When I touched the angel, I knew the chance that I'd ever see Rory again was one in a million.
I knew it was impossible, yet I took the chance and for the first time since I started traveling with the Doctor, the outcome fell into the remaining 999,999 percent.
"Goodbye." I drew in a deep, shuddering breath as I felt the Weeping Angel's cold, stone finger tap my back and everything went blurry, then black.
My eyes snapped open and I stumbled a bit as my brain registered that I was still alive, and had landed in some foreign place. I observed my surroundings. I was in Ancient Rome, and everyone was staring at me. The translation matrix from the TARDIS faded and all I could hear was what seemed to be gossip.
I felt petrified in the middle of the street, with clothes a few millennia after the time.
"Salve. Hello," I heard as the translation circuit deactivated in my head. Now these people might decide to try and kill me or something and I won't be able to tell.
"Salweh," I sounded out mimicking her. I heard a few chuckles as I completely messed up the pronunciation.
"Vene mecum. Come with me," The woman said, with a warm smile on her face as she grabbed my arm and I reluctantly followed her, "Ubi venistine? Where are you from?" she gestured something along the lines of a shrug and then walking fingers.
"Britain," I said assuming she asked where I was from, and added an "us" in hopes that it would sound more Roman like. She was analyzing me, particularly my clothes and mannerisms. Seeing if I fit all of her criteria, for what, I didn't know.
"Video. I see," she said, "Num linguam latinam, vocas? You don't speak Latin, do you?" She inquired.
I shrugged, not knowing how to respond to her question, but apparently it was good enough.
"Lingua Graecia? Greek?" she asked, "Aut lingua Gaulia? Or French?" I shook my head, hoping that it was an acceptable response. None of those sounded like 'English', and a year of Spanish in fifth grade wouldn't get me that far. Studying the Romans (or the 'Hot Italians' as I called them), I learned basic Latin, but not enough that I could converse with this woman, or at least tell the woman that I didn't know how to speak Latin. It was more of a relaxed hobby, learning Latin.
She sighed and lead me through the streets of some Roman city and it was beautiful.
If only Rory were here, I thought. It reminded me a little of Venice, the first time Rory and I went with The Doctor together. That was such a long time ago, and I knew I would make it back to them- both of them.
The woman had dragged me to a building with the words 'Templum Pompeiis'. And then it hit me. I was in Pompeii. She ushered me inside, where I saw many young women in red cloaks and overexessive, dramatic makeup.
"Complecte Templum Pompeiis. Welcome to the Temple of Pompeii," she said, seemingly out of habit. The women in cloaks bowed before her as she walked to a pedestal in the center of the room. Above it was a statue to one of the gods- I couldn't tell.
"O! Apollo, magnus deus sol et oraculum. Oh, Apollo, mighty god of the sun and prophecy," she yelled, "placo accipe donum meum! Please accept my offering." Everyone was staring at me, ushering me to walk up, and stupidly, I did.
Stupidly because that's when the woman raised a knife. And it was pointed at me. I knew I had gotten myself into deep trouble.
"No!" I yelled, and surprisingly got their attention. I slowly walked up to the lady, pocketing the knife.
"Minime! No!" One of the cloaked women screamed. "Parere debes oraculo! You must comply with the prophecy!" She slowly walked towards me clenching her own knife- Where did they get these knives from?- and was about ready to gut me. "Ille Sibylline id iudet! The Sibylline orders it!" She continued, walking towards me.
"Okay," I said, darting towards the door. A mob of them chased me outside as I sprinted around the temple, passing the market and many people's houses. I finally outran them - they kept on tripping on those bloody cloaks.
I snuck in through the garden and hid behind a fountain. I finally took in the sights and smells of Ancient Rome i.e. beautiful, and putrid. Seriously, it smelled terrible. Then again, I remembered something about women wearing gladiator sweat as perfume. That explains it I thought.
I was just about to go inside the house when a man appeared next to me in a flash of light. He wasn't a Roman, judging by his clothes he was at least from within a hundred years of me. He had long blue coat, blue shirt and oddly a belt and suspenders.
"Who are you?" I stage-whispered.
"Captain Jack Harkness," he said flashing a smile. He was quite charming. "And you?"
"Amy Pond… err Williams… err Pond," I said, not sure which one to use.
"You don't know your last name?" he asked, laughing. "That's new,"
"I do," I defended, then sighed, "Forget that, why are you here? And why are you speaking English?" I added.
"I'm a time traveller," he said, as if it was obvious. I mean it was, but you can never be sure. "Just 'sold' some property here, to some guy named Lucius Tarquinius. I can't believe he doesn't know that Volcano Day is in a week!" Jack smirked.
"Volcano Day is in a week?" I repeated. I knew Pompeii was where Vesuvius blew up but the chances that I'd end up here within the same week of "Volcano Day" as Jack called it, were astronomical. "Volcano Day?"
"Of course it is," he said, rolling his eyes, "You're a time traveller too, I assumed by your clothing. When are you from?"
