"You're joking right? This has to be one of your idiotic training exercises. Does anyone else believe this?" Vida spouted in disbelief. She couldn't believe that Udonna and Daggeron would honestly tell them that her boyfriend and sister were meant to be together.

"We aren't joking Vida, this is a very serious matter." Udonna bit her lip in a rare sign of worry. If Madison and Nick were the sun and moon entities, disaster could tear the Rangers apart. Vida was about to start on another rant but Udonna glared the teenager down. Vida glared back, then at her sister, but sat back against her boyfriend.

"So what do we do?" Chip nervously rubbed his jeans. This love triangle was way too complicated for him to take, and he had a feeling Xander felt the same way.

"Well Chip the only thing we can do is study, and wait until the Master makes his move."

"So what in the mean time we just wait here like sitting ducks? That doesn't sound too great for those of us who want to live." Xander criticized.

"I agree with Xander on that."

"Thank you, Clare." Xander smiled at the witch in training, who smiled back.

"It may not sound like the best idea, but if we study ancient histories and spells, we'll be better informed for when the Master does strike." Daggeron explained. He did not like the idea of being reactive either, but what choice did they have.

"Okay so we hit the Mystic library and see what we can find, sounds like a plan." Nick stood up and began walking towards the hallway when Daggeron stopped him.

"No Nick, Vida, Chip, Xander, and I will "hit" the library. You and Madison need to find out anything you can about your previous lives."

"O-kay, and how are we supposed to do that?" Nick looked puzzledly at his mentor.

"Joint meditation, you and Madison are going to meditate together. This might help you tap into your incarnations and relive portions of their lives." Udonna explained while mixing a potion to help them focus their energy.

"Fine, we do the boring book work while they practically get to sleep." Vida got up from the floor and marched into the Mystic library. Everyone shook their heads; this was going to be an awkward mission. Xander, Chip, and Daggeron followed the pink ranger, Udonna set the potion in between the two remaining rangers and ushered Clare out of the room. She closed the door and left the two teens to their meditation.

"So, this is awkward." Nick tried to break the uncomfortable silence that constricted around them. Madison only nodded her head; she was still trying to process the strange turn of events. Being a ranger she could handle, being shy, awkward, and weak she could handle, but she couldn't handle a prophecy involving herself and the guy she wished would notice her. It seems him ignoring her was something she should have been used to, considering he had been for thousands of years.

"Maddie-"

"Let's just get started Nick." The red ranger shuddered at the hollowness of her voice. Of course this must be hard on her, but did she ever think that he was struggling with it too? It's not as if he didn't like Madison, it wasn't that at all. It was just that Vida had made the move while he was still trying to figure Maddie out. It had seemed like she was into him, she would always encourage him during battles, but when he would start to make a move she would back off. He was wondering if he had misread the signs when Vida kissed him. It wasn't like he hadn't liked Vida too; she was just a totally different girl. With Vida there was always this spark between them, like wind and fire just worked together. With Madison he'd always felt unsure, she was raging one moment and calm the next.

"Yeah, let's." Nick sat on the opposite side of the small bubbling bowl Udonna had place on the floor. He crossed his legs closed his eyes and opened his mind. Madison did the same, but stole a quick glance at his handsome, relaxed face before she too slipped into a peaceful comatose state.

…

"How many times will you refuse me, Princess?"

"As many times as I must, as many time as you ask." The princess smiled gently at her counter-part. He smiled back, lacing his fingers through hers. The beauty pulled her hand away, not wanting to encourage his ill-fated advances.

"My heart aches every time you reject me. Must I watch as suitor after suitor comes in hopes of gaining your hand?" The princess turned her head away, sorrow encompassed her eyes. She looked to the stars and counted the constellations. Her counter-part strode softly behind her looking over the granite balcony to the sleeping city below them. The sands danced with the winds, stirring desert creatures from their hunts. The cool winds blew the princess' hair wildly, causing the scent of jasmine to waft throughout the room. Though improper, the princess allowed him to run his fingers through her silky hair, curling strands around his fingers. The man let his hand drop from her crowning glory and wrapped his arms around her curvaceous hips. Allowing herself a moment of weakness, the princess leaned back into the strong arms encasing her.

