Return of the Master

"This way!" the Doctor shouted as he ran down the TARDIS's various hallways with Twilight.

"Here!" He fumbled with his Screwdriver in an effort to open the door leading to the hallway, leading to the Zero Room.  The door did not open on command so the Doctor forced the door open with a grunt.

Panting, he stumbles through the spherical room toward the far wall, trying to open a panel that activates the Zero Room

Remember...

"Gaahhh!!!", the Doctor shouted as he fell on his side.  His fore-limbs wrapped over his head, he curled slightly inward.

"Doctor!" Twilight shouted as she enters the room, gently setting Spike down in the centre of the room, and quickly kneeling by the Doctor’s side.  Not sure what to do, she simply watched, overwhelmed by what was happening.

Remember...Remember who you are...

The Doctor, still gripping his head with one hoof, pushed himself into a slouching position  against the wall.  "Twi...Twilight, do...do you know any... ahhh!! My head! Know any healing or...or pain tol...tolerance spells?!"

She shook her head, too distraught to speak.

"Then I guess it's... it's willpower..."

Barely breathing through the pain, the Doctor relaxed and closed his eyes.  Cringing as the voice came back.

Remember what you have done.

Muttering to himself: "Not a good time voice in my head," he controlled himself, calmed down, and stood.

"Doctor!" The Doctor turned to Twilight. "Are you alright?"

"For now, I still feel some pain, but I can manage.  But this is not important right now, Spike is."

He turned back to the wall, and searched for the panel. Then he realized his error."No. Nonono!"

"What, Doctor?!"

"NO! Not now! Not another!" he turned back to Twilight.  "I can’t save Spike, not without the TARDIS, and since it is dead, there is nothing I can do for Spike! Not another one!!! Spike!!!"

"You must!"

"I’m sorry! I’m so, so sorry..."

Twilight went and laid down next to Spike, pushing her muzzle into his chest."Good bye, Spike... My number one... fateful assistant..." Twilight cried next to her friend. The Doctor trotted up to her, and placed a hoof on her back.

After a few minutes she stood, through tears she choked out,"What now?"

"Without the TARDIS I can’t save Spike. If we had a way to preserve his body, I could save him.  But only if I can restore the TARDIS."

Sniffling, Twilight spoke,"There was a preservation spell I read about in one of the books in my library."

The Doctor managed a slight smile from watching Twilight regain hope."Then let's go, the more time we waste, the harder it will be to bring him back!"

All of the sudden, a blood curdling scream echoed throughout the TARDIS.

“DERPY!!!” The Doctor looked toward the door, and started to hobble to the control room.  Twilight, still whimpering, picked up Spike and put him on her back and turned to follow the Doctor.

Run, Doctor... Run, like you always do... And every time, someone dies. Who will it be today, Doctor? Ditzy? Twilight? Spike? Or maybe you. I never know, nor do you. It’s strange, fate. You never know what’s going to happen.

“Who... Are... You....?” The Doctor mumble, and doubles over in pain, causing Twilight to trip over him, dropping Spike’s body, which goes flying down the hall, landing with a thud. “Get... Out... Of... My... Head...” The Doctor mumbles.

“Doctor! Get up!”

“Go... Twilight... Go...”

The purple unicorn looks to the Doctor, and picks him up with her magic. “Not without you.” She picks Spike up, and runs through the halls the the console room, where they find one less Pegasus. “Derpy!!! Where are you?!” Twilight yells.

Doctor...

I’m here, Doctor...

Here... For you...

Here for her.

Like you never were.