Disclaimer: I do not own Spider-Man

Chapter One: Memories

"Sarah," the royal voice of her mother woke the princess from her daydreaming. She was sitting in her room, a needle and thread in her hands, a piece of cloth on her lap. "Is there something wrong with you needle?"

"No," Princess Sarah of Edinburgh, which was on the edge of England and Scotland, looked up at her mother, the Queen, apologetically. "Forgive me, mother, however speaking of things that ladies should do bores me. I would rather hear stories of great valor, like that of Robin Hood!"

"Oh, Saraphina," Her mother, Queen Lydia, said as she got up. She had been sowing a pillow for her husband, King Gregory's return. And she had seen an opportunity to teach Sarah some needlepoint, as well as go over the rules of being a lady in the royal house. "My darling child, you have the chivalrous heart of a knight -"

"Perhaps I could be a knight when I grow up?" Sarah asked hopefully, her green eyes bright with wonder. With a sad shake of her head, Lydia sat down next to her 7 year-old daughter, and put an arm around her.

"My dear, women do not become knights. A select few are given the title if they prove themselves on a quest...however considering your condition - I do not think you would be much help on a quest."

"You mean, because I cannot walk, I will never be knighted?" Sarah asked, leaning into her mother's arms. Sarah had been born paralyzed from the waist down at birth. And so far no cure was to be found. "Will I at least be able to attend a quest? I could cook, or clean, or even mend the men's clothes!"

Smiling, Lydia hugged her daughter close, and tried hard not to cry. Her beautiful daughter, so full of spirit and love, could not even walk. What sort of world was this, where a seven-year old child like Sarah, could not have the pleasure of running? She would never know the joy of jumping, or dancing, or running, or riding a horse - instead she was usually bedridden, or carried around in a chair endowed with wheels.

But that was no way for a person to live, cooped up in their room, relying on other people to move them. No, she deserved so much better than this.

"Yes, I suppose knights on a quest would need someone to mend their clothing," Lydia agreed, pulling back and smiling at her daughter. Sarah smiled brightly back. "I've heard questing tends to tear one's clothes apart."

"Indeed!" Sarah agreed, nodding her head. If she could stand, she would have jumped up. "Do you remember when father came back from searching for the tomb of Merlin?"

"Yes," Lydia replied. "There are few who don't remember it."

"His clothes were ragged," Sarah continued, and Lydia replaced herself in the chair opposite her daughter. Once she started talking, there was no stopping her. "It looked as if he had to fight his way through brambles, fight cave trolls, and possibly even have fought a dragon."

"Sarah, my daughter, you greatly over exaggerate my adventures," King Gregory said, coming into the room. Looking over at her father, the girl smiled ecstatically. Then, with some effort, she began to pull and push herself to the edge of her bed nearest her father.

Gregory came over, meeting his daughter at the edge of the bed, and embraced her tightly. Of all the people he knew and loved, Lydia and Sarah were ones he loved the most. His family, the ones he would do anything for.

"Father!" Sarah said, pulling back and grinning at her father. "I did not expect you back so soon. Did the peace talks with the Celtics go well?"

"Well enough," Gregory replied evasively. He had not the heart to tell her that the "peace talks" had been an attempt on his life. "However, my last adventure sounds much more exciting than this one. Did I really meet a dragon?"

"Your clothes were scorched enough," Lydia replied, coming over and putting her arms lovingly around his shoulders. Gregory smiled back at her, and stood to embrace her.

"Worry not, my wife. Twas only the mark of a fiery arrow." Gregory said, and had to hold back at laugh as Lydia looked at him with worried eyes.

"A fiery arrow?" She asked, and was about to ask what had happened, when he held up a hand.

"I shall enlighten the both of you later. For now, I have surprise," He said, going back to Sarah and lifting her up carefully. To keep herself steady, she put her arms around her father's neck.

"What sort of surprise?" Sarah asked, looking into her father's brown eyes. They twinkled with mischief. "Did you bring back a unicorn? Or capture a troll? Or -"

"Child," Lydia chided her daughter gently, "If you do not allow him to speak, how shall either of us know?"

Gregory let out a hearty laugh, and began carrying Sarah out of her bedroom and down to the throne room. Lydia dutifully followed after the both of them.

"What sort of surprise is awaiting us?" Sarah asked, quietly. Gregory glanced at her, and smiled widely.

"I have found a pair of wizards who can make you walk again," He said. His statement caught Sarah off guard, as well as Lydia. The queen was completely shocked, and stopped for a full minute to process what he'd said.

"They are not pretenders -?" She asked, racing to catch up with the king and her daughter. "They can really make Sarah walk?"

"Yes," Gregory said with a nod, his face now serious. Sarah looked between her parents, tears forming in her eyes. She had never walked before, and always found a way to move herself. Being paralyzed from the waist down was normal for her. The thought of using her legs, as much as she wanted to try it, was also scary.

