Life back in the century, Kathy had gotten used to so life went back to a relative normal. No one had noticed that she had left!

Kathy gave birth to a beautiful little boy, who they called Carlyle. As she stared at him in her arms, she wondered how much like her he is. She checked his pulse as soon as she was alone with him and found the beating of two hearts. It made her happy that while she'll lose this family due to their human life span, she knew, and know, she'll still have him.

When Kathy's son reached 8, her mother handed her a box that belonged to her biological father, who had gifted it to her just before he left. When seeing the box, she then remembered having seen it before but clearly, something about it had made her forget. Was it possible it was one of those perception filters or something even stronger? Anyway, she now remembered that when she was 8, her mother had given her the box. It was only when it opened did, Kathy finds a chameleon circuit or something similar and when she opened it, she was looking into a fraction of the untempered schism. It explained how Kathy gained her apparent ability to regenerate though not in the same way a Time Lord would. It also gave her son the same ability.

Barden, her husband, in case you have forgotten, does early when Carlyle is only 14 and she's '39' though she physically looks like she's still in her 20s. With the knowledge that she won't continue to age and so will Carlyle at some point, and this will become suspicious, she took the opportunity to take them away as soon as Carlyle turned 18 to protect them. This is so as not to take Carlyle away from his extended family too soon though she didn't think his not biologically related grandfather would miss him. He seemed more verbally abusive towards him than he did to her.

Kathy checked on her half siblings and their own offspring as well as her parents as they lived out their own lives to make sure they were okay. She hoped that she would be able to check in on their line in the future.

The first time Kathy needed regeneration to save herself was for the stupidest reason, one she will never tell anyone. She had been alive for a century in this world now when she's on a walk and she trips and falls down a hill. Not one of her finest moments.

Kathy and her son are not always together as he often likes to live out his own life, which means that at times she's going off on adventures on her own, sometimes it's together.

It was the beginning of the 9th century and after the invasion of the Vikings onto the English shores where she had re-lived, she decided to go off and explore Scandinavia, particularly in an attempt to find a village with a future immortal.

Kathy searched for years until she found the correct village. In the meantime, she had been darting around the different Scandinavian countries exploring and learning about the people. She had to learn the language for real. Learning Old Norse was fun and weird.

Eventually, Kathy found them in a remote part of Norway. They found her odd but because she spent time assimilating into similar cultures to theirs, they welcomed her in. Kathy intentionally grew close to Ashildr as she knew that she could help her and keep her company in the future years.

The fighters of the village had headed off pillaging and exploring but it was not long before they return. In the village, the horn blasts causing the residents to start clamouring, yelling and cheering.

Kathy hurries behind Ashildr to see them enter the village.

"See it's okay," Kathy says to her, she's been worried. Ashildr nods as her face breaks out into a smile.

"You're back! All of you! Are all of you back?" Ashildr asks Nollarr as she runs up to him with Kathy still following.

"I suppose so, I haven't counted." The man says.

"I'm back!" Hasten cries grabbing onto Ashildr and Kathy.

"I had a dream you'd all died. It was so real, I thought I'd made it happen." Ashildr says.

"Well, if it ever does, I'm sure you'll a find some way to blame yourself," Nollar says, chucking something into her hands. Kathy looks over her shoulder, her eyes widening.

Kathy pulls it out of Ashildr's hands as she says, "I wish none of you had to go!"

Kathy analyses it and realises, yes, it is Twelve's sonic glasses or some of it anyway. So, this means that he and Clara had finally arrived, and the episode will begin. She glances over her shoulder to see if she can spot them.

She notices them then in the middle of the crowd wearing chains and Clara in a spacesuit. The Doctor's appearance, Kathy recognises, is his casual look he took on in season 9. Him embracing his 'idiot in the box' revelation he had at the end of the season 8 finale. His hair is longer, his clothes are less formal and in the episodes of this season, he shows his sillier side more. Rediscovered who he is.

Kathy catches eyes with the Doctor, whose face breaks into a smile causing Clara to look and have a similar reaction as they go past. Well, it's good to know that he still likes her further on and Clara does as well. She feels the familiar faint pull of the mental link she shares with the Doctor.

The Doctor's smile drops as his eyes trail over to Ashildr and he stares at her in confusion.

"Who are they?" Ashildr asks Kathy as they follow the crowd further into the village. "Have you met them before Arantxa?" Kathy had decided to go by the name she was given in this life as she felt her other one would sound too odd to them.

"No, I've never met them," Kathy replies, which technically isn't a lie. She hands the broken glasses back to her.

