A/N: I'm really excited to do this serial. This was the serial that made me really fall in love with One. I've wanted to do One for a while now, but couldn't decide which serial choose.

I hope everyone likes this chapter. Enjoy! Also, this was all done on my phone so I'm sure there are a few typos here and there.

The golden glow around my body started to fade away after a few minutes. I knew that I was in the time vortex during the time I was surrounded by the strange glow and tried not to think too much about the horrible fear that gripped my heart.

When the glow started to fade, I could hear voices. I recognized the first voice as Susan's, then the others as Ian, Barbara, and the First Doctor. I let out a sigh of relief, knowing that I was in the company of people I knew and cared about. I started to walk forward as the glow disappeared entirely, but stumbled and fell after taking one step. I fell with a cry of pain and the Doctor and Ian ran to my side.

"What is it?" Ian asked as he helped me sit up. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head. "My legs sort of gave out. It's probably just the... the effects of the vortex."

The Doctor put a hand on my shoulder, drawing my attention. I looked from Ian and into the Doctor's eyes. I was surprised to find worry and concern in his eyes and wondered how well he knew me at that point in his life.

"Are you alright, my child?"

Child, I repeated to myself in disappointment. I'm just a child to him.

"I'm fine," I answered with a smile

"Oh, are you? Do you normally collapse like this? Hm?" The Doctor shook his head and tapped his forefinger against the tip of my nose. "I didn't think so."

"Diana, do you think you can stand?" Ian questioned gently.

I nodded and looked back at him, feeling my cheeks flush slightly after the Doctor had touched my nose. "Yeah."

He took my right arm and draped it around his neck, then put his own arm around my waist. I bent my knees and put some of my weight on Ian's shoulders as he helped me up. Then I moved my arm away and smiled reassuringly at him. Ian smiled back and slowly drew his arm back.

"You're sure you're alright?"

"Yeah. I'm just a little flustered and tired, I think." Ian gave me a skeptical look and I gently squeezed his hand. "I'll be fine in a minute or two."

"Alright. If you're sure, I'm going to go and change into some normal clothes."

"Fine, fine," the Doctor said absently, waving his hand as Ian left. Then he put a hand on my elbow and tugged me closer. "Now tell me, my girl. Where are you?"

"In our timeline?" I clarified.

"Yes, yes, of course!"

I looked at the older looking and slightly more grumpy version of the Time Lord I had come to greatly adore and smiled. I wanted to stay mad at him for the way his future self had reacted to my job proposal, but found that it was difficult when his youngest self was so completely adorable and hadn't angered me yet. "Your future. Third incarnation."

"Ah, I see." He hummed and tapped his fingers against his chin. "Tell me, in your experiences, have I met you for the first time yet?"

"What?"

"I'll take that as a no."

I shook my head in confusion. "Theta- er, Doctor. Sorry."

"No, no. It's quite alright, my dear. Go ahead."

"Theta?" I tried cautiously. When he nodded, I smiled and continued. "What did you mean just then? I didn't understand you."

The Doctor wagged his finger in my face with a stern expression, which made me smile. "If you do not understand, then it hasn't happened to you yet. Don't worry about it!"

Susan suddenly appeared in the open doorway of the TARDIS. "Don't go too far," she called as she closed the doors. When she spotted me, she ran forward and gave me a hug. "Diana, it is good to see you!"

"I've been gone a while, then?" I asked with a laugh.

"Quite the opposite," the Doctor assured me. "But Susan is terribly attached to you."

"Oh." I rested my cheek on top of Susan's head and laughed again. "Well, I'm quite attached to you, too, Susan."

She pulled back and grinned up at me. "Isn't it wonderful to have her back, Grandfather?"

I looked back at the Doctor and raised an eyebrow when he didn't answer immediately. He looked at me and fumbled for words as we stared at each other in awkward silence. "Well... Yes, my child. I suppose so."

"You suppose?" I repeated. "Gee, thanks."

Susan then looked to her grandfather and smiled, pointing to the TARDIS doors. "We seem to have landed in an Aztec tomb. Barbara stayed back to look around."

"What?" The Doctor walked over to the console and opened the doors. "Chesterton, my boy, are you done yet?"

Ian ran back into the console room, smoothing a hand over his hair and smiling awkwardly. "Sorry. I'm ready now."

Susan then grabbed my wrist and started to pull me towards the doors. The Doctor quickly pushed past us and stepped out of the ship, grumbling as he walked out.

