AN:

This story was first written during the 2014 Winter Olympics (originally posted here on 2/23/14) as part of the New Who Fic Olympics on Tumblr, as we were waiting for Peter Capaldi's first season in the Fall. It is important for the reader to know this for reasons that become clear later.

I re-read it in 2016 and saw that the story as it stood was more of an outline for the REAL story, so I removed it from here and set about a massive re-write. Please enjoy this "new and improved" version and leave a 'review' to let me know how you liked it.

~ Mano'te- Monarch or Sovereign. Male and female use the same title.

~ Mano'te ne- Future Monarch

~ Hakka'dosh- God, aka The One

Prologue

His visits always lifted her spirits and brought joy to her children, and in time her grandchild as well. He had regenerated again from his last visit, ebony skin and hair a perfect compliment to her peoples red skin and plum colored hair; it was yet another drastic change from what the previous Doctor called his "Asian phase."

Coming to Meydidia always gave the Doctor a sense of grounding and peace, no matter what regeneration came to visit; they were space capable while still keeping to an overall simpler lifestyle than other planets in the region. The larger cities reminded the Time Lord of Earth in the mid-twentieth century while smaller outlying provinces gave the appearance of being pre-industrial, each with their own sovereignty under the larger planetary whole. These were his favorite places to visit, and where Min and her family lived.

He always brought Min a trinket from his travels, and those 'sweet infants' he was still so fond of. She no longer became upset when her children, even as full-grown adults, clamored for the candy shaped like a newborn (though she still felt it was barbaric) and would make a face at the Doctor whenever he brought them out. At least her grand-daughter had the sense to dislike them!

As always, his time to leave came much too soon, whether he stayed for days or weeks. And as always, she walked him back to his amazing blue box of adventure.

"I think this new face and skin color suits you nicely," Min said as they approached the TARDIS, "and I'm sure Bill, Martha and Mickey would agree."

"Ah, my beautiful Doll Face," he said in his new deep voice as he cupped her face with his hands, "And if you are two hundred sixty-two years old as you claim to be, I certainly did not look so good at your age. You don't look a day over one hundred fifty!"

"Were you ever my age," the former companion sassed back. "Wait, of course you were, and you're right, I do look better than you did before your first regeneration."

The Doctor mimed being stabbed in the hearts as they both laughed. "Oh Min, how I've missed your companionship. Are you sure the Mano'te ne cannot join me for one more adventure?"

"Your regeneration must be newer than you told me, dear friend, or you wouldn't have asked me that."

He glanced away from her and twisted the silver band on his right pinky finger before looking back at her. "Guilty as charged. You don't need the details, just know that this one took its toll on me. This Old Girl," he patted the TARDIS door, "brought me here of her own accord after I regenerated. I'd been here for two days before I felt comfortable enough to seek you out, but I think somehow you already knew I was here..." He kicked the door of the TARDIS with his toe and she responded with a shudder and a growl.

"Oh, Doctor," Min sighed and placed her hand on the side of his face, "when will you learn to trust your ship and your companions? As much as I'd love to, I am no longer the youngling of ninety-seven* who began her amazing adventures with you. I have been married for one hundred forty years and I will not leave Jaukin's side, not even for you dear friend. Plus, as Mano'te I can no longer go "ninny-prancing to traipesy things;" my father passed thirty-five years ago, placing his Mantle on me."

His reply became a splutter of confusion, "The Sovereign? Oh, my Magenta Min," he cried as he spun her around like he had in the past, "you finally came into your rightful place! Oh, but your father," he bowed his head and recited the Prayer of Mourning And Rejoicing in honor of the deceased monarch.

Min's heart swelled with pride as he prayed; the Doctor had learned that prayer when Min was called home at the passing of her grandmother, and had only heard it twice: once when her gah-meh passed, and again at her Life Celebration. He didn't miss a word.

"Rest with The One, Mano'te Dina-ula'ni Ekata," he finished softly. "And in the tradition of the Brits of old, Mano'te Dina is dead, Long Live Mano'te Mintu'pa-he Ekata! Congratulations Doll Face, my," he paused and leaned close to her ear to whisper, "my Sweet Cheeks."

Min's red skin rapidly changed to bright orange, the different colored bells at the end of every braid on her head tinkling with embarrassment.

The Doctor quickly looked up to the sky, brown eyes scanning the clouds, then sighed. "I guess The One let that one slip by, eh?"

"Yes, Hakka'dosh is gracious, but Jaukin would not be, had he heard you," she replied with a glint in her eye.

"Your handsome Prince Consort? Not bloody likely, Your Grace; he's far too fond of twenty-first century Earth trinkets to 'do me in' just yet."

The laughed and embraced in a very long hug that only ended when the evening bells called the faithful to worship. They had long since stopped using words at these partings, so she stepped back and bowed as she crossed her arms across her chest. The seven silver braids based behind her left ear, the ceremonial lendeith, swung forward as she bowed. The Doctor reached for the one braid with a TARDIS blue bell and closed his hand around it as she stood tall again. Her normally plum hair did not, as in times past, turn the same color blue as the bell; the roots now took on a golden radiance that swept down every braid on her head.

Except for the one the Doctor held: It shone blue, and the bell chimed in time with the beat of double hearts.

"You really are Mano'te," he said with both sadness and reverence. "Well, it had to happen someday, didn't it? Oh dear, I've broken our non-verbal tradition! My apologies, your Majesty. I shall now leave post haste!"

The Doctor clapped his hands twice and the TARDIS door opened. He walked in, turned around and winked at her as he closed the TARDIS door; a moment later he was gone. Min looked at the empty space and shook her head, the bells in her hair laughing along with her. He was a clever man, but she still missed the clever woman the Doctor was when they first met.

*Min traveled with Dr. Jean from age 97-114 which would be a young adult to us. She is now 262, but would pass for someone on earth in their 60's, still very active but beginning to to slow down.