Ever Realm Chronicles - a Sofia the First fanfic
Special note (March 8, 2024): this chapter has been edited to reflect May's official adoption by Patrick and Shelagh as of the end of Season 13 of "Call the Midwife".
Chapter 31: Rachel's Heritage
September 22, 1884
It was Friday in the Village of Wendarby in the Kingdom of Enchancia. Fourteen-year-old Rachel and fourteen-year-old Kendra were returning to the Wendarby Institute after spending their lunch hour in the village. As they walked, they passed the home of Constable Paythos, a Hurpent from the Kingdom of Serpathia. Paythos had a Serpentine look but depending on his mood could walk on either two legs with human-looking feet and a short tail hanging down from his lower abdomen, or his tail could elongate and absorb into his legs as his arms would be absorbed into his upper body allowing him to slither and crawl like a snake. As he stood outside of his home, Paythos was in his human-type form.
As Rachel and Kendra walked past, they noticed Paythos was talking to a young eighteen-year-old woman named Amara. Paythos had known Amara since Amara was a child. As Paythos and Amara talked, Paythos' mate (a female Hurpent named Sythona) was watching from a distance with a scowl on her face.
"Oh, my," Rachel playfully said to Kendra. "Looks like Sythona is on the warpath again."
"Unlike Paythos, Sythona is not pleased to be around humans," Kendra pointed out. "To her, humans are only good for one thing - eating."
"Good thing Paythos keeps Sythona on a short leash as it were," Rachel commented. "She wouldn't dare do anything to Amara or anybody else around here."
Sythona hissed at Rachel and Kendra as they passed.
"We've best be getting back to the school, girls," twenty-six-year-old Lisa Elodie suggested to Rachel and Kendra. "Best not to stir up Sythona."
"Yes, Princess Lisa," Rachel and Kendra acknowledged as the three walked toward the Wendarby Institute.
"Mom wants to see the two of you when we reach the Institute," Lisa informed Rachel and Kendra. "Official business."
"Understood, Princess," Rachel acknowledged on behalf of herself and Kendra.
Lisa escorted Rachel and Kendra to her Mother's office. Lisa then knocked on the door.
"Enter," a woman's voice came from the other side of the door.
Lisa opened the door and the three entered the office. Sitting at a desk in the office was Princess Gloriana Elodie-Scorpella, House Sponsor for the Wendarby Institute's Scorpella House, and Lisa's adopted mother.
"Princess Rachel and Princess Kendra as requested, Mom," Lisa reported.
"Very good, Lisa," Gloriana acknowledged. "I can take it from here."
"I'll see you when we're ready to go home, Mom," Lisa smiled as she left the office and closed the door behind her.
"Have a seat, ladies," Gloriana invited as Rachel and Kendra sat in chairs in front of Gloriana's desk.
"What is this about, Princess Gloriana?" Kendra wanted to know.
"The two of you have been made aware that Lisa and I are Voyagers," Gloriana started. "And I have some good news for the two of you. Your status as Auxiliary Voyagers has been approved by Voyager Command. Your mothers will have more information when you return to your homes from school today."
"Auxiliary Voyagers," Rachel acknowledged, proudly.
"That's wonderful news," Kendra said, pleased.
"It is," Gloriana happily acknowledged. "Kendra, you should get to class. Meanwhile, I need to talk to Rachel for a few minutes."
"Nothing wrong, I hope?" Rachel asked in confusion.
"No," Gloriana said in a reassuring voice. "Just some things about your Middle Earth Studies test coming up next week."
"I'll see you in class later, Rachel," Kendra said as she left Gloriana's office and closed the door behind her.
"Princess Gloriana," Rachel started. "This isn't about my upcoming Middle Earth Studies test, is it?"
"Could never keep anything from you," Gloriana winked in acknowledgment.
"Then what's going on?" Rachel wanted to know.
"Voyager Command did standard medical tests on you and Kendra," Gloriana explained. "They were a part of the two of you applying to be Auxiliary Voyagers. In your case, Rachel, Voyager Medical determined that you were well above normal, medical-wise. Off the charts as it were."
"Then that would be a good thing," Rachel remarked.
"I'd agree," Gloriana confirmed. "But, Voyager Medical would like to run a second test on you, just to see why you're well above normal."
"I guess curiosity killed the cat, then?" Rachel chuckled.
"Yes," Gloriana chuckled in agreement, before returning to normal. "I'm sure it's nothing to be concerned about. I'm sure they just want to double-check everything."
"Of course," Rachel acknowledged.
"You've better be getting along to class," Gloriana recommended.
"Going now," Rachel said as she left Gloriana's office.
After leaving Gloriana's office, Rachel walked down a hallway to her next class. As Rachel walked, she stopped for a moment and took out a silver pocket watch with a fancy design on the cover. Rachel had the pocket watch for as long as she could remember and was a reminder of her birth parents. To the best of Rachel's knowledge, she had never opened the pocket watch. Rachel vaguely remembered that she had tried to open the watch once, but the cover was stuck. She had never tried to open it again.
"Princess Rachel?" a woman's voice came from behind Rachel.
Rachel turned around to see Nanny McPhee, the Institute's head of security, standing there.
"Oh, sorry," Rachel apologized. "I was on my way to class after meeting with Princess Gloriana."
"That's a nice pocket watch," Nanny McPhee remarked, admiring Rachel's pocket watch.
