Family, Friends, and Enemies

by mystiquewitch

For the past century, all Saphira wanted was to go home, back to Asgard; with her father gone, she and Loki wouldn't have to keep their love a secret, so, when Thor is banished to Midgard, she gets her chance without having to feel guilt with leaving her sister behind. Unfortunately, like everything else in her life, it doesn't exactly go the way Saphira wants.

40. Chapter 40

AN I thought I had put in one of the chapters. Saphira and Loki had been in Space for two months before what happened on Xander and chasing Star-Lord. Still, when looking back at those chapters, I couldn't find it, so they were in Space around two months before going to help with Ultron, which happened few days after Xander; at the moment, it's late February 2014, but I will get a little time jump soon, and probably a few more before getting to the big thing; hopefully, it doesn't get too confusing.

Disclaimer I owe nothing

Chapter 40: Time is Knowledge.

177A Bleecker Street. Saphira frowned at the address as she stood outside the building; it had popped in her head during the night and had woken her from a deep sleep; Saphira couldn't stop herself as she got out of bed, left the room, then walked right out of the apartment, with Mischief following her out into the snow and cold, without shoes or coat, in fact, she only wore the pajama top and sweatpants she had went to sleep in. Her feet were freezing, her body not being able to adapt to the cold because of her pregnancy made it hard for Saphira to adjust to the cold temperatures, which had to be close to being below freezing, as the sun was just now coming up, giving the snow that sparkly look, any other time Saphira would think it was pretty; right now, it somehow made it seem colder.

The thought of going back to sleep was tempting Saphira to turn around and leave, now that a few of her senses had returned. Maybe put on proper clothes for this kind of weather and come back with Loki. But she couldn't; she knew it had been the Time Stone that drew her here, caused her to go in some trace, walk right out of her sister's apartment as if Saphira was sleepwalking and led her straight here; she was lucky it had been so late or more like early, and dark so that no one could recognize her. Saphira wanted to go back, but the thought of not finding this place or the stone being gone by the time she returned stopped her from doing so because she needed to retrieve it from whoever had it.

Taking a deep breath and getting herself prepared to fight if she had to, Saphira walked up the steps and reached out, and knocked on the door. As she did so, she felt a jerk and was suddenly pulled inside the building along with Mischief, startled. Saphira looked around, trying to find anyone who might be wanting to attack her, but no one was around; then her eyes began to glow green, and Saphira followed the familiar tug through the long corridor and to a room full of artifacts in glass cases; Saphira walked past them, not paying too much attention to what they were, though she was sure the red cloak she walked past waved at her. Still, she just kept walking, until Saphira came upon what she was looking for, there in the center of the room, sat that glass case with the weird necklace she had once seen when trying to find the Time Stone; Saphira hurried to it, lifted the glass lid off it, and reached out to touch it.

"I have been expecting you." A voice said, startling Saphira, and instead of touching the necklace, she dropped her hand and turned around; standing a couple of feet behind her was a tall bold woman, wearing a long weird robe-looking thing. "I see you bought a friend." She motioned to Mischief.

"Listen, I'm..."

"Saphira of Asgard, Princess of Alfheim, Goddess of Nature, wife of Loki." The woman interrupted, speaking in a British accent. "You have a lot of titles, but I know you as the Guardian of the Infinity Stones."

"Oh, well, I wasn't going to introduce myself. I was going to tell you why I am here." Saphira replied.

"I see." The woman said, "There will be no need for that either; I already know why you are here."

"You do?" Saphira asked.

"Yes, and if you want it, I can't stop you from taking it." The woman said. She pointed behind Saphira at the necklace. "That's called the Eye of Agamotto, and the thing you seek is inside it."

Saphira turned back to it and reached out to touch it, but something stopped her, and once again, she pulled her hand away and turned back to the woman with a curious look.

"You said you couldn't stop me?" Saphira asked, frowning.

"I can not." The woman replied, walking towards her, she went around to the other side of the table and picked up the glass lid "I like many of us do, swore an oath to protect the Time Stone with our lives, but since you are its true Guardian, I can not stop you from taking it, I know you already possess two of the Infinity Stones, but I ask do you think you are ready to carry the Time Stone?"

