moaning in pain.

The area was flooded, at least six inches of water covered the floor. I glanced over beside me, the lookout was dead. I stood up and began my trek up towards the bow. Just ahead, in the room I judged was just under the Pilot's wheel a demon stood waiting for me next to the steering pole, he didn't have to wait long. I charged. He stood his ground and readied his mace. "I don't have time for this!" I yelled. The demon screeched and lashed out. I knocked his weapon to the side and drove my dagger straight into his heart. The creature crumbled, literally. He was nothing more than a demon created out of the Sands of Time. He finished turning to dust, and his essence was then absorbed by Farrah's medallion, fueling my powers.

The only passage left was the one that led back to the stern, but I had only walked down it fifteen feet before I was sent flying onto my back, the wall exploded out front of me. Boards creaked and splintered, water poured in through new cracks. I recognized the bow of a ship coming through the new hole. Those little curs rammed us! I thought. There was room enough for me to get through, but I knew if I wasn't fast enough, the pressure of the water would hold me against the wall and I'd drown. So naturally, I jumped through head first.

Finding myself in the mess hall I sighted in relief. To my right was a rope I knew held the secondary bow sail in place, I grabbed it and swung my sword, the rope snapped. Through the air I flew until I drove my sword into the mast. The thick material slowed my fall from what I judged to be at least fifty feet up. I landed on the floor, and I fought my way towards the bow. That's when I noticed her, she was standing on the upper deck, next to the pilot's wheel. The woman still wouldn't take her eyes off of me, it was like she was fixated, obsessed even. The Captain held his blade high and charged at her from behind, hoping to catch her off guard, she wasn't.

The woman spun around and the Captain suddenly had one leg, he fell over the railing and landed on the deck below with a sickening crack! I lost it, I charged up the stairs to the side, a demon guard stood there, he swung his sword at my neck, I blocked it with my dagger and threw him off my ship. I finished climbing the stairs and stared down the woman. She glowed with pure venom. "You will never reach our shores alive!" She declared, waving a scimitar in the air for emphasis.

"For your sake, you better hope I don't!" I charged, she held her ground and waited. I swung my dagger and found myself blocked, I rolled it off and kicked out on the rebound. My boot caught her gut and she flailed backwards, windmilling her arms to maintain balance. I again charged, hoping to take advantage, but she wasn't as out of it as she appeared. I swung my sword and she again blocked, throwing it to the side and lashing out with her other scimitar. I backed away quickly enough to keep my life, but a searing pain ripped through the right side of my face. She smiled.

"You Bitch!" I tore at her again, swinging both my dagger and my sword at her in a criss-cross strike. She rolled back and pounced forward, attempting at my throat again. I knocked the blade aside and jumped off her knee, then off her shoulder. Spinning in midair, I kicked her head and slashed at her back. The kick connected, but she managed to avoid the slash by ducking forward. She spun around and I bought my sword forward in an arc, hoping it would come down on her forehead. But she made an X with her scimitars and caught the blade.

Caught in a power struggle, I was stuck using one arm against both of hers. Neither of us budging in the least. Finally, I managed to gain some headway and powered her own blades towards her. I thought I'd gained the upper hand, but she smiled. "It seems the Empress overestimated your abilities." She'd caught me off guard with that particular name.

"The Empress?" I questioned, my strength faltered for just a fraction of a second, but that was all she needed. She twisted her scimitars, pulling my sword out of my hand, throwing it into the wall, where it stuck. She then kicked me in a very dirty spot, and lashed out once more with her leg. I fell over the railing and into the waiting clutches of a stormy sea...

.

.

"Hey Prince, wake up!" Someone kicked my side. "Hey! We've reached Cuba!" My eyes snapped open, the sudden light, though a dim red, hurt them, but they eventually focused and I saw and old friend standing over me. He sported a full black beard, a pair of really expensive sunglasses and a military cover(A/N: A "Cover" military is jargon for baseball cap.)

"Yeah, yeah. I'm up, I'm up." I sat up, tilting my head to crack my neck.

Chip frowned. "Sounds like you were having one hell of a nightmare, man." I snorted and shook my head. Making myself more comfortable on the bench of the C-130 aircraft the US Navy SEALS had so graciously let me hitch a ride on. Like they didn't owe me one, and then some.

"More like a hell of a flashback." He nodded understandingly, a military man to the bone; Chip had seen his fair share of combat. He knew what it was like to have old memories haunt you in your sleep. "You said we're here?" I inquired as I slid my sword onto my back.

"Yup, we're about to touch down. Welcome to sunny Cuba" He cocked his rifle. "I just wish it were under better circumstances, drug raids and border patrol just ain't as fun as hookers and booze. Well... sometimes it is..."

"Only when big things either explode, collapse, or get set on fire." His squad mate, Lt. Jackson finished. Another SEAL smacked the Lt.

"You 'tards! You'll really take getting shot at over fine Cuban senoritas?" He elongated each syllable of the last few words, getting a rise out of the rest of his team. Plenty of hooting and cat-calls followed.

"Say Prince, what 'choo doin' way out heya' anyways?" chief Doyle asked, leaning forward. "Last time we saw you, you was busy blowin' up Al Queda cells in India."

"Got some unfinished business. Same old same old, assholes need killin'." The chief just laughed.

"You and me both pal, you kill somma them fuh me a'ight?"

"Can do." The bay door in the back opened, releasing the sunshine and allowing a breeze to flow through. I waited for the team to get out before extracting myself. The heat was intense, it almost reminded me of Persia, even the sand and the bright blue skies looked familiar, then again, technically, this was Persia. Or at least, the essence of it, as geographically, Persia is now Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan. But the citizens who still practice the old ways were shrouded in the mist, living in sparsely populated areas in the southeast corner of the Cuba, moving with the west.

