A/N: So I'm re-writing the prequel to this story "How Our Story Began." I was starting to make The Fighter's background a little too over dramatic and didn't like it that much so the story only has 5 Chapters right now, I'm working on Chapter 6 right now. I will also begin to reveal little bits of The Fighter's past in this story as well but I do suggest reading "How Our Story Began."
INFO ABOUT THIS CHAPTER: I wanted to dedicate one full chapter to Elizabeth Butler, the human girl The Fighter was living with for 4 years before she got turned into a Toclafane in Utopia as it is an important part of the story. I also felt like taking a break for this chapter from following the TV stories so it wouldn't get boring for you readers, have something a bit different. This chapter will be totally Emotional (Death pretty much is espcially if it is someone very close to you) so you have been warned!
Alright so there was only One Review last chapter. A special thanks to candyandfanfics for reviewing in the last chapter!
The Time Lady and her Boys
Doctor Who Fanfiction
Paring: The Master/Time Lady OC (With some Doctor/OC moments)
Chapter 12: The Life and Death of Elizabeth Butler
Summary: The Fighter reminisces about Elizabeth Butler, the human girl who took her in after The Last Great Time War. She reveals the death of Elizabeth to her parents. Will Elizabeth's parents view of The Fighter change after finding out the truth of their daughter?
The Fighter felt enveloped in warmth as she opened her eyes seeing The Master's sleeping face next to hers. He looked so peaceful and happy she couldn't help but take her hand out from under the covers and caress his handsome face in a loving matter as his eyes remained closed even though his hands were wrapped around her holding her tight and close to him.
She could hear his breathing was calm and relaxed. He appeared deep in sleep not even sensing her caressing his face.
She didn't want to wake him, so she slowly laid her head back on his chest as she listened to his hearts beat. The sound made her indescribably happy, hearing the heart beat of the one you loved just made you feel that way.
She closed her eyes taking the sound in as she suddenly felt a hand caress her back gently as she delighted sound almost like a purr. She brought her head up looking at The Master's face to see his brown eyes looking at her deeply.
They looked at each other silently sending each other mental messages through their psychic link.
"Good morning my tiger."
"Koschei!"
"Thanks for the present this morning." He took out his hand from under the covers and gently caressed her face as well. "You look lovely sleeping as well my dear, I had to hold myself back from going after you again."
Her face turned red as she looked down realizing she was under the bed covers with him naked. She jumped up from his chest clutching the covers to her neck as she was shocked thinking about what happened last night.
The Master began chuckling amused by her reaction as they continued talking through their psychic link "Why yes Tiger, that did happen last night. Your quite better then I imagined."
The Fighter's face began to turn red even more as she turned to look at him speaking out loud "Koschei, please stop teasing-" She paused as she began thinking over what he said. "Wait...better then you imagined? Ah no nevermind, I don't think I want to know. No NO!"
He gave an amused smirk as she climbed out of the bed and quickly ran to her closet shutting the door to it as she sat inside. Both her hearts were beating fast as her mind was still trying to take in what happened last night. She could tell he was amused by her reaction over it through the psychic link.
She tried ignoring it as she rummaged through her closet looking for an outfit to wear for today. Question was, what were they going to do today?
She felt like there was something she had to do, something important she kept trying to forget. Then suddenly it hit her.
She began to put on her clothes which was a black dress that hung tightly on her showing off her curves as she picked out a pink flower pin putting it in her blonde hair on the side of her ear as she came out of the closet.
The Master was already dressed laying on the bed looking at her appearance as she gave a sad smile to him conveying what she planned to do today through the psychic link.
He quickly jumped up from the bed going over to her as he took her hands in his. "Are you sure this is what you want to do tiger?"
She nodded "Yes."
They began to walk out of her room as they headed over to the console room where The Doctor was deep in thought about something as he turned around hearing their footsteps and looked at them.
"Morning you two!" He grinned at them as he noticed the nervous look on The Fighter's face.
"She has something to tell you." The Master told him crossing his arms.
The Fighter walked over to The Doctor looking into his brown eyes as his hearts beat fast wondering what she had to tell him.
She let out a sigh "Doctor...I would like to go visit Elizabeth's parents."