"It's a keepsake from my birth parents," Rachel explained. "I've had it for as long as I can remember."
"An interesting design," Nanny McPhee noticed.
"Yes, isn't it," Rachel said as she suddenly got an unconscious impression she should put the pocket watch away. "I should be getting to class."
"Of course, Princess," Nanny McPhee acknowledged as Rachel walked off. "Curious pocket watch," Nanny McPhee thought to herself. "I wonder? Could it be?"
After School
Rachel arrived home from school via flying carriage. As Rachel's flying carriage landed, Rachel's adopted grandmother, Violet, was waiting for Rachel.
"Good afternoon, Rachel," Violet smiled as the two hugged. "Have a good day at school today?"
"Yes, Grandmother," Rachel happily answered.
"Your parents want to see you in the King's study," Violet informed Rachel.
"Something wrong?" Rachel wanted to know.
"No," Violet answered in a reassuring voice. "They just want to see how your day went. I'll take you up."
In a few minutes, Violet and Rachel had reached the door to the King's study. Violet then knocked on the door.
"Enter," King Everett invited.
Violet opened the door, and she and Rachel walked into the King's study. As Violet shut the door, Rachel noticed that Everett, Candice, Bethany, Louise, and Dorrie were there.
"What's going on?" Rachel asked, curious.
"We would never think of invading your privacy," Candice apologized to Rachel. "It's just that Nanny McPhee contacted us about school today."
"Yes," Rachel explained. "I was meeting with Princess Gloriana about being an Auxiliary Voyager. Princess Gloriana also explained there was a question about my medical exam. I was on my way to class when I ran into Nanny McPhee."
"Rachel," Everett began. "Nanny McPhee told us you had an interesting pocket watch you were looking at."
"Oh, that," Rachel chuckled. "It's just an old keepsake from my birth parents. It's nothing, really."
"May I see it?" Candice requested.
"Of course," Rachel complied as she handed the pocket watch to Candice. "Just an old pocket watch."
"Dorrie," Candice requested. "Would you care to take a look at this?"
Dorrie walked over as she and Candice carefully examined Rachel's pocket watch.
"Is this what I think it is?" Candice whispered to Dorrie.
"It certainly appears to be," Dorrie whispered back.
"Guys?" Rachel asked, becoming worried.
"Nothing to worry about, Rachel," Candice said in a reassuring voice as a knock came at the door. Violet went and answered the door.
"Doctor and Mrs. Turner are here," a male guard reported to Violet.
"Show them in," Violet requested.
"Why are the specialty Voyagers in charge of medical history here?" Rachel wanted to know.
"We thought it was necessary to have them here," Dorrie explained. "Your pocket watch may hold the key to your above-normal medical results."
"Okay," Rachel acknowledged, becoming nervous.
"It's alright, Rachel," Everett said in a comforting voice. "We just want to solve a mystery. No harm is intended."
"Then proceed," Rachel instructed.
"I've told you about The Doctor and the Time Lords," Candice started. "Well, your pocket watch is ..."
"Is what?" Rachel wanted to know.
"Time Lord technology," Candice answered.
"What?!" Rachel exclaimed, taken off guard. "What would I be doing with Time Lord technology?"
"Well, that part is ... complicated," Dorrie spoke up.
"Complicated? How?" Rachel asked.
"Well ..." Candice started, before stopping.
"Just tell me, Mom," Rachel requested.
"Well, here goes nothing," Candice responded. "Time Lords can rewrite their biology when needed using special technology aboard a Tardis. When this is done, a Time Lord becomes human and forgets about his or her Time Lord heritage. It's the perfect way to hide from an enemy. The Time Lord's original biology and memories are contained ... in a pocket watch device like the one you carry."
Rachel stepped back in shock. "You mean?"
"You could well be a Time Lord," Mrs. Shelagh Turner gently said to Rachel.
"What?!" Rachel exclaimed, shocked.
"Of course, we wouldn't know until your pocket watch was opened and then we'd see ... if you became a Time Lord or not," Doctor Patrick Turner gently pointed out.
"This is all too much to take in," Rachel said in shock as she sat down on a couch. "I'm just Rachel. Princess Rachel Beckenbauer of Ornburgh."
"I know this is a lot to take in," Candice said as she and Everett sat down next to Rachel.
"I'm going to need some time to think all this over," Rachel requested. "A few hours at least."
"Of course, sweetheart," Everett agreed.
Early that evening
At Ornburgh Castle, everybody was gathered for supper. Frederick had arrived and had joined Dorrie at the table. Also just arrived was a new face at the castle - twenty-year-old Dottie "Doc" McStuffins, fresh out of medical school. Doc had breezed through medical school thanks to assisting her mother over the years. And, as luck would have it, Ornburgh Castle needed a new royal doctor since the previous royal doctor had recently retired. Candice immediately contacted Doc, and Doc happily accepted the position.
"Doctor McStuffins," Patrick happily acknowledged. "Congratulations on becoming the royal doctor for Ornburgh."
"Quite the feather in your cap," Shelage smiled at Doc.
"Thank you, sir, ma'am," Doc smiled back, pleased.
At that moment, Rachel stepped into the room and sat down at the table, followed by Indigo who also sat down.
"I've come to a decision," Rachel announced. "After supper, I'd like to open the pocket watch ... and find out."
