A/N: Thanks to everyone who voted! Between comments and the poll...
The results have been decided and the winner is... IT"S A TIE! So I decided to add in a new character...you guys are gonna love him (not.) He has been discussed in the last two chapters and he will finally make an appearence!
Also I'll be deciding who The Fighter ends up with since it was a tie.
This chapter is going to be wow... all I can say.
The Time Lady and her Boys
(Doctor Who Fanfiction: The Doctor/Time Lady OC/The Master)
Chapter 10: The Tragedy of Pompeii - The Fires of Pompeii
Summary of the chapter: The Doctor, Donna, Fighter and Master find themselves in Pompeii just in time for the volcano to erupt and Prophecies that might reveal the truth of something hidden. Just as The Fighter begins to realize her feelings for a certain Time Lord someone unexpected appears.
The Fighter stepped out of the bathroom as she had a towel around her hair to dry it. She remembered talking to Donna last night and told her everything about her husband and her adventures with The Doctor and Master.
Next thing she knew, she woke up as The Doctor and Master were sitting at the sides of her bed. She had a terrible nightmare she hasn't had in a long time since The Doctor came back and took her away from Gallifrey. It was of him, her husband, The Joker.
She was shaking as she heard Donna coming stomping into her room and kick them out. She was frozen with fear as she couldn't speak. She then remembered hearing the two time lords protest to Donna as she fell back on her bed asleep.
She then woke up again and decided to take a shower to help calm her down. She was walking through the halls back to her room wearing a long sleeve white dress with white go-go boots as she saw The Doctor and Master waiting outside her room with Donna.
"I told you she was probably going to take a shower." Donna said looking at the Time Lady smiling. The Fighter walked up confused as she dried her hair with the towel looking at the Time Lords and the human.
"Can't a girl go take a calming shower without someone freaking out?" The Fighter sighed as she finished drying her hair and held the towel in her hands. The Two Time Lords examined her appearance as the Time Lady continued "So where are we going today now that we have another girl with us?" She turned and smiled at Donna happy to have another girl on board. She was in need of some girl time and it was awkward with the boys as they didn't want her painting their nails and they didn't know much girly things.
The Doctor turned to her glad she asked that question "It's a surprise! Come along!" He gestured for them to follow as they all walked to the console of the put in coordinates for the destination as the TARDIS began to materialize there. He ran to the TARDIS door sticking his head out and looking around to make sure it was the right place.
The Master didn't stay behind as he followed to see where his friend had taken them. The Doctor gestured for the girls to come see as The Master gave him a confused look as he began to open his mouth "Great...Of all places, you brought us to P-" but was interrupted by The Doctor.
"Ancient Rome!" The Doctor announced excitedly as Donna gasped in shock looking around the busy street with different people trying to sell items. The Fighter looked over at The Master noticing him rolling his eyes annoyed.
She whispered to him as the others stepped out looking around. "This isn't Ancient Rome is it? It looks like it though."
The Master shook his head as he gave her a serious look "It's Pompeii." The Fighter looked at him shocked hearing the word Pompeii and remembering the tragedy of it to come. She turned to tell The Doctor but The Master stopped her. "Let him have his moment, he'll find out sooner or later. Besides, I'm enjoying this right now." He gave a laugh at The Doctor being wrong about their location. Oh he was always so slow.
"Oh my god! It's...It's so Roman! This is fantastic!" Donna exclaimed turning to hug The Doctor. "I'm here in Rome! Donna Noble in Rome!" She stepped away looking astonished as she began walking down the street. "This is just weird. I mean everyone here is dead."
The Fighter walked over to her human friend "Don't go telling them that. Most people don't take to kindly to being told they're dead."
Donna stopped pointing over to a sign "Hold on a minute, that sign over there is in English. Are you having me on? Are we on Epcot?"
"That's the TARDIS translation circuits. It just makes it look like English and sound like English." The Master explained walking up to them.
"You're talking Latin right now." The Doctor nodded.
Donna's eyes widened "Seriously?"
The Fighter nodded "Oh yes! I'm speaking Latin right now!"
"I just said 'Seriously' in Latin?" Donna asked amazed as the Time Lords and Lady nodded their heads.
"That's one of the many beauties of the TARDIS!" The Fighter exclaimed looking behind her at the Police Box standing out around their surroundings as usual.
Donna continued "What if I said something in actual Latin? Like 'veni, vidi, vici?' My dad said that when he came back from football. If I said 'veni, vidi, vici' to that lot, what would it sound like?"
The Doctor opened his mouth to speak but then closed it "I'm not quite sure."
The Master then spoke rolling his eyes thinking it was quite obvious "I believe it would still be Latin if you're speaking Latin." The Fighter elbowed his side.
The Doctor turned to Donna ignoring The Master "You have to think of difficult questions, don't you?" he said jokingly to her.
"I'm gonna try it." Donna grinned as The Fighter began to walk over to a vendor selling items at a stall.
"Hello Sweetheart" The Man greeted her. "What can I get you my love?"
The Fighter looked over to Donna who marched over to speak with the man. "Veni, vidi, vici."
The Man blinked confused "Huh? Sorry, me no speak Celtic. No can do missy."
Donna turned to The Fighter confused. "What does he mean 'Celtic'?"
"Welsh, you sounded Welsh. Interesting..." The Fighter turned to look at The Master who looked shocked and shook his head.
"There we are, that's something." The Doctor agreed.
They continued walking down the street eager to see the sights as Donna began to speak "Won't our clothes look a bit odd?" Donna looked at The Fighter's go-go boots she was wearing along with the others outfits. "The White dress you're wearing Fighter might pass because it looks a little Roman but..."
The Doctor shrugged "Nah, Ancient Rome, anything goes! It's like Soho...but bigger!"
"You've been here before?" Donna asked curious.
