I own nothing. Least of all this.

"Here we stand, here we fall,

History don't care at all,

Make the bed, light the light,

Lady Mercy won't be home tonight.

You don't waste no time at all;

Don't hear the bell, but you answer the call.

Comes to you, as to us all,

Then its time for the hammer to fall."

- Queen

1) WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS MY FRIEND

The battle was over.

But the war was just beginning.

And it would be a war. Rory had absolutely no doubt of that. He would burn anyone and everyone in his path, just to get his perfect little girl back. River's speech had been nothing more than that; a speech. Regret did no one any good now; especially not the Doctor. The damage was done. The weapon was armed. And even if there was a self-destruct button, Rory wasn't sure he could bring himself to push it.

His beautiful, precious, perfect little girl. No. He would never.

But to the others? To the ones that had taken her, the ones that would twist her?

They would hear the drums of war, loud and clear. Coming for them. And they would learn that there was yet one Centurion of Rome who still marched to the beat.

One two three four. One two three four.

His vision of the fate that lay in store for the Silence was interrupted by the Doctor calling his name. "…and on my life, she will be safe!"

"On your life, Doctor?"

The voice seemed to melt the very air around it in its intensity. Rory could've sworn the temperature of Demons' Run went from 'chilly asteroid base' to 'boiling volcano fortress' in the blink of an eye.

"On your life? Don't make me laugh. I think its safe to say that everyone here is well-acquainted with just how often you attempt to throw away your pathetic existence for the mere chance to save something even more pathetic; so please, don't pretend your life is anywhere near precious enough for you to swear on. And safe? Hardly. She hasn't been safe since the minute she was so much as an idea; much less a living, breathing, person. For that matter, none of the people who's lives you touch are safe for very long, if indeed they ever were."

A hooded figure, draped in a long flowing black coat, seemed to glide from the shadows into the light. As it came to a stop beside River, Rory couldn't help but notice that the voice had now taken on the quality of lightning; he almost fancied he could see the sparks fly under the figure's lowered hood.

The Doctor's eyes were now bouncing rapidly back and forth between River and the shadow, his hands trembling as he rubbed them together. "River? Who's your…friend?"

"Well sweetie, that's a bit of a long story, even for you. In fact, to tell it properly, I'd imagine I'd need something along the lines of a flowchart."

The figure's head bounced slightly. Was…was he laughing?

"So let's just say…he's the rather useful fellow who was kind enough to get me out of Stormcage just in time for this. I couldn't exactly call you for a ride; and Vortex Manipulators are rather hard to come by. Especially in prison. And I wouldn't have missed this for the world."

The Doctor swallowed. "And just how much did his…kindness…cost?"

River merely pursed her lips in reply. "Spoilers."

The Doctor took a step forward. "River…"

The figure copied the Doctor's move, now standing directly between him and River. "Didn't you hear her, fish fingers? She said spoilers. You would do well to listen."

The Doctor froze on the spot. "…What did you say?"

"Fish fingers, raggedy man. Fish fingers…and custard, I believe it was."

"How…how did you know that?"

The figure waggled a finger. "Ah, ah, ah, ah, Doctor. Wrong question. Then again, that always been a nasty habit of yours. Asking the wrong questions over, and over, and over again, until its just this side of being too late to ask the right one. No; here's the question you should be asking, Doctor, here's what you should really be worried about: just why, exactly, did the Silence decide to take her? You said it yourself; you just can't cook yourself a Time Lord. The DNA for that has to come from somewhere, and I'm quite certain they didn't take it from you. So tell me, Doctor, just where did it come from?"

Vastra spoke for the first time since the shadow's appearance. "The Time Vortex; the TARDIS in flight; this was the first time…"

The figure waved her off. "Yes, yes, I'm quite sure that's the first time anything like that has ever happened aboard a TARDIS. Any TARDIS. I'm absolutely positive nothing of that sort has ever occurred in recorded history. If it had, I'm quite sure the Time Lords would have experimented on it; left behind accounts on the circumstances and results. Just the sort of thing your old friend the Rani would have enjoyed, Doctor. Tell me, Doctor, did the records of Gallifrey not so much as even mention anything like this ever happening?"