"Will it hurt?" Sarah asked, pulling everything to a halt. Gregory leaned his forehead to Sarah's.

"I don't know," He said, as a few tears began to fall from his eyes. Instinctively, Sarah hugged her father close to her. "But just think - with their help we'll be able to see you walk again - can you imagine it?"

Slowly, Sarah shook her head, and then began to shake all over. She was scared, excited, and nervous all at once. What would it be like to walk? To run? She didn't know. And she wasn't sure she wanted to know. But her family did want her to walk - and for their sake she would try whatever it was these visitors had to make her walk again.

"Sarah," Lydia said, coming over and pulling the both of them into a hug. "My child, be still. Things will be all right. There's no need to be afraid."

"I-I know," Sarah said, taking control of herself. With a sniff, she wiped her teary eyes and relaxed in her father's arms. "I will be brave. Just like father."

"That's my daughter," Gregory said, and started back down for the throne room.

Upon reaching the room, they were greeted with a crowd of people. All of them packed in the room to see the visitors that King Gregory had brought with him.

The strangers in question, a pair of brothers dressed in chain mail, with sturdy leather boots. The two of them, Devin and Larry Kopper, were not from this time. They were, in fact, from the future - the year 2222. It was the age of time travel, and one in which the boys had taken advantage of.

They had created their own pair of time travel devices, and rigged them so they didn't show up on any of the time police's radars - and went backwards and forwards in time so they could 'find' things lost to time. And, on the side, sell the artifacts for a nice profit. All the while, remaining free from responsibility. Other than the responsibility of keeping themselves sharp when it came to what time they were in.

"I thought you said we were going back to King Arthur's day," Devin whispered to his brother. "This doesn't look like King Arthur's time."

"Shut up," came the response. "I know what I'm doing."

"Apparently you don't know when King Arthur's supposed to be here," He muttered, and that earned him a slap. "Hey!"

"I said I know what I'm doing," Larry hissed. Devin gave him a glare, and then fingered the medallion hanging from his neck. On it was his time device. It looked a lot like a pocket watch, only with four buttons - one for the place, one for the date, one for the time in hours, and the other for time in minutes.

Devin wondered...maybe had things gone on for too long. They had stolen so many items from so many different times - and their current future was looking more and more different each day. Maybe it had something to do with Larry. He was beginning to slip up, making minute mistakes that had cost them, on more than one occasion - a treasure and a limb.

But, thanks to the timeline, they were able to leave notes for themselves in the past and prevent the loss of limb.

"So," Devin said, a bit calmer this time. "What are we doing here. If we're not here for Arthur…"

"We're here for something better," Larry said, glancing around the crowd of people. The people here were staring at them, straining to hear their conversation - while at the same time listening to the music being played on Devin's "magic box".

"What can be better than Excalibur?" Devin asked, shifting uncomfortably. He was beginning to wonder, also, if Larry was losing his mind. Keeping track of time for - how long had it been? - when you were a time bandit, time wasn't really a problem anymore. You aged so slowly when you time traveled, it was hard to know how old you really were.

"That," Larry said, pointing to an opening in one of the castles walls. Coming through it were two - no three - people. A man and woman, both with crowns upon their heads, and a little girl.

"Wouldn't that be them?" Devin asked, ducking away from Larry's oncoming hand. Folding his arms, Devin leaned back against the nearest sturdy item, which happened to be the king's throne.

"For once, would you not question me with sarcasm?" Larry asked, pulling his brother jerkily away from the chair. "And get off that. You don't want to offend the king."

"Oh, like using his chair is so much worse than stealing from him," Devin whispered as the royal couple approached. "Your majesty!"

With a flourish, Devin bowed low on one knee when the royals came within hearing range. Larry, less flamboyant than his sibling, merely bowed from the waist down.

"Please, friends," King Gregory said, nodding his head at both of them. "You do not need to bow down to me. For it I who should bow to you."

And with that, Gregory bent to one knee, and held his daughter, Sarah, up like a baby to be christened. Sarah, her brown hair braided lovingly and trailing down her shoulder, her green eyes still fresh with tears - looked up at the men. To her, they did not look so impressive. Merely like a pair of poor knights searching to make their name in the world.

"Can you really make me walk again?" She asked them, as her father set her down gently at their feet. Devin, feeling an intense sense of dread, looked over at his brother. Larry, his face masked, bent down to face her.

"Indeed," Larry said, reaching into a pouch at his side, and pulling out something sparkling and silver. "However, it will only work if you are worthy."

"Worthy of what?" Lydia asked, after she had given a quick curtsey. Gregory sent her a glare, but she paid him no heed. When it came to her daughter - she was willing to overlook feminane protocol. "Does my daughter have to go on a quest?"

