"A Different Time, A Different Place…The Same Face!"

A Downton Abbey Fanfiction

By

Fantasy Writer'92

Jessica Porter, a young woman of eighteen in 2015 made her way to King's Cross Train Station.

She had recently come to the UK in a desperate search for a change of scenery. To rest and to plan the next move in her life after suffering a tragic event.

Once there though,

Ms. Porter looked at the destinations and times before finally making up her mind and purchasing a ticket for Northern Yorkshire.

Having her only one bag with her, she boarded, and found an empty seat.

Just as the train began to pull out of the station, Jessica rummaged through her bag until she found what she was looking for:

A piece of paper containing the family tree of her ancestors who had a one-time been minor English Nobility. Until her late grandmother moved to America in the 1970's, having met her grandfather and starting a family of their own.

Deep in thought, her fingers lightly traced the nearly faded ink until landing on the name:

" Sybil "Sybbie" Shepherd" (nee Branson) BORN: May 27th 1920.

She was the daughter of "Tom & Sybil Branson" (Nee Crawley)

and the granddaughter of the 5th Earl of Grantham "Robert" and his wife "Cora Crawley" (Nee Levinson).

Jessica, you see had always been fascinated with period piece drama films and in fact wished several times that she could go back and be a part of history.

So, this time when she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the cushion.

Making the request to re-live the past and getting to know her family then. Jessica thought nothing would come of it.

But what she didn't realize was that across the aisle from her was a man involved with Time Travel himself. In fact, he was here visiting the Now.

"Psst!" whispered a voice coming from underneath the cover of the cage the man held in his lap. "I know what you're thinking Merlin. But don't do it!".

The old man let out a chuckle as he stroked his long white beard in thought.

" I mean it Merlin!" the voice rasped,

"Archimedes, really?" Merlin lightly scolded his feathered companion, pushing the curtain aside. "You sound like you have no confidence in me, after all our years together. That really hurts-"

"MERLIN!" the owl screeched, "It's dangerous to involve a mortal with magic. Or have you forgotten what happened to Wart as a boy?"

"-He came out alright in the end Archimedes"

"Yes, only because you and I were able to save him. But what if we hadn't been so lucky? No Merlin, I Forbid it!"

"- The young lady will be fine, and she won't alone. She'll have her family. But if it will make you feel better, we will as they say here in the future…Ah yes, "Check in" and when she's ready to leave… Well she would have had a mind-blowing education!" He laughed excited, "It's Perfect!"

"You bumbling blockhead," the bird mutter in disgust as his beak strained to reach through the bars until finally yanking the rope causing the curtains to re-shield.

Merlin sighed at his longtime friend's attitude and then focused his attention on the girl who had fallen asleep.

Taking out his magic staff, old man started to chant strange words as the scenery and the train itself began to change.

Until finally, when train whistle blew, the man and caged bird disappeared from sight.

Leaving the girl to wake up in a strange and different world…