The Last Doctor : The Legend of the Maze Master Book 1:

Author Note:

This is Book 1 of a Doctor Who/Crystal Maze Crossover Series.

I always said "I will never write a crossover, I don't DO crossovers." Well, now I have and its probably the only crossover series I will ever write, and I'm really pleased with the result!

It came about through a conversation with my sister about how we both thought The Crystal Maze could be like the many hidden rooms inside the Tardis and how mysterious Ed Tudor Pole was, like a time traveller guiding people on a journey through time and space, like a Time Lord...

And then I came up with THIS, basically, a dark story which would have fitted perfectly into the Seventh Doctors era, and tells the tale of how the last regeneration of the Doctor becomes a time travelling maze master named Ed.

And... this story and the story/stories that follow on should be considered AU, of course!

Book 2 following on from this story is called The Last Doctor: Legend of the Maze Master Book 2 : Past Lives


Dedication:

Enjoy, Sis - you gave me the inspiration to write this one. Enjoy the read very much – I definitely enjoyed writing it!


Summary:

When Ace begins to ask too many questions about regeneration and the future and demands to know what will happen to the Doctor when his regenerations eventually end, the Seventh Doctor is evasive as usual, telling Ace that his final life time is many years away and he does not want to discuss the matter.

But Ace will not give up, and so the Doctor takes her on a trip through time and space to meet the last Doctor, materialising the Tardis on what appears to be an old abandoned space station that bears visible scars from some kind of battle fought long ago.

Ace is confused when he tells her he will leave her there and come back in a few days – and by then, she will have all the answers she is searching for...

Left in the space station, Ace wanders around, noticing the place is in need of repair and the systems are more than a century out of date – and then she meets the final regeneration of the Doctor, who now calls himself Ed because he has long since tired of using the Earth name John Smith.

As Ed shows Ace the secrets that lie inside the space station, helped along by his talking computer named Barbara, she finds the journey fun at first, as he takes her from one zone to another, from space to a medieval castle and then on to a sunken ship – it is then he explains the space station IS the Tardis, which after suffering major damage in a battle to save the earth from alien forces a hundred years before, has turned itself into a place to dream, filling rooms with memories of places the Tardis has visited over the centuries.

Ace begins to fall for the handsome man who lives alone in his dreaming Tardis, but starts to suspect something is very wrong, although Ed, the last very incarnation of the Doctor, tells her she is mistaken.

Then she decides to investigate, and the secret she will discover in the forbidden room known as the Crystal Dome will both shock her, and shatter her trust in the Doctor forever – can she ever forgive the Professor for hiding the truth, and when it comes to choosing between friendship and love, will Ace listen to her heart and sacrifice everything?


Rated T


Disclaimer: I own nothing this is a work of fan fiction.


Chapter 1

Ace was dreaming.

She knew she was asleep on cool grass beside a river as the heat of the day shone down on her, heat spiralling into her sun kissed shoulders and warming her legs as the short fabric of her summer skirt slid up to her thighs as she turned on her side away from the glare of the sun that made the word seem bright orange behind closed eyelids.

She could hear the birds singing in the trees and hear the sound of the water as it ran by gently, and she was floating just above it all, and thankful that the Doctor had decided to take the Tardis back to Earth, in summer, to a quiet place in the country side where she could rest and relax and sleep and stop thinking about the dark things that hid out there in other dimensions.

Here her nitro nine was not needed, it was a holiday for her baseball bat too.

No monsters, no battles, just rest.

And as she stopped floating and slipped over into dreaming time she gave a sigh, letting the world around her fade out.

Then everything faded out, plunging her into shadow.

A man held out his hand and a snowflake landed on his palm. It stayed there, perfect and frozen, intricate and beautiful.

Then he stepped closer and she saw dark hair that fell just above ice blue eyes and as the snowflake refused to melt he spoke to her in voice like silk:

"Every single one is unique, just like dreams. I dream all the time. Do you dream, Ace McShane?"

