EPILOGUE

"Grandma!" The littlest royal shouted as she ran into her Grandmothers arms. Queen Rapunzel scooped up her grandchild Princess Kaitlin and whirled her about the room, much to the giggling delight of her granddaughter.

"Mother!" Princess Elect Leanne said as she ran over to hug her mother. "When did you get in? Was Father able to make it this year?"

"I just got in, my dear after a punishing 18 hour ride, in that poor excuse for a car! I'm officially inventing the airplane this year, thats for sure!" Rapunzel said as she put her granddaughter back down and hugged her daughter. "Your father will be in time for the ceremony tomorrow. He's still negotiating with the Karlains to officially join the Kingdom. He says they're going to join, they just have to make it look like they're hard bargainers to save face with their people."

"I never understood why they held out for so long. I mean the advances you've made in all scientific fields, especially medicine. Most of the surrounding countries were falling over themselves to join if only to get their hands on out technology." Prince Regent David said as he entered the room.

"David!" Rapunzel said as she went over and hugged him tight. "Well the Karlains have to be the most stubborn people on this planet. Which is why I sent Eugene, I figured they should get a taste of their own medicine!"

The whole family laughed at that. They all retired to the smaller side hall to catch up.

"So Princess Leanne, how has it been, dealing with Parliament this year?" Rapunzel asked her daughter with an impish smile on her face.

"Ugh!" Leanne said with a frustrated sigh. "I thought Parliament was supposed to decrease my workload, not add to it!"

"Well they're as new to all this as you are. I thought many times of 'inventing' Parliament during my Reign, but I knew the people weren't ready yet. Trust me. You don't know how easy you have it my dear." Rapunzel admonished her daughter.

"I know, I know. My work load has decreased. My stress levels however..." Princess Leanne said in a semi pouting voice. "You could always declare for the throne again you know. I wouldn't stop you."

"Oh no. I always wondered why MY parents abdicated so quickly after I married Eugene. It only took my first day on the throne to realize just how much hard work it was. I suspect that's why they moved all they way across the country to Riverside, So I couldn't easily call them back. Hah! I showed them though, by inventing the telephone!"

Princess Kaitlin, who had been playing with Pascal got up and crawled into her grandmothers lap. "Grandma, will he really come tonight?" She asked.

"Yes my dear, tomorrow night is the Festival of Remembrance. He always drops off a special lantern for the whole family to light on that night." Rapunzel said as she bounced her granddaughter on her lap.

"Do you think I'll be able to see him?" Kaitlin said as she started to fall asleep.

"Well that's usually up to him." Rapunzel whispered to the now sleeping form gently snoring in her arms. Rapunzel motioned for a maid to come over and take the littlest princess off to bed. She told the woman to let her sleep in the room closest to lantern chamber for the night.

Princess Kaitlin woke up to a faint grinding noise coming from the hallway. She got up out of bed, and went to the door and opened it, with Pascal sitting on her shoulder. From the Lantern chamber she saw a pulsing light coming from beneath the door. Tiptoeing over to the chamber door she quietly opened it.

And there, as in the stories told to her by her grandmother, was the Big Blue Box (Although it wasn't really.) And putting a light blue lantern on the rooms only pedestal was a tall skinny man in a brown coat.

The man must have heard the door open because he turned around and smiled at her. Kneeling down he spoke. "Hello, you must be Kaitlin. I'm the Doctor."

"Are you really him!" Kaitlin asked her voice full of wonder.

"The last time I checked." The Doctor said. "How old are you now? Your what, five?"

Proudly holding up six fingers, Princess Kaitlin told the Doctor "I'm six and half years old. Soon I'll be seven!"

"Well then, perhaps I should give you this now then, Hmmmm?" The Doctor said as he reached into a coat pocket and pulled out a small glowing blue stone. "This is a singing stone from Rigel IV. If you put it under your pillow at night before you go to sleep, You will always have good dreams."

"What do you say when someone gives you a gift Kaitlin?" Her Grandmother asked from the doorway.

"Thank-you Doctor." Kaitlin said as she hugged the Doctor.

"There's a good girl." The Doctor said as he hugged her back.

"I think you'd better get back to bed little one." Rapunzel said "We all have a big day tomorrow."

"Okay" Little Kaitlin said "G'night Doctor."

"Good night Kaitlin," The Doctor said as the little girl closed the door behind her.

"So are you ever going to take up my offer of a spare room? We still have plenty." Rapunzel said to the man who had looked over her family for most of her life.

"I'm afraid not, in fact this may be the last time that I'll be able to come here." The Doctor said solemnly.

"Why?" Is there anything I can do to help?" Rapunzel said in a worried voice. Concern on her face for her friend.

"No my dear Rapunzel, I just have to do something that I'm afraid I've been putting off for far to long now." The Doctor said quietly. "In fact it's my next destination."

Fighting back tears, Rapunzel simply said. "Well then, I can't let you go off without some gifts. Just wait here for a moment will you?"

She disappeared from the room for a moment, but then came back.

"This." She said as she put a garland of brightly coloured flowers around his neck. "Is a friendship wreath from the Isle of Tristan. It's said that this arrangement brings good luck. And this" She said as she put a beautifully made straw hat on his head, "Is something Eugene had made specially for you from the same island people."

"Hang on just a tic," The Doctor said as he pulled out his brainy specs and sonic'd them into a pair of sunglasses and put them on. "How do I look?" He asked smiling.

"Fabulous!" Rapunzel said as she tried to fight back tears. "Just fabulous."

"Well then, I guess it's time for me to go." The Doctor said quietly.

As always, Rapunzel wrapped him up into a big hug. Possibly the biggest one yet.

"Good-bye Father." Rapunzel said as the tears started flowing freely down her face.

"Good-bye My dear. I'm so proud of you." The Doctor said his, voice heavy.

And with that, Rapunzel turned and left the lantern chamber, closing the doors behind her. She leaned against them as the sound of the TARDIS faded away.

She cried the rest of the night.

Later on the next evening, the whole family gathered on the main balcony. Little Kaitlin held the light blue family sky lantern. With the royal seal on one side and the outline of a TARDIS on the other.

Approaching the podium, Queen Rapunzel stepped up to the mike and spoke.

To the Time Lords of old, who have long since passed.

You gave us the Rani. And for that we give thanks

To the People of Gallifrey, who have long since passed.

You gave us the Doctor. And for that we give thanks.

We give thanks, and we remember you all.

We will never forget!

Little Kaitlin lit the family sky lantern and set it aloft. This was the signal and everyone gathered in the kingdom lit their own and set them aloft as well.

And with heads bowed solemnly the entire royal family held hands.

And glowed a bright golden hue that cut through the night. For this was their promise to a long dead race.

And to one member of that race in particular.

FIN?