His hearts slowed down realizing what she was meaning by that. His eyes became sorrow looking at her as he nodded following her request as he went to the controls. "What year and place again?"
She told him the coordinates as he set the TARDIS for them. It began taking off as Donna entered the console room looking at the two Time Lords and Time Lady in curiosity. "Where are we going?" She asked.
The Doctor and Master looked to The Fighter as she look at Donna replying "I want to go see Elizabeth's parents..."
Donna suddenly gasped remembering what the Time Lady had told her about what happened to her friend Elizabeth who died but left out the major detail of who killed her.
Donna walked over to The Fighter putting a comforting hand on her shoulder as she looked at her "I'm fine." She had to let them know, it was time to stop ignoring it and running away. They had a right to know about what happened to their daughter.
The TARDIS began to materialize in front of Elizabeth's parents house. The Fighter took in a deep breath and let it out preparing herself as she began to walk towards the door. She was nervous and her body was shaking as she tried to keep her emotions in check.
The Master and The Doctor noticed this as they both reached a hand out towards her before she got to the door as Donna spoke "You don't have to do this alone, we'll be right here by your side."
She turned to them and nodded agreeing it would be better if they came with her, she would feel a lot better with them by her side.
All four of them began to walk towards the door as The Fighter opened it shocked to see Elizabeth's parents already there looking around excitedly. They all came out as her parents scanned them trying to look inside the box for Elizabeth but looked confused when they didn't see her or The Fighter they had seen when she first left.
The Doctor, Master and Donna were by The Fighter's side as they stood outside. The Fighter looked at the three tree's but most of all, the one tree in the middle, her T.A.R.D.I.S that had done it's duty to keep her safe after the Time War and once The Doctor appeared had become a real tree.
She slowly walked over to it as The Master and Donna raised their eyebrows in confusion. The Fighter put her hand on it as the tree didn't hum back in a reply or anything like the day she left.
Elizabeth's father though still looking around for his daughter came over to The Fighter "Missy?"
The Fighter turned around nodding "Yes It's me. I've regenerated."
Noticing the confused look on Elizabeth's parents face she explained "It's a thing my people do when we're wounded or old."
Elizabeth's parents nodded still a bit confused as Elizabeth's father talked changing the subject "We did just as you said, been taking care of this tree all along."
The Doctor whispered over to The Master and Donna to let them know what was going on "That tree was The Fighter's T.A.R.D.I.S. It turned into a real life tree when I came to get her. See When I sent her away from Gallifrey during the Time War, I set the Safety mechanism on it so it would keep her safe from danger towards her until I came along to protect her then it would shut down unless a new danger came to her again."
Donna walked over to the tree observing it, shocked to believe it looked like a tree. "So does everyone of your box thing's look different? Her's is a tree!"
The Doctor scratched his head "Well yes...except the part that makes my T.A.R.D.I.S change it's looks broke a long time ago, haven't been able to fix it."
The Master rolled his eyes scoffing "Don't you mean, you don't know how to fix it? I'll have to look at it when we have the chance." They looked back over to The Fighter who was talking with Elizabeth's parents.
"Where's Elizabeth? Is she inside there?" Elizabeth's mother Alisa said pointing to The Doctor's T.A.R.D.I.S "We want to know how our daughter is doing. Is she fine?"
This is the moment she was preparing herself for, The Fighter looked down to the ground playing with her fingers like she used to do when she was little as a sign of being nervous and speechless.
The two Time Lords noticed this as they opened their mouths to speak, The Fighter held out her hand telling them to stop. "It's alright guys, I got this." She took in another deep breath and let it out as she began to speak.
"Elizabeth...Elizabeth is dead." She looked them in the eyes preparing for what was going to happen.
Elizabeth's parents blinked their eyes "What? You're kidding right?! This is a joke!" Elizabeth's mother began to trail off as she began bursting out crying as Elizabeth's dad took her into his arms giving her a comforting hug while keeping his eyes on The Fighter not pleased at all.
"What happened? You promised to protect her!" Elizabeth's father yelled at The Fighter as guilt began to eat at her even more.
The Fighter turned around looking at everyone as her eyes stopped on The Master with a sad smile as he frowned. He could sense from the psychic link between them that she was planning something but it was all fuzzy.