Chip walked up to me, and we headed towards the exit together. "I don't know what's going on, man." He said quietly. "But I know with you, there's always something bigger and more dangerous than what you let on. You heading into the Sea of Monsters?" I nodded. Chip was a son of Ares, I'd known this guy forever and I knew he always trusted his gut.

"Yeah, gonna go hunting. Got some bad monsters stirring in there, gonna take them out."

He raised an eyebrow. "By yourself?"

"No. Not exactly... You could say it's personal, Chip. Let's leave it at that, just know that these two are an eleven on a scale ten threat level."

"Shit." He summarized. We reached the exit gate of the compound and he stopped and grabbed my shoulder. "Look, Prince. I know you've been around, and you don't need me to say this, but watch yourself. I'd go with you if I could, but we've got our own missions. So good luck, and don't get dead."

"Semper Fidelis." I said, shaking his hand.

"That's the Marines!" He called out as I walked away.

"I know, but I still mean it!"

.

.

Ancient Babylonian architecture lay all around, chariots filled the streets, merchants called out to me from their windows, begging me to purchase their goods. Babylon hadn't changed at all in 4000 years. I walked quickly, knowing exactly were I was going. The same place I went the last time shit hit the fan. The Old Man's house.

The Old Man was a legend amongst my people. He has lived even longer than I, yet he's as mortal as any common man. He was rumored to have once been a champion of the gods, it could explain his longevity, but somehow I don't think he was. For one, he's half senile. Wise as Athena one could say, of course, that one may just get blown up for saying that.

I searched the streets until I found the familiar dwelling. A rundown, crumbling mud house, the color of dry earth. I knocked on the door and a moment later it opened. Out front of me stood an elderly looking man, with a cane, dressed in blood red robes. A well sized gray beard hung from his face, and his eye sockets were dark as night with age. These same eye sockets enlarged when he notice whom his visitor was.

"Ah, Prince, please come in. Welcome, welcome." He held the door open so I could enter. The interior was dark, as he'd placed silken curtains over all the windows. Pots and vases littered the shelves. He wobbled over to them and began searching for a specific one. "Can I help you, sire?" He asked.

"The Dahaka. He's back. He's reformed." The Old Man maintained his search, scanning shelf by self, looking for his ingredients. Wrinkled fingers wagging back and fourth.

"You want to know if he'll resume his duties."

"I released the Sands of time."

"'Whosoever shall open the Sands, must die.' The Dahaka, he is the Guardian of the Time line. Four thousand years or four seconds, it means nothing to him. You were supposed to die, so he will catch you, and see to it, that you meet your fate."

"I know this, you know this!" I exclaimed. I leaned against the wall. "I went to the Island to stop the creation of the Sands, but by using the time portals there and killing Kaileena-"

"The Empress of Time? Nonsense! You brought her here, to Babylon upon your return."

"By killing Kaileena, I created the Sands a thousand years before the Maharaja raided the palace. I used the mask of the Wraith! I used my second chance to bring her to the present, so when I'd kill her, it'd be after they'd ransacked the palace. The Dahaka attacked, and I used this sword-" I shook it for emphasis. "-to kill him! Kaileena died when the Vizier killed her, he should have no quarrel with me!"

"You have seen the face of time, my Prince. You know as well as I, that it is not a straight and narrow river, but an ocean in a storm. You may have changed the course of fate but the past-your past-still exists. And so does your fate. You opened the Sands, so you must die." He found his vase, and pulled it off the shelf. I wondered how he could be so calm about all of this.

"There is one other thing... the Vizier, he's reformed as well." He dropped his vase, it shattered on the floor. Ashes spilled out, coating the rock and billowing up in clouds.

"These are indeed grave times we live in." He sighed. "If Kronos has indeed made an alliance with the likes of him... this shows how far he is willing to go this time. He must be stopped, Jafar can not be allowed on the battlefield come wartime. The Dahaka is already enough to deal with, without a false god seeking vengeance."

"My thoughts exactly."

"What are you planning to do?"

I shook my head. "Last time, I killed him with the dagger. But I... no longer have it."

"Where is it? How irresponsible of you, my prince!" He exclaimed, raising his arms.

"You think I knew Jafar was running around?" I began, offended. "Besides, the time line demanded it's giving, or lives would be lost!"

"And how many more by Jafar's hand! It took the entire city just to get you inside the gates of his palace. The sand monsters slaughtered countless people!"

"I know! They were my people! They died for me!" I cried and collapsed in a chair, defeated. I buried my head in my hands. "Now Farah's gone off to the Island to fight them both by herself!" The Old Man sighed again, and grasped my shoulder.

"Well then, all this sounds like a day's work for our heroic Prince then, hmm?" He encouraged. He leaned against his staff and waited for my response.

"I'm no hero, but I can help. I will help. She won't like it, but to bad for her. Going up against those two alone is suicide!" I got up and started towards the door. I could sense the old man smiling behind me.

"Go then, my Prince. But remember, you cannot change your fate. No man can..."

So... there's the first chapter, I hope it's to your liking. Don't worry, I'm not gonna milk this fic, it's just a companion story 7-10 chapters MAX. It's only here to explain some things about the Prince that have already been established in this world, it'll also explain major plot points for "Are you in, or out?"

The video for the flashback at the beginning of the story can be found at: www. youtube. com /watch?v=D26AmgXtkU8 (Just remove the spaces and paste into your address bar.)

And you can disregard the first minute and twelve seconds, sorry, I couldn't find a link without the chase scene. But the chase scene has very little bearing on the story, if any. Though I suppose you could use it to paint a picture of the Prince.