"Am I glad to see the TARDIS." Tegan half-laughed, half said as she laid her hand on the outside of it. "But I'll be even happier to see my own clothes again."

Nyssa smiled and looked down at her dress. "Oh, I don't know, Tegan. I'm rather fond of these."

"You forget what I am wearing under this get up," Tegan smiled at her friend and turned to watch the Doctor as he strolled down the path leading to the great blue box. Elrind walked on one side and Kilred, wearing the new mantle of the King, on the other. Jessica was arm in arm with her husband. She waved the woman, but was interrupted by Adric peeking around the side of the TARDIS.

She glanced at him, seeing somewhat of a befuddled expression on his face and then the Doctor and his company were upon them.

"Ah good, you seem to have all made here in one piece," the Doctor said, removing his hat.

Adric shook his head. "Shouldn't we be after the Master, Doctor?"

The Doctor squinted into the setting sun. "Yes. Although I don't think there is any rush, Adric. He can't get far…especially if he had to replace his temporal stabilizer. And I think that his TAIC will need…."

With a small, wolfish smile, Adric produced the TAIC from his pocket. The Doctor chuckled and took the circuitry. Adric continued talking as the Doctor turned it over in his hands. "We found it at the sale, Doctor. Elrind did that is. And we thought…"

"You thought correctly, Adric. Well done. And you too, Nyssa," he called. With a smile, he slipped it into his pocket. "It is good to see that you are both safe and well." He turned to Elrind, extending his hand. "I can't thank you enough for taking care of them, Elrind."

"You have done much for us in the past, Doctor, I am simply returning the favor. Will you stay this time?"

"No, no…no. We have to be on our way. As Adric pointed out, we do need to find the Master. The delay with him needing to replace both the temporal stabilizer and TAIC will give us a chance."

"And he never stays in one place very long," Tegan interjected with a smile.

"Yes….well…shall we? Nyssa…please?" the Doctor held out his hand and Nyssa opened the door. Then with a smile at Elrind, she disappeared inside. Adric shook the elder's hand and entered the TARDIS as well.

"Will you return?" Kilred asked, staring up at the blue box. "You will always be welcome."

"Thank you, Kilred, and I never say never, but I cannot say it will be as you see me…" the Doctor stepped aside as Tegan embraced Jessica. "But I think that my companions might try to convince me to stop sooner."

Jessica released her friend. "May the Gods smile upon you, Tegan."

"And you…take care of yourself."

"We must go, Tegan, if you don't mind…." He turned to usher the suspiciously teary-eyed Australian into the TARDIS. Kilred stopped the Time Lord on his way into the TARDIS to shake his hand.

"Thank you," the warrior-king said, simply.

"Thank you for all you did, Kilred. I think Epsilon 3 is in good hands," the Doctor answered, smiling. Then he slipped into the TARDIS and stuck his head back out to say: "Remember, not all situations are solved by fighting."

"I will, Doctor." He answered.

The Doctor smiled, nodded and shut the door. The air was filled with a wheezing that grew as the box became more and more transparent and then it was gone. Kilred and Jessica stood where they were for a time as Elrind walked back to the keep and the tatters of their village. And then as the night began to fall, they turned, hand in hand, the King and his wife, toward the Keep and their new life.

**

"Well?"

"Well…what?" the Doctor answered, flicking switches. Tegan was standing inside the door, her arms crossed over her chest and her foot was tapping on the floor. Adric was leaning against the sixth side of the console and raised his eyes. He knew what Tegan was asking and he wanted the answer as well. It just seemed that Tegan was more…forceful of the situation.

"Well…you said you would explain why it is on Epsilon 3 that you can't interfere."

"Or use the TARDIS for travel," Adric added, quieter.

"Ah yes…I did, didn't I?" the Doctor hedged. Tegan nodded.

He swallowed and waved his hand in the air. "Every civilization has its myths and legends, Tegan, Adric. Epsilon 3 is the place of myths and legends for Gallifrey. It is on par with your Garden of Eden, Tegan, or your First Place, Adric. As a Time Lord, to interfere on Epsilon 3 means the same penalty as interfering in the time stream of Gallifrey. And it is a sacrilege."

"But why?" Tegan pressed.

The Doctor sighed. "There is a book in the library I can get for you, if you want to know more. But suffice it to say, on Epsilon 3, time travel, interference and other rather Gallifreyan ways of life are considered punishable by banishment, and worse. And personally, I didn't want to ruin something that was very much a part of my childhood, thank you."

Tegan shrugged and turned, eager to get out of her clothes. Adric left a moment later, he too, looking for familiarity. The Doctor nodded, rolling his shoulders as he too made to leave the console room. As he brushed by the pedistool, the book on top fluttered, shuffling the pages…until it lay open on a particular page. There was a well drawn picture of a castle on top and the words:

The Legend of Pirates: Epsilon 3