The Doctor's hands were clenched into fists now. "…No."

"No. And do you know why? Because its just. Completely. Impossible. That's not how it works, and you know it. So, I'm afraid we're right back where we started. Just where did all that lovely Time Lord DNA come from?"

"…You?"

The figure recoiled in disgust. "Abso-lute-ly not. Wrong. So wrong. I can't even begin to describe to you just how wrong that is."

River elbowed the figure in the side. "I don't think he meant what you think he meant, sweetie."

"…Oh. Well that's okay then. But you're still wrong."

"Then how?! Tell me! Even if there's a perfectly good reason you don't feel like I deserve to know, please, for Amy and Rory's sake…"

"Ooo, low blow Doctor. Using your companions as ammunition? Never mind, that's exactly what I'd expect from you. Amy and…Rory, was it? The Ponds. The parents. Domestic bliss, not so much. Have you told them yet, Doctor? Have you told them what they've done to your precious Amelia? The little girl who waited for you oh so long, only for you to let her down. Again. Do they know?"

Fear. Crashing, burning, drumming through Rory's head. "…Doctor? What…what did they do? What did they do to…to Amy?"

"Oh, that's a shame. It seems the Doctor would've been perfectly happy to fly off once again, leaving the consequences of his actions to be dealt with another day. And to answer your question, Mister Pond, what they've done to Amy…did you really think they were just keeping her here, waiting for what was to come? You can't 'cook up a Time Lord' growing inside something else without affecting that something in one way or another. Amy, your sweet, precious, beautiful Amy…she's part Time Lord now, too. But not enough for longer life or regeneration, oh no, they couldn't afford that at all. Only a few things here and there…such as how she can no longer have human children."

The fear was gone now. Anger had replaced it. And soon, there would be suffering.

"The only way for the lovely Miss Amy Pond to have children now…is if Time Lord DNA makes up the other half, so to speak. I imagine the Doctor would have rather taken that particular secret to his grave than ever have you learn of it. Of what it could mean."

The suffering had come. Just not to whom he had wished.

Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out.

One two three four. One two three four.

"Rory…Rory look at me…"

Amy. Oh Amy.

Her eyes, her absolutely gorgeous eyes…they were blurry.

A perfect match for his own.

Through the tears, they looked like they were shining.

No, not shining. Burning.

"Rory…hey…its gonna be okay…Rory, its gonna be okay…the Doctor will fix it. He'll fix it. Doctor? Tell him. Tell him you'll fix it."

The Doctor's silence was the only answer Rory needed to hear.

"Two thousand years. Two thousand years, I waited. And I'd do it all over again, just to keep you safe. I will always wait for you, Amy. But you don't need me anymore. If you ever did. He can't fix it, because there's nothing to fix. This is the universe, saying 'Your part's over now, Rory. Time for someone else to take the stage.'"

There were trails running down Amy's face now. "No…no Rory…I won't leave you…I can't…"

"You can, and you will."

"Actually, the both of you are only half right. She can, that's true. But she won't. At least, she won't, if you do just one, tiny little thing for me, Rory Williams. Just one little thing, and the both of you can have it all back. All of time and space, and a family to share it with, if you so desire."

The Doctor snapped his head up. "And just what is this 'little thing', eh? A trick? A trap? Are you working with the Silence? Do you want him to kill me? Because I'll be more than glad to let him do it, if you swear to me it'll give them back what I let be taken."

"Always the theatrics with you, Doctor. I don't think you've turned down a chance to be dramatic in your life. Whether this thing ends up killing you or not…well, I suppose that'll be up to Rory here. Do I want you dead, Doctor? You have no idea. But not yet. And if there's one thing I'll swear to, its that I am no friend of the Silence. I really do want you to have your family back, Rory Williams. All of it."

