Helloooooooooooooooooooo, friends, fellow countrymen, lend me your ears...

::IrishRaven begins to speak, but both the muse and X shove her into a closet::

Disclaimer: ::X walks off and crys::

Feedback: I want it. Yes...I want reviews...please...bitte?

Archive: Sure. Just ask and you shall receive.

Time setting: I'm going to make this story set in 2003. I know that's not really when it should be, if wanting to be true to the series, but this story was not created to make sense. ;P

Well, I must say, I am soooooooooooooooooo happy because of all the reviews. You folks have really kept me writing with all the feedback, and I thank you for that.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, Sierra Windfire (::hands over a slice of pizza), DKM (don't worry...Jake shall get what's coming to him), Jenileigh (just the idea of chocolate covered Ians made me post sooner), Eli (I do hope this chapter redeems my torture of Gabriel, and saves my rabbit from the blender),

Redmayne (::gets down on knees and begs for help proof-readign::- see!!!!!!),

Fae Rain (question: what's better than one Gabriel in a chapter?), Mako- chan Wolf (lets just say I grew up with Monty Python), Julia (who is with Gabriel...only him, of course ;P), MsLessa (::in a zombie-like state:: 'bribery good...'), msredux (::packs Ian up in a box and send him over::), rougegal17 (Loki's similarity to Ian is far more than a coincidence), and of course, thanks to Nina and Spin.

Thanks much for giving me a better view of my writing! This is one of the only stories that I can pretty much follow my thought process and ideas and come up with something good. Everything else I write, I have to tone down on the randomness a bit...

And without further random thoughts...(well...until the second sentence of the story)

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Chapter XI

"So where are we?" Sara asked Christian, looking around the dark space.

Suddenly a row of movie theatre chairs appeared, and Christian gestured for Sara to sit down.

"Think of it as interactive movies." Christian said with a laugh, "I have to go and attend to *the* Lady, my Lady, but Ian will take my place for the time being. The two of you need to learn to get along."

Christian flickered and Ian was back, sitting next to her. And looking quite confused.

"Ever been to the movies, Ian?" Sara asked, picking up the box of popcorn sitting on the chair next to her.

"Once," Ian said, "I went to see Willy Wanka and the Chocolate Factory,"

"Hm...that was a long time ago,"

"I was three or four,"

"And you remember that?"

"I remember most of my childhood experiences, being it that there are so few of them."

"What did you do as a kid?"

"Trained.....studied...fought...read books...collected weapons... trained...studied some more....fought some more...have I mentioned training yet?"

"What did you train so much for?"

"To be Kenneth's super soldier bodyguard, and the Protector of the Wielder,"

"So you..."

"I had no childhood, Sara. I had my duties and my studies. But yet I still am judged by your societies 'norm'."

"That's horrible," Sara said, swallowing her popcorn, the kernel scratching her throat on the way down.

"It was my life. It made me who I am. I am not ashamed of it, and I do not pity who I am. You should not either."

"But Ian...he took your life from you,"

"He raised me Sara. I cannot hate him for that."

"But..."

"Shh. The movie's starting,"

Sara turned around to see who has spoken. It was a Wielder sitting with someone who looked a lot like Bob Barkley.

"Oh shut-up," Sara growled, "It's just the previews,"

``````And coming soon to a theatre near you. There was a clip of a man in sunglasses, with black hair and a beard running down the corridor of an airport terminal, followed closely by an Asian man. "Will Danny manage to catch this trickster, or will Jake escape the clutches of this temporarily insane man?"````````````````````

Sara exchanged a worried glance with Ian, who was apparently thinking the same thing.

``` "And now, for our feature presentation"``````` In Gaelic: "Long before the birth of Christ, or the rebirth of the third of the Triple Goddess."

In a bright flash, Sara found herself in a dark forest, the tree leaves so thick that they let very little light through. She could tell that it was still day, thought nearing sunset. She looked down to the dormant Witchblade, then up to the trees. Through this, she realized something else...she had no control over her body.

'Joy. I'm *in* the movie.'

"Morrigan! Morrigan! Morrigan Morgans, get over here!!!"

'And it's not my body.'

She looked up to see a younger girl running swiftly towards her, ducking gracefully under fallen trees as she did.

"Morrigan, mother wishes for you to go into the village. She needs you to fetch some more salve for father's wounds."

"I shall be there in a moment, Elina."

"She wished for you to go now, sister," her younger sister replied, pointing to her horse, which was standing at the border of the forest.

"Alright, Elina. I shall go now,"

"Thank you, Morrigan,"

Elina took her sisters hand and they started towards the edge of the forest. She looked admiringly at the bracelet, touching its smooth surface.

"Who gave you the bracelet, Morrigan? Was it Lord Michael?"

"No," Morrigan said, trying not to wince at the mention of the lord's name, "I found it."

"What if someone lost it and wants it back?"

"I doubt anyone wants it back," Morrigan said, thinking exactly what Sara was. Not only was Sara in Morrigan's body, but she was in her mind as well.

"But it 'tis so pretty!" Elina exclaimed, touching the jewel again.

