Work Text:
29/06/2026 07:51 Timeline Error/Aborted Timeline
The Doctor looked worried. "We're stretching the timeline too far. I've got to go, back to my old life. Bye, then. Good luck."
The other Doctor beamed at her. "I love you, Doctor".
The Doctor looked puzzled. "I never say things like that"
The other Doctor nodded. He knew. "That's why you've got me," he said.
The Doctor looked thoughtful. "I should say that to Yaz."
The other Doctor smiled sadly. "You never do. But she knows."
The Doctor began flickering in and out of existence. "Goodbye Doctor," she said, as she vanished.
"Goodbye, Doctor," said the remaining Doctor as he began forcing his own regeneration. He'd never forced one before. They'd always been forced upon him. Would this work? Artron energy began flowing from his fingers and he aimed them into the time rotor. The TARDIS spun in the vortex, with regeneration energy flowing outwards into the universe, changing things, fracturing timelines, creating parallel realities. Time jumped as the Doctor entered one of the many new realities. Had this all been a mistake?
It felt like a scratched record as he was pulled backwards to a new position. With a great whoosh, the Doctor found himself thrust into place and he emerged with an uncomfortable pop. A new universe was born and he was now part of it.
The Doctor was dancing next to Belinda. They had dealt with the Wish World and everything was back to normal. The Doctor shook his head.
Belinda looked around the impromptu dance floor created in the UNIT tower. "What's wrong?" she said.
"Where's Poppy?" The Doctor asked.
Belinda smiled at him. "Don't you remember?"
The Doctor stopped dancing. "Indulge me. Tell me where she is."
"She went back to her mum of course," said Belinda. "When we were pretend married in Conrad's world, we were foster parents, because her mum was an undesirable. When the wish began to break down, she came back and Poppy went to live with her."
The Doctor searched his mind as the new memories of this reality fell into place. Yes! Poppy was safe. He had saved her. But she wasn't Belinda and his baby any more. He could go and regenerate in peace. But why couldn't he feel the regeneration building? There was no surge of energy to hold back. He felt fine.
Belinda searched the Doctor's face. "Is something the matter?"
The Doctor thought. The TARDIS had absorbed his regenerative energy. That had happened before hadn't it? Only last time he'd directed the blast of energy at his hand. That had created the metacrisis and a new Doctor. This time, he realised that he'd created a new Poppy and no regeneration. He looked back at Belinda and beamed widely.
"No! Absolutely nothing's the matter! I'm absolutely fine!" He jumped up in the air with pure joy. "I'm just fine, Belinda! And so are you! Come on!"
He grabbed Belinda's arm and dragged her towards the TARDIS.
"Not so fast!"
As they reached the doors of the familiar blue box, Ruby caught up with them. The Doctor and Belinda turned to see her.
"If you're off somewhere, I'm coming with you! I'm not missing out on any more adventures," said Ruby, as she pushed past them into the TARDIS. THe Doctor and Belinda followed her.
"Did you think you had some Missing Adventures?" asked Belinda.
"I know you two had quite the time of it when you were travelling round with the Vindicator," Ruby said. "I don't want to miss out on any New Adventures."
The Doctor was running round the console, setting coordinates. "I hear you," he called. "I think it's time we all went somewhere together. Here's to New Adventures with Belinda and New Adventures with Ruby! Let's have ourselves some New, New Adventures!"
The TARDIS spun off towards many more destinations for the Doctor, Ruby and Belinda.