Even though it was mostly The Master's doing, she just couldn't bring herself to fully blame him. It was all her fault anyway, she shouldn't have had Elizabeth leave her side while she was helping Yana who turned out to be The Master all along.
She turned back to give Elizabeth's father an answer as she looked at him confidently "It is completely all my fault! I'm the one to blame! I-I shouldn't have let her out of my sight...I- I..."
She began to lose her confident facade as she couldn't hold her emotions back anymore, the sudden pain of Elizabeth's death she had been trying to ignore hit her as she burst out into sobs falling to the ground while The Doctor caught her in his arms "Oh my! Oh my! Elizabeth...I-I I'm so sorry! Please forgive me! Please forgive me! Elizabeth!"
Donna ran to her side comforting her as The Master watched completely shocked. Why didn't she say it was him? After all he was the one who turned her friend into a Toclafane. He was the one who treated her, The Doctor and everyone else as slaves on The Valiant.
Wasn't she at least a little angry with him for all the bad things he had done? Didn't a little part of her loathe him? Everyone eventually did.
Elizabeth's mother turned to look and see The Fighter crying as tears ran down her own face. She honestly did care for their daughter, here she was blaming herself for whatever happened and crying her eyes out along with them.
The mysterious girl who was once a brunette and looked different from how she was now one day showed up on their door step with their blonde haired daughter Elizabeth. Their daughter told them she was a friend, just kicked out by her parents and needed a home. Though they questioned it, they couldn't leave the girl outside. She looked so lost and sad like she just lost everything.
The Fighter began to cry into The Doctor's chest as he held her comforting her. She had done it again, she was acting like she was fine but she bottled up her emotions and finally burst. He would always scold her back then for doing that, he wanted her to tell him when something was bothering her instead of keeping her feelings all bottled up.
Elizabeth's mother spoke up "Please tell me what happened to her...to Elizabeth..."
They had all gone inside the house for a cuppa tea as they sat in the living room. It still looked the same, with a few minor differences.
The Fighter sat on the couch between The Doctor and Donna as The Master was standing observing the room. Elizabeth's parents sat on the opposite couch to them.
"Elizabeth, The Doctor and the girl that was here before called Martha and I were helping people. I got caught in...some trouble as Elizabeth and Martha ran to go grab The Doctor to inform him...that was the last I saw of Elizabeth." The Fighter explained as the memories came back to her.
That was how she all remembered it, she didn't know where Elizabeth had gone until she came to her as a Toclafane. The truth had then come out of what had happened to Elizabeth, she had somehow gotten pushed onto the rocket with the other people being sent to Utopia and her fate was to be a Toclafane.
The Fighter began mentally cursing herself as The Master noticed from the psychic link. "Good Gallifrey, I'm so stupid! Why didn't I notice sooner? I shouldn't have let her out of my sight!"
The Master interrupted her thoughts as he talked with her through the psychic link "Hey now tiger, why do you keep blaming yourself when I'm the one who turned her into a monster? Shouldn't you be hating me right now? Don't you want to tell them so you can all get together and kill me for killing her? Eye for an Eye?"
The Fighter mentally shook her head as her hearts dropped "Koschei...DON"T YOU DARE THINK THAT FOR A MINUTE! DON"T YOU DARE! Yes you turned my dear friend/sister into a monster and ended up killing her and yes I'm pretty mad about that but...I don't blame you for it at all. I was the one who was suppose to protect her, keep an eye out on her. I made a promise to her family and I let them down. It's my fault, not yours!"
"So You finally admit you're mad at me for it! Why do you still deal with me? You could just kill me off whenever you want or even throw me out! Why don't you do it?" She could sense the hurt and anger in his tone.
She mentally chuckled "You idiot...I love you that's why. I love you so much Koschei, I always have I just...I ignored my feelings for you and I regret doing so. I could never bring myself to kill you as it would kill me too. We are mates, we are meant to be...I could never bring myself to hate you. Sure I don't like some of the things you have done, but I have to accept that is a part of who you are and I will always believe you are capable of doing better."
He was utterly shocked by what she said as he remained silent thinking over what she said. He felt a warm feeling flood him, glad to know someone had not given up on him and believed he was capable of so much more. That was all he ever wanted.