Morrigan only smiled and ruffled her younger sister's hair. Morrigan was very protective of her little sister. She was now the eldest sister, since Xeian died...

- The vision was fast-forwarded until Morrigan was nearing the village. She watched the children play out in front of the village while their parents got the supplies they needed within.

"Hello, Lassie. Haven't seen you around here lately," a voice that sickened Sara, though she didn't even know whom it belonged to.

"Good day, Lord Michael." Morrigan said, continuing to ride past the man.

"Have you been avoiding me, Morrigan?"

"Of course not, Lord Michael. I have merely been taking routes that would not bring me into your presence."

"I do not find you amusing, Morrigan,"

"And I do not find you nearly as charming as you believe yourself to be, Lord Michael."

"I have grown tired of your mouth, Morrigan," Lord Michael said, riding up along side her, and grabbing her wrist. The Witchblade immediately awoke, and began swirling angrily. Morrigan was glad that the shirt she had chosen to wear that day had sleeves, so to cover the bracelet.

"And I have grown even more tired of your advances," Morrigan replied venomously, tearing her arm from his grasp. She rode forward quickly, leaving Lord Michael in the dust. She reached the outer wall of the market place and dismounted. She tied her horse securely, and walked into the marketplace, glancing over her shoulder for any sign of Michael. In doing so, she walked right into a man carrying a large crate. The box began to fall, but Morrigan caught it in midair.

"I'm sorry, sir," Morrigan said, placing the heavy load on the ground. She glanced up to the man she had run into, and that casual glance turned into a stare. Sara immediately recognized him as Ian. He had blonde highlights through his black hair, which brought out his caramel eyes. And he had a tan. Sara doubted Ian spent much time in the sun...but it made him look absolutely stunning.

"I am not," he replied, gazing into her eyes.

"Pardon me, mi'Lord?" Morrigan asked, studying the man's beautiful eyes, "Did you perhaps hit your head in our collision?"

"Aye, I did not have my head struck, the whereabouts struck were more in the region of my chest."

"What a talker you are," Morrigan laughed.

"Normally not so, mi'Lady. I usually avoid running into people, but you managed to blind me with your radiance."

"Well, if I knew I had that sort of effect on people, I would have been more careful in watching where I was going."

"And what is your name, radiant angel?"

Morrigan usually did not take this sort of flattery well, but this man...he was so...so...she could not place her finger on it, but he was a combination of mystery and charm.

"I am Morrigan, good sir. And do tell, what is your name?

"I am Loki, mi'Lady."

"How did you acquire that title? It sounds strangely familiar."

"I shall tell you if you will walk with me whilst I talk."

"Good sir, I have no time for walks," Morrigan said regretfully.

Loki gave her a look that Sara immediately recognized as the 'kicked puppy' look that Ian gave her whenever he wanted to convince her to do something.

Morrigan sighed and glanced over her shoulder, and saw Lord Michael looking around the market.

"I would be glad to," Morrigan said. Her accepting was not so much do to Michael as it did to the look she had just received from this charming man.

Loki balanced the heavy crate on his left shoulder, and they walked about the shops.

"I am a messenger."

"Yes?"

"You would not believe me," Loki said after a moment of thought.

"Attempt to tell me, my Lord. There is little I will not believe." They walked to an unoccupied grassy area inside the ruins or a stone house near the market, away from the bustle of the shops.

"You will not accuse me of being a man ill in the head, or run off and tell my secret?" Loki asked coyly. He trusted few people, but this woman...he was so drawn to her.

"I shall say nothing, mi'Lord."

"I am a messenger between the gods," Loki said after a moment of decision.

Morrigan only had time to give him a questioning look, when someone came up from behind her and grabbed her around the waist. She struggled against him, but her attacker brought a knife to her throat.

"You do not ride off while I am talking to you, girl. I shall not be disrespected in such a way." Lord Michael growled,"

"That is no way to treat a lady," Loki spoke up, leaning against the rock wall in the shadows.

"This is none of your concern, peasant,"

"Peasant?" Loki asked, slowly and tranquilly walking towards the two, "Do I truly look like a peasant to you?"

"Why else would you be talking to this whore?"

Loki narrowed his eyes and in a flash of motion, he had Michael's arm bent behind painfully behind his back.

"I was talking to this fine Lady because I find her presence soothing and enjoyable. You, Lord Michael, I do not find so. You are an insulting, arrogant wop. I ask that you apologize to this lovely Lady before I feel obligated to break your arm."

"I shall do no such thi..."

A scream of pain could be heard throughout the entire market.

"One more inch and it 'tis broken. If you are terribly...attached to your arm, I suggest you express your apologies rather quickly, rather well, and promise to never offend her again."

"I am...sorry, Peasant..." there was a slight cracking noise, and Michael looked even more uncomfortable, "*Lady* Morrigan. I shall leave you alone from this point on."

Loki released him, and Michael rubbed his sore arm.

"Now, go off and find yourself a better pastime than picking on women," Loki said, "And *never* call me a peasant again."

Morrigan looked at Loki, more confused than before. And slightly angry.

"I can take care of myself," Morrigan said darkly, after Lord Michael had stalked away.