"I don't care if she is interested in what's out here, I told her repeatedly never to go off on her own," he said with a scolding tone.

Susan, Ian, and I stumbled out of the ship after the Doctor. "The door!" Susan cried worriedly. "It's closed."

Ian stepped forward and looked over the wall. "Now where is this door, Susan?"

The young Time Lady walked forward and pushed against the large mural on the wall opposite the TARDIS. "Here," she said with a smile as it opened.

I looked around the strange room, knowing I wouldn't see it again until we left and I wanted to memorize the strange beauty of the Aztec tomb.

"Barbara?" Ian called." Barbara? No sign of her."

"She was here just now," Susan said as she walked through the opening.

The Doctor looked back at me and frowned. "Are you alright, my dear?"

"Me? Yeah. I was just looking at all of this stuff. It's beautiful."

He nodded and I noticed the corner of his mouth turn upwards in a slight smile. I felt my heart skip a beat and then wondered why I felt like giggling like a schoolgirl with a crush on her teacher. The Doctor held a hand out to me and waved me forward. "Let us find Barbara first, and then you can admire the artifacts to your heart's content."

Ian and Susan had walked out of the tomb to explore the rest of the tomb. "Doctor, look at this extraordinary city down here," Ian called as he pointed over the edge of the platform that came off of the tomb.

The Doctor tugged on my jacket sleeve and walked over to Ian's side. I stood next to Susan, who was next to Ian, and looked over the edge. The height from the top of the temple to the floor of the city was dizzying and nearly made my heart stop. Yet, the sight was still awe-inspiring and beautiful.

The Doctor placed a hand on the top of the chest-high wall around the edge of the platform. "The Aztecs. They knew how to build," he said with all-knowing tone.

I looked across Ian and Susan at the Time Lord and smiled when he flashed me a proud expression and grinned.

"We must be pretty high up here," Ian commented. "Place seems absolutely deserted."

"Hm. Yes, I hope you're right," the Doctor said with a nod. "These Aztecs had some rather gruesome habits. I should hate to be carved up on that-" he gestured to the sacrificial podium behind us "-by some Aztec high priest."

There was the sudden sound of rock scraping against rock. We all turned to see the door start to close, cutting us off from the TARDIS. "The door!" Ian called, running forward.

"Quickly!"

I ran forward alongside Ian and slammed my palms against the stone wall when it closed completely and I wasn't able to catch it. Anger and disappointment coursed through my veins when I realized that I could have spared the group a fair amount of trouble and pain by remembering to keep the door open. Instead, I felt that I had let my friends down.

"There's nothing to get a grip on," Ian said as he ran his hands along the wall.

Susan came up behind us an tried pushing her shoulder against the wall. "There must be some way of opening it."

"Yes, you push from the other side," the Doctor said. "These tombs were designed to prevent grave robbers, not to aid and abet them."

"Theta, I'm so sorry," I mumbled, resting my forehead against the stone wall and letting out a heavy sigh.

He rested a hand on my shoulder and pulled me away from the wall, putting his other hand on my elbow. I turned and put my head on his shoulder. Beside me, both Ian and Susan put their hands on my back and tried to wordlessly comfort me.

The Doctor moved his head so that his chin was resting on my shoulder. Then his arm tightened around my shoulders. Startled, I looked up and turned to see a small group of Aztec warriors gathered together. At the front of the group was a middle-aged man dressed in the clothes of a high priest.

"Autloc, High Priest of Knowledge, most humbly greets the servants of Yetaxa," the man said.

The Doctor looked back at me with a raised eyebrow. "The servants of whom, sir?"

"Yetaxa, the High Priest."

I swallowed my nerves and pulled away from the Doctor's arms. "We thank you, sir, for greeting us," I answered politely. "Could I ask that we see Bar- the Yetaxa?"

The priest smiled and nodded. "In due time, you shall meet again, but first grant us our courtesies. No evil exists in our hearts towards you. In fact, we honor you."

"What is your name, sir?" the Doctor questioned.

"Autloc."

"And you are the High Priest?"

Autloc nodded and bowed slightly. "As such I serve."

"You know where we came from?"

The priest gestured to the wall behind us. "The tomb."

"Tell me, is there a way through from this side?" the Doctor questioned.

I discreetly elbowed him in the side and cleared my throat. "Please ignore his questions, High Priest," I said with an awkward smile. "The eldest of the Yetaxa's servants is always curious and questions everyone he meets."