"Then, after supper, we'll retire to my study and see what happens," Everett acknowledged. "Since Doc and Indigo are each one of us, they'll be attending as well. I've informed them of the situation."
"It will be good having you there, Doctor, Miss Indigo," Rachel said, grateful.
"My pleasure, Princess," Doc smiled.
"My pleasure as well, Princess," Indigo happily responded as supper began to be served.
After supper, everybody gathered in Everett's study as Rachel took out her pocket watch.
"Here goes nothing," Rachel said, apprehensive, as she slowly forced the pocket watch open.
In a few moments, the pocket watch opened, and a glob of bright light entered Rachel's body. Afterward, Rachel just stood there, motionless.
"Rachel?" Candice asked, concerned as Steven and Doc walked over and each scanned Rachel with medical tricorders.
"That answers that, then," Steven stated.
"Amazing!" Doc exclaimed in awe.
"Rachel?" Everett asked as he and Candice walked over to Rachel.
"It's okay Dad, Mom," Rachel answered in a reassuring voice. "I have my memories back. I know who I truly am now - a Time Lady from Gallifrey."
"How is this possible?" Frederick wanted to know.
"My birth parents and I stole a Tardis and fled Gallifrey," Rachel started. "The three of us were members of a small group of Time Lords known as Privorans - Time Lords with rare magical powers. Our kind were viewed with suspicion by Time Lord society. The three of us decided to leave Gallifrey and start a new life. After traveling around for a while, we came across the Ever Realm and decided to settle down. That's when we transformed ourselves."
"Transformed?" Doc asked, curious.
"Aboard our Tardis is a device that rewrites Time Lord biology - changes a Time Lord into a human," Rachel explained. "Our Time Lord biology and memories were placed into what looked like pocket watches, one for each of us. After that point, we were just Jareth, Circe, and Rachel Delphtor - a warlock and two witches with no memory of being Time Lords. As humans, we retained our magical abilities, but not our memories. The device aboard the Tardis gave us new memories to match our new lives."
"Where is your Tardis, now?" Candice wanted to know.
"Buried near the house where we lived," Rachel answered. "Because we were human, when the Witch Revolutionary Front came to recruit us, my parents were easily murdered when we refused."
Rachel then fell to her knees in sadness.
"Sweetheart?" Candice gently asked as she comforted Rachel.
"If my birth parents had been in their Time Lord forms, they could have regenerated," Rachel cried. "As humans, they couldn't regenerate. I had to watch from the woods as they were murdered!"
"They would have wanted you to survive," Candice gently pointed out to Rachel. "That's why they ordered you to run away."
"I'll send a team to dig up your Tardis and bring it here by wagon for safekeeping," Everett announced. "It's a good thing I bought the property shortly after we adopted you."
"You ... bought ... my birth parents property?" Rachel asked, taken off guard.
"I was going to save it as a surprise for your eighteenth birthday," Everett revealed.
"Let's say we sit Princess Rachel down," Indigo suggested. "I'm sure this has been a trying evening for her."
"Thank you," Rachel said to Indigo in gratitude.
"So, where do we go from here?" Violet wanted to know.
"Well, even though I have my memories and biology back, I'm remaining as you've always known me," Rachel answered. "I can't see that ever changing."
Everybody in the room smiled in happiness.
"Just so you know, my Time Lady name was Rakonna," Rachel revealed.
"I like that," Candice smiled. "A lovely name."
"My birth father's name was Jahoth, and my birth mother's name was Cironna," Rachel further revealed.
"They will always have an honored place in our hearts," Everett promised as everybody else nodded their heads in agreement.
"Now it's my turn to ask, now what?" Rachel quietly asked. "I hope what's happened won't affect my Auxiliary Voyager status?"
"I rather doubt it," Indigo spoke up. "After all, Voyager Command already has some humanoid aliens in its ranks."
"Some Tenctonese from Tencton, as well as Lwaxana Troi from Betazed," Doc added. "I'm sure Voyager Command will jump at the chance to add a Time Lady to its ranks."
"You seem to know a lot about Voyager Command," Rachel theorized about Doc.
"My parents are Voyagers," Doc revealed. "Once I became a teenager, I began my Voyager training. I've been around the block for a while now."
"And you?" Rachel asked Indigo.
"When I became Co-Royal Steward of Ornburgh, I was recruited into Voyager Command," Indigo answered. "It made sense since the royal family of Ornburgh are Voyagers, and I'm trusted with their secrets."
"Princess?" Doc started, addressing Rachel. "Excuse me if this is a delicate question, but exactly how old are you?"
"What you see is what you get," Rachel responded. "I'm fourteen, just as I've always been. My birth parents and I left Gallifrey just before I turned eight. Our kind were already looked upon with suspicion by Time Lord society, and we decided to leave before the Time Lords were ready to enroll me in the Academy. There were stories that once a Privoran reached eight, that Privoran would be taken to the Academy and be reeducated as it were to reject his or her magical powers."
Everybody in the room shuddered at the revelation.
Late that next afternoon
Outside in the rear portion of Ornburgh Castle, Rachel, Everett, Candice, Violet, Indigo, and Doc were waiting when a large wagon arrived. The wagon was carrying something large which was covered by a tarp. Several workmen worked to remove what was on the wagon. After some effort, the item was placed on the ground.
"You may leave now," Everett gently directed the workmen and those who had driven the wagon.
As the workmen and the wagon drivers left, Rachel walked over to the item and pulled the tarp from it. Standing there was a silver-gray round capsule with a sliding door on it.
