(Wooh! It's been quite awhile since the deletion, but I now bring you the seventeenth chapter to the story! Enjoy!)

About Saeedeh: I'm sure most of you think Saeedeh acted very out of character in the last few chapters. While I haven't emphasized on that, all that much, but her plan to create one, perfect timeline for her and her mother is almost complete. When both the Alternate Kaileena and the Past Saeedeh survived, however, the spirit became angry, furious at the fact that her past self did not experience the losses she had; it was unfair.

One Last Chance:

Chapter Seventeen

Farah had been the first to re- enter the palace, quietly. She had changed much in the seven years since she was first entangled with the Sands of Time, and it showed.

She had let her hair grow, to the base of her neck. Her eyes had narrowed slightly, and the loose bang which would hover before her eyes had been combed back, no longer acting as such a nuisance.

Massoud, however, had taken a moment outside to contemplate on the events that had transpired. He had sat against the wall to the left of the entrance doors, lowering his head to look down at the ground.

"How could I… let myself be used in such a way… Could the powers of Time really be able to mend the scars of the past, entirely? Ladan, why did it have to turn out this way…?"


A beautiful, healthy baby boy had been born to a wealthy Persian family in the suburbs of Babylon. The family had owned a wondrous estate, but tragedy comes when least expected. One fateful night, a horrific fire occurred and burned down the estate, killing the boy's father and mother. The flames had spread throughout most of that part of the capital, and the boy would have met the same fate, had he not been saved by a man.

This man had managed to save a one year- old girl as well, and he took them both to his small home in the slums of Babylon. This man, while in poverty, was a merchant who, even in difficult times, tried his best to raise the two children as if they were his own.

He named the boy, Massoud, and the girl, Ladan, which had been the names of his own sister and brother.

Massoud and Ladan would spend most of their time together, playing and helping the man with things. One day, though, Massoud got lost. He was, at the time, only six, and ventured off too far into the city. He somehow ended up in the gardens of the royal palace, and there stumbled upon the youngest son of King Sharaman.

The two spoke for awhile, and quickly became friends, and after the Prince was called in, Massoud snuck out and eventually found his way back home, even though he was scolded.

Massoud regularly found his way back into the gardens, spending time with his friend. The boy was happy, content with his life, until his adoptive father became seriously ill…

The man was bedridden for four years, and Massoud and Ladan were forced to search for work, despite their young age. Unfortunately, the man died, but the two somehow managed to survive in their small, ragged home, but that changed as well.

One day, when Ladan had went off to obtain some food, Massoud was busy working, and he had patiently awaited his adoptive sister long until after nightfall, she never returned.

For two days she never came back, and Massoud could only think of the worst. He never saw or met Ladan again, even by the time he was fifteen and requested for a job as a servant at the royal palace.


Massoud sighed and leaned his head back against the stone wall. "If only I had gone with her… We could have both survived and worked at the palace, looking out for each other…"

He was suddenly brought from his thoughts by the shuffling of a person nearby.

"S-Sir…? Oh, thank goodness you are still alive!" the past, alternate Kaileena exclaimed. Massoud stood up, turning to see the woman running towards him. He was actually startled, for once you have witnessed a person dying, it is extremely peculiar to see them alive once more.

"What is the matter?" he inquired as she grasped his arms. "Please… We must search for my daughter, Saeedeh, she… disappeared!"

"Disappeared…? How?" Massoud questioned as Kaileena backed away and regained her composure. As we were running from the palace, she tumbled, and I lost grip of her hand. She had fallen, and then there had been a sudden pain in the back of my head. When I looked back, she was gone, nowhere!"

Massoud glanced around and nodded. "I see… Well, then you'd best come with me so we can explain what happened."


"He… went alone?" Farah asked again as Arad nodded. Massoud and Kaileena were standing nearby, barely entering as Farah had spoken.

"I handed him the Dagger, and he used both of those swords to create what seemed like a 'tear'. He then jumped through it, and a few minutes later you all walked in."

"I do not believe it… What was he thinking?" Massoud thought aloud before walking up to the present Kaileena's body. "That fool! Who knows where he might've gone too!"

The past Kaileena had silently eyed her alternate's body as the past Prince stepped up, still clutching the cut. "I know this may be late, but what is going on here? That demon, that girl, those swords…?"

Massoud nodded. "Yes, well, just, please, listen. It is a difficult story to comprehend, but listen, listen well…"

"So, then, my daughter is responsible for most of these events?" Kaileena asked, her voice cracking slightly.

"Unfortunately, yes, and we must find a way to stop her, or at least try to understand what she is hoping to accomplish."

Arad cleared his throat. "If this is all true, what other way is there to follow my brother?"

Massoud shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure. From what I can see, Farah's amulet is gone and the Sands are no longer present in this timeline, so I can think of no other option left."

Kaileena sighed. "Perhaps, but even if you used the Sands of Time it would not help… which is why I believe this will." She then reached behind her neck and unhooked a golden necklace, removing it and dangling it in the air.

"When I was a child, my adoptive father gave me this necklace as a gift. He was very ill when he handed it to me, and my brother was sick as well. Neither of them survived, however…" She stopped speaking and smiled. "No, that is not important. My father told me the gem was told to have powers over time itself, but even though it was merely a legend, it may be your last chance."

She approached Massoud and placed the gem around his neck before backing away. "I may not know the true meaning behind this, yet, it is, partially, my responsibility, so I'd like to assist in any way I can."

Massoud stared at her for a moment before nodding. "Thank you… but how are we supposed to know any of the legends around it are true?"

"This way," answered Farah as she held an identical necklace in her hand. "W-Where did you get that?" Massoud demanded as she placed it in his hand.

"The Kaileena from our time and place still had the necklace, so I suppose more than one similarity is present within these alternate realities."

Arad thought for a moment. "If that is the case, than perhaps both of the gems work like the blades?"

Massoud nodded and held the separate jewel close to the one hanging from his neck. He then forced both to touch. Their ruby colored surfaces clattered as the palace began to tremble.

"W-What is this?"

"It must have triggered something!"

The two objects remained touching and broke from Massoud's hand and neck, floating in the air in the spot where the Cobra Sword and Water Sword had met.

"They are reacting because of the swords! It is true, they are similar…"

Both shattered, revealing an endless, crimson hole in the air. "They must be leading to my brother!" Arad cried out as Farah approached it. "How do we know it is safe? This could be anything…"

"Yet it is the only thing we have left," stated Massoud before walking up in front of the hole. "Are any of you coming with us? Arad?"

The man shook his head. "No, I must stay here and attempt to mend as much of the damage as I can. This, is in your hands."

Massoud nodded as Farah glanced at each of them, frowning while beginning to enter the hole. Within moments, she was gone, and Massoud could only examine the manifestation.

"This is it, then… Ladan, I am sorry…" He then turned back to the others, looking at Kaileena for a moment before walking into the light.

(sigh My returning chapter is a crappy chapter…)