Autloc tilted his head in acknowledgement of my comment. "Any questions the servants of the Yetaxa have will be answered. The tomb is sealed." Then the priest smiled and stepped to the side with a gesture to the men behind him. "Go now with these attendants, and soon you shall meet the one who wears the bracelet of Yetaxa."

The Doctor turned to me. "What's he talking about now?"

I poked him in the stomach with my finger. "Keep your voice down. They can't know that we aren't who we say we are."

"And what's that?" the Time Lord asked.

"Barbara's servants. She found a special bracelet and put it on. When she was found, they thought she was the reincarnation of one of their priests."

"Why do you linger?" Autloc asked curiously.

I looked up at him with wide, fearful eyes. The Doctor smiled and stepped partially in front of me, holding his arm behind his back and grabbing my hand. "Do excuse us, High Priest. We were merely conversing."

Autloc smiled. "Curiosity and the search for knowledge is admired in our city. But now I must request that you follow these guards to the Yetaxa."

We started forward, leaving the TARDIS behind, and walked out onto the platform. The Doctor kept his hand in mine, which I found curious and pleasing. Susan let out a disgusted cry and recoiled into Ian's stomach. He put an arm around her shoulder and the Doctor gently patted her arm with his free hand.

"You know who he is?" the Doctor asked his granddaughter.

Ian answered, "The local butcher, by the look of him."

"Exactly."

"You have seen her?" Autloc asked the other man.

"A vision is with us, Autloc," the man said with a commanding voice. "When does it rain?"

"This day. When the sun's fire first touches the horizon to the west."

"At that moment shall I present her to the people. A vision is with us and shall stand before them. And I, in supplication to the Rain God, shall offer human blood. The rains will come. No more talk against us that the gods were against us and brought drought to the land. The rains will come and power shall again be ours."

Autloc shook his head. "I tell you, Tlotoxl, the rains will come with or without sacrifice."

"Does the High Priest of Knowledge only worship him who has fallen, and not him who has made us strong?" Tlotoxl questioned with a sneer.

"I worship the same god as you."

"Then above all, honor him. He has made us rulers of the land. For this he demands blood. And he shall have it."

Autloc stepped past Tlotoxl and extended his arm, gesturing for us to follow him. He nodded to the men behind us and they stepped forward. "These men will take you to an antechamber where you may wait for the Yetaxa to return."

"Well, they've treated us all right so far," Susan noted as she ran a hand along the wall.

The Doctor grasped his coat lapels and sighed. "The Aztecs always showed the utmost courtesy towards their intended victims."

Both Susan and Ian looked panicked and extremely worried. I gave the Doctor a scolding expressions and smiled reassuringly at the other two. "Barbara's going to be alright and so are we. Trust me."

"Is this one of those times where you know what's going to happen?" Susan questioned.

I nodded. "Yes. And while there are times where we will all be in danger, none of us are killed and we will all escape."

"Are you quite sure?" the Doctor asked.

I looked back at him. "Yes, absolutely. I wouldn't lie to you." I paused and couldn't help but add with a bitter tone, "Or keep you from having a life."

"What?"

"Nothing," I answered with a wave of my hand. "You won't get it for a long time. Unfortunately."

The men who had escorted us into the antechamber returned moments later and instructed us to follow them. They brought us back to the room we had originally come from, then left. I smiled when I saw Barbara sitting on a stone chair and dressed in Aztec finery in the middle of the room.

"Barbara!" Ian cried with a smile, rushing forward.

Barbara glanced in Ian's direction and then looked forward. "Leave us," she ordered the soldiers that were guarding her.

As soon as the Aztecs left the room, we all burst into soft laughter. Ian went to Barbara's side and quickly looked her up and down. Susan and I admired the beautiful clothes and jewelry she had been given. But the Doctor just chuckled.

"Good gracious," he said with a poorly hidden smile.

"What on earth are you doing there?" Ian asked.

Barbara smiled and turned in her seat to face Ian. "They think I'm a reincarnation of that priest in the tomb. I found this," she said with a gesture at the snake bracelet on her arm, "and put it on, and when the High Priest caught me I was still wearing it."

"So he thought you were a god?" Susan asked.

"Yes."

Susan looked back at me in surprise, then smiled. "Diana, you were right!"

"I try to be," I replied with a smile.

"But the priest in the tomb's a man! How can Barbara be a reincarnation of him?"

"The form the spirit takes isn't important, Susan," Barbara explained. She pointed to the bracelet and smiled. "This is what's important."

"Yes, that High Priest, what was his name?" Ian asked.

"Autloc," the Doctor and I replied.