"Hello, old girl," Rachel smiled as she stroked the capsule. "It's been a long time."
"So, this is your Tardis," Candice observed.
"Yes, Mom," Rachel confirmed. "I suppose all of you would like a tour?"
Candice, Everett, Violet, Indigo, and Doc all eagerly nodded their heads yes. Rachel then brought out a strange-looking key from her pocket.
"Where did you get that?" Everett wanted to know.
"It's something I've had for as long as I can remember," Rachel answered. "I always assumed it was some kind of family heirloom. Then, when I got my true self back, I remembered it was the key to the Tardis."
Rachel inserted the key into an opening near the Tardis door, and the door slid open. Rachel then motioned everybody to follow her inside. In a few moments, everybody entered the Tardis control room as the lights slowly came up. When the lights had come on, everybody could see that the control room had blue walls and lighted circles which were very similar to the Ruth Doctor's control room. The Tardis console, however, was different from the one that the Ruth Doctor used. Rachel's Tardis console was the push button console that was used in classic "Doctor Who" in the 1980s.
"Impressive!" a woman's voice came from behind the group. "This is the first time I've seen the inside."
Everybody turned around to see Scarlett standing there.
"I didn't mean to scare anyone," Scarlett apologized. "I've been waiting for this moment a long time."
"What's going on Scarlett?" Candice asked, taken off guard.
"A few hundred years ago, I was in an organization designed to train teen girls to become warriors," Scarlett answered. "The thing is, I felt the organization was holding me back. When I tried to leave, the head of the organization tried to stop me. That's when Rachel arrived in her Tardis and came to my aid."
"I ... came to your aid?" Rachel asked, puzzled. "I don't recall that happening."
"For you, it hasn't happened yet," Scarlett explained. "You have to go back in time using your Tardis so it will happen."
"Well, you see, the thing is, while I know how to pilot a Tardis, I'm not fully trained yet," Rachel admitted.
"Well, I can help in that regard," Candice spoke up. "I can fly your Tardis, Rachel. Then you can go back in time and do what you have to do ... with me as backup."
"But it was only Rachel who was with me," Scarlett pointed out.
"Well, I have a plan," Candice revealed as she rolled up her sleeve and revealed ... a wrist-cloaking device.
"Clever," Scarlett observed, impressed.
"Will the two of you be okay?" Everett asked Candice and Rachel, concerned.
"Make that three of us," Violet corrected.
"Actually, four of us," Indigo spoke up.
"I'll come along as well," Doc said as she, Violet, and Indigo rolled up their sleeves and revealed they had wrist-cloaking devices as well.
"Well then, ladies, I'll leave this in your capable hands," Everett approved.
"Scarlett," Candice started. "We'll need details on what happened."
"Of course," Scarlett agreed.
A few hundred years earlier
In a clearing in a forest, a group of teen girls were standing in a circle. Standing in the middle of the circle was a young version of Scarlett, Rachel who had managed to infiltrate the group, and a man known simply as The Master (not just any version of the Master, but the Sacha Dhawan version of The Master).
"You are hereby stripped of your rank and the girl known as Priscilla will no longer exist!" The Master shouted as Priscilla glared as Rachel stood by her side.
"I have no use for your archaic ways or worthless name," Priscilla spat back as she stood tall. "From now on, I will take the name of the sacred color that runs through life itself. Life that I will use my powers to protect at all costs. From this point forward, I will be known as... Scarlett."
"Oh, how touching!" The Master mocked. "What makes you think you can leave? I'll see you dead, as well as your friend here."
"Excuse me," Rachel cut in, annoyed. "Nobody is going to die here."
"You've always been a strange one, Rachel," The Master said, equally annoyed. "I haven't figured out what you are, yet. But, no matter. Once you're dead, I'll do a full medical examination of what's left of you and find out."
"Why don't I just save you the time and do a reveal now," Rachel suggested. "I'm one of you."
"Impossible!" The Master cried out, shocked. "It's only me and The Doctor who have survived from Gallifrey."
"Apparently not," Rachel mocked.
"No matter," The Master casually said. "The two of you will be dead soon enough. Girls, finish Priscilla here, or should I say Scarlett? As for Rachel here, if she comes back to life, keep killing her until she's finished."
As the girls in the circle moved toward Scarlett and Rachel, a series of laser blasts came out of nowhere, knocking the girls unconscious.
"Do you really think I'd come here without an insurance policy?" Rachel asked The Master with a gleam of confidence in her eyes.
"What is going on here?!" The Master demanded to know.
"Scarlett and I are leaving," Rachel announced. "Stand aside."
The Master tried to stop Rachel and Scarlett, but a laser blast struck The Master, knocking him unconscious.
"We've better get out of here while the going is good," Rachel suggested to Scarlett.
Rachel and Scarlett quickly left the area. In a little while, deeper into the forest, the two came across a silver-gray round capsule with a sliding door on it.
"What is that?" Scarlett asked, curious.
"My ship - The Tardis," Rachel explained. "It travels in time and space."
"That's ... impossible," Scarlett scoffed.
"I assure you it is quite possible," Rachel countered.
"Who are you?" Scarlett wanted to know.
"You know who I am," Rachel responded. "I'm Rachel."
"But who are you, really?" Scarlett pressed the point.
