Hello, readers! Sorry, but this chapter is really short, but I promise I'll try to feature the Winter/Jacin combo in the future! Enjoy and feel free to review or correct any mistakes!
Chapter Three: Winter to the Rescue
They quickly arrived in the interrogation room, but the time travelers still had cuffs on so they couldn't hurt the princess, like they would anyway. As soon as the room was sealed off, the princess started tugging at Clara's handcuffs, trying to get them unlocked. "Excuse me, Winter," said Clara, trying not to get distracted by the young girl's beauty. "My friend over there, the Doctor, has a screwdriver that could help you unlock these." Winter giggled somewhat madly. "Silly Earthen-friend!" she said with a friendly grin. "Screwdrivers don't unlock cuffs! And they can't stop bleeding walls, either!" "What?" "Never mind," the Doctor said. "Just reach inside my pocket and grab the Sonic Screwdriver, Princess." she did so, and after a moment of toying with the settings, she was quickly able to set them free. "Thank you. Now where's my TARDIS?" "Oh, the box?" asked Winter. "I was wondering why it concerned you so. It's over here, in the next room." She led the pair through a secret door and as soon as the Doctor saw his beloved ship he ran up to it and hugged it. "You had better hurry with your reunion. Soon the guards will wonder what happened to us!" Winter walked up to the tall box and stroked it. The TARDIS light brightened for a moment and the old machine gave a delighted hum.
"Ooh, she likes you!" said the Doctor to Winter. "Can she come inside, Doctor? Maybe we can take her somewhere else- safely away from that witch of a Queen!" said Clara quietly to the Doctor. With a nod, the Doctor unlocked the TARDIS and Clara brought Winter inside. The princess gasped. "This is not a trick, Doctor-friend? This ship is bigger on the inside?" "No, princess, this is no mere Lunar Cloaking device. She's called the TARDIS. That stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space. Now let's go before Levana can get us!" the Doctor circled the console, pressing buttons and pulling levers while Clara stood and listened to the sound of the TARDIS's engines. Meanwhile, Winter curiously walked around the console room, looking through books and watching the silver rings above the console turn. She had never seen this kind of technology, even on the most advanced Lunar ships.
"So, Winter." said Clara, getting the princess's attention. "Do you want to escape your-" "Aunt." "-Aunt? The TARDIS can take you anywhere in time or space. We could put you somewhere safe from the queen and-" "No." Clara cocked her head, looking confused. "No? But why?" "I can't leave Jacin. He's my guard and I'm his princess. Not only that, but my father, mother, and Cousin Selene have all found their final resting place there. I have to go back to them." Clara nodded. She respected that decision, especially because this somewhat mad princess was brave enough to even go back to the Queen, knowing she'd face Levana's fury because the princess had let the prisoners escape. "Okay, Princess," the Doctor said as the TARDIS landed, "I've landed in a Courtyard near the palace, but not too close. That should give you a little time to yourself before the other guards find you." Winter smiled and gave both the Doctor and Clara a hug, surprising them both, and skipped outside the doors.