"That's right, Orkloc."

"Autloc!" the rest of us corrected with a laugh.

"Autloc." Ian smiled after saying it correctly and continued his though. "Well, he said we were the servants of Yetaxa. Is that who they think you are?"

I sighed. "Ian, I already said that."

"Oh. Right."

Susan and Barbara laughed, and then Barbara looked over at me. "You knew this would happen?" she asked. "Like the other times?"

"Yeah. In all honesty, I would have stopped you if I had gotten here sooner. I don't like what's going to happen."

Ian smiled in a cheerful attempt to make us all stop worrying about the future. "So, we're your servants, Barbara?"

"That's right," she said.

The Doctor rolled his eyes and made an annoyed noise in the back of his throat. "Charming."

"Well, it's very useful for us, Doctor. It means we can go into the tomb any time we want to, get into the TARDIS and leave."

Susan shook her head at the teacher. "We can't. It only opens from the inside."

"Reincarnations can come out, but human beings can't go in," the Doctor elaborated.

Ian looked behind Barbara's stone chair at the wall. "Hm. We must find out how that door opens."

But the Doctor shook his head. "That's one thing you mustn't do. As Yetaxa, you're supposed to know everything. If the Aztecs decide you're not what you're supposed to be, then we shall all die."

Autloc and another man, the same frightening man that had startled Susan, entered and bowed to Barbara.

"Great spirit of Yetaxa, I, Tlotoxl, High Priest of Sacrifice, salute you."

"As you said, Chesterton," the Doctor whispered, "the local butcher."

Barbara nodded at the two priests. "I acknowledge the High Priest's greeting."

"For many days the Rain God has looked away from us, and the land withers and the people groan," Autloc said.

Tlotoxl nodded. "We have prayed that the land may again be bountiful. And this day we honour Tlaloc's name."

"When the sun's fire first touches the horizon to the west," Autloc elaborated, "the people will stand before the temple in obedience to our commands. We humbly beg, Great Spirit, that at that time the people shall see you and know that their suffering draws to an end."

The Doctor looked at Ian, Susan, and I and said, "And Barbara will appear and down will come the rains."

"I shall do as the High Priest requests," Barbara answered.

Autloc bowed his head in thanks. "We also beseech you, Great Spirit, to permit your handmaidens and your servants to move freely among our people."

The Doctor turned to face Barbara, putting a hand over his chest and grabbing at his coat lapel. "O, Great Spirit," he started with a serious face, "grant us this our wish, that we may be your eyes and ears among the people to do our best and serve in all our interests."

"The aged servant of Yetaxa speaks with wisdom," Autloc said.

"My youngest handmaiden remains with me," Barbara ordered, gesturing to Susan as she spoke. "My other handmaiden is to stay with the eldest servant unless either is needed elsewhere. However, they will follow your wishes."

"We shall await you," Autloc answered with a bow before leaving the room with Tlotoxl in tow.

The Doctor grabbed Barbara's hand and smiled. "A wonderful performance, my dear. Congratulations. We now have everything we want, exactly."

"We do?" she asked.

"Yes. You and Susan here in safety, and Ian, Diana, and I outside finding out about the tomb."

Ian nodded. "Yes, it sounds all right, but I don't think we should take our eyes off those two for a second."

"Oh, I shouldn't mind them," the Doctor said dismissively. "They're far too busy timing their miracle."

"What miracle?" Susan asked.

"Presenting Barbara to the public one second before it rains."

I gave Susan a brief hug in farewell and did the same for Barbara. Then I smiled at Ian and the Doctor and said, "Now or never, boys."

Ian laughed softly and put a hand on my lower back. The Doctor 'humph'ed and grabbed at my jacket sleeve. The two men walked on either side of me as we exited the room and went out into the platform. There Autloc and Tlotoxl were speaking in hushed tones.

"It has been decided," Tlotoxl said finally, turning to face Ian. "The old man may walk abroad. You shall train to command our army."

"Surely that is for Yetaxa to decide?" the Doctor questioned.

Ian pursed his lips and shook his head. "Yetaxa would not refuse so great an honor. I accept."

"Autloc, take the old man into the Garden of Peace, that he may sit in comfort and let the young girl walk amongst our people." Then Tlotoxl pointed to Ian. "Come now and encounter Ixta."

"Who is he?"

"Your rival to command."

Ian looked back at the Doctor and I, an alarmed expression on his face. I planted a brief kiss on his cheek and smiled. "You'll be fine, Ian."

