Chapter 2
As Ace and the Doctor were eating the evening meal with the Abbott and the other monks, the Abbott gestured towards the Doctor and said "I have thought about your request Doctor, and I have decided to deny your petition for the cleansing ritual." "Why is that, Abbott?" said the Doctor in a surprised tone that to Ace sounded more like surprise more than anger. "Doctor, you will have to lose what you value the most, and you will. You will lose everything and more before you come back to us. When that happens and you find yourself truly alone, then and only then, can the cleansing ritual be done. You surround your self with wolves, Doctor. Be warned. In the future, a wolf will save you, but there will be a wolf who will also try to kill you as well. Take this as a warning, Doctor, you will lose everything, but the wolf who comes will be of the white variety. Welcome the wolf in as you did with Ace." The Doctor looked shaken to the core as his future was being told. Ace could tell he was scared, but he maintained his level of composure.
Later that night, Ace found the Doctor near the bank of a river. He was skipping stones, then he sat down. All at once, he looked like the thousand year old he told Ace he was, as if someone had drained his energy. "Professor." Ace said and sat down next to him. "Penny for your thoughts?" "Ace, would you have killed me if I hadn't broken the tie between you and Fenric?" "What? No…I mean I don't know." "The Abbott believes you would have. As you saw, he can see both past and future." "Ace, I treated you like a pawn and I really did not have any choice. I hated doing that, but Fenric left me no recourse. I really was not planning on headed to Perivale just yet. I was hoping to take a relaxing vacation, so that we could both recharge, yet the Master hijacked the Tardis once again. I certainly did not want to have your friends hurt, but I did and in the end I am sorry for it, Ace. I thought I captured and killed him. The Abbott states that we will have our battles and fights all throughout my lives." Professor, you did what you thought was right. I should be the one being sorry. I treated you with so much guilt because I was the one transferring it onto you. All the stuff I felt, what Fenric did, what the Cheetah Planet did. I willing accepted it and I wasn't ready for the consequences. I blamed it all on you and told myself not to accept any of it. Yet, they both played a role in my life. I now feel that I am acceptance with who I am and I am a better person thanks to you, Professor." "Ace, you are now on the Way of the Warrior. You accept what is because it is and you know your strengths and weaknesses. You've grown up, Ace. However, should I call you Ace or Dorothy?" "Ace is just perfect, Professor." The Doctor smiled and rubbed Ace on the nose with his coat sleeve. Ace smiled. "Right, Ace it is!" "Now, Ace, I think it is time we went on that holiday."
Ace and the Doctor went back to the Tardis, arm in arm. As the engines faded away, the Abbott stared at the empty space where the Tardis laid. Suddenly, a wheezing , grinding noise cut through the air. The Abbott called to his monks and said "He is here. Prepare the room and get the ceremony ready." He looked back out the window at the shattered figure trudging through the courtyard and thought "Yes, Doctor, all is in readiness. You have paid in blood and your mind lies in pieces. You will go through the ceremony and it will leave you broken in body, but strengthened in spirit." He then left the room to meet the figure approaching the monastery.