"You know we are forbidden. I must marry a prince, it is law. I cannot dishonor my father's reign."

"The king never has to know." The man's husky baritone rang over the silent desert. The princess' eyes burned with unshed tears. She wished very much to forget her royal destiny and marry the captain of her guard; he was a good man who would bring honor to Persia, but her father had other plans. He wanted to unite the East with Persia to rest the soldiers before he moved on to Alexandria. The easiest way to do that would be for her to marry a prince or king with many connections. Her father was power hungry, yet did not want to waste any more than he had to.

"He would find out, the eyes of Arishtat see all; he would not allow his servant to be tricked." The princess turned to face him, wishing he would be content in guarding her life.

"I could challenge him for your hand, that would be in accordance to law."

"You would have to kill him, and I could not bear the thought that my father was murdered for my greed. No, I am a princess; I must sacrifice all for the well- being of my people." The man gazed in her eyes, searching for any inkling of doubt. Sighing, he found none. He was loathed to admit she was right.

"Your name was chosen wisely Afsar; you will make a great queen." Afsar bit her lip; she wanted badly to throw honor to the sands.

"Suhrab, I believe you would make an honorable king." Her hand came to rest on his cheek. Suhrab turned his head to kiss her gentle hand, then clasped it in his own, roughened from the many hours wielding his sword. He was not like her; her hands were soft from wielding nothing heavier than a teacup or fine silk. Her body was pure, her lovely skin, the color of honey had never been burned by the desert heat. His body was like carved marble, smooth yet strong. He had spent his entire life in the sun, sweating as he practiced his military training. She was a princess; he was at best the son of a great war general, but a commoner none the less. He had proved his worth on the battlefields of Bactria and was selected among others of notable ability to guard the eldest Princess of Persia. Suhrab knew he would never be chosen as a worth suitor unless he fought the king for the right of wife, but he didn't have the heart to kill someone his love valued so deeply.

"It does not matter, I will never be king." Afsar sigh sorrowfully as she rested upon his broad chest. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him while dancing his lean fingers through her well groomed tresses. After a few minutes she sighed and he let her pull away from him.

"You must go; I cannot appear tired at the banquet tomorrow." Suhrab's hand clenched into a tight fist; he would have to stand guard and watch as another conceited prince dare touch his beloved. The banquets were the worst part of being unable to claim her, because he was sure he could easily slice through the pompous fools sitting on fairy-colored pillows looking like stuffed peacocks.

"I will take my leave then Princess. May Ahura Mazda protect you."

"May Ahura Mazda protect you." The princess replied the departing blessing and crawled into her bed. Tears streamed gently down her face as she prayed to the gods to give her strength.

…..

Suhrab stood on the wall directly behind the princess watching the occupants in the large banquet hall. His eyes were alert and sharp, looking for anything suspicious. Often he would allow himself to glance at his beautiful princess. Her hair was styled in an intricate combination of plaits and coils. Her golden peplos hugged her generous curves perfectly; it was modest but still left a hint of desire. Her forehead, the outer wings of her eyes and hands were painted elaborately with golden henna leaf. Dark kohl lined her eyes and cranberry juice gently stained her lips. Afsar looked every bit the goddess the people of Persia believed her to be. Suhrab's hand tightened on the hilt of his sword as the foreign prince leaned too close to tell her something. He urged to cut the hand off that rested on her broad shoulder.

"Continue to watch her so closely and people will believe you are worried about more than just her protection." Suhrab turned his head sharply to the right and laid eyes on Afsar's most trusted hand maiden.

"You did an admirable job Parisa, Afsar looks ethereal." The guard paid compliment to the hours of hard work.

"Thank you, but I did not come to talk about my work." The servant glanced over to the male. Her eyes sparkled with a hidden promise as she surveyed the male's impeccable form. He was carved by the gods themselves. Since she came of age, Parisa longed to share his bed in the chilling desert nights.

"What do you wish to speak about then?" Suhrab continued to survey the room, glancing back to the maiden to inform her he was listening.

