Clara had been captured.

It was all his fault. He took her to Ghtari, a planet which he had no idea how dangerous was, and then broke the law. He hadn't meant to. How was he supposed to know that it was illegal to eat meat on that planet? It was not intended to offend anyone, it was just a ham and cheese sandwich that Clara had eaten during their picnic. There were lovely, lush fields of the most vibrant green grass that smelt like vanilla and honey. It was perfect for a picnic, quiet, peaceful, tranquil...

Only they were arrested as soon as Clara had taken the first bite of the offending food item.

He rushed as fast as his legs would carry him to the Supreme Court where the Ghtarians were holding Clara. His only plan was to some how find a way inside and find her.

The first part of the plan was decided and dealt with. The Doctor simply whipped out his psychic paper and hastily made his way inside the building. He approached the desk front desk, showing his psychic paper to the murky green coloured alien with a spike on its head and completely black, insect eyes. It bowed its head almost immediately. "Greetings, Master of the Sunlake." It's voice resembled a computers voice.

"I need to find Clara Oswald." He asked, but the alien had no idea who he was talking about.

"The human girl?" The Doctor explained.  "The one that was eating meat? Brunette, about..." He put his hand to his shoulder, "...that tall. Feisty."

"She is being held in captivity until ready for incineration."

The Doctor felt a lump in his throat. "What do you mean, incineration? All she did was eat a bit of ham and cheese sandwich!"

"Our laws on the consumption of meat are very strict."

"Is there any way we can stop it? Delay it for the time being?" He was beginning to panic. He wouldn't lose this companion. Not this one.

"The incineration is inevitable. Clara Oswald shall be killed." It stated blankly in its robot voice.

"Where is she? Show me!"

"I'm afraid I can't let that-"

"SHOW ME!" He yelled, the fury of the last Time-Lord bubbling over the surface. The Ghtarian gestured towards a black door.

The Doctor dashed to the place that the alien had pointed to. After several flights of stairs, he had reached a door labelled 'Prisoner Cell'. Opening it rather quickly, almost violently, he found Clara tied to a chair by sharp metal strips, with a piece of cloth in her mouth to act as a gag, two Ghtarian guards either side of her.

"Doctor!" She muffled, tears streaming down her face.

"Unauthorised life form in cell. Your death will be inevitable-" The guards pointed their guns at the Doctor and he raised his arms in surrender.

"Wait! I've come here to negotiate."

The two Ghtarians looked at each other. "Negotiate? What would you be willing to do to suffice the crimes committed? What would you do to save the woman you love?"

He stared at Clara, who shook her head as if to say 'don't do it'. His love for her was overwhelming.

"Anything."

Clara sobbed harder. She did not want him to sacrifice himself or anything else.

"Anything?" The tallest of the guards repeated.

"Yes. Take me, instead. Kill me instead. Let Clara go. My ship will take her home. Please-" The Doctor begged.

"No." The smaller guard replied. "The human female is to be incinerated. No bargains."

"Let the Time-Lord finish, Khan." The other tutted.

The Doctor was baffled. "How - how did you -"

"Know that you're a Time-Lord?" A familiar voice said from behind him. It couldn't be, could it - ?

"Master." The Doctor growled. "How did you -"

"Now, now, Doctor, it's impolite to not look at someone when they're speaking to you." He chuckled menacingly. The Doctor did not move, his eyes focusing on a terrified Clara.

"LOOK AT ME!" The Master screamed. He grabbed the Doctor by the back of his head and pulled his head backwards, facing the ceiling. "you've changed your face, old friend." He observed the Doctor's bow tie and purple tweed. "Dress sense is still awful, mind."

The Master ran his finger along the Doctor's jaw. "What are you willing to do, Doctor?! Give me a reason I shouldn't just kill this precious companion of yours - oh, it's a new one. She's eye candy, this one. You devil." The Doctor pulled his head away to look at the Master. He looked the same, with blonde hair and black clothes. Just as he did last time.

"This is between you and me, Master. Leave her out of this." The Doctor snapped.

"Now, you see, I'm afraid I can't do that." He sighed happily. "She broke the Ghtarian laws, or rather, MY laws."

