Not Budapest
"We came over like you asked, Mr. Link," Alvin said, walking into his bedroom, followed by Shoie and Daphne.
"Good, good," Mr. Link said. "Did you bring the puzzle box?"
"Yup," Daphne said, holding it up.
"I still haven't figured out how to make something like it," Alvin said. "I need more time."
"I have several people who have requested to see it," Mr. Link said. "They may have more information about it that would help both you and I."
"It's not that evil spy lady, is it?" Alvin said.
"Ms. Koschei?" Mr. Link said.
"That sounds Russian. Is she a Russian spy?" Alvin asked.
"No," Mr. Link said. "There are many people with names that seem Russian who aren't. If you ever travel to Europe you'll meet many people from many countries who aren't Russian. She may be here but the request came from several of her traveling companions."
"Princess Joyce?" Daphne said eagerly. "It's her, isn't it."
"Yes," Mr. Link said. "She and several friends visited me yesterday."
"When are they going to be here?" Alvin said. "Do I have time to get my anti-spy invention?"
"He was working on it all night," Daphne said proudly.
"It shouldn't be necessary," Mr. Link said, smiling at her enthusiasm. He looked at his watch. "They should be here in five minutes. If you could come over here, and sit down." He waved at three chairs next to his bed. "They asked that we keep that area clear." He pointed at an empty spot in front of one of his bookshelves.
"How are they getting here?" Alvin asked. "Like those spacemen in that new TV show? We saw an episode last night. I think I can figure out how to make a transporter, if I can get the right parts."
"Are they aliens?" Shoie asked. "They didn't look alien, except for the dog."
"Not aliens," Daphne said, grumbling. "She's a fairy princess, and the evil witch."
"They didn't say," Mr. Link said. "Just to keep that area clear."
"This is so exciting," Daphne said. Mr. Link had to get Alvin to help keep her sitting down.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Alvin asked.
"Yes," Mr. Link said. "And kids? This needs to be a secret, for now. If they ever come back we'll have to discuss it with your parents but for now no one is to know."
"So there are evil secret agents involved!" Alvin said. "I knew it. We can keep it a secret, right Shoie?"
"Right, old bean," Shoie said. Daphne nodded, miming zipping her lips shut.
Mrs Murphy came in at that point with a tray of cookies and milk for them and placed it on a side tray.
"Margaret, if you could get out the special ouzo and several glasses? If I remember correctly it was a particular favorite of Koschei's back in the war. And maybe another glass of milk for Daphne's Princess friend."
"Of course, Mr. Link," she said, grimacing. She quickly returned with a bottle of clear liquid and an additional three glasses, one a glass of milk.
"She doesn't approve of Koschei," Mr. Link whispered to them, after she'd gone. "Koschei can be a bit rough around the edges. I think she grew up in a horrible place and isn't very happy."
"We'll be nice," Daphne said. "Yes, Alvin, we'll be nice to the evil witch lady. She can't help it." She gave Shoie and Alvin her 'no nonsense allowed' look, that even at eight years old she had perfected. Alvin might be her awesome and amazing big brother, but some times he needed someone to keep him from being foolish.
"Ready?" Mr. Link said. They all nodded, staring at the empty spot, wondering what was going to happen.
There was a sound that was hard to describe. Not a quiet one, but not very loud. A distinctive rumble that filled the room as the floor gently shook. A tall blue object began appearing, slowly going from very transparent to suddenly filling the room with a loud pop.
"What is it?" Daphne asked, still being held back by Alvin and Mr. Link.
"It appears to be a phone booth," Mr. Link said.
"It says 'Police Box' on it," Shoie observed.
"See, they aren't evil," Daphne said. "They're the police, just like Dad."
"Dad doesn't travel in something that appears out of thin air," Alvin said, disagreeing. "There can't be room for many people in it."
There was another faint noise, and one side of the phone booth opened, like a door. Joyce walked out, followed by K-9.
"You're here!" Daphne said, breaking free of Alvin's hold and rushing over to hug Joyce. "Did you bring the sad evil witch with you?"
"Sad evil witch?" Joyce said, looking down at the little girl hugging her, clearly puzzled. "Oh! You mean Missy."
"Missy?" Daphne said, letting go of Joyce, and tilting her head in thought. "Is that a proper evil witch's name?"
"It seems to fit her," Joyce said. "She gets an evil twinkle in her eyes and we know it's a good idea to run away. Can she join us?" She asked Mr. Link.
"If she promises to behave, as we agreed," Mr. Link said.
Joyce turned and shouted back into the box, "She can come out, as long as she behaves. K-9 will keep an eye on her," she added, patting K-9 on the head.
"Affirmative, Miss," K-9 said. "Maximum watch on the Master."
Romana came out of the box, giving everyone a smile. "Hello."
"This is Romana," Joyce said. "That's her ship, the TARDIS."
"TARDIS?" Mr. Link said.
"We can explain everything later," Romana said. "We should probably deal with the puzzle box first."
And then Missy sashayed out of the TARDIS, a smirk on her face. "You haven't started without me, have you Link?" She said, pointing at the bottle of ouzo on the side table.
"You think I would do that?" Mr. Link said. "I still remember what happened in Paris in '45."
"And don't ever forget it. Oh look, junior minions!" Missy said, her gaze sweeping over the three kids. "Aren't they a little young for your usual antics?"
"My antic years are well over, Koschei, as you can see," Mr. Link said, patting his bed. "This is the next generation. Very promising." Alvin smiled proudly at the pronouncement.
"I could use a minion myself," Missy said. "Care to let me have that one?" She pointed at Daphne.
"Missy, we talked about that," Joyce said. "You can't have her."
"Just thought I'd ask," Missy said, pouting. "Maybe when you're older you can come on adventures with me," Missy said to Daphne. "Now where is that puzzle?"
"I'll take that," Romana said, plucking it out of Daphne's hand before Missy could grab it.
"Spoilsport," Missy said, grimacing. Turning around, she reached for the bottle of ouzo and a glass.
"Cookies?" Joyce said, spotting the tray next to the ouzo. The kids nodded, so she handed them all glasses of milk and cookies. Frowning at the fourth glass of milk, she sighed and took it and a cookie for herself
"What can you tell us about it?" Mr. Link said, once everyone had been properly supplied. "And this time the real story, Koschei."
Missy leaned against the bookshelf next to his bed, sipped from her glass, and hummed. "The real story? You really want to know?"
"This should be good," Joyce said, poking Romana, who sighed before pouring herself a dash of ouzo.
"It was 1939, and I was attending to business in Budapest..." Missy began.