"I'm from your future, a few hundred years from now - September 23rd of 1884 to be exact," Rachel explained. "You'll eventually know me as Princess Rachel Beckenbauer of Ornburgh."
"Princess," Scarlett acknowledged in awe as she curtsied.
"That's not necessary," Rachel smiled. "We're friends, you and I."
"What about those blasts that took everybody out?" Scarlett wanted to know.
"Let's just say advanced magic," Rachel winked. "I can't tell you anything beyond that."
"I understand," Scarlett responded. "I guess I shouldn't know too much about what happened here."
"Exactly," Rachel agreed. "I have to be getting home. Do you have someplace you can go?"
"Yes," Scarlett answered. "I can return to the land I came from."
"Then I'll take my leave of you," Rachel smiled as she and Scarlett hugged.
"Will I ever see you again?" Scarlett asked.
"Yes," Rachel smiled. "We'll eventually become good friends."
"Then, until we meet again," Scarlett smiled back.
"Until we meet again," Rachel said as she walked into the Tardis and shut the door behind her.
In a few moments, The Tardis disappeared into thin air as it made a strange whirling noise.
"Amazing," Scarlett said to herself, impressed. "I've better get going. That bunch back there won't stay unconscious forever. Meanwhile, as the years pass, I'll keep my eye out for you, Princess Rachel."
Inside Rachel's Tardis, Rachel walked into the Tardis control room where Candice, Violet, Indigo, and Doc were standing.
"Nicely done, Rachel," Candice praised. "The timeline is the way it is supposed to be, thanks to you. Everything is right with the world. Let's say we get back to Ornburgh Castle."
In a few moments, Rachel's Tardis appeared out of thin air at Ornburgh Castle. As Rachel's Tardis appeared, Everett and Scarlett were waiting. The door of Rachel's Tardis opened, and Rachel, Candice, Violet, Indigo, and Doc walked out to Everett and Scarlett.
"Mission accomplished," Candice announced.
"You have my sincere thanks," Scarlett said, grateful, to Rachel and the others.
"You're welcome, Scarlett," Rachel smiled.
"Supper will be in a little while," Everett announced. "We can all sit down and have a pleasant meal."
"I'll be right there," Candice said as she walked into Rachel's Tardis. "I'll park this next to my Tardis, then I'll join you."
As Rachel's Tardis disappeared into thin air, Everett, Rachel, Scarlett, Violet, Indigo, and Doc walked into the castle having a pleasant conversation.
September 26, 1884
It was a late Friday afternoon at Ornburgh Castle. In Rachel's bedroom, Rachel was getting ready as Candice walked in.
"Ready, sweetheart?" Candice happily asked.
"Ready, Mom," Rachel answered with a smile.
"Your father, Grandmother Violet, Bethany, Louise, Indigo, Doc, Dorrie, and Frederick are already at Voyager Command," Candice announced. "We'd better be getting there."
"What about Carol?" Rachel wanted to know.
"Nanny is looking after her," Candice announced. "She's in good hands."
"Then we'd better be going," Rachel suggested as she brought out her Omni, opened the cover, and adjusted the dials as Candice brought out her Omni and did the same.
"Let's get going," Candice smiled. "We have a celebration to attend."
Candice and Rachel each pressed a button on their Omnis and disappeared into thin air. After passing through a time vortex, the two arrived at Voyager Command where a man was waiting.
"Queen Candice, Princess Rachel," the man greeted. "If you'll follow me, I'll take you to the reception hall."
Candice and Rachel followed the man down a hallway until they reached a pair of double doors. The man then opened the doors.
"Enjoy yourselves, ladies," the man smiled as he left.
Candice and Rachel walked into the reception where several Voyagers were in attendance. It was an event to welcome new Auxiliary Voyagers into the fold as it were. At that moment, Violet walked up.
"Candice, Rachel," Violet greeted, before turning to Rachel. "Congratulations on becoming an Auxiliary Voyager, my fine girl. Some people want to meet you. You're quite the talk of the town as it were, being the first Time Lady to join our ranks."
"I don't know how to react to that," Rachel admitted, nervous.
"Well, take it from me, it will go fine," a woman's voice came from behind them.
Candice, Rachel, and Violet turned around to see a bald-headed woman with spots on her head standing there.
"Ah, Emily!" Violet smiled at the woman. "A pleasure to see you."
"And you as well, Violet," Emily smiled back, before turning to Rachel. "We haven't met yet, Princess. I'm Emily Francisco. You join a special group of us here at Voyager Command - humanoid aliens who call Earth home, and who have been recruited as Voyagers."
"You're Tenctonese, right?" Rachel wanted to know.
"Yes," Emily smiled. "I was the first Earth-residing Tenctonese to be recruited as a Voyager."
"So, what was the reaction of other Voyagers when you showed up?" Rachel asked, curious.
"There was curiosity, of course," Emily explained. "But, after a while, I was accepted as part of the group. The same will happen to you, trust me."
"I hope so," Rachel acknowledged, uneasy. "I just found out I'm a Time Lady. I'm still coming to terms with that, and I hope I'll be accepted here."
"Why wouldn't you be accepted here?" a woman's voice came from Rachel's side. "After all, when you think about it, thanks to Voyager medical science, Voyagers can be restored to an earlier physical stage. That's much like how Time Lords and Time Ladies can regenerate, wouldn't you say, little one?"
"Lwaxana," Candice smiled. "It's been a while."
