Series: Part four of my five-part Reincarnation Arc, which began with "Karmic Joxer", "Eyewitness", and "Unlikely Suspect".
Synopsis: Xena must save Protestants Joxer and Gabrielle from Bloody Mary (Alti) in sixteenth-century England.
Religion disclaimer: I did my best to present a balanced view of the Catholic and Protestant religions. I don't mean to insult or harm either religion. I have mentioned which religion I belong to in the past, but I won't mention it here so I don't get criticized. Because of the time and place, religion is a major factor in this story, so please don't be offended by that either.
For The Record I: This story is VERY LOOSELY based on the history of Mary I (Mary Tudor), also known as Bloody Mary, who lived from 1516-1558. She was the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine, and was a half-sister to Elizabeth I. She was a devout Catholic that persecuted Protestants for their faith. She left no children, so the throne went to Elizabeth upon her death by illness.
For The Record II: Since this is my first time using Spanish in a fanfic, I have to say this so no one can fault me on subject-adjective agreement: Negro is Rosaria's given last name, not a nickname (negra). I liked how the name fits Xena's current incarnation.
Newbie Alert: Technically, this is my first time writing for Alti. Yes, she appears in "Eyewitness", but it was material already seen in Between the Lines.
Absolutely True Story: I told Claire Stansfield (aka Alti) about this story idea at the 1999 Chicago convention, and she gave it the thumbs up. Hope I didn't disappoint.
Disclaimer: Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, and Alti don't belong to me, they belong to Rob Tapert and company. Everyone else belongs to me. There is some violence in this story, but no swear words and no sex. References are made to the previous stories in this series, as well as my past story "The Celtic Warrior I".

1558 London, England

A large crowd of peasants gathered in the square outside the city jail. Most were carrying rosaries or Bibles, and had their heads bowed in silent prayer, lips moving slightly. Some had their heads turned toward the castle doors, which were to open any minute.

One woman with long, dark blonde hair, was nervously shifting back and forth. She hadn't brought anything with her, and she was wringing her hands.

Then the doors opened, and a young woman with dark blonde hair, looking emaciated, dirty, and a little ill, was led out by two guards. She didn't put up a fight. The crowd jeered at her, saying she was damned. She was led to a stone slab and halted in front of a priest.

"Andrea Wakefield," began the priest, "you have been charged with following the teachings of Martin Luther, a man known to preach against the supreme teachings of the church. Do you deny this?"

"No," said Andrea, her jaw set.

"Do you have anything to say on your behalf?" the priest continued.

"Yes," said Andrea, struggling, but the guards had a good grip on her. "Your church thinks it's helping the people, but it's not. You've forgotten the people! All you care about is the church. You want to save people's souls, but at the same time you control their whole lives. I am not switching back."

The crowd had grown increasingly angry. The other dark blonde woman in the crowd was crying. "No, Andrea, don't."

The priest turned to the people. "Andrea Wakefield has refused to turn from her sin and receive salvation. So, she will face the ultimate penalty: death." He motioned with his arm, and the guards forced Andrea to her knees, then put her head on the slab. The priest made the sign of the cross. "May God have mercy on your soul." He turned and started walking away as the axeman came.

"No!" shouted the other blonde woman. Fighting through the crowd, she ran to the stone. The executioner paused. "Andrea, please, don't do it," she said, sobbing. "Come back. Mom and I still love you. The queen is wrong to kill you for this. You can stay this way if you want, I just want you back home, alive."

Andrea turned her head to face her sister, her own face tear-streaked. "I know you love me, Joanne. I love you too. But I have to do this for my people."

"No. No!" said Joanne as she was led away. The blade fell.

From above, a figure that had watched the whole proceeding smiled and turned away.

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