"Who are you?" Saphira demanded, watching as the women covered the necklace with the lid. "What is this place?"

"I am known as The Ancient One." She replied, "This place is known as the Sanctum Santorum, one of many around the world, and it is the home of the Sorcerer Supreme."

"The what Supreme?" Saphira demanded; The Ancient one smiled a little, looking amused.

"Follow me, and I will answer any questions you may have." She replied; she turned and walked away; after a moment, Saphira went to take a step to follow, only for her to feel that jerk again, then suddenly she was standing in another room, this one full of books, The Ancient One was standing by a book self looking for a certain one.

"A Sorcerer Supreme is someone that protects Earth from magical and mystical threats." The Ancient One replied. "We also keep track and guard powerful magical objects such as the Time Stone; in the wrong hands, it can be dangerous." She found the book she was looking for and pulled it out.

"Why have I never heard of you?" Saphira demanded. The Ancient One turned to face her as she flipped through the book.

"We like to stay hidden for the most part." The Ancient One said; she waved her hand towards the left of Saphira. "Have a seat." Saphira turned and saw a table and chairs. She was pretty sure she hadn't been there a moment ago.

"If your job is to protect Earth, then where were you during Loki and my invasion?" Saphira demanded. The Ancient One looked up at her.

"I helped; you just didn't see me." The Ancient One replied. "I fought with the Chitauri, as there were already enough heroes stopping you and Loki."

"Maybe I should just get the stone and go." Saphira replied, "Loki is probably awake now, looking everywhere for me."

"If that is what you want." The Ancient One replied, "But I feel I should tell you I had a visit from a friend of yours, and they feel you are ready to learn a few things about yourself but does not feel as if you're prepared for the Time Stone yet."

"Who?" Saphira demanded, even though she was pretty sure she knew who The Ancient One meant.

"The Phoenix." The Ancient One replied. "Why do you think I am not kicking you off this planet? After all, you and your husband are on our list of dangerous beings that are a threat to Earth."

Saphira watched The Ancient One for a moment, with a frown, then glanced at the table and chairs, then back at The Ancient One and signed, before uncrossing her arms and went over and sat down. Mischief followed and jumped up on the table and laid down. The Ancient One didn't take her eyes from the book as she walked over and sat across from Saphira.

"Your existence has been foretold for thousands of years." The Ancient One replied, "Well, not yours exactly, but what is your destiny, what you will become. Every few thousand years, someone of Ljofsalfar descent is chosen to become what is known as a Creator."

The Ancient One laid the book on the table and pushed it over to Saphira, who picked it up and frowned. The picture showed a few different women, all of which looked like each other and like her.

"Who are these women?" Saphira demanded, "And what do you mean by Creator?"

"These women have all at some point been a Queen of Alfheim; they are all Ancestors of yours." The Ancient One replied. "A Creator is a powerful being that can create a lot of things, including life or even words; almost like The Phoenix Force, but not quite the same, and not near as powerful. The Phoenix has never gotten involved in the matter of A Creator; it must like something it sees in you."

"Me?" Saphira demanded. "You can't be meaning me."

"You don't strike me as a dumb prison Saphira; you knew I was talking about you." The Ancient One said. "Why else would I be telling you this?"

"I don't understand." Saphira replied, "I'm not that powerful."

"You will if you just allow yourself to open your full potential." The Ancient One replied.

"No...no..I'm not powerful; My abilities are a part of nature." Saphira said, "I grow plants, start fires, that kind of thing."

"You don't think nature is a powerful force?" Then Ancient One replied; she watched Saphira shaking her head with a thoughtful look. "You're afraid."

"What?" Saphira demanded; she gave a forced laugh. "Don't be ridiculous."

"You are afraid; you're afraid of what you could or would do if you were too powerful." The Ancient One replied.

"Lady, you have it all wrong." Saphira denied.

"Well, whether you are or aren't, you better figure it out and have a strong mind and will because the Phoenix has its eyes on you, and if you aren't ready for it..well, just be prepared. Get over this fear you have of yourself because whatever The Phoenix wants, it's going to be big; it's never favored anyone like you before, not pointed them Guardian of the Infinity Stones."

"Stop, just, stop," Saphira demanded, sitting back. The Ancient One watched her quietly a moment before Saphira took a breath and asked, "How do you know all this, anyway?"