Kathy goes over to them, catching the last of their conversation.

"We meet the boss man and we do the usual." The Doctor says.

"Which is?" Clara asks.

"Replace him."

"Sure, that's a good idea?" Kathy speaks.

"Kathy! How did you get here?" Clara exclaims with a wide smile.

"Wandering around, here and there. Got curious about Vikings. Here I am." Kathy explains with a smile excited to meet them.

"It's good to see you again." The Doctor says with a kind smile.

"Well, it's the first time I'm meeting you," Kathy speaks. Their smiles dim but they look understanding.

"Well, you can help with our plan." The Doctor says. All this while Nollarr has been talking in the background.

"How do we replace the leader?" Clara asks.

"Yes Doctor, do tell us," Kathy says with a smirk.

The Doctor gives an 'I'm not impressed look' before explaining, "To the primitive mind, advanced technology can seem like magic."

"It's going to be the yo-yo again, isn't it?" Clara says.

"Yeah. It's in my pocket somewhere." The Doctor then shows the removed handcuffs.

Clara gapes at him in shock, "How did you do that?!"

"Magic."

"Miracle, and much treasure." Nollarr continues but the Doctor then chucks the yo-yo towards the Chieftain, hitting him on the chest causing shouting and jangling, swords are drawn.

"How dare you attack our Chieftain!" Nollarr cries.

"I am very, very cross with you. I am very disappointed. I have taken human form to walk among you." Kathy covers her eyes and cringes at the Doctor's performance.

"Who are you, old man?" Nollarr asks.

"Do you not recognise the sign... of Odin?" The Doctor says as he parades around.

"You are not Odin, and that is not Odin's sign." Millard dismisses.

"Oh, and you would know that how, exactly? Have you met Odin? Do you know what Odin looks like?"

It is then that we all hear thunderclaps causing most around Kathy to whimper. Then there is the sound of a heavenly choir and a giant face appears in the sky.

"Oh, my people." The man in the sky booms. "I am Odin. And now your day of reward has finally dawned."

"Do not believe this foolish trickery!" The Doctor tries to throw his yo-yo again but it flops. "It's supposed to do that." Oh, dear.

"Your mightiest warriors will feast with me tonight in the halls of Valhalla." Suddenly some robots with massive helmets are teleported to the ground, the Mire. Those with weapons form a battle formation as they cry in confusion. They charge forward as the Doctor, Clara and Kathy hide behind them. The Mire charge with guns toward the crowd.

"Stay still. Stay very, very still." The Doctor mutters.

"That's not really Odin, is it?" Clara says in more of a statement.

"He hasn't even got a yo-yo." The Doctor replies.

"Oh yeah, that's how you know," Kathy says sarcastically.

Both sides meet in the middle.

"So, this is an invasion." Clara suspects.

"Shh. No, this is a harvest. The strongest, the fittest... The weak and young, they'll leave behind." The Doctor realises.

One Mire pushes away some members of the village to the floor before teleporting up some of the more 'fitter' members.

"Any hints?" The Doctor asks. This seems to be their thing.

"Uh… well um… Ashildr – that girl – is important." Kathy replies. He nods.

"We have to help them," Clara says.

"We have to not get chosen." The Doctor says.

"Bide our time," Kathy adds. Clara doesn't listen and rushes over to Ashildr, who's cowering. Kathy tries to grab her but she slips away so she feels she has no choice but to follow her.

"Clara. Kathy. Clara, Kathy, no!" Kathy hears the Doctor hiss.

"Have you still got the eye-patch thing?" Clara says crouching by her. Kathy tries to give Ashildr a reassuring smile.

"Clara, maybe this isn't the best way. There's nothing we can do, maybe we should wait." Kathy tries. She knows that if she follows this route then Ashildr will be living forever.

"It'll be fine." Clara holds half of the sonic glasses up to Ashildr. "Point it at my chains and think the word open. Say it with your mind." She explains. More people are beamed up.

It is then Kathy sees the Mire take notice of them. She was stupid to think they wouldn't and before she can alert the other two, they are beamed up themselves.

Kathy looks around and notices they are on the ship.

She hears Hasten say, "Welcome to Valhalla, my ladies." And she looks up to see the warriors surrounding them.

Kathy hears grunting and straining and she sees a door being pried open by Nollarr with an axe.

Clara turns to her. "I'm assuming it's a bad idea to go in there."

"Yep."

"No, wait! Wait!" Clara cries when seeing Nollarr step through.

