Tardis

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Tardis
Tardis

Snow White and the Seven Keys to Doomsday was a short story by Justin Richards published in Doctor Who The Official Annual 2012.

Summary[]

A tale from the Old Times of Gallifrey tells how Rassilon asked the Matrix daily "Matrix, Matrix that sees over all, who has the power to make Gallifrey fall?" to which came the daily reply was "Only you, oh Rassilon. Only you, through the Eye of Harmony have that power." But one day came the reply "Snowana the Fair, using the Keys of Doomsday, she has the power to destroy all of Gallifrey." Rassilon was enraged and banished the young girl into the wastelands of Outer Gallifrey where he believed she would die, and he never again asked the question of the Matrix. But Snowana didn't die and grew into a beautiful woman nicknamed Snow White.

Selendor found a powerful ore in the ground and fashioned a weapon to destroy the city. Seven keys were fashioned for the weapon, one for each of the crimes of the Time Lords (The keys of Pride, Injustice, Power, Exile, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Nevermore).

Selendor gave the Key of Nevermore to Snow White, sure that she'd use it to exact her revenge, however she instead fled through the wastelands, and used the key to create a force field box around her, where she stayed, clutching the keys to her hearts. Selendor found Snow White, but wept for his lost key, and died of his grief.

Characters[]

  • Rassilon
  • Snowana, aka Snow White
  • Selendor

Worldbuilding[]

  • This tale supports the notion that Rassilon was insecure about rule over Gallifrey and acted to ensure he went unchallenged.

Notes[]

Continuity[]

  • Those banished to the wastelands of Gallifrey are referred to as Outlers; by the time of the events in The Invasion of Time in Gallifrey's history they are called Outsiders.
  • Snow White and the Seven Keys to Doomsday was referenced in TV: Night Terrors as a story which the Eleventh Doctor claimed to have enjoyed in his childhood. This story was intended to be published after the broadcast of the episode, which was originally scheduled to air during the first half of Series Six. It is assumed this then is the story the Doctor was referring to in the episode.
  • This tale was also mentioned in COMIC: Funny Phone Call!