"No, my queen," Larry said, getting up and showing her what he had in his hands. Lydia looked down at the items, surprised to see an intricately designed locket, and a bracelet with many small items attached. Including something in the shape of a sword.

"What are these?" She asked, reaching out for them. Larry pulled his hand back before she could touch them. She glanced at her husband, and then at the two men. "Why can't I touch them? Are they dangerous?"

"Forgive my brother," Devin said, speaking for the first time. "He meant no disrespect. He is merely…"

"Wishes to be careful," Larry said extending the items to Sarah. "For only the pure of heart can wear these."

"Are you saying she is not pure of heart?" Gregory asked, giving the two men a slight glare. Lydia put a hand gently on her arm. While she had been a faithful wife, she was not the purest of heart.

"No, my good king," Devin said, putting on his charm. "But, you see, this necklace and bracelet were cast with a spell - when the locket and bracelet are placed with a person - it does not come away from them until they die. And I know you would hate for your wife to take away your daughter's only chance for walking - but if you insist…"

"No!" Lydia and Gregory said together, flinching away from the locket and bracelet. The last thing they wanted to do was take away the last chance for her to walk.

"Are you sure?" Larry asked, the silver glistening in the light. "We may be able to find another way, though it would take a few years at least."

"Please," Lydia said, clasping her hands together and going to her knees. Gregory followed suits, and all the people in the throne room came to their knees. They respected their king and queen deeply - and Sarah's predicament was one that broke all their hearts. "Please - give her the locket and bracelet. Make her walk again - I beg of you."

Sarah watched this show of desperation and love. Her eyes teared up again as watched this gesture. For a king to bow was an honor - for a queen to bow was a sign of respect - but for a whole kingdom to bow - this was a sign of complete and utter trust. They were placing their trust and respect to these two men - who they did not know - but who could make her walk again.

"Are you ready to walk again?" Devin asked, turning towards Sarah. Blinking away her shock, the young girl gave a confident nod, despite the fear in the pit of her stomach.

"Then, please," Larry said, handing the items to her. "Take these, and put them on."

Reaching out, Sarah picked up the locket first. From the moment she touched it, she felt a spark run up her hand, and a surge of power bolted through her.

Carefully, she placed the locket around her neck, and looked at it there. It looked as if it belonged there. Like it was made to be. Glancing down at the locket, Sarah was sure she felt something more stirring within the metal. It wasn't just any kind of necklace - it was enchanted.

"Take the second one," Larry prodded, his voice the only one in the silence. Tentatively, Sarah reached out and grasped the bracelet. As soon as she did - it felt another surge of power. This one felt almost as strong as the last one. Blinking, she slipped the bracelet over her left hand.

"It is done," Devin said, turning from her to face the crowd. "She will be able to walk again!"

A deafening roar of cheering broke the silence, and everyone in the throne room leaped up and began to hug one another. Everyone, that is, except for the five nearest the throne. Slowly, the king and queen rose, their eyes on their daughter. Sarah stared back, unsure of what to do next.

"Well," Devin said, looking back at Sarah. "Don't you want to walk to your parents?"

"I - I don't know how," Sarah said, feeling fear take over her body again. She looked to her parents, hoping they could provide guidance. "What do I do? I've never walked before."

"What?" Devin said, caught off guard. He had assumed the girl had undergone an accident of some sort, not been born without the use of her legs. Larry jabbed him in the side, and smiled sweetly at Sarah and her parents.

"Do not fear, sweet princess," Larry said, bowing to her. "It will take some practice - but you will learn to walk. I promise you."

"How?" She asked, tearing up again. Lydia put a hand on her shoulder comfortingly, and Gregory came to stand on her other side.

"There is a place, far off to the West," Larry said, glancing at his brother. Devin nodded, though he didn't know what he was talking about. They hadn't planned on taking anyone anywhere - it was supposed to be a simple mission of taking a mystical sword and going traveling to before Arthur was kinged and pretending one of them had drawn the sword.

But this - this was not at all what they had planned.

"How far out?" Gregory asked, sounding worried. Lydia nodded, and Sarah folded her hands on her lap. She was willing to do whatever it took to make her parents smile around her always. So that they would never look sad when she stared her window, or when she spoke about becoming a knight.

"It doesn't matter," Sarah said, sitting up straighter, reeling in her emotions. "I will go."

"Saraphina," Lydia said, turning her daughter to face her. "Don't you want to know where you're going? How far away you'll be from us?"

"I do wonder," Sarah admitted, smiling weakly back at her parents. "But what would that matter - as I keep you both close to my heart, so you will be with me always."

Speechless, Lydia hugged her daughter close to her. This was her child, the one she shared the same colored hair with, the same green eyes, and the same craving of adventure. Of course she would want to go. Who wouldn't want to go on a grand adventure to do something one hadn't been able to do before?