"There's nothing to fear, strange maiden," Nollarr says as Kathy hears propellers whir. "We are Odin's chosen."

"Please Nollarr come back!" Kathy cries.

But it is too late and electricity seems to shoot out of the shields in the wall and zaps him and he evaporates. The others cry out in fear and horror. Then there's creaking and the wall behind them begins to move.

"The wall, it moves!" Hasten cries. The warriors try to push against it to no avail.

"Odin! Odin!" Ashildr cries.

"Use your blades, try to jam it!" Clara orders them and they listen.

"We need to try the other door as well!" Kathy yells. She pulls on Clara and Ashildr's arms towards the other door past where Nollarr had been. "Come on! Come on!"

"Quick! Pull!" Clara says as the three of them pull at the door.

"I'm trying!" Ashildr replies.

The warriors give up and begin moving into their section and Kathy hears the propellers begin to whir again.

"Quickly!" Kathy cries.

Kathy wakes up to see three of them are now in a different part of the ship.

"Ssh!" Clara says to Ashildr as she wakes up. There is hissing and bubbling around them. Kathy ventures forward and she sees tubes full of liquid. She cringes remembering what this means. When they all spot the helmets of the warriors, Ashildr asks the obvious question, "Why are we still alive?"

"Because of this." A voice says. They all turn to see 'Odin' there with two of the Mire. Kathy sees he holds the broken half of the sonic glasses. "Explain."

Clara pulls herself and steps forward. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you afraid."

"I have no reason to fear you."

"Except you've already analysed that and you know it's a technology from a civilisation vastly more powerful than your own. And er, you will have also noticed that... I'm wearing a space suit. So, I'm not from around here, and it's highly unlikely I will have come alone. You see, you haven't killed us because killing us would start a fight you didn't come here to have... and you're not sure you can win." Clara is acting too much like the Doctor and it is making Kathy uncomfortable.

A robot then walks past them with a tube that he hands to 'Odin'. "Ooh, hello. Time for your medication?" Clara remarks.

"Adrenaline. Testosterone... extracted from the finest warriors." He drinks and exhales. "Ah! Nec...tar."

"OK, you mash up Vikings to make warrior juice, nice," Clara says.

"They what?" Ashildr asks, sounding close to tears.

"Clara, maybe you should stop." Kathy tries but she's ignored.

"Why play God?"

"What is a god but the cattle's name for farmer? What is heaven but the gilded door of the abattoir?" 'Odin' replies.

"You're not a farmer. You're a thief, caught in the act."

"I don't understand. "Mashed up"? What are you saying?" Ashildr tries to ask again.

"It's nothing, Ashildr." Kathy attempts, trying to avoid what is to come.

"Hush!" Clara hisses at her before turning back to 'Odin'. "Go, now. Go and find Vikings on other planets. The universe is full of testosterone. Trust me, it's unbearable. We won't follow you, see? We don't need to fight."

"War is our way."

"Ask yourself, is this a war you really want?"

"Yes!" Ashildr exclaims. "You'll pay for what you have done here today. I am a Viking. Ashildr, daughter of Einarr. You have mocked our gods. Killed our warriors. And we will crush you on the field of battle."

"That's better!"

"Look what you have done Clara!" Kathy snaps. "You really shouldn't have said anything."

"We were about to leave," Clara says.

"You almost had me talking. Talk is for cowards." 'Odin' says.

"No, no, no, listen to me." Clara says but is ignored.

"I accept your challenge."

"We will crush you!" Ashildr declares.

"Oh, please. Shut up." Clara says.

"Shall we say this time tomorrow? Ten of my warriors versus the best of your village." 'Odin' offers.

"You will beg for mercy!"

Odin laughs. "I will send you back. You can inform your people of their impending destruction."

"Why are you doing this?" Clara asks.

"Why else? The joy of war! Can't you see it on my face?" He presses a button on his arm to reveal his true gruesome face.

Ashildr, Clara and Kathy are then teleported back to the village.

"My child!" Einarr says and Ashildr runs into his arms.

"Clara! Kathy! Clara! Kathy!" The Doctor calls as he runs over to them. He suddenly stops. "I'm not a hugger... Ahh! Let's hug!" He then grabs Clara causing her to cry out in surprise before doing the same to Kathy. Considering this is the second time she's met the Doctor and the first with this face, she feels a bit surprised when he grabs her.

"Where are the others?" Einarr asks.

"I'm sorry, Father."

"I looked them up in my two thousand year diary." The Doctor says flicking through said book not realising that they are trying to tell him about what happened.