"The Pheonix put this knowledge in my head during her visit earlier and told me to give you this book." The Ancient One replied. "It is rare for her to seek us out, so I agreed this one time to give you the knowledge you need; after what you and your husband did, I should be tossing you off my planet instead."

Saphira crossed her arms and looked around the room; she was freezing still, her feet hurt, they were still cold and wet, and she wished she had woken Loki up to come here with her; he would understand this; she was too tired to think popularly. And Saphira didn't like how this woman could read her so well.

"I...I don't know about all this." Saphira replied, standing. "It's too much...I...I think I'm just going to get the stone and go back to my sister's before she and Loki break down your door looking for me."

"Wait." The Ancient One said, standing; Saphira frowned at her, and Mischief, still on the table, arched his back and gave a warning hiss.

"I thought you said you couldn't stop me from taking it," Saphira demanded, putting her hands on her hips.

"I can't, but I can try to talk you out of it." The Ancient One said, "Do you genuinely think yourself ready to be the Time Stone's keeper? You keep the Reality Stone in a pocket dimension, but you still can not resist the pull to get it out and use it; will you be able to resist looking into the Time Stone to see how your future plays out? Can you resist trying to change what you see? I believe you can not. The Pheonix believes you can not, not yet."

"Screw the both of you." Saphira spat, "You don't know me or what I can or can not do. And yes, I'm getting my stone and leaving; you will not stop me."

Saphira turned to head down the hall that leads to where the stone was kept, only for The Ancient One to be there blocking her way suddenly; Mischief gave another hiss, this time showing his fangs. Saphira raised her hand, and a flame appeared.

"That's not needed." The Ancient One said, and with a wave of her hand, a breeze blew out the flame. "As I said, I cannot stop you, but I can try and change your mind if you'll just listen to reason and stop being..."

Saphira ran at The Ancient One, but she moved out of the way. Saphira landed on the floor, where she glared up at the sorcerer; she laid her hand on the ground, making vines burst up out of the wooden floor and wrap around The Ancient One, but she easily deflected them and somehow turned Saphira's vines on her, and they begin to wrap around her. Saphira shouted in anger and tried to pull away from them, her eyes glowing green once again, as Mischief ran towards her to try and help, hitting on the vines and chewing on them.

"You see, you are not ready yet." The Ancient One told her. "I believe getting you far from it might help you listen."

She made a circular movement with her hand; a glittery circle appeared under her, and Saphira cried out as she and Mischief fell through it; the falling was quick, and when she stopped, she fell on top of the sand. Saphira looked up to see she was now on a tropical beach with the ocean behind her, clear sky with a hot sun beaming down at her, which felt good after freezing on her walk here. Then a circle opened next to her, and The Ancient One walked out; Mischief arched his back, gave a hiss, and ran at her, as he jumped to attack, The Ancient One waved her hand, and the cat froze in place as if some pointed a remote at him and pressed pause.

Saphira made an angry noise, jumped up, and ran at her; the sorcerer held out her hand and hit Saphira in the chest, and it was as if time stopped like someone pressed pause on that remote again; everything around them seemed to freeze in place, and Saphira felt like she was leaving her body; Saphira wanted to ask the Ancient One what the hell she was doing, but no sound would come out of her mouth, then Saphira suddenly felt as if she was falling; weird shapes and colors flew all around her.

Suddenly Saphira stopped, everything began to spin, making her dizzy, then flashes of what she guessed were future or past events, flashes of time, went flying by; she couldn't tell what was happening or hear anything and barely saw the moments, but she saw enough to confuse her, make her happy and frighten her all at once.

Saphira saw a glimpse of her holding a baby with a head full of curly black hair; then she saw a battle on Asgard, Thor and Enid dancing, both in fancy clothes. Iron Man and Captain America fighting each other, but the one thing that frightened Saphira the most was a glimpse of someone who could only be Thanos holding Loki up by the neck, choking him as he kicked his feet trying to fight him off.

"Loki!" Saphira cried out, then slammed back down on the sand, and the visions stopped; Mischief landed next to her with a meow. Saphira looked up at the Ancient One standing above. "What the hell did you do? What was all that?"