Tlotoxl gestured for Ian to follow him and the two left. I glanced at the Doctor and started to open my mouth when my smile faded. He was staring at me with a raised eyebrow and I felt extremely shy under his gaze.

"What was that, my dear?" he asked, gripping the lapels of his coat.

"What was what?"

He pursed his lips and said, "That little kiss. I've never seen you do anything like that before."

"You jealous?" I asked playfully before starting down the steps along the side of the temple.

Tlotoxl took Ian to the warrior's hall, whilst Autloc escorted the Doctor to the Garden of Peace. The Doctor didn't take my hand the way he had in the temple, but he stayed close to me and made sure I never strayed more than a few feet away from his side.

"Why are all these people here?" the Doctor asked once we were in the garden.

Autloc smiled and gestured to the people walking calmly past us. "It is our law that all who attain their fifty second year shall pleasurably pass the remainder of their lives free from responsibility and care."

"Poor old souls, they must be bored to tears doing nothing," the Doctor mumbled under his breath.

"We often seek the accumulated wisdom of their years."

The High Priest's comment caught the Doctor's attention. "What about?"

"All manner of things. Each person here has served the community in one way or another." Autloc pointed to a passing man with gray-black hair and a woman with similar hair sitting beneath the shade of a large plant. "He was a weaver of priestly garments, she was a woman of medicine. That man-"

"And what about her?" the Doctor interrupted, pointing to the woman I knew was Cameca.

"Cameca?" Autloc clarified. "Of all those here, her advice is most sought after."

The Doctor glanced back at me with a light smirk on his face. "What did you say her name was?"

"Cameca. You will find her a companion of wit and interest. And now I beg permission to depart and to take your fellow servant with me."

The Doctor nodded and waved his hand dismissively in my face, ignoring me when I tried to say goodbye. "Of course," he replied as he approached Cameca with a smile.

Autloc smiled and looked down at me. "Your companion seems quite taken with Cameca," he noted.

"Of course he does," I responded, trying to keep my voice from sounding annoyed. "She's very beautiful and is very intelligent, from what you have said. She's exactly his type."

"Type?"

I shook my head. "Forgive me. I'm not thinking clearly. I haven't eaten or rested in a while, so I am not myself."

"I shall take you into the city," Autloc said as he escorted me out of the garden. "Once you have eaten, you may explore the city. I sense a curious, yet hesitant spirit in you."

I felt my cheeks flush slightly. "You're exactly right."

Autloc was true to his word; he took me to his sister's home, where I ate and was able to have a wonderful discussion with both Autloc and his sister. Tlaye, as his sister was called, gave me a beautifully handcrafted, clay bead necklace that had been painted different shades of red, orange, and yellow. I thanked her for the incredible gift before leaving and expressed to Autloc how welcoming and kind I found his sister to be.

"She has a kind and gentle spirit, much like you, as I now see."

"I wish I could give her something in return-"

"My sister would never dream of accepting anything from a servant of the Yetaxa," the High Priest informed me. "Her respect for those who serve the gods is great."

I nodded. "My apologies, then, for suggesting it," I answered, hoping to cover up my mistake.

Autloc glanced down at my clothes and raised an inquiring eyebrow. "It would be an honor if you would allow our great city to gift you with our own clothes, young servant of the Yetaxa."

"I would be honored to wear them," I responded with a genuine smile. "So long as I may keep my own clothes?

"If that is your wish, then I shall have a servant bring your old clothes to the Yetaxa's handmaiden where they will be kept."

Within ten minutes, the women standing nearby under their shop tents had given me their best clothes. I ended up wearing a dress with sleeves that ended just above my elbows made of animal skins and decorated with painted beads and stones, shoes made of the same skin as the dress, about five painted clay bracelets, and a thin headband decorated with beads.

"This is where I leave you," Autloc said with a slight inclination of his head. "I have duties to attend to and must leave you on your own."

"Thank you for everything you've done for me, Autloc. The Yetaxa will be pleased."

"That is good," he answered. "Farewell."

I nodded with a smile. "Farewell."

It was not long after Autloc left and I was wandering aimlessly through the streets of the city that Tlotoxl appeared by my side. His presence startled and worried me because I knew that he was eager to shed blood for the gods he worshipped. The thought sent shivers up and down my spine.

"The Yetaxa's handmaiden has dressed in the clothes of our people," Tlotoxl noted.

I nodded slowly and tried to smile. "The High Priest Autloc felt that I should wear the clothes of your people. He said it would bring honor to the city."