"OK."

"Doctor…"

The Doctor continues, "They are called the Mire."

"Listen..."

"They are one of the deadliest warrior races in the entire galaxy..." Oh, she didn't remember that.

"OK."

"…but they're practical. They get what they want and go. You persuaded them to go, didn't you? I knew that you would!" The Doctor beams.

"The deadliest warrior race in the galaxy?" Clara says.

"One of them, yes. Why?"

"Cause this village just declared war on them," Kathy speaks. The Doctor's face drops.

Everyone who's left in the village gathers in the Meeting House to get the rundown.

"They're coming here tomorrow, ten of them, to kill everybody in the village," Clara explains.

"Ashildr, Arantxa... is this true?" Einarr asks.

"It's my fault," Ashildr says.

Kathy sighs. "No, it isn't."

Her father agrees. "Not every misfortune that befalls this village is down to you." He sits next to her. "She thinks she brings us bad luck," Einarr says to the Doctor.

"What bad luck? You haven't had any bad luck. You're fine." The Doctor mutters.

"We are about to be attacked by..." Limpy, though that's not his name, it's just what the Doctor has been calling him, says but gets interrupted.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes. With a whole day to spare! So, leave! Hop it, take off! Into the woods, split up, hide. Hang about there for a week, come back home, make puddings and babies; that's basically what you do, isn't it?"

Einarr stands. "We cannot leave this village."

"Yes, you can. Just pick a direction. Fly like a bird, run like a nose. That's probably a Viking saying, I haven't checked that." The Doctor remarks.

"No. We will fight!" Not Limpy declares.

Everyone around Kathy clamours and yells, "Aye!"

"Really? Well, I don't know if you remember, but they actually took away all your fighters. So, what are you? Farmers, fishermen, web designers." The Doctor rattles.

"Maybe not that last one," Kathy tells him, taking in the confused looks around her. The Doctor shrugs and throws swords on the floor causing them to clatter.

"We are Vikings!" Einarr cheers. They cheer.

"OK... tell me this. How many people here have actually held a sword in battle? By a show of hands? Mmm hmm. Yeah, baby." There's silence in the crowd as no one raises their hand except Clara and Kathy. The Doctor raises his hand and looks around smugly before noticing them. He frowns for a moment before shrugging.

The Doctor picks up a sword and starts pointing at the crowd as he talks. "The Mire are coming for each and every one of you. So, what you going to do? Raise crops at them?"

"If necessary." Not Limpy says.

"I think he was being sarcastic." Not Heidi murmurs to him.

"We're not cowards. We do not run. A death in battle is a death with honour." Einarr announces.

"Aye!" They all yell. A baby then begins crying.

"Do babies die with honour?" The Doctor questions. He walks away and closes his eyes. He then begins translating, ""I am afraid, Mother. Hold me, Mother... I am afraid.""

"Um... he speaks Baby," Clara tells them awkwardly. Kathy had forgotten that but that doesn't stop her from cringing with mild embarrassment.

The Doctor continues, ""Turn your face towards me, Mother, for you... you're beautiful. And I will sing for you. I am afraid... but I will sing." Babies think that laughter is singing. Did you know that? I applaud your courage, but I deplore your stupidity. And I will mourn your deaths, which will be terrifying, painful, and... without honour." The Doctor walks to the door.

Ashildr follows him. "Stay. You could help us. I know you could."

"I told you to run. That's all the help you need. And that's all the help you're getting." The Doctor says and walks off.

Clara and Kathy follow him outside.

"The earth is safe; humanity is not in danger. It's just one village." He speaks.

"Is it ever only "Just one village?"" Kathy remarks. She just needs to make sure he stays now that they are on the course to fight the Mire.

"Suppose I saved it... by some miracle. No TARDIS, no sonic. "Just one village" defeats the Mire. What then? Word gets around. Earth becomes a target of strategic value, and the Mire come back. And God knows what else. Ripples into tidal waves... until everybody dies."

The baby's cries can be heard when he finishes talking. Clara and Kathy walk to stand by him.

"What's it saying?" Clara asks.

"She. She's afraid. Babies sense danger. They have to." The Doctor replies.

"Tell us," Clara demands.

Kathy couldn't help but be quiet, not wanting to take away from Clara's role. Maybe it's a confidence thing.

""Mother, I hear thunder. Mother, I hear shouting. You are my world, but I hear other worlds now. Beyond the... unfolding of your smile... is there other kindness? I'm afraid. Will they be kind? The sky is crying now. Fire in the water." Fire in the water?" The baby stops crying suddenly.

