What if the beloved Christmas movie "The Polar Express" had a twist of time and space? What if the mysterious train conductor was none other than the 7th Doctor, and his young companion was Ace, the explosives expert? In this blog post, I will explore how this crossover could work, and why it would make a great holiday adventure.
The story begins with a young boy who is losing his faith in Santa Claus. He hears a loud noise outside his window and sees a steam train waiting for him. He is invited by the 7th Doctor, who is dressed as the conductor, to board the train and go to the North Pole. The boy is hesitant, but decides to join him. Along the way, he meets a group of other children who are also doubting Santa's existence, and Dorothy "Ace" McShane, the Doctor's companion, who is posing as a stowaway.
The train then stops to pick up a boy named Billy, who also initially refuses to board, but changes his mind as the train moves away. Much to the Doctor's annoyance, the boy applies the emergency brake, and Billy is allowed on board, but he decides to sit alone. The children are then served hot chocolate by Ace, who saves a cup for Billy.
The Doctor and Ace have a secret mission: they are trying to stop an evil alien race called the Krampus from ruining Christmas. The Krampus are planning to use their psychic powers to make all the children of the world lose their belief in Santa, and then feed on their negative emotions. The Doctor and Ace have tracked them down to the North Pole, where they have infiltrated Santa's workshop and are preparing to launch their final attack.
The train ride itself is full of dangers and wonders. The Doctor and Ace use their sonic screwdriver and Nitro-9 respectively to deal with various obstacles, such as wolves, icebergs, and broken tracks. They also show the children the beauty of the Arctic, such as the Northern Lights and the mythical Armoured Polar Bear Warriors. They try to keep their true identities hidden, but the children start to suspect that there is more to them than meets the eye.
The climax of the story happens when they reach the North Pole. The Doctor, Ace and the boy sneak into Santa's workshop and confront the Krampus leader, who has disguised himself as Santa. They manage to expose him and free the real Santa, who is tied up in a sack. The Krampus try to escape, but the Doctor uses his umbrella to activate a trap that sends them flying into a giant snow globe. He then uses his sonic screwdriver to seal them permanently inside.
The children are amazed by what they have witnessed, and their belief in Santa is restored. The Doctor reveals himself as a Time Lord, and explains that they came to save Christmas. They also tell them that they can choose to forget everything that happened, or keep their memories as a gift. The children decide to keep their memories, and they thank the Doctor and Ace for their adventure.
The Doctor and Ace bid farewell to the children, and the boy receives a special present from Santa: a silver bell from his sleigh. He also gets a hug from Ace, who tells him to never stop believing. The Doctor gives him a wink and a smile, and remind him to always be good, kind and honest. The Doctor and Ace depart in the TARDIS, which had been hidden aboard the train's caboose, leaving the boy with a sense of wonder and joy.
The story ends with the boy growing up and becoming a writer. He still has the bell, which only rings for those who believe in Santa. He also has a photo of him with the Doctor and Ace on the train, which he keeps as a reminder of his magical journey. He writes a fantasy novel based on his experience, which becomes a bestseller. He dedicates it to the Doctor and Ace, who he hopes to meet again someday.