"Indeed it does.

Tlotoxl's smile unnerved me and made me worry about everything I said or did under his gaze. I quickly tried to think of a way to escape him and find my way back to the Doctor. "Do forgive me, great Priest, but I fear that I must take my leave and find my fellow servants. There is a matter which I would like to speak with them about."

"Perhaps I could carry a message?"

I shook my head with a polite smile. "No, no. A walk through your great city would be good for me and... uh, the matter is personal. I wouldn't want to bore you with it.

Tlotoxl nodded once. "If that is your wish."

"It is." I bowed to him and tried to keep my smile from slipping. "May the gods bless you, High Priest of sacrifice."

"May the gods bless you," he replied, "and may you always honor them by fulfilling their demands.

"I shall," I replied. Then I turned on my heel and headed in the direction that the temple stood. I silently prayed that Tlotoxl wouldn't follow me as I tried to make my way towards the Garden of Peace where the Doctor was.

I was at the entrance to the garden when a group of four warriors approached me. Fear grasped my heart as they stopped in front of me and kept me from moving. The tallest soldier looked down at me and said, "You will come with us. The High Priest Tlotoxl has demanded your presence."

"O-Okay," I stuttered in fear.

The warriors then escorted me to the temple where Barbara had remained. As we walked up the stairs, I saw Ian coming towards us from the top of the temple. I smiled at him and waved my hand only slightly when I realized that he too had been dressed in Aztec clothes. Only in Ian's case, he had been dressed in the clothes of a warrior.

He held his hand up and told the soldiers to halt. They all stopped in their tracks and waited. "Diana, what's this?" he asked once he was closer.

"These soldiers said that Tlotoxl had requested my presence. Do you know why?" Ian's face fell and he looked completely horrified. "Ian, what's wrong?"

"Tlotoxl asked for you?" he clarified.

"Yes."

He grabbed my arm and put his mouth against my ear. "Diana, he said that the sacrifice was called for."

"What?"

"You're the sacrifice!"

I pulled back in shock. "No. You're wrong," I breathed.

"I'm not. He said that the sacrifice would be escorted by four of the finest warriors and brought to the temple."

"Come," one of the soldiers suddenly said in a low voice. "The High Priest cannot wait any longer."

I looked fearfully up at the soldier and asked, "The High Priest. Why does he wish to see me? Tell me!"

"The Rain God demands blood," the soldier answered. "All know this to be true. All must obey the demands of the gods, even the servants of the Yetaxa. Now come."

I grabbed Ian's wrists and pulled him close to me as tears started to gather in my eyes. "Tell the Doctor. Tell him, tell Barbara." The two soldiers behind me grabbed my elbows and pulled my arms away from Ian. I cried out as they started to drag me up the stairs. "Ian! Ian, please! Please! Tell them!"

He pushed past the soldiers and ran up the stairs as fast as he could. I shrieked in terror as I was pulled farther up the stairs and closer to my death. Tears started to fall down my cheeks as I was brought farther along.

"Oh, God," I breathed, "no. Please! No! Let go of me!"

I fought as hard as I could against the soldiers, but it was a useless struggle. Four strong men against one teenage girl; I had no chance whatsoever. I flailed my arms and legs, tried to bite the two men holding me, even tried to kick whatever body part of the soldiers I could reach. The men were strong and appeared completely unphased, if not confused, by my outburst of violence and screaming.

When we reached the top of the temple, Susan, Barbara, Ian, and the Doctor were waiting for us on the platform with horrified expressions on their faces. Barbara held out her hand and ordered for the soldiers to release me. The moment they dropped my arms, my knees wobbled and gave out.

"What is the meaning of this?" Barbara demanded in a stern and furious voice. "Why has my handmaiden been treated in such a manner?"

I stood and started to rush past the soldiers when one of them grabbed me by the shoulder and pulled me back. The Doctor cried out in anger and started to step forward, but Barbara held her hand out towards him.

"I told you to release her." The soldier removed his hand and I automatically ran to the Doctor, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I will not tolerate this treatment of a young girl who has done no wrong."

"She was to be the sacrifice," one soldier said in a matter-of-fact tone. "A woman of her rank should be honored to have her life offered up to the gods."

"Find another sacrifice. I don't care who it is, but you shall not kill my handmaiden! Now leave us!"

The Doctor gently put his hands on my waist as I sobbed into his shoulder. He murmured soothing words into my ear and kept his arms tight around me. "It's alright, my dear. It's alright. You're safe now."