Clara puts her hand on his cheek, "You just decided to stay."

The Doctor looks at Kathy in question, "The baby stopped crying." She shrugs.

The training began the next day and people were lined up with wooden sticks. Clara, Ashildr and Kathy stand at the side watching.

The Doctor paces in front of them. "So, when I say "Move", you move. When I say "Jump", you say "How high?" Unless it's across a gap of some kind which, of course, means you jump horizontally. Yes, what is it, Lofty?"

"Sorry, my name's not actually Lofty, it's Bro..." Not Lofty tries.

"No, it's not, it's Lofty." The Doctor dismisses. "I've got too much to think about without everybody having their own names, so it's Lofty. You're Lofty, you're Daphne, you're Noggin the Nog, ZZ Top... and you're... Heidi. So, we'll try that again. Lofty, what is it?"

"Sorry, sir, it's just... why aren't we practising with real swords?" Not Lofty asks. Kathy has taken quite a liking to these new names.

"Yes, perhaps you'd like to field this one, Limpy?" He points to the man sitting behind him.

"Because we can't be trusted with them."

"That's right, yes. You'll be given your real swords back when you can prove that you can wave them around without lopping bits off yourselves. Heidi, why are your eyes closed?"

"Sorry, sir. Just not that good with the sight of blood." Not Heidi replies.

"No... of course, you're not." The Doctor's tone is exasperated.

"Swords against those creatures. That won't work, will it?" Ashildr says to Clara and Kathy.

"He's just warming up. He hasn't got a plan yet. But he will have... and it will be spectacular." Kathy gives Clara an odd look at that. The amount of faith she has in this man. It reminds her of how reckless she is in this season, after the loss of Danny. Would she be there for that?

The Doctor whistles loudly. "Enough theory. I'm handing out the real swords." They all rush forward to grab just that. Kathy winces knowing what's coming.

The difference between experiencing an episode and watching it on a screen is seeing the lead up to the running and screaming, the rush to throw buckets of water onto burning buildings.

The Doctor mopes as he sits down on a box. "Well, that could have gone better."

Not Heidi groans as he wakes up from being unconscious. "Morning," Kathy says to him walking over.

"What happened?" He asks.

"The Big Bang, dinosaurs, bipeds, and a mounting sense of futility." The Doctor rattles off.

Kathy rolls her eyes at him. "Anyway… more recently, Not Chuckles hit Not Lofty over the head, on his helmet, with his sword, which knocked him out. There was a little blood, which you saw and... did that." Kathy vaguely gestures to him as he flips over once again. "But don't worry it gets better as the first time you did it, you knocked a torch onto some hay, which spooked a horse, who kicked open a gate, and er, I'm... sure you can fill in the rest."

Everyone is inside eating except the Doctor so Clara and Kathy join him outside. They reach him when an odd thunderclap goes off.

"Weird sounding thunder." Clara remarks.

"That's not thunder," Kathy explains. "It's the weapon forges of the Mire. They're being noisy on purpose."

"Well?" Clara questions after a moment.

"Well, Heidi faints at the mention of blood, not just the sight anymore. He's actually upgraded his phobia. Chuckles... he questions every single order you give him, which is going to be a little bit difficult, a little bit tricky, in the heat of battle." The Doctor lists.

"I keep waiting to hear what your real plan is," Clara says. "Kathy won't tell me. She says he doesn't know yet. That and spoilers."

"Yeah, drag me into this," Kathy mutters. Clara nudges her with her elbow at her comment.

"Because teaching them to fight is the only plan I've got." He replies.

"Turning them into fighters? That's not like you." Clara says. Kathy sits there uncomfortable, not really sure what to say as she doesn't know either of them well. Don't know the Doctor well enough personally to weigh on his morals.

"Yeah. I used to believe that too." The Doctor remarks.

Clara chuckles, "What happened?"

"You. Oh, Clara Oswald what have I made of you? Katherine Davis over there is all brand new." Kathy blinks in surprise when he points at her.

"It doesn't matter how well you train them; it's not going to make difference," Clara tells him.

"They'll die fighting with honour. To a Viking, that's all the difference in the world." The Doctor says.

"A good death? Is that the best they can hope for?" Clara says doubtfully.

"A good death is the best anyone can hope for unless you happen to be immortal." Kathy frowns at that comment, even after a few hundred years she wonders if immortality has really hit her yet.

Of course, Ashildr walks by at this moment. "Sorry."