"Ages ago. Before you ask, that fire had nothing to do with me!" The Doctor exclaimed. "Ok well a little bit."
Donna looked around "I'm not an expert but there are seven hills in Rome aren't there? How come they only got one?"
They all looked at the large mountain off in the distance as the ground began to shake.
"Wait a minute! One mountain with smoke which makes this..."
"Pompeii! We're in Pompeii!" The Doctor gasped as The Master clapped his hands.
"He finally figures it out and guess what the best part is...it's Volcano day!" The Master said sarcastically happy as his face became serious.
"We've got to get out of here quickly!" The Fighter shouted as everyone began running towards the TARDIS. They quickly turned and ran back the way they came as they arrived The Doctor pulled the curtain back only to find an empty space were the blue police box should be.
The Master yelled "Oh great going Doctor!"
Donna breathed "You're kidding me. Don't tell me the TARDIS is gone."
"Okay" The Doctor nodded. The Fighter began to get this chilling feeling inside her mind as she watched her friends asking where the TARDIS had gone. The feeling was so familiar but why? Who did it remind her of? She could feel someone trying to reach out to her mind, a cold familiar presence.
"Where is it then?" Donna asked
The Doctor looked at her "You told me not to tell you."
"Don't get clever in Latin!"
Donna hurried over to the same vendor she talked to earlier as The Master turned and noticed The Fighter shaking. He put a hand on her shoulder worried "What is it Tiger?" She was snapped out of her thoughts as she looked at him smiling slightly. "Nothing..."
The Doctor and Donna then appeared as The Doctor examined her "What's wrong with her?" The Master shook his head not knowing the answer.
"It's nothing." The Fighter reassured them but didn't believe it herself. She could feel someone reaching out to her mind and the feeling this person had scared her.
"Let's go look for Old Caecilius who just might know where the TARDIS is." The Doctor said as they all followed The Fighter looked behind her feeling like someone was watching her.
A young Ginger woman ran into the temple along with a young man with waist length green hair and green eyes. The young woman bowed "I beg audience with the High Priestess of the Sibylline!"
"The High Priestess cannot be seen." A priestess with black hair stepped up "What would you like to tell her, sister?"
"It has come as foretold in the prophecy. The box... the blue box."
The young ginger woman turned to the young green haired man smiling as he smirked. "Looks like you found her."
The young man nodded in reply "She could never escape me." He gave off a evil laugh that would send chills to anyone's bones.
They ran through the streets trying to follow the directions the vendor gave them as The Master came to a stop. "I've found it."
"Ha! We've got it. Foss street, this way!" The Doctor exclaimed as they continued running.
"We should warn everyone. Find a bell and start an evacuation! What time does Vesuvius erupt?" The Fighter exclaimed wanting to save the people.
"It's 79 AD, 23th of August which makes the day tomorrow." The Doctor told her. "Excepting we're not going to. It is a fixed point in history and you know better then to mess with a fixed point!"
"But that's what you three do! You save people!" Donna frowned as The two Time Lords shook their heads. The Fighter was with Donna on wanting to try and save these people but she knew that a fixed point in time wouldn't change no matter what you did to it. "I don't need your permission, I'll tell them myself!"
The Master explained to her "They'll just think you're a mad old soothsayer. Go ahead and do it."
"No we've gotta do." The Doctor protested.
"Well I might have something to say about that Spaceman!" Donna shouted at him.
"I'm afraid business is closed for the day. I'm expecting a visitor."
The Doctor smiled shacking the man's hand. "Oh that's us. We're visitors, hello."
"Who are you?" Caecillus asked looking confused.
"I'm.." The Fighter was thinking of a name as The Master stepped in putting a hand around her shoulder. "This is Tigris.
Caecillus looked at her shocked "Tiger? What an unusual name for a woman."
The Fighter sighed knowing of course The Master would give her a name as something like Tiger. He grinned proudly as he introduced himself. "I'm Dominus."
Caecillus looked shocked again at the strange name. "Master?" He looked between The Fighter and Master. "Mr. and Mrs. Dominus?" The Master gave her a smirk as she shook her hands.
"Oh no. No, no, no! We're not married!" The Fighter crossed her arms. Her hearts were beating fast in joy and pain. Why joy? She could understand why they were hurting as every time she heard the word 'Marriage' or 'Love' she thought of her husband and all the terrible things he did to her. She use to believe in true love and living happily ever after just like the girls in those human fairy tales Theta gave her when she was little. But since being married to a husband she had no choice but to be with, all those feelings became negative and locked away deep inside.
The Doctor noticed the look on her face and changed the subject "I am Spartacus."
"And so am I." Donna nodded.
"Mr. and Mrs. Spartacus?" Caecillus asked carefully after the incident with The Fighter.
"Oh no we're not married, not together." The Doctor shook his head as he looked over at The Fighter who still had her arms crossed deep in thought.
Caecillus looked over The Fighter and Master then back to The Doctor "Oh I see how it you two must be brother and sister then. You look very much alike." Caecillus nodding looking between Donna and The Doctor.
"Really?"
"I'm sorry but I'm not open for trade." Caecillus frowned.
The Doctor looked at him hopeful hoping it was the TARDIS "And that trade would be?"
"Marble." Caecillus replied. "Lucius Caecillius. If you want marble, I'm your man."
"That's good cos we're the marble inspectors." The Doctor pulled out his Psychic paper.
A woman with red hair appeared "By the gods of commerce, an inspection."
Caecillius introduced the woman "This is my good wife, Metella. I must confess...we're not prepared for a..."
"Nothing to worry about." The Doctor said. "I'm sure you've got nothing to hide."
The Master stood up noticing the TARDIS in the other room. "Well, will you look at that!" He walked over to the TARDIS as the others followed.
Matella hissed "I told you to get rid of that!"
"I only bought it today." Caecillius said defending himself.
The Master continued "I'm sure It's fine but I might have to take it off your hands for proper inspection."