"It's good to see you again, Candice," Lwaxana smiled back, before turning to Rachel. "Congratulations, little one, for achieving Auxiliary Voyager status. Although, I shouldn't be calling you little one. I realize some people your age don't like being called that."
"I realize it's a term of endearment on your part, ma'am," Rachel diplomatically responded. "So, if you want to call me little one, I don't have a problem with that."
"I like her, Candice," Lwaxana said of Rachel. "A charming young woman, and manners, too."
"Thank you, ma'am," Rachel acknowledged, pleased. "I didn't quite catch your full name."
"Of course," Lwaxana smiled. "I am Lwaxana Troi, daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed, holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed. Since I married a man from Earth who is a Voyager, Voyager Command offered me a chance to be a Voyager, and I took them up on it."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am," Rachel happily said as a woman walked up.
"If you will all take your seats, we'll be getting started soon," the woman announced. "New Auxiliary Voyagers will be seated in the front."
Rachel made her way to the front and noticed two of her friends who were already seated - Fourteen-year-old Angela Turner, and Angela's sister, twelve-year-old May. Angela and May waved Rachel over.
"We saved you a seat," Angela smiled at Rachel.
"Thank you, guys," Rachel acknowledged, pleased.
"Anytime, Rach," May said with a smile as Rachel sat down.
There was an empty seat next to Rachel. In a few moments, Angela and May motioned Kendra to come sit down.
"Thank you," Kendra smiled at Rachel, Angela, and May before turning to Rachel. "Well, you're full of surprises," Kendra winked. "All this time, one of my closest friends was a Time Lady."
"I only found out a short time ago," Rachel responded. "The four of us should meet at Ornburgh Castle. I can give you a tour of my Tardis."
"I'd love that!" Kendra happily responded.
"And me," Angela said with a smile.
"And me, too," May happily added.
At that moment, Commissioner Diana Spencer walked up on stage and looked at everybody gathered.
"Welcome to our newest Auxiliary Voyagers," Commissioner Spencer warmly greeted. "It's always a grand occasion when we welcome new Auxiliary Voyagers, and I have to admit - this year's Auxiliary Voyagers are indeed the best we've ever had. I see a bright future for every one of you."
Everybody clapped at Commissioner Spencer's praise.
"When your name is called, please step up on stage to accept your certificate, your new Omni, and your new electronic guidebook. Since each of you is now an Auxiliary Voyager, your new Omni and guidebook are upgraded versions that will provide you with privileges befitting your new rank."
One by one, each new Auxiliary Voyager was called up on stage. Before Rachel knew it, it was her turn to go up on stage.
"Rachel Beckenbauer," Commissioner Spencer addressed Rachel. "It is my privilege to present you with your certificate, your new Omni, and your new guidebook. You may hand your old Omni and guidebook to Tricia."
"Thank you, Commissioner," Rachel happily acknowledged as she handed her old Omni and guidebook to Tricia, Commissioner Spencer's adopted daughter and Vice Commissioner.
"Congratulations, Rachel," Tricia smiled as she took Rachel's old Omni and guidebook and placed them on a nearby table.
"I have been permitted to give you some special news, Rachel," Commissioner Spencer announced. "Your mother and your Aunt Dorrie have added an Omni Reader to your Tardis console. It will allow your Tardis to connect to your Omni. You'll find it useful when you need to access your Omni's memory."
Rachel looked out into the crowd to see Candice and Dorrie giving Rachel the thumbs-up sign.
"Rachel's going to go far," Dorrie happily said to Candice. "You've raised a fine daughter."
"Thank you, Dorrie," Candice smiled with pride.
As Rachel walked off the stage, she saw something in the distance out of the corner of her eye.
"No, couldn't be," Rachel thought to herself. "It looks like her, but she's not a Voyager. Must be somebody who looks like her."
A surprise
After the ceremony, Rachel was talking to Kendra, Angela, and May when Amber walked up.
"Queen Amber," Rachel acknowledged. "What may we do for you?"
"Rachel, Kendra," Amber started, "you're wanted down the hall. Angela, May, you should come as well."
"Yes, Queen Amber," Angela and May acknowledged.
In a few moments, the group came to a door. Amber opened the door which led to a large lecture hall. Once they stepped inside, they noticed Rachel's family, as well as Kendra's family, and Angela and May's family. Also standing there were ... Sofia, James, Hikari, Roland, and Miranda.
"There you are," Roland happily acknowledged. "Come down. We have a secret to share with you."
Amber, Rachel, Kendra, Angela, and May walked down where everybody was standing.
"Before we get to the major news, we have some assignments to pass along," Miranda revealed.
"Angela, May, Rachel," Doctor Turner started. "The three of you are to become a special quick response team responding to special situations. Since each of you scored highly in your Voyager training, and recently completed your Protector training, this is your reward."
Everybody gathered happily clapped at the news.
"Kendra," Lucinda started. "You scored highly in your Voyager training as well, in addition to completing your Protector training. As a result, you've been hand-picked to serve as an assistant to Gayle Lovegood. You'll accompany her on historical observation missions."
Again, everybody happily clapped at the news.
"And now for the major news," Candice announced. "We just found out a little while ago that three people we know in the Ever Realm have been Voyagers for the past few years."
"They are people you know, Kendra, Rachel," Lucinda revealed.