"I needed to show you; you are not ready to know the future, and possessing the Time Stone at the moment would be too much for you." The Ancient One answered, "I showed you flashes of would-be futures, from memories of things the stone showed me. To do this, I removed your astral form from your physical form."

"You what?" Saphira demanded, laying her hand on her stomach. "But my baby."

"Your son is fine." The Ancient One replied, "He was never in any danger."

Saphira sighed in relief and sat up and crossed her legs in front of her; Mischief jumped into her lap; as if protecting her.

The Ancient One held one hand out, then made a circle with the other hand above it, and the book she showed Saphira earlier appeared. She then held it in her palm, made a move above it, and a book just like it appeared in front of Saphira and dropped onto the sand in front of her. She reached out and picked it up; she hadn't noticed before because she hadn't seen the cover, but the book was all about what The Ancient One had told Saphira she was. It was an old book, with a black leather cover with jewels all over the front. Mischief reached up and sniffed the book as Saphira flipped through it.

"As I said, I can not stop you from taking the stone." The Ancient One said as she waved her hand in a circular motion, and another portal opened up to The Sanctum Sanctorum; Right where the Time Stone sat."

"The things I saw," Saphira said, looking up at the Sorcerer Supreme. "Will all those flashes come true?"

"Some will, some won't, no future is set in stone until it happens." The Ancient One answered. "Sometimes fate changes things, sometimes a simple act by someone changes their future. All futures have more than one outcome."

"Oh," Saphira answered, looking back down at the book; that was good because what she saw happening to Loki she was going to make sure did not happen. "You called my baby my son."

"That's because you will have a boy." The Ancient One replied. Saphira looked back at the portal. "What will it be? As you said, your husband is out looking for you, as is your sister and friends; you want to keep them worrying over you?"

"I...I don't think I'm ready yet." Saphira replied, turning away from it. "You're right; I couldn't resist or handle that much knowledge, not yet."

"Smart choice." the Ancient One replied; "The Phoenix will come to you when it believes you're ready and give you the knowledge it wishes for you to know."

She made the motion again, and that portal disappeared then replaced with one that opened up into Enid's apartment, right into the room she had been sleeping in with Loki the night before; Saphira picked Mischief up, then made sure she still had the book and then walked towards the portal then stopped and turned around.

"When will the Phoenix come?" Saphira asked as Mischief crawled from her arms and onto her shoulder.

"Not for a while." The Ancient one answered, "I wouldn't worry about it yet."

"Will you be with it?" Saphira asked.

"No, my time will be up by then." The Ancient One answered. "And the new Sorcerer Supreme will have taken my place."

"So, this is the only time we will meet?" Saphira asked; she nodded, and without another word, Saphira turned and stepped through the portal into the bedroom; Mischief jumped off her shoulder and followed Saphira down the hall; they made it into the living room no one was there. They were all probably still out looking for her, so Saphira went back to the spare bedroom, changed out of her cold, wet clothes, put socks on her cold feet, grabbed her cell phone, a blanket, and the heating pad Enid gave her, then went back to the living.

Saphira plugged the heating pad into the output that was on the wall down by the sofa; she turned it on to a medium setting, then sat on the couch sideways, with her back leaning on the arm, her feet on the sofa, her legs bent with her knees up, and leaning against the back of the couch, she laid the heating pad crossed her stomach then covered up. Mischief jumped onto the back of the sofa and curled up in a ball.

Once Saphira was comfortable, she called Loki's phone; it rang only twice before he answered.

"Saphira?" Loki asked, recognizing her number; the hopefulness in his voice made Saphira feel a little guilty.

"Hey, Loke Loke," Saphira replied. She heard Loki sigh in relief, and before she could say anything else, Loki teleported into the apartment, having guessed that's where she was since he knew her phone was there. The moment Loki saw Saphira, he dropped his phone and rushed to her and hugged her, then sat next to her on the edge of the sofa.

"I have looked all over this city for you." Loki told her, holding her tightly, "Where did you go? Why would you just run off like that?"

"I'm sorry, baby, but I couldn't help it." Saphira replied, "I woke in the middle of the night, in a trace, I felt the pull of the Time Stone, and went to it. I couldn't stop myself from going."