"You were most certainly doing a great job earlier."

"I was biding my time,"

"Of course you were, mi'Lady."

Morrigan moved faster than the eye could see, and within a mere second, had Loki pinned up against the wall.

"As I had said; I was biding my time. But I'm glad to see that you truly are a friend, messenger of the gods."

"You believe me?" Loki asked over his shoulder.

"Yes, I do,"

Morrigan released him, and she walked back towards the market. She walked towards the medicine stand, leaving a very confused Loki watching her disappear into the crowd.

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Sara blinked, and found herself back in the movie theatre seat, and looked around in puzzlement. Ian looked equally bemused, but he recovered as soon as he saw the Raisinettes on the seat next to him.

"Why are we back in here? Is it over?" Sara asked.

"I believe it is known as 'Intermission'," replied Ian, happily eating his Raisinettes.

"It was just getting interesting!!" Sara complained.

Ian just raised his eyebrows in amusement, saying nothing.

"What?" Sara asked, wishing that she could read thoughts again.

"Nothing."

"Ian...what?!" she demanded, very suspicious.

"Nothing at all, Sara."

Sara sighed in frustration and after a few minutes of watching Ian, reached over and grabbed some Raisinettes.

"Hey!" Ian protested, moving his arms to protect his Raisinettes from her.

"Didn't you learn to share?"

"Yes," Ian said indignantly.

Sara reached over for the Raisinettes once again, but he pulled them away again.

"But I was never very good when it came to Raisinettes."

Sara glared at Ian for a few moments as he popped the Raisinettes into his mouth. After a moment of contemplation, Sara jumped at him and began wrestling with him for the Raisinettes.

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Gabriel watched as the man walked out of the shadows, and nearly had a coronary. It was...it looked like...he was...

"Are you...me?" Gabriel inquired, looking at someone who could pass as a mirror image of him.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," the other Gabe said slowly, beginning to move as they began circling each other. Each kept their eyes on the other, very cautious.

"What do you want?" Gabriel asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Gabe paused for a few moments before replying.

"Something to be eat would be nice."

"Okay," Gabriel said with a shrug, and they walked towards the kitchen. (A/N: Gabriel = present day Gabriel, Gabe= Gabriel from the future)

"Are you a clone of me?" asked Gabriel as he rummaged through the cabinets.

"Uh...well...this looks like my store...except it's not completely trashed, and it doesn't look like the world is ending..." Gabe replied, "And I'd infer that means Sara is still alive and well."

"Woah...wait a second..." Gabriel said, processing the information, "I bet you're from some sort of alternate universe...but what went wrong I yours? Does Sara not have the Witchblade?"

"No, she had it...but she didn't have a Protector. Well she did for awhile...it's a long story." Gabe said. He paused and looked to the floor, sadness in his eyes, "But now she's dead,"

Gabe went to the refrigerator and rummaged through in search of sustenance.

"But at least I still have her," Gabe said thankfully.

"Who?"

"You know...her,"

"Her?"

"Yeah, you must know. You probably called her in as a consultant on the Witchblade. Right?"

"As I asked earlier...who?"

"Eli, of course. Eli Morgan."

"I don't know anyone by that name."

Gabe froze and turned from his sandwich making.

"I'm not entirely sure of the rules pertaining to parallel dimensions ...but..." Gabe glanced around the kitchen.

"What's today's date?"

"April 1st...in an hour or so it'll be the 2nd."

"What year is it?"

"2003," Gabriel replied.

"That may explain quite a lot."

"It was April 11th, 2004 when I woke up this morning." Gabe said, grabbing some rather old bread from the cabinet.

"So you're not from an alternative universe, you're from the..."

Gabe nodded and took a bite of his completed sandwich.

"And Sara is..."

"Yeah," Gabe said with a sad sigh.

"Do you remember anything about killer rabbits?" asked Gabriel

"...no..."

"Assassins?" Gabriel inquired

"Only if you count the demonic kind."

"We're talking people,"

"Then...eh...no." replied Gabe, "Have you met X yet?"

"Nope."

Gabe winced at this, and rubbed his head.

"Well, then I shan't bug you with details you probably shouldn't know."

"Sara..." Gabriel said after a few moments of silence and Gabe's chewing, "How did she...did she die? Can we try to stop it?"

"We could!" Gabe said, almost choking on his sandwich (a/n: which, now that it's mentioned, I have no idea what he put on it, but it looks pretty gross.), "Or at least we could try."

***** Big flash of light. Reeeeeeeeeeealy Big flash of light*****

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A/N: I know...not the best place to end it. But the only other place I could have ended it was earlier, and I figured ya'll wanted to know what was going on with Gabriel. And I didn't want my rabbit put through the blender.

We've just started a new thing in English, so I may be away for awhile. Hamlet: The Cheese Danish...wait...no, that's not it...well, whatever it is I've already read it, but I must do so again, then do a rather lengthy report on it. I hope to return as soon as I can. (And once I get caught up on my school work again)

::shove muse into a cage and with tears in her eyes, X walks away::

Thanks again for all the support!!!!!!!!