Donna turned to The Doctor and Fighter "Although while we're here, wouldn't you recommend a holiday, Spartacus?"
The Doctor looked down "I don't know what you mean, Spartacus?"
"Oh this lovely family, mother and father and son... Don't you think they should get out of town?" Donna turned to The Fighter to see her still deep in thought.
"Why should we do that?" Caecillius asked confused.
Donna said it to him like it was obvious "Well, the volcano for starters."
"What?"
"Volcano."
"What-ano?"
"That great big volcano right on your doorstep." She pointed over to the large mountain outside.
The Doctor interrupted her as he looked to The Fighter trying to snap her from her thoughts "Oh my, we haven't even greeted the household gods yet." He pulled her by her hands as towards a shrine as everyone followed.
The Fighter suddenly spoke to Donna as she listened to the conversation they were having though she was trying to figure out who kept reaching out to her mind. "They don't know what a volcano is. Vesuvius is just a mountain to them. The top hasn't blown off yet." The Fighter dipped her fingers into a small gold basin and sprinkled the frieze of the gods with water. "The Roman's don't have a word for volcano. No one will until tomorrow." She looked down sadly.
Donna rolled her eyes "Oh great, they can learn a new word when they die."
The Fighter looked down sadly "Believe me, I'm upset about it to but if we could stop it then we would. It's a fixed-point and I know better then anyone...You can't change it no matter how hard you try. It could turn out worse then it was before."
"Listen, I don't know what sort of kids you've been flyin around in outer space but you're not telling me to shut up! No matter how polite you are about it. You're a fighter right? I know you've got more of a backbone then this." The Fighter sighed realizing she was right, why was she reverting back to her old self when she was with her husband? It's not like he was around anymore.
Donna looked over at Caecillius son "That boy...how old is he? Sixteen? And tomorrow he burns to death." The Fighter let out a gasp. She had never had children of her own before but she wanted some of her own. She loved children and loved spending time with the one's on Gallifrey she always helped out. She began to think of the children on Gallifrey she helped to keep safe during The Time War as tears came from her eyes. All the screams filling the air as she shook her head.
"And that's our fault?" The Master asked glaring at Donna.
"Right now yes!" Donna shot back. She knew from the look in The Fighter's eyes she had hurt her but she had to make her point clear.
"Announcing Lucius Petrus Dextrus, Cheif Agur of the city of government." A servant announced. An older man walked in.
"Lucius my pleasure as always." Caecillius greeted him.
"The birds are flying north...and the wind is in the west." Lucius remarked.
"That's good is it?"
"Only the grain of wheat knows where it will grow." Lucius remarked.
"There now Metella have you ever heard such wisdom?" Caecillius asked his wife. "Pardon me sir, I have guests." He turned to them. "This is Dominus, Tigris, Spartacus and ah Spartacus."
Lucius looked at them but kept his eye on The Fighter "A name is but a cloud upon a summer wind."
The Master replied "But the wind is felt keenly in the dark."
"Ah! What is the dark other than an omen of the sun?"
The Fighter added in "I concede that every sun must set. And yet the son of the father must also rise." She gestured over to Caecillius and Quintus.
Lucius looked at her intently "Damn, very clever Sir and Madam. Evidently a man and woman of learning."
The Master grinned nudging The Fighter as The Doctor watched speechless. "Oh yes. Don't mind us, don't want to disturb the status quo."
"It's been lovely but we should be going now." The Master grabbed The Fighter's hand as the others followed towards the TARDIS.
"The moment of revelation" Caecillius uncovered a small square piece of marble with an odd design on the front. "It pleases you sir?"
"Where'd you get that pattern?" The Doctor asked curiously.
Lucius not exactly answering the question said "On the rain and mist and wind."
Donna commented "Well that looks like a circuit."
"It's made of stone." The Fighter exclaimed.
"Do you mean you just dreamt that up?" Donna asked.
Lucius nodded "It is my job as city Augar." The Fighter gasped realizing what he meant.
She pulled Donna aside and began to whisper to her "Donna, please remember this is an age of superstition, official superstition. The augur is paid by the city to tell the future, kind of like the 10:00 news."
"They're laughing at us" A pale girl said looking shaky as she stared at them with unfocused eyes struggling to stand. "Those four, they use words like trickers. They're mocking us."
The Fighter looked up at her realizing she was a seer. "No, no. We meant no offense."
Metella hurried to her daughters side "Sorry my daughter's been consuming the vapors."
"By the gods mother! What've you been doing to her?" Quintus exclaimed looking disgusted at how Ill his sister looked.
"I gather I have a rival in this household, another with the gift." Lucius eyed the young girl stepping closer to her.
"Oh, she's been promised to the Sibylline Sisterhood. They said she had remarkable visions." Metella informed him as The Fighter's eyes became wide as she felt someone trying to reach out to her mind again. Why did it feel so familiar?
Lucius remarked "The prophecies of women are limited and dull" eyeing the girl as The Fighter and Donna frowned at his words about women. The Fighter's hand formed a fist. "Only the men folk have the capacity for true perception."
"I'll tell you where the wind's blowing right now mate!" Donna glared at the man along with The Fighter as The two Time Lords were glad they weren't on the receiving end of that.
Suddenly the ground began to shake!
"The mountain gods mark you words." Lucius glared. "I'd be careful if I were you."
"Consuming the vapors you say?" The Doctor asked.
"They give me strength." The girl answered.
"It doesn't look like it to me."
"Is that your opinion as a Doctor?"
The Doctor blinked his eyes. "I beg your pardon?"
"Doctor, that's your name."
The Doctor asked bewildered "How did you know that?" The Fighter nodded her head realizing her thought was true. The girl was a seer.
"And you, you call yourself noble." The girl turned to Donna ignoring the question.
"Now then Evelina, Don't be rude." Metella gently took her daughters arms.