"Earth, 2012," I said, suspiciously, "And you?"
"5106," he said, "Boeshane Peninsula, but I just came from 1522."
It's weird how neither of us were phased by that. "How do you plan to get out before you know, Volcano Day?" I asked him. He seemed to be experienced and I prayed he had a plan.
"Well, I was a time agent." He pointed to his wrist, at a leather wristband with some golden details. "Vortex Manipulator. Standard for all time agents, it's how I time travelled. How did you get here?"
"Weeping Angel," I said, remembering the chase, "But usually by TARDIS."
"Tarwhat?" Jack asked, "Sorry, never heard of it." I suddenly realized his accent.
"You're American," I pointed out.
"Yeah," he said, not getting my point.
"Sorry," I said, "it's just that pretty much everyone I ever meet time travelling is British." It seemed like a weird thing to notice, but it was prominent.
"Me too," Jack confessed, "Do you have any idea why?"
"No clue," I replied. I heard what sounded like a storm behind me. I looked to Jack, "Is that Volcano Day?"
"No," he replied, glancing behind me, "but you may want to run." I turned around and saw that the Sibylline Sisters had spotted me, still looking furious.
He grabbed my hand and took me through a back street. "Why are they chasing us?" Jack asked.
"I avoided a sacrifice," I explained. "At least I think so, I don't speak Latin."
"No translation circuit?" he asked, "Even my Vortex Manipulator's got one, these Tar-whatever's must be very primitive.
"She's called the TARDIS and she's not primitive. The translation matrix just stopped working," I explained. "Less talking more running," I reminded him.
We raced through the streets again, climbing up behind the market up to roofs. We stayed silent until Jack led me into the baths.
"They wouldn't dare go in here," Jack explained, "they're too modest." We walked inside, I averted my eyes from the prominent nudity. Jack however did not.
"Seriously?" I asked.
"C'mon," Jack said, after winking at a few guys, "we'll just stay here for about an hour and then we'll go. They'll have given up by then."
"Fine," I said, walking towards the women's section.
"But no flirting," he mocked me and chuckled a bit. "See you in an hour," he called, walking towards the changing, or rather, stripping area.
I didn't wait for an hour. The Sibylline were gone in a matter of minutes. Most of them anyways. In the corner changing room I caught one infidel undoing her red cloak. Rather than announcing myself, I waited until she left and stole it. Hey, what's the harm?
I went outside to explore (and wait for the inevitable alien invasion). What I saw was what I least expected to see. The TARDIS.
Actually, no.
What I least expected to see was the man that came out of it. He didn't talk like The Doctor, or dress like The Doctor. He didn't even look like The Doctor. I approached him and his companion and felt jealous. That could've been me if I hadn't blinked.
"Are you The Doctor?" I asked.
"Nope, never heard of him," the man said very quickly pulling the woman along. "C'mon, Donna," I chased after them.
"I know it's you," I said. I really didn't. What if this wasn't The Doctor? "It's me, Amy," I reminded him.
The man turned around, his coat following him. "John Smith," he declared, "have a nice day."
"Sounds an awful lot like The Doctor. I know he uses John Smith as an alias," I called back at him.
"Doctor," Donna said, "It's no use, just help her."
The Doctor sighed and stopped. "How do you know who I am?"
"It's me, Amy," I restated, "I travelled with you." He didn't react. "The Angels, Rory?" I asked.
"It's okay," The Doctor said, realizing my worried expression, "I probably haven't met you yet."
"One more thing," I added, "You have a new, um face in your future."
He nodded. "That happens."
"Really?" Donna asked.
"It's a process called regeneration," The Doctor quickly explained. He turned back towards me. "What are you doing in Pompeii the day before Volcano Day?"
"Not my idea," I explained, "Weeping Angels."
"I'm sorry," The Doctor apologized, "I shouldn't have let it happen, I'm so sorry Amy. I really am, or rather, I will be."
"I touched the Angel," I said, "You tried to stop me, but…" I trailed off. I shouldn't have touched the Weeping Angel, and no I probably won't ever see Rory or The Doctor- my Doctor- again.
"Do you want a ride back?" The Doctor offered, "TARDIS is right the-" he turned around. The TARDIS had previously been parked by a market stand but was now gone. "Where'd my box go?" he said, questioning the merchant.
"I sold it," the merchant replied. I felt the translation circuit rewire itself into my head and felt relief. I could finally understand everyone again.
"It wasn't yours to sell!" The Doctor protested.
"It was in my shop," The merchant replied.
The two men argued for a bit while Donna and I shared worried glances.
"Is he always like this?" Donna asked.
"Pretty much," I said, "At least this one doesn't wear a bowtie."
"A bowtie?" Donna repeated, incredulously.
I nodded, "Sad but true, his fashion sense isn't the best…" I noticed a man coming from behind me, Jack.
"Where have you been?" Jack demanded, "And why are you wearing that?"