"Angela, May," Mrs. Turner started. "Since the two of you are currently spending time in the Ever Realm with Rachel, you'll want to meet them as well."
At that moment, a door to the lecture hall opened, and in walked a woman, a 20-year-old young woman, and a 12-year-old girl.
"Scarlett?!" Rachel and Kendra exclaimed in shock. "Skylar?! Faith?!"
"It was you I saw," Rachel said to Scarlett.
"Surprise!" Scarlett winked. "Faith, Skylar, and I have known about Voyagers for a while, now. So, Voyager Command decided a few years ago to train us as Voyagers."
"And congratulations on finding out you're a Time Lady," Faith smiled at Rachel. "Mom and I are immortal ..."
"... and I will be next year when I turn twenty-one," Skylar added.
"And since you now have regeneration ability, Rachel, you're practically immortal as well," Faith continued. "It will be nice for me and Skylar to have a practically immortal friend."
"Angela, May," Scarlett said as she stepped forward. "I'm Scarlett. A pleasure to meet you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Queen Scarlett," Angela acknowledged.
"A great pleasure," May added.
"My friends call me Scarlett, ladies," Scarlett informed Angela and May. "And I definitely consider the two of you to be my friends. And congratulations on completing your Protector training. Chrysta says you were two of her best students."
"Thank you, Scarlett," Angela acknowledged.
"Yes, thank you, Scarlett," May added. "We've heard stories about you while attending the Wendarby Institute."
"Yes, that's right," Scarlett recalled. "The two of you go to Wendarby in 1884."
"We discovered that Angela and May are magically gifted," Mrs. Turner revealed. "Their birth families must have had members who were magically gifted. We decided to enroll Angela and May in a magical school, and Headmaster Merlin at the Wendarby Institute was kind enough to enroll them at the Institute. Both were accepted into Cosmarune House."
"We don't know much about their birth families," Dr. Turner confessed. "We adopted Angela when she was very young. And we later adopted May. Angela's birth mother was a teen mother who was forced to give Angela up for adoption. And May's mother is alive in Hong Kong after allowing us to adopt May."
"In some families, magical gifts lay dormant for a few generations until a child is born with the gift," Scarlett pointed out. "That must have been the case with Angela and May."
At that moment, the door to the lecture hall opened, and in walked a woman wearing a blue gown. The woman was ... Princess Isabel of Avalor, who was the current specialty Voyager in charge of maintaining royal history.
"Is it okay if I crash this party?" Isabel asked with a smile.
"Isabel!" Sofia cried out in joy.
"Sofia!" Isabel exclaimed in happiness as the two hugged.
As Isabel, Sofia, Amber, Lucinda, James, Hikari, Roland, and Miranda caught up with each other, and Angela and May and their family continued to talk to Scarlett, Candice and Dorrie walked up to Rachel and Kendra.
"We have another surprise for the two of you," Dorrie announced. "Holly, Ying, and Cassie are about to be recruited as Voyagers."
"Something for the two of you to look forward to," Candice winked at Rachel and Kendra.
Rachel and Kendra smiled at the revelation. It was a wonderful way to end a grand evening.
(End of Chapter 31).
Behind the scenes
In this installment of "Behind the Scenes", we'll look at what is coming up in "Ever Realm Chronicles".
Thanks to suggestions by CarlaSwenKnight108, two things will be coming up in "Ever Realm Chronicles". First off, Rachel will become close to Faith and Skylar since the three of them are immortal. Since Rachel, Faith, and Skylar are Voyagers, I will also be adding Angela and May into that circle to round things out.
Now we come to CarlaSwenKnight108's second suggestion which involves Cedric. Rachel, Faith, and Skylar (along with Angela and May) come across Cedric and take him into custody. The authorities, after an investigation, determine that Cedric is no longer dangerous and decide to have him perform community service under the watchful eye of a major character in "Ever Realm Chronicles".
Author's notes
Amara, Paythos, and Sythona are characters created by Brigade701 and are used in my stories with the permission of Brigade701. Having Amara, Paythos, and Sythona appear in this chapter was the idea of Brigade701.
Angela, May, Patrick and Shelagh Turner are slightly older versions of the same characters from "Call the Midwife". Yes, I took artistic license regarding Angela and May having magical powers, but considering we don't really know much about Angela and May's birth families, it's not outside the realm of possibility.
Commissioner Diana Spencer originally appeared in Chapter 49 of my story "Dorrie". See that chapter for her origins as a Voyager.
Dottie "Doc" McStuffins is based on the same character from "Doc McStuffins" but adapted for the "Sofia the First" universe. Having Doc appear in "Ever Realm Chronicles" was the idea of MisuteriTenshi / SailorWednesdayMercury.
Emily Francisco is an adult version of Emily Francisco from the "Alien Nation" TV series.
Gallifrey, Tardis, The Academy, The Doctor, The Master, The Ruth Doctor, Time Lady, and Time Lord are all from "Doctor Who".
Gayle Lovegood is originally from my stories "Dorrie", "Dorrie: Book Two", and "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia", and is an ancestor of Luna Lovegood from "Harry Potter".
Gloriana is the first name for Miss Elodie that Jolly Roger Brat came up with for use in Jolly Roger Brat's stories as well as in my stories.
Hikari is an alternate universe version of Hikari from "Digimon: Digital Monsters". Having Hikari appear in this story was the idea of Shaddowridder221. I decided to use Hikari's original Japanese name of Hikari to avoid confusion with Princess Kari from "Sofia the First".