"You parents are right," Devin said, giving Larry a guarded look. "Do you not wish to know where you are going? Perhaps it is somewhere that is dangerous?"

"Is it?" Gregory asked, "If you intend to take her somewhere dangerous, then perhaps I should send with you some of my guards."

"No, no," Larry said, smiling. "My brother was merely testing you. And do not worry, you have passed the test. For what parent would let their child leave for a dangerous place without protection?"

Gregory nodded, and Lydia let go of Sarah and stood up. They both nodded cordially at the brothers, and then smiled at them.

"You have done us a great honor," Gregory said, reaching out a hand to shake their hands. Devin put out his hand, and nearly gasped as the king squeezed it tightly. He watched as his brother took the shake with barely a blink of his eye. That was one thing Devin had always been jealous of, Larry's high pain intolerance.

"Take care of our daughter," Lydia said, lending her hand to each man, and squeezing firmly, but not tightly. "If you hurt her in any way -"

"I assure you, we will not," Larry promised, "Now, we must leave quickly, so we may take the next ship out."

"Right now?" Sarah asked, surprised. "Can I not pack some essentials?"

"Everything you will need will be provided for," Devin said, coming over and carefully lifting her up. He lifted her easily, having lifted many treasures in the past - an 8 year old girl was a piece of cake. "My brother has, responsibly, taken care of everything."

"Indeed I have," Larry said, reaching into his pouch and taking out a small, cylindrical metal object with a red button on it. "Here, your majesties. This is a gift for you. Press the button when we leave."

"What is it?" Gregory asked, taking the object gently from Larry. "Some sort of magic?"

"As a matter of fact," Larry said, smiling wide, "It is a lamp, all the way from from the deepest Arab kingdom."

"Truly?" Lydia asked, looking at the device. "It does not look like a lamp."

"Ah, but have you ever seen an Arab lamp before?" Larry asked, biding time for Devin to take Sarah out of the castle. The sea of people parted reverently for them. "You see, this lamp was stolen from the Genie King himself! And as such - it can only be used once they have given up the one thing they love most in their life."

"So, it could not give Sarah the use of her legs?" Lydia asked, glancing back at her daughter.

"It would not, my lady," Larry said, taking on a sad face. "Though I wish it could."

"Thank you," Gregory said, wrapping his hand around the object. And to, Larry's dismay, he accidentally pressed the button as he did so. With a controlled sprint, he hurried towards the exit.

But before he could reach it, there was a tremendous booming sound. Everyone in the throne room began to freak out, screaming and clinging to one another. When the reverberations began cracking the castle's walls, Larry spritned for the only exit - the shaking doorway, only 50 or so feet away.

From behind him, he could hear King Gregory's scream of outrage, and he knew he had to get out of there if he wanted to profit off of this. And he had to profit off of this - if he didn't, then things were all over. For him, at least. For Devin - things would just be beginning.

Sarah, shocked at what was happening, tried to twist out of Devin's arms - but he was too strong. Screaming out her mother's name, she managed to turn her head in time to see her parents one last time.

"Sarah!" Her mother's voice shouted, and she could just barely see her mother as she was crushed beneath a piece of stone. Sarah stared, unbelieving at what had just happened. And As the terrible moment stuck in her mind, she felt the power in her necklace and bracelet surge through her.

"MOTHER!" She screamed, pushing Devin's arms off of her. "NO!"

"What the heck?!" Devin exclaimed, as the little girl pushed his arms away. She was just a skinny little girl - how was she over powering him.

"Don't you dare drop her!" Larry shouted as he caught up with his brother. "We need her with us."

"For what?" Devin screamed back. He was completely frustrated with Larry's secrets. He wasn't even told what they were doing - much less he'd be running for his life like this. "What the heck do we need her for anyway?"

"If you need to know the plan - I'll tell you the plan," Larry retorted, grabbing onto Devin's arm and pulling him out of the way of a falling piece of stone. "And you don't need to know - so get your butt in gear and -"

With a final shove, Sarah pushed herself out of Devin's grasp, pulling his amulet, which had gotten tangled with her locket, with her.

As she hit the ground, she moved her hand to her necklace, grabbing it for strength and protection while stones fell around her.

However, when she touched it, she also touched Devin's amulet, and accidentally activated it. With a bright flash of light, Sarah was washed away in a burst of light - and then she was gone. Disappeared. With not even a lock of hair left.

As Sarah passed through space and time, swirling towards another place - she could hear her name being called over and over again. It was her mother's voice. Calling to her out of the swirling vortex…

"Sarah!" She could hear her voice, just before the piece of stone fell on her, destroying her light of life before her time. "Sarah! Wake up!"