Rory squared his shoulders. "Right. This thing…don't suppose you'll tell me what it is before I say yes, will you?"

"But of course I will. River, if you would be so kind…"

River nodded, and began to pull a chain from her belt. It glowed in the light, fire seeming to trace behind it. And attached to the end of the chain, dangling from River's hand, was…

A watch.

One two three four, one two three four.

The Doctor's face had frozen in an expression of horror. "No…"

"Oh yes, Doctor. This…this is the answer to the question you should have been asking. This is where all of that lovely Time Lord DNA came from…and so much more besides."

Amy was tugging at the Doctor's sleeve. "Doctor…Doctor, what is that?"

"It's a…well it's a…it's a fob watch."

"Yeah, I can see that, but what is it?"

The Doctor seemed to sink into himself. "The Time Lords, they…they had a way of…hiding who they were. Of rewriting the entirety of their DNA, to any species they wanted. No memories from before the change, in case anyone came poking around in peoples' heads looking for them. And all that they had been, every single life and memory they'd lived…was kept in one of those. So that when the danger passed…they could live as themselves again."

"And…that's good, yeah? Another Time Lord? We could use one of those right about now…"

The Doctor's voice had dissolved into a whisper. "Don't you see, Amy? Rory…all that he is, all that he ever was…Rory Williams…he doesn't exist."

"…What."

"…And I'm not entirely sure that he ever did."

Silence.

Clapping.

"Bravo, Doctor. Took you long enough. Honestly, I thought you would've figured it out after the Pandorica. I mean, really. Two thousand years, without going completely mad? Human minds were never meant to last that long; but a Time Lord's mind…to them, two thousand years might as well be tea and biscuits. And just how were the Silence supposed to be able to get their hands on Time Lord juice unless it was already present in some capacity? Just a minor fault in the Chamaeleon Arch, and presto! Just enough Time Lord left in him to guarantee his brains wouldn't be leaking out of his ears by this point."

Rory recognized that look. The Doctor was gone, now. All that was left was the Oncoming Storm. He jabbed a finger in the figure's direction and spat. "YOU!"

"Yes, me. But to be fair, he did ask for it. And it really was necessary. Necessary then…but no longer. So, Rory Williams…will you become what you what once were, in order to save the family you could have?"

The Doctor opened his mouth. "No, Rory…!"

And Amy slapped her hand over it.

"Rory…Rory, don't listen to him. This is your choice…this is you…only you get to decide. Time Lords…they can live for centuries. Our daughter will live for centuries. But I won't. I'm still human, Rory. But I'll gladly spend the rest of my life with you. And there's nothing I would love more than to have a family with you. Now...choose."

Choose. Easy for her to say. How on Earth was he supposed to choose?

His daughter, growing up alone, twisted and tortured because he hadn't been strong enough to save her. He could save her…the Silence never dreamed they'd have to fight two Time Lords. He could have his family back…but not forever. He'd outlive Amy…in a way, he supposed he already had. Twice now.

And maybe, just maybe, if there was already a bit of Time Lord in her…he could find a way. They could find a way.

"…I'll do it."

"Rory, no…!"

CLUNK.

The Doctor fell to the ground. Vastra stood over him, his blood dripping from the pommel of her sword. "He won't be out for long. If you truly wish to do this…do it quickly."

Rory swallowed, and nodded. Slowly, as if in a dream, he inched forward, his hand outstretched…

The watch settled into his palm. As if it had always meant to be there.

He could feel it, now. More strongly than he ever had before. The light, the fire, the burning, the drumming…

It was Time.

Time, in all of its glory.

The moment had come.

The watch clicked open.

FIRE.

ASH.

DRUMS.

SCREAMS.

LIGHTS.

AND IT ALL…

BURRRRRRRRRRNED.

One two three four, one two three four.

Ah, it was good to hear his heartbeats again!