The Fighter shook her head "No, no let her talk. It's ok."
"You all come from so far away." Evelina continued as she wobbled slightly.
Lucius scoffed "A female soothsayer in inclined to invent all sorts of vagaries."
The Master grinned over at him "I reckon you've been out-soothsaid."
"Is that so man from Gallifrey?" Lucius turned to look at the two Time Lords and Time Lady. "And woman from Gallifrey? The children of Gallifrey." The three of them paused at him mentioning their home planet.
"What?" The Master asked his eyes widening.
"Strangest of images. Your home is lost in fire, is it not?"
"Doctor, what are they doing?" Donna asked.
Lucius turned to The Fighter "You, daughter of Gallifrey, he who laughs is closer then you think." The Fighter's eyes widened in realization at what he meant as the chilling feeling came over her again as she felt someone trying to reach out to her mind. No, it couldn't be...Not him. Lucius continued "The one everyone worshiped but decided your fate will be returning no matter how much you try to run from your fate." The Fighter began to shake her head.
Evelina began to speak "The one you have truly loved is locked deep inside your hearts but no matter how much you try to deny the love it is there. The only question is, will you be able to save him before the worshiped one takes him with you?" The Fighter realized what the prophecies meant as the others looked confused.
Lucius turned to The Master "The infamous son of Gallifrey, She can't save you. The sound in your head will be revealed in the shadows of something never meant to happen." The Master looked at him shocked.
Lucius turned to Donna "And you Daughter of London..."
"How does he know that?" Donna asked taking a step back from the man.
"This is the gift of Pompeii. Every single oracle tells the truth. Pomepii has granted us the gift."
Lucius turned to The Doctor "Doctor, She is returning."
"Who is?" He asked confused looking over to The Fighter. He couldn't be meaning her as she was right there in front of them. Who did he mean?
Lucius turned to Donna "And daughter of London... You have something on your back."
Donna touched her shoulder "What do you mean?"
Evelina turned to The Fighter "Daughter of Gallifrey, HE is returning! You can't escape your fate!"
Evelina then turned to The Master "Infamous son of Gallifrey, She won't be able to save you. You'll be taken into the shadows of something never meant to happen."
"Even the word 'Doctor', 'Master' and 'Fighter' are false. Your real names are hidden. They burn in the stars of the cascade of Medusa herself. You are Lords and a Lady. Lords and a Lady of time." Evelina breathed as her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fainted.
"Evelina!" Metella cried rushing to her daughter as The two time lords and lady exchanged looks.
The Fighter and Donna watched as Metella sat by her daughters bedside. Evelina still unconscious and pale looking.
"She didn't mean to be rude. She's ever such a good girl. But when the gods speak through her..." Metella told them as she unwrapped a piece of cloth from Evelina's arm.
"What's wrong with her arm?" Donna asked frowning as her skin looked grey and dry looking.
"An Irritation of the skin. She never complains, bless her. We bath it in olive oil every night." Metella replied as The Fighter observed her arm. "Evelina said you came from far away, please have you seen anything like this?"
The Fighter sighed "I've been a nurse before and if my theory is right...Wait you said the Soothsayers all consume the vapors right?"
Metella nodded "Yes that's how they see."
The Fighter gasped "They're breathing in Vesuvius."
The Fighter told The Master and Doctor of her theory as they came up with a plan. The first part was filled by finding Quintus lounging by one of the hypocaust sipping wine from his goblet.
The Master walked up to him "Quintus me old son, where does this Lucius Petrus Dextrus live?"
"Nothing to do with me."
He leaned forward pulling a coin from behind the boy's ear that was gold "Where does he live?"
The Fighter sighed regretting what she was about to do but they had to get answers. She gently put a hand on the young boys cheek as she looked at him smiling "Please tell us where he lives?"
The two Time lords exchanged looks with each other over the way the young boy looked at her.
After Quintus agreed to show them he got a torch and started leading them through the streets of Pompeii. He glanced over his shoulder every now and then making sure no one followed them.
"Don't tell my dad." The boy pleaded as The Fighter gave him a smile promising not to.
They got into the house through a window. "Well plenty of marble and merchants in this town. Tell them all the same thing, get all the components from different places so no one can see what you're building." The Master commented.
"Which is what?" Quintus asked
"The Future, we are building the future as dictated by the gods." Lucius said appearing.
The two time lords and Lady worked on arranging the circuits in the correct order "This one there." The Doctor said to The Master.
"I know what I'm doing!" The Master snapped back at him.
The Fighter tried to get some information out of Lucius "What have you got?"
"Enlighten me" He smirked.
She replied sarcastically "What? The Soothsayer doesn't know?"
"The seed may float on the breeze in any direction."
"I knew you were going to say that. It's an energy converter right?" She asked with her arms folded.
"An energy converter of what?"
"Not really sure." She looked up at Lucius.
"He was right about you...you are smart." Lucius grinned as she looked at him confused.
"He?"
"I think you've babbled long enough." The man glared at her.
The Doctor interrupted "Lucius tell us honestly, we're on your side. We can help."
"You insult the gods! There can only be one sentence. At arms!" Lucius spat.
The Fighter suddenly ran forward grabbing the man's arm and pulling it back as the sound of stone being broken was heard. She jumped backwards holding his arm that was stone as the man cried out in pain.
"He's stone!" Quintus gasped.
"Run!" They all ran out running down the streets as they stopped when they could no longer hear the guards chasing them.
"Nice bit of Allons-Y! I think we're alright." The Doctor grinned patting Quintus' back.
"I could have taken care of him." The Master said pulling out his laser screwdriver.
Suddenly there was a loud boom as it echoed. "What's that?"
The Fighter felt something moving underground from the vibrations "Footsteps underground!"
"Come on!" The Doctor exclaimed as they continued running.