And she woke up sharply, sitting up and blinking as the sunlight hit her eyes and she wondered why she had been so surprised that a stranger ought to know her name in a dream...

The Doctor had just stepped out of the Tardis and he was carrying a tray with iced lemonade and two glasses.

He looked at her with interest as she approached her.

"Bad dream?"

Then he sat down and put the tray on the grass and poured the lemonade.

Ace was watching the sunlight dance on the moving water as the river flowed by.

"Not exactly... I had a dream about dreaming, that's all."

The Doctor laughed and bubbles fizzed as if fighting for release as he passed her a tall glass of iced lemonade.

"Thanks," she said, and she sipped it and the coolness of the ice woke her up properly, sharpening her thoughts.

"It definitely wasn't a bad dream."

"No? What kind of a dream was it, then?"

She glanced at the Doctor and saw he was curious, and then she laughed softly.

"Oh, I don't know, Professor – there was this man...bright blue eyes, silky voice...he could catch snowflakes and they didn't melt. He asked me if I dreamed, he said he did all the time."

And the Doctor looked towards the flowing water as he sipped his lemonade.

"Interesting..." he murmured.

And Ace giggled.

"I didn't mean..."

he turned his head.

"What?"

"I didn't mean I fancied him, I didn't get much of a look at him, I just -"

"Saw his eyes and heard his voice as he spoke to you of dreaming. Sounds romantic..."

Ace swallowed more lemonade and put the glass down and she giggled again.

"Oi stop that, Professor – I'm a down to earth sort of girl, I don't have daydreams about -"

"Princes in castles?" he asked her, "No, I don't think you dream of being rescued by a handsome prince. A girl who takes a baseball bat to a Dalek doesn't have those kind of aspirations. You don't need to be rescued."

And he looked into her eyes.

"I would imagine you would dream of saving the prince, perhaps waking him with a kiss..."

And all trace of amusement faded from her eyes.

"That's not funny!"

The Doctor frowned.

"What have I said to upset you?"

She shook her head.

"Nothing..."

And she looked towards the river as sunlight danced on its surface.

"It's just that I had a dream a bit like that a few nights ago – but it wasn't exactly romantic!"

"Want to tell me about it?"

She fell silent for a moment, and then she gave a sigh. She knew the Professor well enough to understand he would not drop this subject now, because he was curious...

"It was just a dream..."

"Sounds like more than just a dream, Ace."

"It was like a twisted fairytale. There was this prince – I think he was a prince... and he needed me to set him free."

"Free from what?" the Doctor asked thoughtfully.

Ace watched as the water reflected sun as she cast her mind back to a dream that lingered as a faded memory.

"I'm not sure. I went up to him and he was sleeping on this bed, and I leaned over to wake him with a kiss..."

She fell silent.

The Doctor was still looking at her with interest.

"And than what happened? Or is that between you and your fantasy man?"

She looked at him and he winked as amusement sparkled in his eyes.

"No, it wasn't like that! I can't remember what happened next, okay? I just know I woke up really sharply."

"Maybe its a message from your subconscious mind," the Doctor told her, "Perhaps you're about to wake up feelings in someone you care about."

She looked puzzled.

"I can't think who that could be," she said, and then she got up.

"We're out of lemonade. I'm going to get some more."

And the Doctor watched as she walked across the grass back towards the Tardis, the hem of her short skirt dancing in the breeze as it skimmed her shapely thighs.

He gave a sigh and thought of the years he had spent travelling with Ace, who was now a young woman in her mid twenties.

"No," he said quietly, "I don't suppose it could be me you're dreaming about..."


Ace returned with more lemonade and ice and then she sat down next to the Doctor once more.

"Sorry, about not wanting to talk about it," Ace said to him, "But it's a bit -"

"Private?" the Doctor suggested.

"No, just...I dunno, strange. And there was this music... it was playing so softly but it was all around me...it was so gentle and...it reminded me of something, but I can't think what it was."