"No problem," Clara says.

"Night." The Doctor calls to her.

"Night night," Kathy adds. Ashildr walks away to her home.

"You've made an impact there." Clara quips.

"Stop it."

"Well, she is nice," Kathy speaks. That's safe to say, doesn't give too much away, well done Kathy.

"Fight you for her." Clara jokes.

"The human race, you're obsessed. You all need to get a hobby." The Doctor complains.

"I've got a hobby, thanks. It's you, by the way." More like a lifestyle.

"Well, get a new one." He then moves and Kathy knows he's going to try and get her to leave.

"Not this," Clara says before he can start.

"Tomorrow it's going to be a bloodbath." He reminds her.

"Don't even ask."

"These people all died hundreds of years before you were born..." Kathy's eyes dart between the two of them.

"I'm not running."

"I have a duty of care." The Doctor tells her.

"No, you don't, because I never asked for that," Clara exclaims. Kathy really feels like she's intruding here.

"Every time we do something like this, I keep thinking, what if something happens to you? I know Kathy will be fine but…"

"Well, stop thinking about either of us and start thinking about them, because you're missing something. The plan Kathy says you don't have yet." Clara says.

"What?"

"How you're going to win. You always miss it, right up until the last minute. So put down your sword, stop playing soldier and look for it. Start winning, Doctor. It's what you're good at." Clara walks off.

"You should go to Ashildr," Kathy tells him once she's left.

"Ah, your hint. Why?" He frowns with those huge eyebrows.

"Cause she's important, you know that." Kathy then follows Clara.

She catches up with her, turns to her, and says, "Nice hair, you know."

She laughs. "Random but thanks. You told me how I had it."

"I did? How long do I have to wait for that?" Kathy asks.

"About 700 years?" She speaks.

"Oh right…"

The Doctor is soon yelling across the village from the boathouse for Kathy and Clara so they run over to see what is happening.

"We hear, we hear," Kathy says bursting in to find the Doctor, Not Loft and Not Lofty's baby. "You figure it out then?"

"So, he hasn't trapped his finger in something again?" Clara wonders.

Kathy laughs. "No." Einarr and Ashildr appear as well.

"Chuckles, bedtime is cancelled. Everybody, off the hard stuff. We've got a long night's work ahead of us. I need a blacksmith. Who's the blacksmith?" The Doctor rambles.

"I'm the blacksmith." Not Lofty says.

"You're the blacksmith and you've got a baby too? He's been at it hammer and tongs." The Doctor remarks.

"Doctor, Kathy, explain. What's happening?" Clara demands.

"There's going to be a war tomorrow." Kathy sees more of the village filter in. "And here's some news, this just in: We're going to win the hell out of it."

"How?"

"Ashildr, this is your village, and you will never have to leave it, I swear." The Doctor says.

"Seriously, how?" Clara asks again.

"I told you that we were basically doomed. Did no one in this two-horn town think to mention that you had... eels? Why didn't you tell me, Kathy?"

Kathy shrugs. "Cause I knew you would figure it out."

"Eels?" Clara questions.

"I give you... fire in the water!" The eels light up and the sounds of electricity zap. "Electric eels!" Baby cries. "Yes, yes! I know exactly how you feel. Well, not exactly. She needs changing."

"Plan, then?" Clara asks.

"And it is a doozy!"

They all move to the Blacksmith's Forge. The Doctor begins talking as everyone goes around doing their job.

"We need to pull that silvery stuff out of Clara's space suit. We can use it to magnify the electrical charge. Stop looking confused! Look happy! Winning is all about looking happier than the other guy…"

"Always walk briskly. Makes you a moving target." He gets handed a sack. "Oh, that's for Lofty. Lofty! And talk with confidence, even if you're terrified. Act as if you know their plan, and sometimes, if you're very lucky, they'll actually tell you it." He picks up a cloak. "Ah, this is for Ashildr."

They are then in the Meeting House where the Doctor finishes explaining his plan. "Then we deploy the anvil. Now, at this stage, getting me one of their helmets is key. We get a helmet, and this is over. Then we can mop up the rest using Ashildr's monstrosity."

The girl smiles and reveals what she has built.

"That is rubbish." Clara comments.

"That's the point!" Kathy replies.

Morning dawns and they all gather in the Meeting Hall to begin the plan. Kathy is excited and scared for what is to come.

When the Mire come through the doors, they are greeted with a party with upbeat music playing and games.

The Doctor, Clara and Kathy all slip down the middle to face 'Odin'.