"WHOAH! Head rush! Two thousand years will give you such a crick in the neck! Now, where were we?"

His eyes darted around the room, until they happened to land on…

"RIVER!"

He bounded forward and wrapped his left arm around her shoulders. "Daughter dearest! How are you!"

River smiled sickly. "Glad to have you back too, Dad."

"Of course you are. Why shouldn't you be? Ooo, and you've brought our mutual friend along as well! Is it my birthday?"

The figure's hood finally dropped as he leaned into the offered hug. "Well technically…"

"Hush you, I was being rhetorical."

"….WHAT?!"

Ah yes, he was wondering how long it would take Amy to remember she could yell like a Scot. Or was it a ginge?

"She's your daughter?"

"Technically our daughter. Or so I'm told. Amy, meet the absolutely fantastic little causer of chaos our Melody grew up to be: Professor River Song, Archaeologist."

"Ooo, I'm going to be a Professor some day? Spoilers!"

He grinned. "Quite. Now, down to business."

A groan came from somewhere on the ground. Or rather, someone.

"…Starting with that."

He bounced across the room, kicking the downed Doctor directly in the ribs. "Up and at 'em, lazy bones! We got things to do, people to kill! Or is that people to do and things to kill? I always get those two mixed up…"

A rattling cough shook the Doctor's frame. "What…who…"

"Well, if I were being dramatic, I'd say that the 'what' was 'your worst nightmare', but somehow, I just don't think that would be quite appropriate. As to the who…let's see just how long it takes you to work it out. But first!"

He whirled back to face River and the…other one. "I suppose you two kids will be off now?"

River smiled. "Like you said, Dad; things to do, people to kill."

"Or the other way round, if you prefer. Take care of yourselves; if either of you died, I'd imagine I'd have to kill you."

The man in the coat snorted. "I'd like to see you try."

He couldn't resist grinning. "Oh believe me, I feel much the same…"

River rolled her eyes. "When you two are quite done….come along, sweetie. Oh, and Dad…try not to hurt the poor Doctor any more than you have to. We do actually need him later on, remember?"

He waved her off. "Yes, yes, of course, I'm well aware. And I don't really want to hurt him. Not now, at least. Give it awhile, and I'm sure we'll be at each other's throats again. Just like old times!"

The Doctor wheezed. "Old…times?"

River began typing something into her Vortex Manipulator. "And that's our cue to leave. Bye all! And thanks for all the fish!"

There was a flash of blue light, and when it dimmed, both River and the other were gone

He rubbed his hands together. "Now the real fun begins."

"Old…times?"

"Are you still harping on that? Come on Doctor; that was a whole fifteen seconds ago! Really, I thought you would've moved on by now. Then again, you never were the fastest in the Academy…"

The Doctor's eyes widened in realization.

"…But you always got there in the end."

"No…it can't…you…you died…."

"I got better."

He reached down, and hauled the Doctor to his feet by the scruff of his neck. "Can you say it now, Doctor? Can you same my name aloud, for everyone to hear? To tell them; to let them know exactly the sort of man and or monster you've allowed in their midst for all this time?"

For a long moment, it seemed as though he would say nothing at all.

And then…

"…Master…"

"Very good; top marks, Doctor! You go to the head of the class."

The Doctor's body hit the ground once more as he dropped it.

Vastra's voice quivered in fear. "…No…no, it can't be you…"

"Ah! So you've heard of me, then."

Vastra nodded shakily. "The Doctor…he told me…he said he was the last of his species…he said you were dead."

"Rule one, my dear: the Doctor lies. And to the rest of you who have absolutely no idea who I am: I'm the Master. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. I am over three thousand years old, and I am going to burn the entirety of this universe to the ground to get my family back. Anyone got a problem with that?"

He took their silence as answer enough.

He stooped, and swept the Doctor up into a fireman's carry. "In that case…"

He snapped his fingers.

The TARDIS doors swung open.

"Avante!"