This fic was influenced by alot of My RP habits over the past few months, and the lack of Master/Lucy fics available. As always, everything belongs to the wonderful BBC and RTD. Thank you to my beta Unfeathered, who has been kind enough to keep me on the straight and narrow, as well as the members of the livejournal community brb_gallifrey who are made of win and awesome-ness.

This is the prologue of what will hopefully be a loooooong fic, several chapters long. I hope you all like, and whether you do or you don't be sure to leave feedback so I can try and give you all the best fic ever :)

~ Nixxypie

Lumina et Tenebrae

The clock struck two in the morning as The Master stepped out from the door of the old Grandfather clock. Around the old house, the chimes of the TARDIS rang out, echoing through the halls and resonating along the walls. The floor boards creaked underfoot, and he walked slowly along the corridor, looking out of the window at the windy and dark night as he passed. This was meant to be, this night, he had waited and waited to be here. He had waited to see her, the one who would affect his future regeneration so very, very much. He smiled his dark eyes bright for once. He had been to the future, seeing his future self, not making contact though. The Master knew how important this child would be, well, she would be to him. It seemed he would lose his mind, and she would have to help him find it.

Somewhere in the building, a scream rang out.

Julia Cole was in labour.

Tens years on from that night a small girl plays hide and seek in the trees near her house.

It was Lucy's birthday and she was dressed up like a little doll, pretty red dress and shiny patent shoes, running through the grass, mud-splattered white tights. She turned back, giggling, looking for her play mates. Her mother called from the porch. Tarminster was beautiful at this time of year, the autumn was just settling in and the trees surrounding her father's estate looked they were on fire.

"Lucy, now be careful darling," shouted her mother, but Lucy didn't listen. Daddy had told her to go and run wild.

The woods near Tarminster were deep, deep and sad, Lucy often thought. She imagined fairies and unicorns roaming about in the undergrowth. She dreamt of being a queen, a princess, of taking over the world. She'd always had an imagination.

She ran into the tree line, constantly looking back, excited and out of breath, She could hear the screams and calls of her friends following her in.

Suddenly the sounds stopped, she couldn't hear anyone anymore. Lucy turned and realised she'd gone too far immediately.

"Hello…" she called meekly. Maybe they were just hiding from her, getting ready to jump and make her panic. Lucy slowly walked forward, her shiny red shoes crunching on the leaf litter underneath. The woods were silent aside from the odd sound of the birds, though they seemed to have gone quiet too. Maybe the fairies were evil, maybe they were goblins, and maybe they would take her away. Her bottom lip began to tremble.

"Lost, are we?" said a voice from behind her. Lucy turned, jumping, and backing up into the thick trunk of an old tree. The man watched as she banged her head and rubbed it clumsily with her small hand.

The Master smiled, it was cold here in the forest away from the warmth of his TARDIS, he rubbed his hands together. "It's alright, you don't have to be scared," he said, placing a hand out towards her, indicating that it was safe. His face twisted into a smile, he knew he didn't look particularly sincere; the child squirmed.

"No it's alright dear," he said again, a touch of aggression in his voice. He came closer now, so she could see into his eyes, his bleak dark eyes, and so she would listen. He stared at her.

"Now listen, you have to pay attention Lucy….," He whispered drawing closer and raising a gloved hand to his mouth.

"You have to listen because this is very important. One day you will meet a powerful man, and you will fall in love with him but you have to be careful, very careful, you understand. He'll be your prince Lucy ….Lucy?" He repeated her name and she nodded quickly, her blond hair bobbing at her chin.

"Your Prince Charming, yes?"

The child began to smile, and The Master found himself confused. He understood the appeal of the story to her, after all, earth children were raised on these tales of hope and wonder, but….wasn't she scared, scared of him?

"Really…?" she smiled, moving away from the tree slightly, watching him awkwardly.

"Yes dear, really."

He hated the smell of children, all dirt and sweat. But he had to do this for his own safety, because he wouldn't have time when he needed too, because from what he had seen, his own selfish urges would overwhelm his usual calm and collected nature.

"Why?" she asked, as only a child could. He knew she had always asked questions had bothered her parents. She wanted to know too much, and she wanted to know everything. Why Mummy had had to spend the week in bed and she wasn't allowed to see her. Why Daddy had run away with a bottle of Whiskey and crashed the car.

"I…I can't explain dear," the Master replied, fumbling slightly. She was starting to move closer towards him now, oh but she was supposed to be afraid not…well, not interested, and she was supposed to be hypnotised, his suggestions flooding her brain. He was puzzled, how was this damn child talking back to him?

"Are you here for my birthday because Mummy said that all the grown ups are supposed to b…." The child was cut off by the sound of a woman's voice shouting through the trees. The Master watched as she turned her back to him, as she looked out into the trees, her eyes searching quickly for the source of the voice.

She was either very stupid, or completely immune to his charms; either way, he had to leave her now, before he was seen. Slowly he backed away through the undergrowth, hiding behind a tree. He watched and grinned as she turned around, looking back for him, her mother marching through the trees, the woman intoxicated by the look of her, and he could hear her yelling at little Lucy for the mess she'd made of her lovely outfit. She pulled her roughly by the arm. He did pity her, well, very slightly, but he knew she would overcome her unfortunate family eventually.

He sighed, looking at his pocket watch, pushing against the tree, it opened up and he vanished inside.

The tree was no more, and he was on his way. On his way to war.