Chapter 5

The Doctor, Alex and Harper ran for their lives as the stones around them started to collapse. The hallway behind caved in sealing off that way of escape. The Doctor led the charge as they stormed up the staircase towards the balcony the TARDIS was positioned on. On their way, the Doctor ran right into Mox who was getting Crumbs to the same balcony. The Doctor fell over but jumped backed up to his feet.

"Will you guys speed up a bit," the Doctor said, "If you hadn't noticed, the castle's crumbling."

"We had noticed that, Doctor," Crumbs said, "But there's nowhere to go. This is the only spire left."

"I know," the Doctor told him, "I have a way out, and we can all use it, if you hurry."

"Of course," Crumbs said, and the Doctor bolted up the stairs. He saw the TARDIS was in the same spot that he left it and let out a sigh of relief.

The Doctor ran to his ship, "Okay, everyone inside. Alex. Harper. You too, Dumbledore. Inside. That includes you, Gigantor."

All of them entered the TARDIS with the Doctor rushing towards the control console. He pulled a lever, letting out another sigh of relief. Outside, the TARDIS dematerialized just as the remains of the castle came crashing down.

Back in the TARDIS, Crumbs asked, "What happened out there? Why did the castle suddenly start to crumble?"

The Doctor looked up at the bearded man, "That would be my fault. I didn't anticipate the stones to be that weak. I used my sonic screwdriver on one of the spires, but the vibrations shook more than that. Good news is that the bat monster died."

Alex smiled, but Harper said, "Doctor, his castle just crumbled. I don't think the death of the giant bat will outweigh that."

"Don't be such a killjoy," the Doctor said.

Crumbs looked around the TARDIS, not paying attention to the Doctor and Harper reverse jabs at each other. He was impressed with the size of the room in the little police box that he had seen. It wasn't until the Doctor asked him a question that Crumbs was snapped back to reality. He said, "I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"I asked if you were impressed with the TARDIS," the Doctor told him.

"Very much so. What spell did you use?" asked Crumbs.

"Don't be ridiculous," the Doctor said, "I didn't use a spell. It's just the type of technology the ship is. It's dimensionally transcendental."

"I'm not sure what you just said, but you sounded like you knew what you were talking about."

"I do know what I'm talking about. All the time," the Doctor said.

"That can be argued," Alex replied.

"Did I ask for comments from the peanut gallery?" asked the Doctor. Alex just glared at him. He responded to her with, "Didn't think so. Anyway, back to you, Crumbs. Where do you want me to drop you off? I can bring you anywhere and anytime in the universe."

"Anywhere? Anytime?" Crumbs asked.

"Yes," the Doctor said.

"Just to the mortal world of Earth a hundred years in the future," Crumbs said.

"Why? That's not that exciting," the Doctor said. He looked to Alex and Harper, "No offense to you two."
"Oh, none taken. I totally agree with you on that one," Alex said.

"And all of last year wasn't exciting?" asked Harper, "The spider woman, robots, evil teachers and giant talking potatoes."

"No comment," Alex said.

"Girls enough," the Doctor said, "Oh, sorry. Eleven came through on that comment. I swear Boy Tie Boy never leaves me alone. Now Crumbs, we're here. You have to understand that this world is different from the one you came from. You have to try and act like a normal person would in this place."

"Ah thank you and I'll try to act normal," Crumbs said. Crumbs left the TARDIS with Mox behind him, against the Doctor's protest. The two of them left the sight of the TARDIS occupants as the Doctor shut the door.

Before he had a chance to do anything, the TARDIS dinged at the Doctor. He looked rather confused until the saw the date on the TARDIS screen. His expression saddened even though he had a small smile on his face.

Alex noticed, "Doctor, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," the Doctor replied, "It's a certain anniversary. I need to go get something and then we can be on our way."

"What anniversary?" asked Alex, a little worried by the Doctor's expression.

"Nothing you need to worry about. I just go visit a dear old friend every year on this day. It's sort of tradition that started with Eleven over a thousand years ago. I didn't get a chance to do it last year because of the broken TARDIS, but this year, I'll go and visit."

"Where's this friend at?" asked Harper.

"You'll find out," the Doctor said, "We'd better be off. I don't want to miss this visit for two years in a row. That wouldn't be good."

The Doctor walked up to the control console. He plugged in a location and set the TARDIS in motion.