"Sometimes dreams are just dreams and nothing more," the Doctor told her, "but sometimes, they can also be intense. Just don't let your imagination scare you. I've had terrible dreams, usually about the past, about battles I've fought...at least you only have to worry about your prince who waits to be kissed."

Ace looked back at the water.

"You must have had a lot of nightmares," she said, "I mean, you're hundreds of years old...you've been through so much. And all the different regenerations you've had...so much life for one man to live. Does it hurt?"

"Does what hurt?"

"Regeneration."

The Doctor gave a sigh. Since he had taken some time to explain to Ace what it meant to be a Time Lord and be capable of regeneration, she had not stopped asking difficult questions requiring answers that he preferred not to think about.

"Yes it does hurt, very much."

"And how many lives do you have?"

"I started out with twelve but I know for a fact the Time Lords will one day grant me a new cycle of lives – another twelve. So that's a lot of regenerations."

"And what about when you're down to the last one, your last life with no hope of regenerating?"

"Well, Ace – that's a difficult question. My final life will be much like all my others, I'll still have two hearts, still be a Time Lord – I could live for a thousand years or more barring accidents or injury. But eventually, when the end came, it would be the end. No more regenerations, just death."

She fell silent for a moment as she looked across the water and listened to the birds in the trees and felt the sun making spirals of heat on her skin. On a day filled with such beauty and warmth and light and life the word death seemed to have no place.

"I know you know a lot about the future – but how far ahead have you looked?"

He met her gaze and as he looked her wished she would stop asking these questions, because they were becoming more and more complex to answer truthfully...

"Why?" he asked her.

"Because I was wondering if you knew anything about your final life?"

He leaned back against the trunk of a tree and gave a heavy sigh.

"I know a little. I heard the tale from another Doctor that heard about the day of the great battle."

Ace shifted closer to him and looked at him intently.

"What battle?"

"Two hostile alien species decided to fight it out over who claimed Earth – either side would have wiped out the human race. And so he intervened. He took a chance, because he had no regenerations left, but he took them on and he won, he saved the Earth for the final time. It was a terrible battle with many casualties, but he saved this planet, Ace. And then he went off into deep space to live quietly. And as far as I know, that's what he's still doing to this very day."

And as he saw her eyes sparkle with excitement, his hearts grew heavy.

"And he's best left alone," he added, "He's in his final life and he just wants to rest now."

"Professor, what's he like?"

The Doctor gave another sigh.

"Does it matter?"

"It does to me! He saved the Earth, he was brave to do that with no lives left! Please tell me what he's like, Professor!"

"Tall, dark hair, blue eyes, rather dashing...Ace, stop it!"

"Stop what?"

"The more I tell you about him, the more your eyes start lighting up! Why are we even having this conversation?"

Ace looked disappointed now.

"Because he sounds exciting. And I'd like to meet him. Can I meet him, Professor?"

"No, it's not a good idea."

Now she looked as if she was about to slip into a major sulk.

"But why not? You said you know where he is..."

"I know where and when he is in time and space, yes that's true but...I just don't think it would be a good idea. He may not welcome visitors."

"Why not?"

The Doctor's eyes darkened.

"He's in his final lifetime, he's chosen to live alone in deep space and to me that says he's best left alone! You're too inquisitive, Ace. I'm sure the last thing he would want to do is talk about the past. You'd ask too many questions, want to know too much..."

"No I wouldn't. I just want to meet him."

She looked at him pleadingly.

"Please, Professor! I really need to do this."

"Why?"

His question confused her.

"I don't know," she said honestly, "I just know I need to meet him."

The Doctor looked at her thoughtfully, and then the expression in his eyes softened as he thought how Ace had the ability to wrap him around her little finger, even though she didn't know it – mainly because she was wrapped firmly around his hearts – and that was something else she didn't know...

"All right, Ace. If you want to meet him I'll take you to him. I'll let you stay for a few days and then I'll come back for you. I'm sure by then your curiosity will be satisfied. And remember, he was once me - so he will know you any way. I'm sure he will be glad to see you again."

Ace frowned.

"But I thought you said he might not want to see anyone?"