"Perhaps we should go inside the temple," Susan recommended. "So no one sees us."

The Doctor nodded. He slowly pulled back and brought a hand up to my cheek. "Let us go inside, shall we? Hm?"

"Theta," I said softly as more tears fell down my cheeks. "I-I thought-"

"No, no. Don't even think about it. Now why don't you sit down?"

He guided me inside the temple and to Barbara's stone chair, helping me sit as I continued to cry. Then he took his jacket off and put it around my shoulders. I hugged it to my body and looked up into his eyes.

"How's this, hm? Better?" I nodded once. "There. See? Everything will be alright, my dear."

Ian knelt in front of me and put his hands on my knees. "Diana, did they hurt you?"

I hiccuped and let out another shaky sob. "N-No... I don't know. I-..."

"Don't worry about it," Barbara told me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "I promise that I won't let them come near you again. You can stay with me until we're able to leave. Alright?"

"Doctor?" I whispered. "Theta, I-I... I'm scared."

"Hush now, my dear. There's nothing to be frightened of anymore."

I hung my head and started crying again, my entire body shaking. Ian stood and drew me into a hug as I sobbed. My arms went around his waist and pulled him closer. Behind me, the Doctor put a hand on my shoulder. I could hear him and Barbara speaking to or another, but couldn't understand what they were saying because my crying was so loud.

"It's going to be alright, Diana," Ian assured me. "The Doctor and I will protect you and Barbara will make sure no one comes near you. I promise."

I managed to stop crying by the time the sacrifice was to take place. Ian left when the soldiers returned with an Aztec man ready to be sacrificed to the gods. The Doctor instructed Susan to stand by the entrance and keep anyone from entering until Barbara was required to appear during the sacrificial ceremony.

"Barbara, listen to me," the Doctor said. "You must not interfere, do you understand?"

"I can't just sit by and watch. Look what happened to Diana before I could stop them!"

The Doctor looked down at me and his face softened. "Yes, I know. And believe me, I would do anything to make sure that had never happened." Then he sighed and looked back at Barbara. "But this man is a willing victim. His death will bring honor to him. You cannot interfere this time! Even Ian has promised me not to interfere with the sacrifice."

"Well, they've made me a goddess, and I forbid it."

"Barbara, no!"

Barbara adjusted her elaborate headdress. "There will be no sacrifice this afternoon, Doctor. Or ever again. The reincarnation of Yetaxa will prove to the people that you don't need to sacrifice a human being in order to make it rain."

"Barbara, no."

"It's no good, Doctor, my mind's made up. This is the beginning of the end of the Sun God."

"What are you talking about?"

Barbara smiled. "Don't you see? If I could start the destruction of everything that's evil here, then everything that is good would survive when Cortes lands."

"But you can't rewrite history! Not one line!"

Susan ran back in and grabbed her teacher's hand. "Barbara, the high priests are coming."

"Barbara," the Doctor tried. "One last appeal. What you are trying to do is utterly impossible. I know, believe me! I know!"

But the woman merely held her head high and said, "Not Barbara, Yetaxa."

Barbara walked out of the room and onto the platform. I could just make out what Autloc was saying to the people who had gathered at the foot of the temple. Susan wanted to go onto the platform to see and hear everything, but the Doctor forbade her.

"Grandfather, why can't I-"

"Shh." The Doctor held his granddaughter in his arms and pressed her head to his chest. "Just wait, child. Stay with me."

"Great Tlaloc, God of Rain, I Tlotoxl, High Priest of Sacrifice, call upon you to look with favour upon our land." Susan looked up at her grandfather and started to pull out of his arms. "Give us the water that is our life, and we will honour you with blood."

"No!" Susan cried, running out onto the platform with her arms held out.

The Doctor and I ran out after her. Barbara lifted her arm at the soldiers and said, "Stop. I, Yetaxa, command you. There shall be no more blood spilt."

"You have denied me honor," the man on the sacrificial stone said.

"Honor us then with your death," Tlotoxl said.

The man leaped to his feet and ran to the edge of the platform. He looked over the edge, crawled onto the wall, and jumped off to his death. Thunder boomed loudly in the distance as soon as the man fell.

Tlotoxl smiled grimly. "With death came rain," he told Barbara.

She narrowed her eyes at the priest. "Without your sacrifice came rain."

"Does Yetaxa speak with the voice of the gods or as the protector of a handmaiden?"

"As a god."

"Then let the handmaiden be punished. She cried out and desecrated sacred ground. She transgressed the law."