The Doctor, Fighter, Master and Quintus made their way to be villa running inside to see everyone in the main room. "Caecillius! All of you, get out!" The Doctor yelled.
"What is it?" Donna asked looking worried.
The Fighter looked around "I think we're being followed..." The grill to the hypocaust blew into the air. The ground around the hypocaust started cracking and a loud growl echoed up. A large creature appearing to be made of stone and magma began forcing it's way up through the ground into the room almost reaching the ceiling.
"All of you get water!" The Doctor yelled as everyone ran outside searching for things to hold water.
As The Fighter moved to get water she was suddenly taken by a woman in red robes with eyes painted on the back of her hands like Evelina. Her eyes widened as she turned to kick them but was knocked unconscious.
Quintus dipped an urn in the pool as he slapped the creature with water. It froze and fell apart to pieces on the floor.
"We did it." The Doctor turned to look at The Master and Fighter as his smiled dropped. "Where is she?"
The Master looked around worried not knowing the answer himself. She was just her a minute ago.
"Donna?" Donna was gone as well.
"You have got to be kidding me." Donna hissed tied to a sacrificial altar in the Sisterhoods temple looking at a priestess who was preparing to stab her along with The Fighter.
The Fighter looked around as everything looked familiar to something from her past. "Let me go! I'm nobody's sacrifice for a ritual!"
Suddenly a creepy evil laugh burst out as a chill came to The Fighter's bones. That laugh was very familiar, only one person has ever laughed like that...no it couldn't be. Oh dear Gallifrey please don't let it be.
The young man with waist-length green hair, bangs falling freely in his face and green eyes came out from the shadows where he was observing everything as he clapped amused. "Oh dear me, you haven't changed at all. You've got your backbone back but I've been able to tame you before and I can do it again."
The young man gave her wide grin as dark lines developed under his eyes looking at The Fighter "Nice to see you once again my dear wife." The Fighter's hearts race in fear as she froze looking at her husband she hadn't seen since she left Gallifrey with The Doctor. All the abuse and torture he put her through as part of his "Dark magic experiments." He clearly had gone mad but hid it so well behind a kind smile, after all he was The Joker of Gallifrey.
"This is the man you were telling me about?" Donna asked a little afraid of him but not enough to stop talking. The Fighter nodded in reply.
"What in the name of Gallifrey are you doing here? How did you survive the Time War you bastard?" The Fighter glared at her husband trying to not let the fear rule her like it did back then.
The Joker grinned while holding a knife "Oh I didn't tell you. The moment you left Gallifrey with that friend of yours, I ran away as well. Been watching you from the shadows this whole entire time. I gotta say, you've become quite a lady and I'm not joking about this." He put his hand to her chin as she spit at him causing him to pull back and glare at her as he wiped his face.
"The false prophet's will surrender both their blood and breath." The Joker announced to the room.
"Didn't you tell me he uses things like Dark Magic and is very superstitious?" Donna asked as The Fighter nodded. She didn't know much about his past, he was a mystery to be solved but she didn't really want to waste her time with him anymore. He knew she worked for her father but that was all. She had to marry him for political reasons.
"Silence!" The priestess commanded.
"You might have eyes in the back of your hands but you'll have eyes in the back of your head by the time I finish with you!" Donna yelled.
"Oh that'll be the day!" The Doctor and Master were leaning against a pillar as The Master jumped down.
"No man is allowed to enter the Temple of the Sibyl!" The priestess shouted.
"That's ok, just us girls." The Doctor said.
The Fighter looked over at her husband. "You let him in though." The priestess looked confused at The Joker then The Fighter.
"We do not understand? She is clearly a girl." The priestess looked back and gasped shocked. "A man!"
The Joker sighed "Dear me, my cover has been blown. My dear wife breaking my hypnotism as always. I worked hard to get all that power to trick these girls."
The Doctor and Master looked shocked "Wife?"
The Joker looked over at them grinning "Well if it isn't her boys coming to be the hero's yet again. Haven't talked to you guys in a long time." He started laughing the creepy laugh he always did.
"What magic is this?" The priestess demanded staring at The Joker, Doctor and Master.
"Joker!" The Fighter yelled getting his attention. She gave a grin of her own as she was secretly working on undoing the ropes with her sonic well he got distracted by the Doctor and Master. "Do you really think I haven't changed at all?" She held the rope in her hands grinning as he looked shocked. She threw it to the ground. "I'd say I've changed alright, be very scared husband dear."
"Is this how you ladies spread the Sibyl's word? Her knowledge? On the blade of a knife?" The Fighter asked the girls.
A weak voice suddenly drifted through the room "Show me this..."
The priestess turned and knelt on the floor facing a red curtain as it made out the shape of a person. "High priestess, the strangers would defy us."
"They are different. They carry starlight in their wake."
"Ah very perceptive. Where do these words of wisdom come from?" The Master asked sarcastically.
The High Priestess replied "The gods whisper to me."
The Fighter began walking towards the High Priestess while keeping an eye on The Joker. "Ah, might we we audience, look upon the high priestess?"
Two Priestess stepped forward. "I wouldn't do that if I were you sweetie." The Joker suggested as they pulled the curtain back revealing her to be sitting in the middle of her bed her body almost completely turned to stone.
"Oh my god!" Donna gasped. "What's happened to you?"
"The heavens have blessed me." The High Priestess replied.
The Fighter turned to look at The Joker as he had an evil grin knowing he had something to do with it somehow.
The Doctor walked toward the High Priestess "If I might" she held out her stone arm giving consent "Does it hurt?"
The High Priestess replied "It is necessary."
The Fighter turned to her "And who told you it was necessary in the first place?"
"The Voices...and him, the one who laughs." The Fighter turned to her husband glaring as she knew she was right.
"Is this what's happening to Evelina? To all of you?" Donna asked.
"The blessings are manifold."
"They're stone" Donna breathed touching the woman's arm.