"I was trying to put you off the idea."

"Why?"

He got up and brushed grass from his clothing.

"Oh, I don't know...it's a long trip, he's been on his own a long time, he might not want you asking a lot of questions about the past..."

Ace got up too and the sparkle was back in her eyes.

"I won't ask too many questions, Professor!"

"And don't call him Professor. Don't ask about the past, and definitely don't ask him too much about his life as it is today. When you've lived as many lifetimes as he has, memories can be painful to recall."

Ace nodded.

"Of course, I won't forget that...I just want to meet him, Professor. I won't say anything to make him upset!"

"I'm sure you won't," he replied, and then they walked back to the Tardis together, while Ace continued to ask questions about the last Doctor.


After the Tardis had taken off and left Earth and the wide viewing port showed nothing but the blackness of star-scattered space, Ace stood in the console room as the ship gave off a quiet hum, and she felt comfortably cool even though her skin still glowed from the heat of the sun that had spiraled warmth into her skin back on Earth. She felt as if she had brought some of her home planet with her, but space had never looked so beautiful as she wondered how long their journey would take.

"So tell me some more about him," she said.

And the Doctor looked up from the console.

"I don't know what else there is to tell, Ace. He's me, in another life – his final one. The Doctor has many faces but he's still the same man underneath the change of appearance."

Ace was thinking.

"You said don't call him Professor. So he wouldn't like me to remind him of what I used to call him when he was you?"

"I would imagine he would find that rather confusing. My personality has changed as dramatically as my appearance with every regeneration. He's gone through many, many lifetimes since he was me. I do know he doesn't even use his old Earth name any more. He used to call himself Doctor John Smith. Now he simply prefers to be known as Ed."

"Does he still call himself the Doctor?"

"I don't know," he replied, "Probably not."

And as he turned back to the controls Ace fixed her gaze on the view of space as they travelled through its darkness.

"It looks so beautiful out there today," she said.

"Space is always beautiful," the Doctor replied, "Haven't you noticed that...Ace?"

And he looked at her intently as she continued to look out at the darkness, as if seeing it for the first time.

"Are you all right?" he asked her.

She was still looking at dark space filled with glittering stars.

"I never realised it before," she murmured, "It's so peaceful. I feel as if I could rest in its darkness, like its made of velvet...as if I could lie back and close my eyes and float amongst the stars..."

And she turned back to him with a look of wonder in her eyes.

"Its so restful! I never saw it before, how could I not have seen it, Professor?"

He looked at her intently, wondering what had made her suddenly aware of the peace and stillness of space.

"I'm surprised you noticed it just now," he said, "It's most unlike you."

Ace took a look back at the darkness and smiled.

"I've never noticed how they shimmer before now," she said softly, "Like diamonds...or tiny crystals, set in the soft darkness... it makes me feel so relaxed I could fall asleep."

The Doctor frowned.

"Are you sure you didn't get too much sun when we were on Earth?"

Ace turned away from the viewing port and smiled.

"No Professor, I'm just thinking about how beautiful it is out there."

The Doctor looked down at the controls and then back at Ace.

"Strange how you noticed it just after we crossed time zones. We are far into the future now. We're almost there."

"Almost where?"

"At the space station. He lives on a small space station locked in permanent orbit out in a distant part of the galaxy."

"What happened to the Tardis?"

"I don't know," the Doctor replied, "I heard he lives in a space station. He's the only person there."

Sadness shaded her eyes.

"He's all alone, all the time?"

"He's the Doctor," he reminded her, "He's seen so many lifetimes, maybe now he's reached his final life he wants the peace and quiet. He'll certainly get it out here."

And then as an object came into view, Ace stared at the screen:

The closer they got, the clearer she saw it:

An old space station, dented and battered, it looked as if it had either been under attack or caught in a meteor storm.

"He lives there? The place looks like -"

"It's been in a battle?" the Doctor suggested, "Well, its abandoned now. He's the only one there, but I'm guessing its still basically functional or he wouldn't be on board."