"I wish to speak about the offer I make every time we are in close quarters, because you have yet to press me down into the soft sheets and find your pleasure in me." The maiden pouted slightly. Suhrab studied her for a quick moment. Parisa was a pretty girl. Her eyes were sharp, almond and deep brown; they had captured many soldiers. Her hair, though cut short to distinguish herself from the other women, glistened from the honey treatments all Persian women use. Her body was plump and her legs long, but try as he might, Suhrab could find no desire for this willing young woman.

"Forgive me Parisa, but I do not view you in such a way." He tried to let her down gently.

"Afsar has her hooks deep, when will you realize she will never invite you into her bed. You might as well give up your yearning for her thighs and sample the nectar that is so willing beside you." Parisa discreetly ran her hand up his back. Since they were not servants, or harem girls, no one paid them any mind.

"I could show you so many things your princess would surely be disgraced to think about. I know what will please you, while she seems content to flaunt her conquests before you."

"Watch what you speak Parisa, the princess refuses to dishonor the crown by doing something so reckless."

"Is that what she told you? I know for certain there is a man who sneaks into her room while you and the other guards rest." He would have to be more alert when they had their short rendezvous.

"I will make sure to tell the night guards to be more alert."

"You do that, and please reconsider declining. I could please you every night until the cock crows." Parisa smirked slyly and walked away. Suhrab watched as many men hungrily followed the sway of her round hips as she departed towards the hand maiden's quarters. Afsar turned her head and shot him a questioning look; she knew Parisa had been propositioning him. He smiled back to her and her shoulders lowered as she turned back to the loud-mouthed prince. Suhrab would never settle for Parisa; he did not want something that probably over half the royal guard had sampled.

…..

"You refused him." Suhrab lent against the tiled walls of her inner chamber. He, being captain of her royal guard, was the only male besides her father or the royal physicians allowed in her inner chamber.

"He is not right for the kingdom; he would lead Persia to ruins." The princess replied as she folded her peplos and placed it on the granite vanity. Out of respect, Suhrab prevented his eyes from glancing at her almost naked form. The short cotton chitton she wore did little to appease his appetite for her.

"Your father grows weary of your refusals no doubt."

"He respects my decisions; after all, I have not led him to believe otherwise." Afsar gently washed the paint from her hands and face. She then sat at the vanity and began to unravel her hair and slowly brush the tangles out. Suhrab stepped behind her and helped untangle the heavy mass of hair. Once it was all untangled and brushed, he knelt behind her and placed his lips on her bare shoulder. He inhaled the musky jasmine scent that followed her and began undoing the ties of her chitton. Fighting the urge to surrender, Afsar stood and moved away from the tempting man.

"We cannot."

"We could run away, go to one of the outskirts where they would not recognize us."

"No, I will not dishonor my family."

"Then dishonor me." Afsar turned from the mirror shocked he would even suggest such a thing. Dishonoring him would mean his exile.

"I cannot stand next to you for the rest of my life pining for you." Suhrab bowed his head in respect and walked towards the door. Tomorrow he was going to request to be sent elsewhere, and let someone else protect her. He had endured years of her rebuffs and he could endure them no longer. He would stop at the temple of Isthar or Aphrodite and request that one of the great goddesses remove the aching pain from his heart that he may be content with another woman to carry on his family line.

"No, please don't go." Afsar practically begged; she could not stand the thought of him being reckless on a battlefield somewhere beyond her protection.

"Give me a reason to stay. Say what you have refused to." Suhrab pleaded; perhaps if he knew she felt the same way as he, it would at least ease some torment.

"I love you." Three simple words, but powerful none the less. Suhrab turned and looked into her teary, chestnut eyes. He was on her in seconds, grabbing her hair and pressing his lips firmly to hers. She tore at his purple and gold trimmed vest and untied the gold trimmed leather sash that housed his twin shamshirs. Her chitton fell gracefully to the floor as Suhrab rested her legs around his lean waist. Both lovers were ignorant to the set of eyes watching them consummate their love.