The Doctor stood "Exactly, the people of Pompeii are turning to stone before the volcano erupts."
"But why? I don't understand it." Donna asked. The Joker gives off his famous creepy laugh.
"This image in your mind, this 'volcnao' what is that?" The High Priestess asked.
"More to the point, why don't you know about it? Who are you?" The Master asked curiously.
"High Priestess of the Sibylline."
The Master told her "No that's not what we mean. We're talking about the creature that lives inside you."
"The thing that's seeding itself into a human body, in the dust, in the lungs taking over the flesh and turning into what?" The Fighter asked while eyeing The Joker. He wasn't even moving so she knew something was up.
"Your knowledge is Impossible!" The High Priestess gasped.
The Doctor looked to The Master and Fighter "Oh but you can read our minds. You know it's not. I demand you tell us who you are!"
The Joker clapped his hands and gave a fake sigh looking to the high priestess "Oh you got them. Sorry sweetie but the plan is up might as well tell them what you are."
"We are awaking!" The High Priestess voice changed.
"The voice of the gods!" The Priestess behind them announced.
The Sisterhood began chanting "Words of wisdom, words of power."
"Name yourself! Planet of Origin, Galatic coordinates, species designation according to the universal retification of the shadow Proclamation." The Doctor shouted.
"Pyrovile!"
"What's a Pyrovile?" Donna asked.
The Fighter told her "You're looking at one. Well one that's growing inside her and slowly taking over everything that makes her human. She is still in the halfway stage then that turns into that thing in the villa. It was an adult Pyrovile."
"And the breath of a Pyrovile will incinerate you!" The Joker yelled grinning.
"I warn you...I'm armed." The Doctor reached inside his pocket pulling out a water gun. "Fighter, Master, Donna get that grill open!" They ran to the grill as The Fighter kept an eye on The Joker knowing he was planning something real soon and The Master stayed behind to keep an eye on The Joker as well.
"What the Pyrovile doing here?" The Fighter asked.
"We fell from the heavens, so far and so fast we were rendered into dust."
The Master nodded "Right, creatures of stone shatter on impact. When was that, seventeen years ago?"
"We have slept beneath for thousands of years. He woke us up." She pointed over to The Joker.
"Okay so seventeen years ago he woke you up and now you're using human bodies to reconstitute yourself, but why the psychic powers?"
"We opened their minds and found such gifts."
"Your forced yourself inside a human brain, use the latent psychic talent to bond. But seeing the future? that is way beyond psychic, you can see through time. Where does the gift of prophecy come from?"
"I've got it open!" Donna yelled throwing the grill open.
The Doctor shouted "Now get down and don't argue!"
The Master continued "Why can't this lot predict the volcano?"
"Sisters, I see into his mind. The Weapon is harmless" A priestess said looking at The Doctor.
"I knew it wasn't going to work, a water pistol really?" The Master rolled his eyes at The Doctor as he took out his laser screwdriver "But this, now this isn't harmless one bit." The Priestess gasped.
"Yeah but this water pistol has got a bit of a sting." The Doctor sprayed the High Priestess with it causing her to cry out in agony.
The Fighter and Master quickly ran and jumped down the hypocaust followed by The Doctor.
"You fought her off with a water pistol! I bloody love you!" Donna stared at the Doctor as he grinned.
"This way!" The Fighter yelled as she heard The Joker trying to get down there. "We are going into the volcano."
"No Way!" Donna gasped.
Donna asked "But if it's aliens setting off the volcano, doesn't that make it alright to stop?"
"Still part of history, fixed point in time." The Master replied.
"How do you know which is which?" Donna asked.
The Fighter replied "Because that's how we see the universe. The Doctor, Master and I. Every waking second, we can see what is, what was, what could be, what must not. That's one of the worst parts of being a Time Lord or Lady in my case. It's the curse we must be forced to live with throughout every day of our existence. We are the only people left in the universe who will ever understand how much pain that courses us, well besides The Joker."
The Doctor and Master turned to her shocked as they both asked "Wait so that guy up there was?"
She nodded in reply "Yes it was him. The evil bastard husband himself. I thought he disappeared when you saved me on Gallifrey Doctor. Apprentely that's not the case. He stole a TARDIS as well and has been traveling the universe spreading dark magic to the witches and such. He wasn't in the Time War so he survived." She finally understood it was him, The Joker reaching out to her mind and she accepted him in reading his thoughts and finally understanding what happened in the past and how he came to survive the Time War.
"How many people died here?" Donna asked suddenly.
"Twenty Thousand." The Fighter replied sadly.
"Is that what you can see? All Twenty thousand? And you think that's alright do you?"
A loud screech echoed through the tunnel. "They know we're here!" The Master shouted as they began to run. They reached a large cavern wee adult Pyroviles were walking around.
"It's the heart of Vesuvius and we're in the middle of it." The Doctor exclaimed.
"That's the thing about Pyroviles, they usually stay in groups. Oh what's that?" The Fighter pointed over to a strange door on the other side of the cave.
"Well you'd better hurry up and think of something. Rocky IV's on it's way." Donna said to them.
"That's how they arrived. At least what's left of it. I'm going to guess escape pod." The Master exclaimed.
Donna asked frowning "But why do they need a volcano? Maybe it erupts and launches themselves back into space or something?"
"Heathens!" They heard someone shouting and looked to see Lucius and The Joker. "Defilers! They would desecrate your temple my lord gods!"
'Come on!" The Master called grabbing The Fighter's hand as the others followed racing across the cavern.
Lucius ordered "Crush them!
The Joker yelled out laughing "Burn them! You can not escape!"
The Doctor pulled out his water pistol firing it at the creature in front of them causing it to cry out in pain as they made another break for the pod.
"There is nowhere to run, Children of Gallifrey and daughter of London!" Lucius called out.
