"But you're not...oh, you're a past one...wonder if I'll see the colourful one again."
The Doctor, or at least the younger/older Doctor, looked at her as if she had just called him the devil.
"You mean to say you've met me in the future? Hmm! Of course you have my child. Please excuse my lapse of memory, old age, it, er, rattles the brain so to speak."
He raised his fingers to his lips to cover the chuckle coming from his dark, slightly mismanaged smile. He pointed towards the now obvious castle, gothic in style, on the misty horizon.
"I suspect we're meant to talk to whoever lives there, hmm? A sort of calling."
She nodded, still not feeling totally trusting of this Doctor.
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From the shadows watched a young boy, part of the local Gypsy camp known locally as the Vortis yard. He rushed back to his peers and the so-called 'king' of the group. He approached the throne, made of a pile of rocks.
"There's an old man and a young woman who want to reach the castle."
The king smiled.
"Well, I should want to meet these travellers."
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The Doctor stopped in at a shop, which was a modern design. This stuck out against the medieval surroundings, like a sore thumb. Outside she watched as giant green creatures, with big claws and large shining black eyes, and creatures which resembled fury three-eyed bats walked past like the usual suspects that stalked London 24/7.
He exited and joined her again. He seemed irritated.
"You ok?"
"I am most certainly not! The buffoon in that ship- er, shop is the most ill-mannered individual I have ever met! Hnnf!"
A small boy ran past them, whipping the Doctor's cane from his hand. The Doctor looked alarmed, and tried to grab him but missed.
"After that child!"
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They spent four hours searching before the child gave in and guided them to their location. They emerged into a campsite, which had a large drape that masked the obvious frame of a short man.
"What is the meaning of this?! Hmm?!"
"Oh, nothing really. Just a quick talk."
The voice was slightly husky, but warmed Maxine's heart. The Doctor had a glint in his eye, as if he recognised it.
"It can't be..."
"Oh it can. You know, I've been bored waiting. If I had Jamie and Zoe, I could have done something reckless and enjoyable."
The drapes opened to reveal a scruffy man in a tattered black jacket. He wore a blue bowtie and checkered pants, with a Beatles-style haircut. He smiled, and stepped down.
"Hello, Maxine."
"Wait...you're not..."
"I am the Doctor, yes. The second one, you might say."
She looked around and saw that the other Doctor was gone. She theorized he must have been absorbed back into either the past or the next Doctor.
"Now, where were we? Oh yes, the castle."
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The Doctor removed a crust of bread from his pocket and ripped it in two. He offered Maxine a bit, but she shook her head.
"All the more for me then." he mused, sounding in a way happy, before scoffing down the bread. They passed seemingly calm, considerate Daleks and an irate merchant, both discussing a bad payment. They reached the gates that lead to the castle, which was guarded by two men.
"Halt!" said the first. The Doctor kept moving.
"Captain Yates said halt!" the other guard barked.
"I know not to let brutes stand in my way. So, Sergeant Benton, Captain Yates, would you mind letting me in?"
"Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart would not authorise this!"
They were turned away.
"You know them?"
"One, yes. You might say I know the other better in a future past life. Now, come along, I believe I spotted a sewer back there."
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The guards walked to the prince with utmost pomposity. The clan Lethbridge-Stewart had long served with the Prince, and had sometimes almost ruled over the monarchy. The current Brigadier wore an eyepatch along with an attractive mustache.
"Sire, a strange ratty fellow and a young woman demand to see you. We sent them away, naturally."
The Prince sighed.
"You know old chap, one day you'll get it right. If you see them again, be sure to welcome them in?"
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They emerged from the sewers smelling like a rotting cow.
"You know, the Doctor I know...the you I know, is a lot like you."
"Really? How interesting."
"Yeah. Only he-slash-you would be so stupid as to traverse through a poo-infested sewer."
"Yes, well, sins of the past are learned from. And I got us here."
A squadron of guards popped up from around the sewer.
"Don't you have any peripheral vision?!"
"Not in the younger models, Maxine."
He looked around at the guards and nodded his head.
"I think we're meant to follow."
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The courtroom was decorated with gold and red drapes, and ornate statuettes. The throne was occupied by a tall old man with a mighty nose and crumpled-velvet jacket. Maxine noticed the Doctor was gone.
"Don't tell me-"
"Well, at least I'm not a clown."