"She did not know it."

"Then let knowledge be beaten into her."

Susan recoiled into the Doctor and hid her face. Barbara shook her head and replied, "No one shall be punished for an offense committed in ignorance."

"I demand that she be punished!" Tlotoxl insisted.

"No!"

I stepped forward with my arms held out. "If you are to punish anyone, let it be me," I said softly.

"Diana, no!" the Doctor said firmly.

"I refused to let my death bring honor to the gods. Punish me for my wrongs and for the handmaiden's."

Barbara put a hand on my shoulder. "Let them instead be taught respect for your customs, for I will not let them be hurt for their ignorance."

"I will take her to the seminary," Autloc said.

Barbara smiled at the kinder High Priest. "So be it, Autloc."

"The Great Spirit of Yetaxa has spoken."

Susan and I were immediately escorted from the temple to a small hut in the middle of the city. We were given a book called "The Code of the Good Housewife" and told to study it because we would be tested on it. Whilst I was studying my copy of the book, Susan changed into the Aztec dress she had been given and told to wear.

"Thank you for putting yourself in my place," Susan said as she finished dressing. "It was very brave."

"I thought I knew what going to happen," I told her, "but after they chose to sacrifice me..., I was afraid that other things might not happen the way they were supposed to. I just didn't want you to get hurt."

Susan sat next to me and stared at the book for a moment. "Do you love Grandfather?"

"What?"

"Do you love him? Barbara and Ian and I think you do and we know that he loves you as well."

"Susan, what on Earth are you talking about? Where would you get such a ridiculous idea?"

She smiled and shrugged. "They way you act around him and the way he acts around you. There is a certain way that people who love each other act around one another. Sort of like Ian acts around Barbara."

"So you think they like each other, too?" I asked with a soft laugh, gladly taking the chance to steer the conversation away from my confused feelings for the Doctor.

"Yes! It's perfectly obvious, but neither of them ever address it!"

"I'm glad you think so. I wondered if I was the only one who thought they would be perfect for each other."

Susan smiled and nodded. "They certainly would be if they could just admit it." Then she nudged me with her elbow and added, "Like you and Grandfather."

"Susan, there is nothing going on between your grandfather and me. We're good friends. That's all. I care about him, but it's not anything more than that."

Liar, I told myself. You know that you have the biggest possible crush on the Doctor, if not something even greater than a childish crush. After all, you have kissed him plenty of times.

"If you say so," the young Time Lady said with a smile as she looked back at the book.

Susan and I diligently studied the book and were eventually able to memorize the important code of a "good housewife". Autloc visited us after what felt like hours and smiled hopefully at us.

"You have studied the Code of the Good Housewife?" he asked us.

"We have," Susan answered for me.

"I would hear it."

"Excuse me?" I asked in a nervous voice. "Can we say it together instead of individually?"

Autloc smiled. "I see no reason why you should not."

Susan and I looked at each other before starting. "Tend well your nurseries and your flowerbeds," we said in unison. "Keep clean your pot and stew pans. Do not spend recklessly. Do not destroy or cheapen yourself. You will... never have a house or home of your own if you live like that."

"They have learnt diligently, Autloc," said a man who had watched us from the doorway.

"Susan and Diana are good pupils. They use her intelligence. And Diana stays calm, even when she cannot remember everything after the first try. They are very admirable in their quick learning." Autloc then gestured to the man. "This is Tonila, one of the Priests of Knowledge."

Susan jumped off of the stone ledge we had been sitting on and went to shake the man's hand. "Susan, no," I called after her. "They don't shake hands here."

Autloc nodded in agreement. "No, you do not greet your elders in such a manner."

"No?" she questioned.

"No, you stand still, not looking around. You keep your eyes fixed on the person you're being introduced to, unless you're meeting your future husband for the first time. Then you keep you eyes downcast."

"Well, how will I know?"

"Know what?"

"Well, that he's to be my future husband," Susan responded.

"You'll be told."

"Told?" she repeated incredulously. "I'm not going to be told who to marry."

"What say have you in the matter?" Autloc asked.

"It's my life, I'll spend it with whom I choose, not someone picked out for me."

"And you?" the High Priest asked me. "Do you share your companion's beliefs?"

"Yes. I won't let anyone, not even the man I love, tell me how to live my life. In fact, I've already told him that." I thought back to Three. Even though I missed him, I found that I was still upset with him. "I may be a girl, but I can still take care of myself and I don't need a man to tell me what I can and can't do."