"You can't escape my dear, your fate is sealed!" The Joker yelled out towards The Fighter.
They reached the pod as The Doctor and Fighter stopped looking towards Lucius and The Joker. "Now then Lucius and Joker, don't get yourselves in a lave." He grinned looking to The Master, Donna and Fighter seeing them shake their heads. "In a lava...no?"
The Fighter then yelled to The Joker "And who in their right mind said you control my fate as well Joker? Did my father tell you that? Well guess what, neither of you control it anymore! I made sure of that the day I left Gallifrey with The Doctor. So try all you want husband dear, but I say we are no more!" The Fighter put up her mental shields blocking out his mind as he glared.
The Joker laughed "From the little bit I have seen of your mind in quite a while you seem to still like him." The Joker looked over to The Master. "You try to deny it and lock those feelings deep inside but they still remain there no matter how hard you try. But I took you from him..." He let out another laugh. "Just tell him, tell The Master your true feelings."
The Master and Doctor looked at her shocked as she glared at The Joker changing the subject "Ok then the whole planet is at stake. Thank you, that's all we needed to know."
She began to run as they all quickly got inside the pod and flashing her sonic at the door sealing themselves in. The Doctor focused on the controls "Well we can change the system so the volcano will blow them up but that's the choice Donna, It's Pompeii or the world."
"But the Pyroviles are made of rock. Maybe they can't be blown up." Donna said.
The Doctor explained "Vesuvius explodes with the force of 24 nuclear bombs. Nothing can survive it. Push this lever and it's all over, twenty thousand people."
The Fighter placed her on top of it hesitating "Together?" She looked at them all as they nodded pressing the lever down.
Everything began to shake as the pod ejected out of the erupting volcano until it stopped and they stepped out. "It was an escape pod, you were right." The Doctor said looking at The Master.
"Of course I was. Why wouldn't I be?" He replied smirking.
"I don't want to interrupt but aren't you forgetting about the erupting volcano?" Donna pointed to the mountain with ash and lava starting to spew out the top.
The Fighter nodded "Good point, best we run." They began running toward the city. By the time they reached the city people were running around the streets as smoke and ash filled the air. It wouldn't be long before they began suffocating.
The Fighter noticed the devastated look on Donna's face as she had one to but grabbed the humans hand and kept running. "I know, I know." They continued running until they reached Caecillius's villa were they found the family huddled together crying.
"Gods save us!" Caecillius called looking at them.
They paused looking over the family as The Doctor and Master continued heading over to the TARDIS. They stopped before entering it looking back at the two girls watching the family. The Fighter turned to the two Time Lords crying not being able to handle it anymore. "Please! We have to save them! I know it's a fixed point in time, not to be messed with but...PLEASE! We can at least save these people."
The Master and Doctor quickly came and grabbed the girls taking them into the TARDIS. "You can't!" They yelled. "You can't just leave them!" The Master held The Fighter by her arms as she tried to struggle out yelling. The Doctor let Donna go.
"Don't you think we've done enough?" The Doctor snapped. "History's back in place and everyone dies."
The Fighter broke free of The Master's hold on her as she kicked him in the face sending him to the floor and ran towards The Doctor slapping him. "Don't you dare give me that nonsense! The man who tries to help anyone no matter what, fixed point or not. You're a Doctor, HELP THEM! Try at least!"
The Doctor didn't answer simply turning as the TARDIS began dematerializing. The Master got up off the floor holding his cheek. "Damn Tiger. Look there is nothing we can do."
"It's not fair." Donna cried shaking.
"No it's not." The Doctor nodded turning away.
"But your own planet...it burned." Donna pointed out.
The Doctor snapped "That's just it. Don't you see? Can't you understand? If we could go back and save them then we would, but we can't. We can never go back! We can't! We just...can't!" His voice grew softer. "We can't..."
The Fighter and Master looked at him. The Fighter still standing her ground by The Doctor. "What happened in the Time War? Who destroyed Gallifrey?" She asked her voice shaking as the Doctor looked sad. "Look you saved me from The Time War though I didn't want you to and somehow you survived as well. You saved one person from the Time War that was meant to kill us all just like Vesuvius. Just save someone Doctor like you saved me."
She continued "Besides, around this time in Rome there is a man called Caecillius who was known for being able to trade with Egypt. It is said he and his family somehow survived a war." She grinned as The Doctor looked up and jumped to the controls making the TARDIS reappear in Caecillius's villa. She ran over to the door holding her hand out to the family.
"Come with us!"
Up on a hill top looking over Pompeii stood, The Doctor, Master, Fighter, Donna, Caecillius and his family watching. The Time Lady and humans stood watching with tears falling from their eyes as the two Time Lords stood silently watching.
"It is never forgotten Caecillius, Time passes, men move on and the stories fade but one day, Pompeii will be found again in thousands of years and everyone will remember you." The Fighter said as she remembered reading a history book with Elizabeth and his name was in it. "And things will get easier. You will never forget this day for as long as you all live but it will get easier. The pain that you are going through, it will get better but only if you stay together as a family. Life's too short, don't you agree?"
"What about you Evelina? Can you see anything?" Donna asked the girl.
"The explosion was so powerful, it cracked a rift in time. Just for a second, that's what gave you the gift of prophecy. It echoed back into the Provillian alternative but not anymore, you're free." The Doctor explained.
The Fighter hugged the girl as she grinned happily understanding what it felt like to be free for once. The sweet taste of freedom and choosing your own fate.
Metella asked "But who are you? With your words and temple containing such size within?"
"Oh we were never here." The Doctor shrugged.
"Don't tell anyone. It's our secret." The Master said grinning.
Caecillius looked at the burning city "The great god Vulcan must be enraged. It's so volcanic. It's like some sort of volcano..." He grabbed his family and hugged them.
The Time Lords, Lady and Human walked back inside the TARDIS. The Fighter then stepped outside and looked to the family. "Hey Caecillius!"
