Author: Me, of course!

Rating: T - there won't be any fluff, but it's written for a slightly more mature audience. Possible language later on. Maybe.

Main Characters: The Master, the Doctor, other main characters... ooh!

Full Summary: The Master would never sacrifice himself. But for that single moment, oh, wonderful moment, the Doctor knew that he was gone. And, for a little while, he was lost in the abyss of death. But after all of these years, would the Master ever suddenly want to stop living? Things are never as they seem, and... well, you need to see more, I won't give everything away! :D

Setting: Post 'Journey's End'. Everything's a spoiler!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, as always. Gutted.

The hand clicked forward, and then she clicked the watch shut. Silver circles entwined along the surface, giving terrible warnings. The watch had been closed for a reason. I suffered enough to be free. If she kept repeating that to herself, then maybe she would believe it. Although the watch was now just a trinket, the memories wouldn't let the woman abandon it. Not here, not now. Sighing, her hand rested against her nose and lips. It was the hand with the watch. Clasped tightly, the metal soon warmed, giving a hint to what it had once contained.

She couldn't hide it forever, though. He would know what it was. He would feel it. That's why she had used the watch so quickly to start off with. Too much had gone on before he had the chance to notice a tickling at the back of his mind. She closed the door and waited.

--

It was funny how facts came rushing back to your mind. The Doctor had felt it when he had stopped being the human 'John Smith'. Rolling her head around her neck, the blonde ran manicured fingers back through her hair. It was long and thick. There was an obvious widow's peak at the tip of her hairline, something that she had missed terribly. How had her nails suddenly been painted red? Was that part of the watches' power? How could she forget?

Still, she needed to see herself in a mirror. Picking up the ring, she was a little upset that it wouldn't fit any more. Maybe she could rework it into something smaller, daintier perhaps. This would take a lot of getting used to.

Behind her, the fire still burned angrily. Pyres hated being left alone: they were the guardians, the guides of death. Now, cloth was its only companion to the gates of Hell. Despite herself, she smirked. Everything was far too confusing. How had she come here? There had been a flash, and suddenly she was back here, watching and remembering. Although she should have stopped, she remembered the ring that had been left. It was a silvery metal, mounted with green and circles of ancient words. That should never have been left behind.

Now, it was time to go back. Earth. The Doctor would be there. Giving a brief shake to her head, she returned to her TARDIS. It was a police box. Black, though, the wood highly polished. Her human form now gone, the drums had reclaimed their place at the front of her mind and demanded it. Now that she was back, apparently with more regenerations, she could finally become Master – Mistress – of All.

Additional: ZOMG! I've been away ages, haven't I? Well, expect many more updates from moi. The 'What If' series by TheChibisAreStalkingMe have given me a kick to write more DW fics. Reviews make my muse work faster! Oh, and there's more revelations to come... you know how much I love messing with the Mister Master... :D