Medical tricorders are from "Star Trek".
Middle Earth is from "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings".
Nanny McPhee is an earlier version of the same character from "Nanny McPhee" and "Nanny McPhee Returns".
Princess Faith (Queen Scarlett's adopted daughter) is an earlier version of Faith seen in the "Torchwood" episodes "Dead Man Walking" and "Fragments".
Princess Isabel Castillo Flores is from "Elena of Avalor". For how Isabel became a Voyager and eventually specialty Voyager in charge of maintaining royal history, see Chapter 54 of my story "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia".
Queen Scarlett's daughter, Skylar, is an original character created by Jake H Voronkov for my stories (the fact that Scarlett's daughter, and Elena of Avalor's Jaguin, share the same name is simply an interesting quirk of fate).
"Some Tenctonese from Tencton, as well as Lwaxana Troi from Betazed," Doc added - Tenctonese and Tencton are from "Alien Nation", while Lwaxana Troi and Betazed are from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". The Tenctonese members of Voyager Command are mentioned in Chapter 40 of my story "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia". Lwaxana Troi's role as a Voyager is also mentioned in Chapter 40 of "Once Upon a Time in Enchancia".
The pocket watch carried by Rachel is the same kind of pocket watch seen in the David Tennant "Doctor Who" episodes "Human Nature", "The Family of Blood", and "Utopia".
The Kingdom of Avalor is from "Elena of Avalor".
The Kingdom of Enchancia is from "Sofia the First".
The Kingdom of Ornburgh is where Prince Frederick and his family lived in "Sofia the First". The kingdom was never given a name in "Sofia the First", so I named it Ornburgh.
The Kingdom of Serpathia is a kingdom created by Brigade701 and is used in my stories with permission from Brigade701.
The Scarlett Warrior (A.K.A. Priscilla) (A.K.A. Scarlett) (A.K.A. Queen Scarlett) (A.K.A. Queen Scarlett Katherine Felchenerow) is a character created by Jake H Voronkov and is used in my stories with permission from Jake H Voronkov.
The scene with Rachel coming to young Scarlett's aid was the idea of Jake H. Voronkov (who also provided some of the dialog for the scene).
The wrist-cloaking device seen in this chapter is based on the wrist-cloaking device seen in "Galactica 1980".
Disclaimer
"Alien Nation" and everything associated with it © Kenneth Johnson Productions, and 20th Century Fox.
Amara, Paythos, Sythona, and the other original ideas from Brigade701 are the property of Brigade701 and are used in my stories with the permission of Brigade701.
"Call the Midwife" and everything associated with it © BBC, Neal Street Productions, and PBS.
"Digimon: Digital Monsters" and everything associated with it © Akiyoshi Hongo, Bandai, and Toei Animation.
"Doc McStuffins" and everything associated with it © Brown Bag Films, and Disney.
"Doctor Who" and everything associated with it © BBC.
"Elena of Avalor" and everything associated with it © Craig Gerber, Disney Television Animation, Team TO, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television.
"Galactica 1980" and everything associated with it © Universal Studios, and Glen Larson Productions.
"Harry Potter" and everything associated with it © J. K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Publishing, Arthur A. Levine Books, Little Brown, Heyday Films, 1492 Pictures, Patalex IV Productions, and Warner Brothers Pictures.
"Nanny McPhee" and everything associated with it © StudioCanal, Working Title Films, Three Strange Angels, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Nanny McPhee Productions, United International Pictures, Universal Pictures, and Mars Distribution.
"Nanny McPhee Returns" (A.K.A. "Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang") and everything associated with it © StudioCanal, Relativity Media, Working Title Films, Three Strange Angels, and Universal Pictures.
"Sofia the First" and everything associated with it © Craig Gerber, Jamie Mitchell, Disney Television Animation, Toiion Animation Studios, Team TO, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television.
"Star Trek" and everything associated with it © Paramount Domestic Television, and CBS Television Distribution.
"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and everything associated with it © Paramount Domestic Television, and CBS Television Distribution.
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" and everything associated with it © Paramount Domestic Television, and CBS Television Distribution.
"The Hobbit" and everything associated with it © Warner Bros Pictures, New Line Cinema, New Line Home Entertainment, Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures, Wingnut Films, The Saul Zaentz Company, and Tolkien Enterprises.
"The Lord of the Rings" and everything associated with it © New Line Cinema, New Line Home Entertainment, Wingnut Films, The Saul Zaentz Company, and Tolkien Enterprises.
The Scarlett Warrior and the other original ideas from Jake H Voronkov are the property of Jake H Voronkov and are used in my stories with the permission of Jake H Voronkov.
"Torchwood" and everything associated with it © BBC.
"Voyagers!" and everything associated with it © James D. Parriot Productions, Universal Television (MCA), and Scholastic Productions.
I only own Auxiliary Voyagers, Bethany, Candice, Carol, Cassie, Circe (AKA Cironna), Cosmarune House, Dorrie, Everett, Gayle Lovegood, Holly, Jareth (AKA Jahoth), Kendra, Lisa, Middle Earth Studies, Omni Reader, Privorans, Rachel (AKA Rakonna), Rachel's Tardis, Scorpella House, The Village of Wendarby, The Wendarby Institute, The Witch Revolutionary Front (WRF), Tricia Spencer, and Ying.