…

Suhrab looked at the ceiling and listened to the faint sounds of the crickets outside the palace walls. His slight smile fell as he saw the sky start to lighten; he knew he should have left hours ago, but the warmth on his side drug him back at every attempt to leave. Looking into the pair of eyes glancing up at his, Suhrab knew he would never be happy with another woman. None would capture his heart like his fair princess of the desert sands. Afsar sighed and snuggled closer to her warm protector; his arms made her feel more secure than she had ever dreamed.

Suddenly the doors slammed open and guards were filing into the room. Suhrab jumped out of the bed and picked up one of his shamsirs; he threw the princess behind him and was ready to fight for her life. Afsar grasped the silken sheets to hide her body, and was about to reach for her chitton, when she saw Parisa enter the room; behind her was the king.

Emperor Rustam strode commandingly into the inner chamber of his eldest daughter. He was slightly pleased to see the mortified look on the princess' face, but that did nothing to appease his sandstorm-like rage. The emperor's eyes landed on the captain, still naked from his tryst.

"Father-"

"Be still. I have not spoken to you yet Princess." His voice boomed and echoed down the halls. He clenched and unclenched his fists to keep from striking the insolent girl. His eyes were still locked on the captain, who only bowed his head the required height.

"I see you have finally found a harlot to keep you warm at night, boy." Suhrab's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword; how dare the emperor make such a crude remark about his beloved.

"Things are not always as they appear my King."

"Oh, how so? From what I can tell, you have enjoyed her company, seeing as you were still lazing about," The king turned towards his daughter. "Was he worth defiling my house for, Daughter? Were the pretty words he whispered and his cock everything you had imagined?"

"Father he whispered no pretty words,"

"Ho, then you welcomed him willingly to your bed without any promises; you are more whore than I thought."

"Father!"

"Call me father no more!" The king screamed. "You have defiled my house and have disgraced your country! The whore I see before me is not the child I raised!"

Afsar resisted the urge to cower further into her sheets. Her father had never spoken so cruelly to her, but she knew he was right; she had defiled her country, and she knew her punishment.

"It is not her fault!" Suhrab yelled in her defense. Emperor Rustam's eyebrow rose; Suhrab had never raised his voice to his emperor.

"How is it not?"

"I wanted to compete for her hand, but she asked me not to, for she could not bear the thought of losing either of us."

"I would have respected you more as a man had you challenged me." The emperor's voice was hard as stone. He had respected the young man, indeed he would have made a fine general like his father before him.

"Had I challenged you, I would not have been able to look her in the eye." Suhrab's gaze waivered just a moment, but then shown with the ferocity of a cobra.

"Shame, you let an ungrateful whore lead you from your destiny. I shall not disgrace your father, he is loyal to me. No, your sins shall be your own. Guards, bring them to the sands." The emperor ordered as he walked calmly out of the room. The king was at a crossroad, he did not want to sentence his favorite daughter for her treachery, but he must bring honor back into his house.

As the guards ushered the two lovers out, Parisa grabbed Suhrab's head and kissed him deeply. Since the guards had hold of his arms, there was almost nothing he could do. When they broke apart, Afsar glared at her hand maiden, but Parisa only smiled slyly. The guards pushed the two out the door, and paraded them naked through the palace until they reached the courtyard. They pushed the two in front of a large wooden box buried to its rim in sand. The sun was beginning to rise on the horizon and already the desert heat began to rise. The Emperor stood under a servant carrying a shade leaf, beside him was Afsar's mother, his third wife, and the next eldest girl. Afsar's half-sister, Yessamina, was not the beauty Afsar was. She was shorter and paler and her eyes were dull. Her skin lacked the smoothness and brightness of her elder sister's. Yessamina was by far the least appealing to have for a wife; she gossiped too much, and called too much attention to herself. She would have to be trained to be a crowned princess, and her age, 14, made that a difficult task. Afsar had needed barely any training; she was born to rule. The emperor lamented at the waist of talent.

"What have you to say for yourself, Princess? If the princes are not interested in your sister, Yessamina, we will have to conquer their nations. Because of you many young boys may die, and I will tell their mothers you are to blame."