Caecillius turned around still hugging his family as he looked to the Time Lady. "Yes what is it?"
She grinned happily "I would suggest besides working with marble you could become a Doctor as well. Trust me, you might make a great Doctor someday that people will look forward to." She stepped back inside the TARDIS as it began to dematerialize. The man watched shocked thinking about her suggestion as Quintus had an idea come to him.
Back inside the TARDIS The Fighter and Donna were sitting inside The Fighter's room as they talked about what happened with The Joker.
"He's mad and very creepy. I can see why you ran away from him." Donna commented as The Fighter nodded her head. "Just that laugh..."
The Fighter continued "My father set up the marriage and The Joker was one of his servants trying to get me to cooperate with their plan. The Joker studied Black Magic while in the academy and experimented on me with it while we were married as he said it was part of my father's plan. Most Time Lords doesn't believe in magic but he did strongly. I started to believe after the experiments he did on me." She began to shake remembering the memories. "The first time it caused me to regenerate then he found a way to stop slow my regeneration down as my 2nd incarnation was covered with bruises and cuts he did with his experiments."
Donna's jaw dropped in horror. "Oh my god!"
"The Doctor saved me just in time. I was starting to die from it and couldn't regenerate. He's my hero." Tears came from her face remembering the day he saved her as she burst out crying. Donna took her into a hug knowing the girl was trying to be strong.
"What was The Joker talking about denying your feelings for The Master and locking them deep inside?" Donna asked suddenly as The Fighter shook her head.
"I don't know what he was talking about. I'm not hiding anything."
Donna continued "I watch the way they look at you. They both clearly love you but you seemed to be oblivious to the fact. Wake up girl!"
The Fighter shook her head as she suddenly remembered her conversation with The Master on the Valiant. He told her that both him and The Doctor loved her. Her hearts suddenly began racing remembering this. "They both love me?" She thought "Like close friends, like brothers...or something more?" She felt her hearts beating fast as she thought over the possibility.
"Yeah but It's only because we are close friends, like brothers and a sister. Nothing more." The Fighter replied crossing her arms in defense.
Donna laughed "You have got to be kidding me. Sure you're all close friends but there's something more, you can't deny it. Have you ever felt something more than just a close friend kind of love for at least one of them?"
The Fighter began to ponder over the thought as she remembered the way she felt when The Doctor saved her from dying on Gallifrey. How she jumped into his arms after he gave her medicene to help her regeneration energy kick in. How he held her in his arms and wrapped his long muti-colored scarf around her like a security blanket as she cried in his arms. The feeling she had as she thought of him as her prince charming who came to save her like from those Earth fairy tales.
All the journey's she had with him in her and how happy she felt being with him. How he was such a gentlemen in his 5th Incarnation. The anger over arguing but the urge to kiss him in his 6th incarnation. She did have feelings for him when he came to save her in his 4th Incarnation but every time they ran into The Master those feelings seemed to turn back into a a brother and sister kind of relationship she always felt towards him when they were young.
She then began to think of The Master. When she first met him along with The Doctor back in the academy she never thought anything him but as a friend. Later on as time passed and they began to grow she started developing feelings for him. She didn't really think anything of it and thought it to be her thinking of him as a close friend.
Then when she met him again back on Gallifrey after not seeing him since he asked her to run away with him, she felt her hearts race then drop as she saw him as nothing but a corpse. She cried over not being able to protect him and regretting not taking his offer, she even almost told him she had loved him but shook her head shocked at what she was going to say.
When she saw him alive again she was over joyed but saddened that he had gone down the dark path she wanted to save him from. She could tell he had been through a lot of pain and wanted to help him. Each time he died she felt a part of her died with him as she didn't understand why but she had to get up on her feet and keep moving.
She believed he could change, he could do good even when one one else believed in him. When she saw him again in Utopia she wasn't scared, she was thrilled to see he had survived yet again. When they were on board the Valiant and she could tell Lucy had a plan to shoot him which would end up killing him she was determined to stop it and take the blame saving him this time as she stepped in front of the bullet getting hit and refusing to let him die again.
Just being with him know, her feelings began to grow more and more but she didn't understand why. Suddenly the door to her room opened as The Doctor and Master stepped in. She looked up at The Master as tears began to fall from her eyes. The Doctor and him looked at her worried. "What's going on? What's wrong?"
She held her hand's to her mouth as tears fell from her face realizing her feelings. "No, no no. It just can't be. You've got to be kidding me, why didn't I see it sooner. I'm really an idiot when it comes to these things."
The two Time Lords looked at her confused as Donna smiled knowing she finally realized her feelings. The Fighter ran up to The Master taking him into a hug. The Doctor watched silently realizing what was going on.
She pulled back from the hug as she put a hand on The Master's cheek. "Sorry I'm an idiot but..." She blushed as she pulled back and looked at him shyly. "I Love you."
A/N: Welp...what a chapter. First of all, Yes The Fighter broke the fourth wall there with telling Caecillius to become a Doctor since Peter Capaldi the acotor who played him is the 12th Doctor. See what I did there...yeah.
Second, yes The Fighter's husband we''ve been hearing so much about made an appearance. Isn't he just a lovely mad Joker? (Says that Sarcastically)
and Last but not least, Yes I chose The Master. I'll put it out there, there is many Doctor/Time Lady fanfics out there so I decided why not write one for Master/Time Lady instead. Plus The Fighter muse in me just writes The Doctor and her as having a brother and sisterly relationship while she had strong feelings for The Master.
Sorry if the people who chose Doctor/Fighter are not pleased but I am willing to write a one-shot for you guys if you want. Check out "The Adventures of The Time Lords and Time Lady!"
In the Next Chapter we will see how things go down with this confession and red-eyed Ood's in, "Planet of the Ood." See ya in the net chapter!