"Hey, hello, hey! I'm the Doctor. It's lovely to meet you face to... convincing hologram. You could always go "bzzz" and get rid of it, no? No, on second thoughts, don't. That, that, that suits you."

"It is time to fight." Comes the reply.

"No, no, no. We decided against that. We thought we'd just have a party!" They all cheer.

"Let me put it another way. You fight or you die."

"We're unarmed. There isn't a single weapon in this room. Is there Kathy?"

"Nope," Kathy replies. "I'm sure your systems are telling you this."

"You wouldn't open fire on unarmed civilians, would you?" The Doctor says.

"It wouldn't be the first time."

A clunk echoes as Not Lofty had 'accidentally' thrown a hoop at one of the Mire's helmets. There's silence as the that was Mire hit sees a wire that is attached to the hoop dangling from the ceiling.

"Chuckles, now!" The Doctor yells. Electricity zaps from the barrels where the eels are to the wires across the room, eventually reaching four of the Mire and causing them to shake and malfunction.

"Run, run, run-run-run-run!" The Doctor orders and everyone runs to the sides of the room. "That's four down, six left."

"Go!" 'Odin' cries.

"Chuckles, switch!" There is more electricity zapping, but this time to the wires attached to the magnets. This causes the Mire to lose their weapons and helmets, revealing their horrible appearance. "Chuckles, off!" Then everything falls back down and the Doctor catches one of the helmets.

"Don't move." Clara orders having picked up one of their guns. Kathy stands next to her doing the same.

"Go!" 'Odin' orders. The Mire begins shooting.

"How's it coming?" Kathy asks the Doctor, who is fiddling with the helmet.

"Reversing the polarity of the neutron flow. I bet that means something. It sounds great. Ashildr!" The girl goes over and sits in a chair. "Are you ready?"

"I'm scared." The young girl confesses.

"You were born for this. Show them a story they'll never forget." The Doctor places the helmet on her head. Kathy watches her sadly; was what to come worth it to save a village?

The door falls down and Ashildr's construction appears through the door though Kathy knows that it looks different for the Mire.

"What is this beast? It's impossible!" 'Odin' cries in panic.

"Withdraw. Withdraw."

"Stand and fight!"

"Withdraw."

"See how they run." The Doctor mutters. Clara and Kathy share a smile.

"Withdraw." The Mire begins teleporting away.

"Cowards!" 'Odin' yells.

"Withdraw." The last of them leave.

"That's enough, Ashildr," Kathy calls to her. "Story's over. Happy ending."

"What trickery is this?" 'Odin' demands.

"Ha! Says the man with a fake face." The Doctor says. "But you see, that's the trouble with viewing reality through technology: it's all too easy to feed in a new reality. A story to save a town, and a puppet from a nightmare. You see, you've just seen the world through the eyes of a storyteller. The mighty armies of the Mire... Brutal, sadistic, undefeated. Even I believed the stories. But after today, no one will again. An army like yours, it lives or dies on its reputation... its story. And today, you were sent packing by a handful of farmers and fisherman. Not to mention the whole "wetting your pants and running away from a puppet" debacle." Everyone lets out their own chuckles.

"See, that was really funny," Clara says laughing.

"That was hilarious. It's just lucky that nobody recorded that." The Doctor.

"No, no wait, Doctor. I think we did do that." Kathy jokes.

Clara plays the recording on her phone. "See, all it needed was the Benny Hill theme."

"The Benny Hill theme, yes." The Doctor says. "Now, you see, we could just keep this as a funny little film and play it every year at the Christmas party, or... I could upload it to the galactic hub and get a second opinion. So, the question you need to ask yourself is this: Just how important is your reputation to you? Here's a little sneak preview, piped straight into your helmets, free of charge."

Benny Hill theme plays with the video.

"If you don't leave right now, I'll put it out there for all to see and no one will fear you again." The Doctor finishes.

"This humiliation will not go unpunished. We will meet again." 'Odin' teleports but it appears distorted.

"Oh, I hacked your teleporter. Sorry." The Doctor remarks.

Everyone begins cheering and hugging. Kathy lets out a shriek when she's lifted in the air by a few people.

"You did it, Ashildr. You did it. You saved us all." Einarr says running over to his daughter but he then realises something is wrong. "Ashildr... Ashildr? Ashildr!"

"Get the helmet off her." Kathy quickly orders. "Get it off, now."

Einarr takes it off and his daughter falls into his arms. "Ashildr?"

"No pulse," Clara says. "I think. Doctor, is she dead?"