Loki pulled back a little and kissed her, then laid his forehead on Saphira's and closed his eyes, trying to stop the tears that were threatening to fall; after a long moment, he pulled back.

"Where did the pull take you, love?" Loki asked.

"To this weird place on Bleecker Street, where I meant this bold woman who called herself The Ancient One, said she was something called the Sorcerer Supreme," Saphira answered. "She gave me that book."

Saphira pointed to the book she had laid on the coffee table. Loki reached over and picked it up and started looking through it, with a frown, as Saphira continued her tale, explaining that The Ancient One said she was going to become something called a Creator, and told him everything that happened at the weird place on Bleecker Street, the only thing she left out was seeing Thanos choking Loki, she wasn't going to let that happen so no need to worry him over it.

"Are you sure you do not want the Time Stone, darling?" Loki asked, "I will go back with you to fetch it if you wish."

"I'm sure, baby." Saphira answered, "She was right; I don't think I would be able to resist looking into the future and, what if I see something I don't like and mess something up worse trying to change it?"

"It's up to you, my love, but are you sure it is well protected where it is?" Loki asked.

"I'm sure, from the way it sounded, there is a lot of people like her, and they all made a vow to protect it with their lives," Saphira answered.

"Then we only have one more stone to find." Loki replied, "We have the Reality Stone, the Power Stone, we know where the Mind Stone is, Space Stone is on Asgard, so, that just leaves the..."

"Soul Stone," Saphira answered. "The one stone I can't sense."

"There has to be a reason for that." Loki replied, "Don't worry about it now; we'll figure it out."

"I know," Saphira answered. "The Ancient One said her job was also to protect Midgard from magical threats; it will amuse you to know she said we were on their list of powerful beings to watch out for."

Loki laughed at that, "Of course we are, darling, we are their biggest threat, and most powerful too." Saphira laughed as Loki leaned in to kiss her.

"Not to be arrogant or anything, right?" Saphira laughed as she leaned back, laying her head on the sofa arm; Loki smiled at her.

"It's not arrogance when it is true," Loki replied; Saphira laughed again, then she and Loki just smiled at one another.

"I'm sorry I worried you so much," Saphira told him, "I really couldn't stop myself from going."

"It's over and done now, sweetheart. Don't worry about it; I'm just glad you and our little one are safe." Loki smiled at her and laid his hand crossed her stomach on top of the blanket; Saphira laid hers on his.

"The Ancient One said our baby is a boy," Saphira told him; Loki's smile grew.

"A son, we'll have a son?" Loki asked; Saphira nodded.

"And if what I saw was right, he'll have a head full of curly black hair and look more like you than me." Saphira told him, "Poor kid."

"Very funny, darling," Loki replied, as Saphira laughed; as Loki ran his hand through her hair and gave her a loving, gentle smile, Saphira's smile fell, and she felt a tear slid out of her eye and down her face. "Darling, what is it?"

"I know we have done some pretty bad things lately and probably will do so again at some point, but." Saphira paused, "Do you think if I...if I was more powerful, would I do worse things?"

"Worse things?" Loki asked; Saphira nodded. "What do you mean, love?"

"I mean, do you think I would go mad with power, and I don't know, start destroying planets or something as equally bad?" Saphira asked. "And worse if Enid were to try and stop me, think I would hurt her?"

"Of course not, darling," Loki replied, "Why would you think that?" Saphira didn't answer; she just shook her head and looked away. "Is this way you've always held back? Even with the Reality Stone in you, you weren't using its full potential yours. I thought it was because of your father."

"I...I don't know; I know my insecurity is because of Bard, but I'm so confused about everything right now; I don't know how I feel, what I'm afraid of or able to do, what I might do with great power or, what I might do with the stones each time I hold one, I don't know." Saphira replied,

"Shhh, it's okay, sweetheart," Loki replied. "it's okay to be scared, confused, but I'm here for you, so is everyone else; they and especially not me, would let you go mad with power and do something you would regret." he ran his hand through her hair again, then kissed her forehead. "And you would never be willing to hurt your sister."

"You should probably call Enid," Saphira said, wiping her eyes, "She's probably worrying."

