The Doctor circled the console slowly, sliding navigational controls into place. He'd put it off as long as he could—it was time to return to Gallifrey.
A glimmer of reflection from the time rotor caught his eye, and he stopped to look at the man he'd become. The long curls and fanciful jacket had been replaced years ago as the war dragged on. The shorter hair and military coat better suited his life now… and he hated it.
He looked away from his reflection and grasped the dematerialisation lever. It was time to end the war, no matter what it took.
And then?
The question haunted him. There was only one way to end the war, and he knew it. He would have to destroy both the Time Lords and the Daleks before the Time War destroyed all the universe.
But what then? What would be left for him, if he ended it all? Could he continue on, as the last of the Time Lords?
Maybe I won't need to.
That was the only hope he had as he threw the lever and sent his TARDIS spinning into the Time Vortex.
The TARDIS whistled and the ship pitched sharply, sending the Doctor to the floor. "What's going on, old girl?" he murmured as he pushed himself upright.
The ship sang again, and this time he was prepared for the shift in direction. "We must be hitting some temporal turbulence." It wasn't overly surprising; the Time War was damaging the Web of Time more and more each day.
The TARDIS' song evened out into her typical soft hum, then he heard the grating noise as she moved back into real time and space. With a final thud, she brought them to their destination.
The Doctor patted the console absently as he got to his feet. "Thank you, dear."
The feeling of her warmth and affection gave him courage to pull the door open. But instead of the red-orange hues of his native planet, the world outside was velvety blue and silvery white.
The Doctor looked over his shoulder at the console. The time rotor was completely dark, and he strongly suspected that if he tried to leave this planet, she would refuse.
For a moment, the anxiety of yet another unexpected thing tightened in his gut. As much as he didn't want to return to Gallifrey, he wasn't sure he could handle whatever awaited him here.
He took a deep breath and pulled the door shut behind him as he stepped out onto the snow-covered street. They had landed just opposite a stone palace, decorated with garland and fairy lights. Music floated through the open windows, along with soft conversation and laughter.
The Doctor studied the palace. Ralama, unless I miss my guess.
Something buried deep in his memories awoke. A ballroom in Ralama… He was across the street and up the long stairway almost without realising it. Timelines had pulled him here, and he couldn't wait to find out why.
"Your invitation, sir?"
The Doctor blinked at the royal guard, then smiled widely. "Yes, of course." He pulled the psychic paper out of his pocket and showed it to the young man.
The guard took it and studied it carefully before handing it back. "Thank you, Sir Doctor. Please enjoy the royal ball."
The Doctor kept his face clear as he took the wallet back, but as soon as his back was turned to the guard, he raised an eyebrow. Sir Doctor? That's interesting…
The TARDIS almost seemed to giggle in his mind, and he gave her a last look before entering the palace. Apparently his ship was not above interfering with his psychic paper, but as long as it had gained him entrance, he didn't mind.
Inside, the Doctor let his mind drift, following the timelines as best as he could. Almost without thinking, he climbed the stairs to the gallery overlooking the ballroom.
He blinked when he reached the top of the stairs. He'd been here before…
The music below called him forward, and he walked over to the railing that protected him from falling into the room below.
There were several couples on the dance floor, but one stood out. A tall man spun a beautiful blonde around the floor. She laughed as her red skirt flared around her, and her partner smiled in answer. Neither of them was aware of anyone else in the ballroom—their attention was focused solely on each other.
Timelines still teased him, and the Doctor couldn't resist taking a peek. Gold lines swirled around the pair, twining through them like the path of a time traveller.
He narrowed his eyes and focused more intently on the man's timelines. There was something about them… something familiar. It took him a moment to place it, but finally he traced the timelines back to a point he was familiar with.
Very familiar. This man was his future self.
And now he couldn't resist studying the woman in his arms. Who could possibly enchant him so much?
Her timelines were incredible. They started as the single timeline of an ordinary human, but before long, they began to twist and spin around themselves—probably the moment she'd started travelling with him, he figured.
But the most captivating thing about her timelines was the way they were entwined around his own. This man was his future self, and the woman in his arms was his future wife.
The Doctor stumbled back a half step. He couldn't… How could he possibly have a future like this, after what he was planning?
His future self whispered in his partner's ear, and she turned her head to look at him.
Now he remembered her, the mysterious blonde who had rescued him after his foolish visit to Euripidus. He'd recognised her as his bond mate then, too, he remembered. But back then, he hadn't known how much of a toll the War would exact on him. He hadn't known the man he would become—a man who didn't deserve Rose Tyler.
Don't. Don't you dare think of yourself that way. Her fierce voice in his head was yet another shock in a day filled with them.
Rose? He asked, reaching out tentatively for the bond he could feel echoing back across time.
This time, the telepathic communication was just a sense. The feeling of being loved, being held, her desperate wish that she could protect him from what was coming.
I love you, she told him finally.
The Doctor shook his head, feeling like he was walking through cotton wool. He'd forgotten about Rose, as he'd known he would have to, and as he would have to again. But he remembered this—her fierce protectiveness of him.
Like a wolf protecting her mate, he teased her.
Rose's chin tilted up. Yes.
The older Doctor turned them and met his gaze. I know what you're planning, he said soberly. It will be just as painful as you're imagining, but when you're done, Rose will be there. He smiled down at the woman in his arms. She doesn't make up for the loss of our people, but she certainly makes it more bearable.
The Doctor swallowed. He could see that. He couldn't imagine how, but somehow this older Doctor had healed from the trauma of what they were about to do.
Rose looked back at him. Go, Doctor, she told him. And no matter how bad it gets, remember that this moment is waiting for you.
The Doctor stepped away from the gallery and melted into the crowd of guests working their way downstairs. Somehow, like always, the TARDIS had shown him exactly what he'd needed to see.