Elizabeth's father spoke up "Then how do you know she is dead?"
The Master then spoke up "Because I was the one who killed her..."
The room fell silent as The Fighter looked at him shocked. She jumped up quickly and tried to cover his mouth as he grabbed her hands to stop her. She struggled to get out of his grasp as he continued talking. Elizabeth's parents looking at him shocked along with Donna as The Doctor remained silent.
"Please don't..." The Fighter begged him as she turned to The Doctor "Doctor! Please stop him!"
The Master and The Doctor exchanged looks as he sat there quietly letting his friend continue. The Doctor had felt his friend was doing the right thing for once but felt bad ignoring The Fighter's request but he felt it was best for them.
"You heard me right, I killed your daughter. The end of the world...she was on a rocket with people heading to a new place but I turned them into monsters and killed them all. The Fighter is just trying to cover up for me blaming herself when I'm the one who killed your daughter."
The Fighter stopped struggling as The Master let her hands go as she looked over at Elizabeth's parents. Their faces were filled with sadness but also, pure anger. She remained speechless not knowing what to say as she watched them.
Elizabeth's mother then stood up yelling "How dare you! HOW DARE YOU!" She began bursting into sobs as Elizabeth's father comforted her again.
The Doctor then stood up "We have taken him under our watch for what he has done. Since the three of us are the last of our people he is our responsibility, I'll make sure he won't get away with anything like that ever again."
The Doctor and Master exchanged looks again as The Master frowned.
Elizabeth's father glared at The Master "I'm tempted to call the police on him but..." He looked over at The Doctor "But I'll take your word for it."
He walked over to The Fighter along with Elizabeth's mother as they took the crying Time Lady into a hug. "You left some of your things behind here. Wanna take them with you as I believe you are going to leave again." Elizabeth's mother told her.
The Fighter chuckled as she pulled away wiping her tears away. "Oh yeah." She turned to run up the stairs to her old room as the others stayed behind.
She stopped at her bedroom door looking at the door next to it, Elizabeth's room. She shook her head and opened the door to her own room as the picture she painted of Gallifrey covered the walls. The T.A.R.D.I.S did a perfect job of copying this room for her.
She walked over to the window looking out at the tree in the middle that was once her T.A.R.D.I.S. She turned her head looking at the chair were her school uniform laid the same day as when she left with The Doctor and Martha.
She grabbed the uniform that consisted of a blue plaid skirt and a white dress shirt with short sleeves and a blue tie. Elizabeth was wearing the same outfit the day they left.
She walked over to her bed and sat on it looking at the uniform. They were going to wear it that day to school, their senior year together. They were going to make the most of it and have fun.
Even though Elizabeth was a flirt, she had this one boy she loved and was going to confess her feelings too. She was going to run for homecoming queen against her rival Alice Coleman. Once they graduated, she was going to go to college and become a model. She had her whole life ahead of her...
The Fighter caught tears falling from her face again as reminisced about the time she had spent with her dear friend, four years seemed like a long time but it went by fast. The Fighter then heard footsteps as The Master appeared in the doorway sensing her pain in the psychic link.
She turned looking at him as tears silently fell from her face. He walked over to her not even bothering to look at the room that resembled a similar appearance to her room on the T.A.R.D.I.S as he took her into a hug. She burst out crying in his shoulder, still letting out all her bottled up emotions.
She thought it was kind of ironic for her to be crying into the arms of the one who killed her friend. He began stroking her hair trying to comfort her as she let her emotions out.
The Master felt guilt come to him which he had not felt in a long time as he spoke to her "I know it's too late but...I'm so sorry Tiger...I'm so sorry..." He had his pride and refused to feel guilty around anyone but seeing her crying and in pain because of what he did didn't help him. He loved seeing her smile and being her silly, stubborn, optimistic, clumsy self. She was his mate, his and only his, no ones else's.
She pulled away from his hug as she looked into his brown eyes. It was hard for him to apologize as his pride tried to stop him but deep inside she knew he was sorry. She looked down at her school uniform wondering what would have happened if she had stayed behind and had not gone with The Doctor again.
"Then I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you..." The Master told her as he read her thoughts through the psychic link.
She turned to him as he looked hurt she even considered the thought.