Ace drew in a slow breath as her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Are we just going to board it, or should we open a channel and let him know we're coming?"

"I'll try the communications channel," the Doctor said, and Ace wondered why she felt strangely apprehensive as she waited for the screen to clear and catch a first glimpse of the man who was the last Doctor.

The communications channel was filled with static, and the screen continued to refuse to clear.

"It's his equipment," the Doctor said, "By my calculations, this space station hasn't been upgraded for more than a century..."

And then the hissing stopped and a voice came through clearly:

"Hello Doctor! I'm assuming you're one of me... I see a Tardis on my viewer! A police box!"

And Ace gave a gasp as her eyes widened in surprise.

"I know that voice!" she said, "I think he was in my -"

"Dream?" the Doctor said quietly.

"How did you know that?" she asked him.

But then he came through loud and clear once more:

"Sorry you can't see me – trouble with the comm system at my end. So which one of me are you?"

"Your Seventh regeneration," he said.

There was a pause.

"Seventh? That was many lifetimes ago..."

And for a moment there was another silence.

"Doctor?" he said, "Are you still there?"

Ace listened, waiting to hear his voice again. It had come as a shock to think she had seen him in her dreams – the voice was identical...

"Yes, I'm still here...and Doctor, please don't call me that, or John Smith. These days I go by the name of Ed."

"Then I shall call you Ed," the Doctor replied, "Listen, I have a friend with me who wants to meet you. I'll need to bring the Tardis over...I was hoping my friend could stay for a few days. She really wants to meet you, she was fascinated to think there was a last version of me out there somewhere."

"Well I'm definitely the last doctor," he replied, "I have no regenerations left. Who is your friend?"

"Ace," the Doctor replied.

"Ace McShane?" he exclaimed, "At last! I've been waiting for centuries to see her again! Bring her over!"

"See you soon," the Doctor replied, and closed the channel.

"I can't wait to meet him!" Ace said keenly.

"And it seems he can't wait to see you again..."

The Doctor had sounded deep in thought, and Ace had noticed.

"What's wrong, Professor?"

"I'm not sure," he replied, "He said he was looking forward to seeing you again... he must be referring to when he knew you in my regeneration..."

"And?" she said, waiting for more.

"Nothing," the Doctor said quietly as he turned back to the console. As he set the controls for landing, he kept his thoughts silent – that it seemed as if the last Doctor had been waiting for this moment, and there could only be two reasons – either because he was looking forward to a reunion with Ace, or because Ace would not be returning from the space station...

Ed was the last Doctor, the one who had lived all lives and knew all things.

He knew when Ace would finally leave his Seventh self's life forever.

Perhaps it was sooner than he had imagined...

The Doctor had always loved her.

He had loved Ace since their meeting on Ice World and he had kept that love locked deeply in his heart.

As they years had passed he had planned to tell her how he felt – one day.

But that day had not yet arrived and perhaps never would.

Perhaps it was her destiny to fall in love with the Doctor in his final life instead of his Seventh...

Suddenly there was so much he wanted to say to Ace, about so many things – and there was no time.

"Professor, are you okay?"

He looked up from the console.

"Yes, I was just thinking..."

"About what?"And he looked at Ace, standing there in a pale blue top that showed off her sun kissed shoulders and a skirt that hugged her waist and made the most of her shapely legs. Her long hair was tied back in a pony tail and she still looked like the girl he had met so long ago – but she was older now, she had become a beautiful woman and he felt sure this was how he wanted to remember her, if she chose not to return to him...

"It doesn't matter," he told her.

His hearts were aching as he reasoned he could not envy another version of himself, especially not his final regeneration, because he had heard all about him, far more than he had shared with Ace, and because he knew all he did, he felt it would be unfair to deny him what could be one final meeting with one who had meant so much to him so many years before.

It was a decision that could have many outcomes, and the Doctor was certain of nothing.

He activated the controls and the Tardis shifted through space, landing inside the space station, as he wondered where this step into the unknown would lead both of them...