"I shall not beg forgiveness my King. I will be to blame for the suffering of many. I shall face my punishment with the dignity of a rightful princess of Persia, and with my punishment, the honor of your house shall be restored in the eyes of the gods." The princess stood with her head held high, as regal as a goddess, unembarrassed at her nudity; she refused to cry and beg for mercy. The emperor and her mother could not help but feel pride at the perfect princess they had raised. Suhrab felt his heart swell at her beauty, with the pink rays of the sun behind her, she looked absolutely exquisite.

Concealing his pride well, the emperor nodded and the guards placed Suhrab into the box, then Afsar. They pulled the heavy stone lid over it and began covering the lid with sand. After the job was done the emperor and his party went back into the palace to make the proper arrangements for Yessamina.

"Are you ok?" Suhrab felt around in the dark for her.

"I'm sorry." She whispered brokenly, finally allowing tears to flow down her face. Suhrab shushed her by kissing her cheeks softly and wiping away her tears.

"This is not your fault." He pulled her closer and stroked her hair.

"I should have run away with you, and then we could be together."

"We are together; we'll be together forever now, my princess." Suhrab pulled her to sit down in between his legs.

"Last night made me so happy, beloved." Afsar snuggled closely to him, wanting to feel his warmth in her time of despair.

"It was the greatest night of my life." He ran his hands gently over her body, trying to burn the feeling of her into his brain before they descended into the after-life. After a long moment of silence Afsar had to ask the question that pounded against the walls of her conscious.

"Why did Parisa kiss you?" Venom slipped into her tone. Suhrab turned her face to his in the darkness. He kissed her deeply, and pushed three of the small seeds into her mouth that were hiding under his tongue.

…..

"Since you love her so much." Parisa whispered as she pushed the small eight seeds into Suhrab's mouth. Once she broke the kiss, Suhrab nodded his appreciation, and hid the seeds under his tongue so none would suspect they would have and easier passage into the next world.

….

"She gave me these, to make it easier." He rolled his five seeds around in his mouth. Because he was bigger, he would need more seeds than she would.

"Poppy seeds?"

"To sedate us. We will simply go to sleep, instead of painfully suffocating."

"Oh that was very generous of her." Afsar was still bothered by her friend kissing her lover. Suhrab sensed the apprehension in her voice and leaned close to her ear.

"I love you." He whispered gently to her.

"And I you."

"We'll do this together." He grasped her hand. On the count of three, they chewed their seeds. Almost immediately their eyes became droopy, and their brains began to function slower. The opium poppy seeds began to dull their senses and they fought to keep their eyes open against the lulling pull of sleep.

"May Ahura Mazda protect you." Suhrab slurred.

"May Ahura Mazda protect you." Afsar sleepily whisper back. Both sets of eyes closed, praying to see each other in another, better, world.

…

Nick awoke to see all of their friends staring at them. He puzzlingly pushed himself off the floor. Madison awoke next, feeling a little stiff from lying on the floor.

"What year is it? I feel like I've been sleeping forever." Nick stretched his arms up.

"Dude you and Madison have been out for 10 hours, we thought Udonna may have misjudged your dosage level." Chip explained worriedly.

"Any less of a 'dosage', as Chip put it, would have led to a half completed memory of a previous life. And like dreams, once you awake from a memory, you cannot just go back and pick up from where you left off. It would have been extremely difficult to distinguish between the ending of a lifetime and the beginning of a new one, next time." Udonna calmed their fears.

"Wait next time?" Madison rubbed her drowsy head.

"Well of course, you did not think one life would be enough did you?"

"Was kind of hoping so." Nick muttered.

"What exactly are we supposed to be looking for, Udonna?" Madison questioned.

"You're looking for a common theme, something or an archetype, that occurs in most, if not all, of your lives." Daggeron filled in for the witch, who was busy beginning another batch of the dream potion.

"Rangers, why don't you all go get some rest; we'll start fresh again tomorrow." The rangers nodded and filed out of Rootcore, almost blinded by the intense sunrise of a new day.

"So how many lifetimes do you think you guys will have to explore?" Xander questioned his best friend.

"Well Daggeron said this has been going on since the beginning of time,"

"That could be thousands to millions of lives, depending on how many times you're reincarnated." Chip reasoned.

"Great, just great." Vida sarcastically stated while grabbing Nick's hand. And for once, Maddie full-heartedly agreed with her sister.