Loki, understanding Saphira wanted to drop the subject, agreed and got up to retrieve his phone and call Enid to let her know Saphira was alright and call off their search for her. Saphira had been surprised to learn Loki and Enid didn't only have Thor out looking for her, they also had Remy, Mystique, Kurt, and even Rogue had been out in the cold and snow all morning looking over every inch of the large city to try to find any trace of her or where she went. Loki was even starting to fear that someone had somehow taken her.

Ten minutes after Loki had called Enid, she came charging through the door, with Thor right behind her, and went right to Saphira and hugged her. When she pulled back, Saphira noticed they both had snow on them, and Enid felt cold when she hugged her.

"Sister, where have you been? I've been so worried." Enid said. "Why would you runoff in the middle of the night, with no shoes or coat and no word to anyone."

Saphira took a deep breath and retold everything she told Loki to Enid. When she got to the part about the book, Loki handed it to Enid, and she looked through it, then set it down and turned back to Saphira.

"I want to be mad at you right now, but I'm just too relieved you're okay," Enid told her. "Try not to run off like that again."

"And behave," Thor added, reaching down and gently squeezed her shoulder. Saphira looked up at him; he smiled at her, and Saphira could see relief in his eyes as Thor got on his knees by the sofa arm above Saphira's head and quietly said. "If Enid's hair weren't already white, you would have turned it white by now."

"Thor," Enid cried as Saphira laughed. "I heard that, and My hair is blonde, thank you very much."

"A white blonde," Saphira replied, putting her legs crossed Loki's lap as he sat back on the sofa the right way.

"Sister, hush," Enid replied as Thor and Loki laughed about what she had said. Thor stood up and walked over to Enid, put his arms around her waist, and pulled her to him.

"You know I love your hair." Thor leaned in to kiss her. "Though I do wish you would grow it back out long."

"Long hair just gets in the way," Enid replied as she kissed him back.

"Ugh, " Saphira made a face and turned away from them. "I have been lucky so far with no morning sickness, and they go and do that in front of me."

"No different than us having to see you and Loki constantly glued to each other's faces," Enid replied, pulling away from Thor.

Remy and Rogue arrived at the apartment shortly after that. Remy gave Saphira a one-arm hug, called her sister in French, and told her he had very close to going to Xavier to have him use someone or something named Cerebro to find her, but Rogue kept pointing out Saphira was a wanted criminal to wait a little longer. Saphira had no idea what Remy meant by any of that or who Cerebro was but squeezed his hand and assured her good friend she was okay.

Kurt and Mystique were the last to arrive, and though neither hugged her, Mystique smacked her shoulder and told her off for worrying about everyone; she didn't say she included herself in that. Still, Saphira was pretty sure Mystique had been concerned about her. When she got done with Saphira, Mystique turned to Loki and started telling him off for disappearing on Kurt; he and Loki had been together searching, and when he received Saphira's call, he just disappeared without a word to him, which left Kurt worried Loki had gotten a call that might be luring him into a trap.

Loki turned to Kurt and apologized; he had been so relieved to hear Saphira's voice he had teleported away without thinking; Kurt accepted Loki's apology. I said he understood.

When everyone had calmed down, and Saphira explained what happened, she started feeling hungry, and Loki immediately went to the kitchen to make her some vegetable soup; Saphira sat up and turned forward, that's when Rogue surprised her by telling her she was glad she was okay, then threatened to beat Saphira up if she runs off without telling anyone again.

As Enid sat a tray in front of her for Loki to sit her food and drink on, Saphira smiled, feeling a lot better than she was before; and as she looked around at everyone in the room, they all still had snow on them, looked a little wet, mostly their hair; some with pink cheeks and hands from the cold, Saphira felt both guilty and happy; for the first time in her life, she felt cared about by more than just her sister and Loki; the hand full of people in Enid and Thor's living room weren't her friends; they were her family, and having a family, even a small one. Even if most wasn't biologically related, at least to her, it felt good. She felt as if she could handle anything that comes her way because Saphira has people to care about, that cared about her, even if she was considered by most to be a villain.

AN I do have plans for Saphira; there is usually a reason for certain things I put in my story; the problem is fitting those plans in and make it make sense; sometimes, I change stuff because it doesn't work right with how the story is going, and other reasons, but with Saphira things have suddenly started coming to me on where I can take this.