Fifteen Going on Thirteen.
- A Doctor Who Unbound short story -
By TimeTraveller-1900.
When the regeneration began, the Doctor - now in his fifteenth incarnation (at least from his memory-less condition told him; he still hadn't opened that fob watch he had gotten from Division) felt nothing but sadness since he had come to like this incarnation. But there was nothing he could do; ever since he had discovered the truth of his past although there were still massive gaps, the Doctor had come to accept every single regeneration he'd had since as just a stepping stone and would give him fresh chances to help people.
So, while he felt sorry for himself, the Doctor wished the next Doctor all the best.
"Your move, Doctor," he smiled, throwing his arms out as he looked over the dawn in Devon; he had enjoyed the view during his regeneration from the blonde Yorkshire woman back to the older Pinstripes, and he had decided to regenerate in the open rather than expose the TARDIS to any excess regeneration damage. It always took so long to recalibrate the old girl following such a violent change.
X
"Let me have another go," a voice in his mind said to the Guardians. "There's so much more I wish to do." The voice added, "I'd like to have another go like Pinstripes did."
"Sounds fair to me," the voice of the Seventh Doctor said.
"Yes," the Fourth Doctor's voice pointed out, "We have to begin fulfilling my - I mean, the Curator's predestination paradox of us regenerating back into our old favourites."
"Indeed," the First Doctor said. "That being said, I would like to return later on. Maybe many more times, in fact."
"I don't see why you can't go, you did save us before," the Second Doctor's voice added.
"Very well, you may go," the voice of the Fifth Doctor piped up.
"Y'know, after that one, I'd like a go; after discovering Gallifrey's not our original home, it would be good to see the universe again with these old eyes," the voice of the Ninth Doctor commented. "But I'll give that one a chance."
"I am a part of you, y'know," the first voice huffed.
X
The regeneration was reaching its climax, and as the Fifteenth Doctor melted away - he could already tell his mind was going to be meeting the Guardians and he would see the edge, but as Pinstripes' second chance proved, his end was not truly the end for him. He would likely come back. But as the regeneration finalised, he could feel his mind bled away back into the deeper consciousness, his chest becoming top heavy and he felt an absence between his legs while his clothes changed…
Finally, the Fifteenth Doctor was gone, leaving the Sixteenth standing there, stumbling around for a moment while they got over the change in height and tottered around on unfamiliar legs. The Doctor took a deep breath and examined themselves. Quickly the Doctor discovered that he was now a she again. But as she rolled her tongue inside her mouth, she nodded. She knew these teeth, and since she knew of only one female incarnation she'd had, she had a good idea who she was. She quickly touched herself, her face and her hair and she patted down her body.
Yep.
Her thoughts were being confirmed with each second, she knew this body, and while the blonde hair was shoulder length now, it was the same shade. Her clothes were slightly different - instead of wearing the trousers that barely reached her heels, her jeans tucked into a pair of boots and her rainbow-striped shirt was as she remembered it, but it was now topped by a smart, white trenchcoat.
She would need to be sure, but she was positive that she was now back in her thirteenth body; while there were some aspects of that incarnation's personality she had come to see as terrible - keeping secrets, hiding her views and thoughts, prejudging a situation when meeting one, and always rushing around trying to distract herself to prevent her focusing on immediate issues (the Doctor had cringed looking back on how his predecessor had treated Ace and Tegan, instead of sitting down with them, but the Master's insane plans had taken immediate priority), the Doctor had fond memories of her thirteenth incarnation. It was good to be back.
The Doctor unlocked the door to the TARDIS, wondering how she was going to begin her new life. She could pop in, say hello to Yaz, Graham, and Ryan, or she could revisit Tegan and Ace.
Oh, so much to choose from.
Author's Note - I hope you enjoyed this one-shot of the Doctor finally fulfilling the Curator's prophecy (predestination paradox) of them revisiting their old favourite faces. I always wondered when it was going to happen. And how. Please let me know what you think.