The Doctor's eyes widened. "You. You invented that law when we got here!"

"Caught on, have you?" He giggled evilly. "Now, I don't want to kill you, that just won't do. I've never wanted to kill you, you idiot. I just want you to suffer. Just as I have. Let me see - I can't quite remember what I -" he pondered for a moment before he finally thought. "That's it! Remember! "

"Remember? What will she remember?" Asked the Doctor.

"More like what she won't remember, Doctor!" He giggled again like a psychopath. "Now, let's make this simple for the simple minded ones here." The Master mocked. "Either Clara dies, quite a painful death, too. Or -"

"What? WHAT IS IT? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO TO ME?" Clara choked slightly on the gag in her mouth.

"Silence her, Khan." The shorter guard tightened her restraints, making her squeal in pain.

The Doctor rushed forward to her but he was stopped. "Let her go, Master. Let her go or you will deeply regret -"

[I suggest you start to listen to the music from the YouTube video I attached to the story. I promise you it makes this part of the story so much sadder. Please. I promise you, it will give you the best feels attack ever. GO DO IT. PLEASE. SERIOUSLY I MEAN IT, IT MAKES THIS PART REALLY SAD.]

"Oooh! Intimidating! I love it when he does that." He told the tallest Ghtarian. "Either Clara dies, Doctor, or she forgets you. Everything about you. She won't remember you, or your adventures, she'll continue her life as a nanny to the Maitlands as if nothing happened. Oh, and I forgot to mention: if you interfere in the slightest way, if you ever come back into her life, if she ever remembers, she will die."

The Doctor froze. His insides churned. He felt a horrible chill rush through him. It felt as though his hearts, that had already been broken time and time again, were crumbling. Clara had been his rock, his medicine, she had healed his sadness, she had made him forget about all those terrible things that had happened. She was his best friend; she was his one true love.

Clara screamed again, and as the Doctor whipped his head around he saw the guards tightening the metal yet again, blood trickling down where the metal was digging into her flesh.

"Time is ticking, Doctor. Make a choice. Lose your salvation, or kill it."

It was Donna all over again. He had to do what was best. He regretted losing Donna deeply, but it was the only way he could save her. And now he had to make the decision again. Let her die or let her live, completely oblivious to the life they had.

His thoughts were interrupted by yet another scream, and in that split second he had made his decision.

"Let her live. Take away her memory of me, but let her live." He croaked, feeling his voice break at the sound of his beloved Impossible Girl in pain.

"Oh, I was hoping you'd pick the other option." The Master sighed. "I'll give you five minutes, and then her memories -" He mimicked an explosion with his hands. "Booooooosh. Gone. Never again. Khan, Droq, leave them. "

The three then left the room, leaving Clara and the Doctor alone. The Doctor rushed to the contraption that Clara was held captive in and loosened it, letting her out at last. Straight away, her arms wrapped around his neck in a hug.

"Please don't do this." She cried into the crook of his neck. "I don't want to forget, I can't forget- I can't go -"

"I'm so, so sorry, Clara." He would not cry. He felt his eyes sting but he had to stay strong.

"It was gonna be me and you. Travelling through the stars in our little blue box. Forever. Clara and the Doctor. A Time-Lord and his companion"

'I was gonna be with you. Forever.'

'Rest of my life. Travelling. In the TARDIS. The Doctor Donna.'

'Oh, oh my god.'

'I can't go back.'

'Don't make me go back.'

'Doctor.'

'Please.'

'Please don't make me go back.'

'No!'

'No!'

'Please!'

'No!'

"Clara, I don't want you to die. I can't carry another death with me. I feel so guilty-"

Clara lifted her head and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I can't forget you, I can't forget all that we've done - I'd rather die young, knowing that I've seen the stars, that I've saved galaxies, rather than die an old woman with a boring life. You said it yourself, some people live more in twenty years than others do in eighty. It's not the time that matters, it's the person." She cupped his face with her hand. "I love you, Doctor."

Tears were streaming down his face. "Quite right, too... And I suppose, if it's my last chance to say it... Clara Oswald ..." He placed his hands on her temples and kissed her lips gently. In an instant, Clara was unconscious in his arms, all memory of the Doctor merely a dream.

"I love you."