"You're right...but I'm glad you're here right now with me." She replied giving him a kiss on his cheek.
She got up from the bed holding his hand as they walked out of the room. When they got downstairs Elizabeth's parents looked at them shocked.
"Aren't you going to take anything else with you besides the uniform?" Elizabeth's father asked.
The Fighter gave a smile "Oh no, I'm leaving it behind so whenever I come back to visit you two, I'll have something already here."
Elizabeth's parents looked shocked at her as Elizabeth's mother smiled taking her into a hug. "Come back anytime you wish sweetie! Elizabeth wouldn't want us to leave you out because of what happened."
"Thank you..." The Fighter replied as Elizabeth's father joined in on the hug.
They were all outside standing in front of the tree that use to be The Fighter's T.A.R.D.I.S as Elizabeth's parents handed The Fighter a picture of Elizabeth they had.
It was of her school ID. Her long blonde hair down as she wore a blue shirt and white pants, her blue eyes sparkling with her smile in the picture.
"Thank you!" She looked to them "What are you going to tell her aunts and uncles?"
Elizabeth's father scratched his head "Not sure, but we will think of something."
"The girl needs a memorial at least!" Donna burst out.
Elizabeth's parents nodded "Yes, why don't we give her one right now." Elizabeth's father turned to The Fighter "Go get the candles Missy!"
The Fighter ran inside the house grabbing the candles as she came back outside. She gave everyone a little tea candle to hold in their hands as they lighted matches lighting up the candles.
The Fighter put her picture of Elizabeth down by the tree as they closed their eyes.
Elizabeth's father began speaking "My dear daughter, my beautiful daughter, I hope you're in a better place now and watching over us. Your mother and I love you so much."
Elizabeth's mother than began to speak "Lizzy...my daughter...I love you sweetie and I know you're watching over us. I miss you terribly!"
The Fighter then began to speak "Elizabeth, you silly, flirtatious girl! You took me in and treated me like a sister...you seriously remind me of my real sister Romana. Remember me telling you about her?" Tears began to fall from her face as she thought about her long lost sister on Gallifrey. "You're like a second sister to me, I was already going through the pain of losing my people as I thought I lost these two here but also my little sister then I met you. You helped me through my dark time and I thank you."
All of them then blew out the candles.
The Doctor, Donna, Master and Fighter began to bid them their goodbye's as The Fighter stood by the tree that used to be her T.A.R.D.I.S saying goodbye to it yet again like last time before they were off.
As The Fighter put her hand out she suddenly felt the tree humming. "Hmm? What? That's weird."
The Doctor, Donna and Master looked at her with raised eyebrows. "What?"
She then felt it hum again "Doctor! Master!"
They both ran over with Donna following behind. "What is it?"
"The tree...it's humming..."
The Doctor's eyes widened as he felt around the tree for an opening. When he couldn't find one he looked to The Fighter "Do you have the key to it still?"
She nodded taking out her sonic screwdriver as he grabbed it from her flashing it around the tree. Nothing happened. "I mostly used my sonic screwdriver for it and it opened...that's weird."
The Master and Doctor exchanged looks as Donna asked "Do you think someone could possibly be inside it?"
The Doctor and Fighter shook their heads as The Doctor spoke "No, her T.A.R.D.I.S was suppose to turn into a real tree when I found her and took her away. It's impossible to get inside it unless..."
He stopped talking as he realized something important and looked over to The Fighter wide eyed.
"What? What is it Doctor?" She asked with worry.
"Unless you're in danger...and I can't stop it myself..." He continued looking at her with worry.
She felt fear inside her thinking over what it could be. The Master grabbed her pushing her into his chest as he put his arm around her waist. "Whatever it is, we won't let it harm her! They will have to go through the both of us first!"
The Doctor looked to The Master and nodded as she pulled herself away from him and helped The Doctor find an opening to her T.A.R.D.I.S.
"By any chance have you seen anyone open it and go inside?" She asked Elizabeth's parents.
They shook their heads "No. All we've been doing is taking good care of it like a normal tree."
Donna added in "Well maybe it's just the safety doohickey thing you were talking about."
The Doctor continued "Yes but it should be opening up and letting her in instead of keeping her locked out..."
