The Four Doctors

Chapter One: The Gathering

Within the TARDIS console room, the Doctor and his companion, Amy Pond, were discussing where in time and space they should travel to next.

"I know." said the Doctor. "How about Barcelona?"

"No thanks." replied Amy. "I've already been to Spain. Went there on my last holidays"

"Not Barcelona the city. Barcelona the planet." the Doctor retorted.

"There's a planet called Barcelona?" Amy asked.

"Yeah, it's a great place." the Doctor told her. "Good food, moderate temperatures, friendly locals, fantastic views... not to mention they've got dogs with no noses!"

"Dogs with no noses?" repeated Amy increduously.

"Yep." the Doctor stated matter-of-factly.

"How do they smell?" asked Amy, a wry smile appearing on her lips.

"Awful!" the Doctor retorted, causing them both to laugh. "Isn't that great?" he sniggered. "You can tell that joke a thousand times on that planet, and they'll find it funny every time!"

"Alright then." chuckled Amy. "The planet Barcelona it is."

"Your wish is my command." said the Doctor, reaching for the TARDIS's handbrake. But before he even touched it, the TARDIS began to move on it's own accord, shaking and juddering even more violently then usual.

"What did you do this time?" Amy asked, trying desperately to remain upright.

"Nothing!" yelled the Doctor. "I never touched it. Something else has taken control!"

"But what? Who?" inquired Amy.

"I have no idea!" replied the Doctor.

The shaking finally came to a stop as the TARDIS reached it's destination.

"Where are we?" asked Amy as she got to her.

"Let's find out." replied the Doctor, heading toward the doors.

"Are you sure it's safe?" Amy asked.

"No." admitted the Doctor. "But that's never stopped me before."

The pair exited the TARDIS onto a grassy green area, abundant with natural beauty.

"Oh, I know this place! cried the Doctor with delight. "We're at the Eye of Orion!"

"The what?" asked Amy.

"A beauty spot." elaborated the Doctor. "The beauty spot. The most beautiful and peaceful place in the universe. It's atmosphere is constantly bombarded with positively charged ions, giving visitors a sense of tranquility and calmness."

"That's all well and good, Doctor," began Amy. "But it doesn't explain why were we brought here. I haven't a clue. Do you?"

The Doctor opened his mouth to answer, but was cut off by a metallic thrumming noise, the same noise that a TARDIS makes when in motion. He and Amy looked at their TARDIS, thinking that it may have decided to leave without them, but it was still there. In fact, it had been joined by another, near-identical TARDIS. Another two metallic thrummings were heard, heralding the arrival of two more TARDIS's, identical to the previous one.

"Doctor... What's going on?" asked Amy, now very confused.

From the TARDIS closest to theirs, a man with heavily gelled brown hair and a blue suit stepped out, followed by a red-headed woman. The woman eyed the Doctor's TARDIS. "That's a bit flash." she said to the man. "What's that then, the sports model?"

The other two TARDIS's also opened, disgorging their occupants; One contained a dark-haired man in a leather jacket and a blonde girl, the other a man with wavy brown hair, clad in Elizabethan style clothing.

"On no." groaned the man in the leather jacket. "I thought I was past all this."

"Past all what?" asked the blonde girl.

"I'll explain later." said her companion brusquely.

"Hello, all!" said the Elizabethan-clothed man chirpily. "What brings me here?"

"Doctor, what's going on?" Amy repeated. Who are all these people?"

The Doctor stepped forward.

"Amy Pond," the Doctor said. "I'd like you to meet..." he gestured towards each of the men in turn, "...me, myself, and I."

To be continued...

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