"I'm sorry. I'm really terribly sorry." The Doctor murmurs. Einarr cradles his daughter in his arms as the Doctor flees the hall.

Kathy tells Clara to just let her follow him into the Boathouse. She cautiously walks inside, scared of his reaction.

"Why didn't you stop me?" He asks quietly. She doesn't know what's scarier, him yelling or being quiet. "You knew that when I plugged her into the machine, I was going to use her up like a battery."

"I didn't know another way to succeed," Kathy replies at the same level. "I wish I could have but I didn't know how."

"It's not your fault." The Doctor pauses then exhales. "I'm so sick of losing."

"But you didn't lose. Not completely, you saved the town." Kathy argues though she knows it is pointless.

"I don't mean the war. I'll lose any war you like. I'm sick of losing people." The Doctor says. "You haven't been through it all yet but one day- one day you'll get as tired as me. But unlike me, you've always stayed; not me. No, I do what I always do. I get in my box and I run and I run, in case all the pain ever catches up... and every place I go, it will be there."

"You did your best. She died. There's nothing you can do. But what you can do is realise what has been staring in your face ever since you got it." Kathy replies.

"I can do... anything. There's nothing I can't do. Nothing. But I'm not supposed to. Ripples, tidal waves, rules. I'm not supposed to—" He suddenly cuts himself off when it dawns on him. "Oh. Oh!" He grabs his face and runs over to one of the containers of water.

"Realising now, are you?" Kathy remarks with a smile.

"My face." He says looking at her before looking back at his reflection.

She smirks. "Yeah, your face." He gapes at her again with his hands back on his cheeks again.

"I think I know why I chose it." He whispers. "I think I know what I'm trying to say." His face then picks up. "I know where I got this face, and I know what it's for."

"Go on, tell me then," Kathy says beaming.

"To remind me. To hold me to the mark. I'm the Doctor, and I save people. And if anyone happens to be listening, and you've got any kind of a problem with that, to hell with you!" He runs out of the Boathouse back to the Meeting House with Kathy close behind. She had been working on her fitness ever since she saw him the last time, she knew there would be running.

They return and while they had been gone, Ashildr was moved to lay on a table covered in fur. The Doctor begins fiddling with the helmet.

"What's he doing?" Einarr asks.

"Saving her... I think." Clara replies.

"He is," Kathy confirms.

"It's from the Mire helmet." He holds out a slim square object in his hand. "Battlefield medical kit. I've reprogrammed it for human beings." He places it on Ashildr's forehead and it's absorbed by the skin.

"It's gone. It's inside her." Einarr says.

"It's repairing her. It will never stop repairing her, if it works. Come on, Ashildr. Come on. The story's not over yet." The Doctor whispers to her.

"Daughter..." Einarr tries, his voice is all watery. "Listen to me. This town has lost so much. If we lose you too... there'll be nothing left." There's nothing until she gasps awake. "Ashildr!"

Everyone gasps in relief. Ashildr stays groggy and barely conscious.

"She'll be conscious in a day, up and about in three. No swimming for a week. Now, we're going to need a longboat and some of your best rowers. We're two days' sail from the TARDIS. Come on, Clara." Clara goes over to The Doctor, who turns to leave.

Einarr stops him. "Wait, no. She'll want to see you when she wakes."

"Oh, no. Well, she'll, she'll see me often enough once she understands." Kathy knows he probably doesn't want to be there when she realises, to deal with the consequences of what he's just done.

"Understands what?"

The Doctor hands another medkit to him. "Second dose."

"Will she need to take this?" Einarr asks.

"No, no, no, it's not for her." The Doctor replies.

"Then who's it for?" Clara questions.

"Er, whoever she wants." The Doctor explains.

"Doctor... thank you." Ashildr gasps.

"Oh, don't thank me yet, Ashildr. Not yet." The Doctor and Clara leave and Kathy quickly follows after them.

"So, this is goodbye again?" Kathy says to them.

"Yes, it is." The Doctor says.

"It's nice to see you again," Clara says, she gives her a hug.

Kathy gives her a squeeze back. "And it's nice to meet you." Clara laughs at this and steps back.

The Doctor goes over to her then. "You understand why I gave the second one." Clara frowns confused but Kathy knows that the Doctor will explain to her later.

"Yes," Kathy replies. "I'll keep an eye on her."

"Yes, that's smart." The Doctor says. "Anyway, good luck till the next time."

"Till the next time."

A/N: Autocorrect with these Vikings' names was annoying let me tell you.