The Fighter frowned "Unless the danger is inside the T.A.R.D.I.S itself."
They all exchanged looks as they began trying to get it to open. The Master gave The Fighter to Donna as he began pounding on the tree as The Doctor tried using the sonic again.
The Doctor began speaking "You two get inside my T.A.R.D.I.S right now just in case we get this open!"
The Fighter shook her head along with Donna "No!"
The Master yelled at her "Look, whatever is inside here is after you tiger, I suggest you get inside to safety before it comes after you!"
Donna began to pull the Time Lady as she shook her head refusing "I'll be fine you know me, I'm The Fighter, I can handle this. I am not leaving you two behind to deal with whatever it is!"
The Master glared at her yelling "Obey me and get inside right now tiger! That's an order!"
Suddenly the door to the tree began to open as they all dropped silent. They looked inside to see it bigger on the inside like all TARDISies. The Master and Doctor slowly walked into it looking around for the danger.
The Doctor realized The T.A.R.D.I.S looked the same as the day he put her in it sending her away to Earth for safety. She didn't changed much. The console lit up as they walked past it.
The Doctor walked to the console controls having it scan to see if there was anything. It reported back negative, The Doctor and Master being the only ones in the T.A.R.D.I.S. The Fighter walked inside with Donna and Elizabeth's parents following after joining the two Time Lords at the console.
"She still works..." The Fighter put her hands over the controls as the T.A.R.D.I.S hummed pleased to be reunited with it's owner. "I've missed you too!"
Donna looked around confused "Wait...you're actually saying it has feelings?"
The Doctor and Fighter nodded "Of course!"
The Fighter then began to ask it questions "Has there been anyone else in here after I left?"
A hologram of The Fighter in her first incarnation appeared. Her long golden hair held up in a bun as she wore her scarlet Gallifreyian Prydonian chapter robe, her brown eyes sparkling "Voice Interface. Yes."
The Master and Doctor looked at the hologram taking in the memory of The Fighter back in the academy on Gallifrey. Something they hadn't seen for quite a while since their five incarnations met together in the Death Zone on Gallifrey to stop Borusa who was trying to get immortality from Rassilon's tomb.
The Fighter asked the voice interface "Who was it?"
It replied "Unknown."
Donna raised an eyebrow asking it "What do you mean unknown?"
"Unknown. The person does not exist."
They couldn't figure out what it was.
The Doctor than asked "You should have gone to sleep after The Fighter left with me. The only reason you would still be working is if she was in danger, a danger I can't protect her from am I correct?"
It nodded "Yes."
The Master asked "Is she in danger?"
It paused for a minute before responding "Yes...Tick tock goes the clock, Time will be ending. Tick tock goes the clock, they are returning. Tick tock goes the clock, for The Fighter."
The Fighter's eyes became wide as she clutched her head, the sound of the ticking clock in her head beginning to tick faster as her head began to pound. The Master quickly grabbed her holding her tightly to him knowing them touching would quiet down the sound in her head as it did.
The hologram of her first incarnation disappeared as they left the T.A.R.D.I.S, The Master still holding onto her as The Doctor locked it. It still remained in the form of a tree.
The Master took The Fighter into The Doctor's T.A.R.D.I.S as The Doctor and Donna followed them in with Elizabeth's parents waving them goodbye.
They didn't even see that in the top of the house at the window of Elizabeth's room was a blonde girl wearing a black cloak looking out the window watching everything that was happening from inside the room.
A/N: Now that's what I call a cliffhanger! This chapter was emotional as I warned you all. Anyway I still hope you enjoyed it, Please leave a Review and let me know what you thought of this chapter! Please!
Now for some questions to be answered, First of all yes Romana is her little sister! (It will be mentioned in the latest chapter I'm writing (Chapter 6) in the prequel to this story "How Our Story Began." I honestly suggest you guys read it! Not many people have :( *Sigh*
Second the hologram is just a bit of foreshadowing to chapters later on with The Fighter, The Master and The Doctor's incarnation's. As said in the summary of this story, This story will feature ALL INCARNATIONS so be prepared for a meeting with your past selves XD
Third, That blonde girl and all those warnings of the future...what could they all mean? Have any idea?
See ya in the next chapter for The Sontaran Stratagem! Sontar-ha!