"I stole it," I explained. "I wanted to get into the temple and see what was going on, but then I ran into," I looked at The Doctor, and then back at him, "Some friends."
The Doctor turned around. "Jack!" he exclaimed, pulling him in for a hug, "What are you doing here?"
Jack was confused. "How do you know me? Not that I have a problem with this or anything," he winked at The Doctor.
"Oh," The Doctor said, "I guess you haven't met me yet- you will soon though, I bet. I'm The Doctor, by the way."
"Does this happen a lot?" Donna asked, "You running into your space friends and whatnot."
"I'm from Earth, like you I assume," I explained, "2012."
"And no, it's not common," The Doctor said, "Maybe about every ten or so adventures, usually when I'm about to regenerate," he furrowed his brow.
"Should we go find the TARDIS?" I suggested.
"Yeah," The Doctor said, "Marcus, the guy over there, said he sold it to a man named Caecilius a few blocks over."
He lead the four of us- we must've looked pretty odd- to where he claimed Caecilius lived. There was a rumble in the ground, the earth was trembling. "You sure that it's not Volcano Day?" I asked Jack.
He ignored me and instead started punching something into his Time Vortex Manipulator. "Jack!" I repeated. "Tell me it's not Volcano Day!"
Meanwhile Donna was having her own spat with the Doctor. "Our first adventure and you take me to Pompeii on flippin' Volcano Day?"
"Donna-" The Doctor tried to defend himself.
"Is this what it is?" she ranted on, "Are you trying to kill us?"
The Doctor opened his mouth to speak but was cut off again.
"Well listen to me, Mister," Donna announced, "This may be our first "adventure" but believe me it's the last. You think anyone will just fall for your weird coat and snog-box, but not me, spaceman!" She stormed off.
"Donna!" The Doctor said waving his arm and calling after her.
"I'll find your bloody snog-box myself, thank you," she called from across the street.
The rest of us carried on for another few blocks before reaching Donna. "I found it," she explained, "I was about to fly it home, but I couldn't figure out all the bloody controls."
"Well you are a human," The Doctor pointed out.
"Who are you calling "human" spaceman?"
The Doctor sighed, "Just take us to the TARDIS, Donna."
Donna mumbled something grumpily under her breath, but complied. The TARDIS looked a lot more worn out and faded than I was used to. The Doctor opened the doors, and I felt myself subconsciously be amazed. The interior was very different. It was coral themed and had round thingies on the wall.
"It's bigger on the inside," Jack stated, eyes flickering around the console room in amazement.
"Course it is," the Doctor responded flatly. He smiled, "I forgot how much I loved hearing that." The Doctor tried flicking the controls, but to no avail. Then he tried using his feet, and finally, a hammer. That was followed by a succession of groans a hitting the console with a hammer a few more times.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Fixed point in time," the Doctor complained, "Can't alter it, but apparently I did. I wasn't supposed to meet you and Jack and now the TARDIS won't fly till you go."
"I've got a Vortex Manipulator," Jack offered. "We can just go now."
"No," the Doctor said, "You need to stay for another-" he checked the screen, "12 minutes, then you can leave."
"And what do we do until then?" I asked.
"Well since Donna seems mad at me, and Jack keeps bragging about his Vortex Manipulator," The Doctor began, "the two of them can go explore Pompeii."
"I'm fine with that," Donna said, looking at Jack.
"Let's go then," Jack agreed. The two of them left through the TARDIS doors.
"Err, should I go with them or?" I trailed off and shuffled my feet awkwardly, not knowing what to do.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could ask you a few things." The Doctor appraised me really intensely like he was trying to figure me out. It was a little strange- okay it was very strange.
"Okay," I nodded, "but aren't you not allowed to ask questions about the future?"
"There's already a strain in the time stream, and paradoxes happen all the time. The reapers are probably too tired of all the paradoxes to care." The Doctor waved it off. "Besides, it's likely I'll forget."
I nodded, "So what do you want to know?"
"Just things," The Doctor said nonchalantly, "Why did I choose you over anyone in the universe to be my companion?"
"Well," I began, "You left me waiting for 12 years once." His eyes widened. "You visited me," I explained, "In the middle of the night when I was 7. Well more like crashed there, actually. Your TARDIS was in flames and so were you- you were actually wearing something like that, just without the suit jacket," I said, gesturing to his blue and brown pinstriped suit and normal tie.
"What you said about me wearing a bowtie," The Doctor said, "Is that true?"
"Yep," I responded, "and a fez too."
"I've worn worse," he postulated, "once I wore celery- did I ever tell you that?"
"Nope," I said, "but I'd love to hear more."
I promise that I didn't mean for that to come out as sexual as it did. Some sort of emotion passed over The Doctor's face, too quickly for me to tell what he felt.
"Oh really," he responded, "how about the time I wore a 16 foot scarf or the question mark jumper," he paused, "still have those in the TARDIS closet."
"Those were yours?" I said, laughing, "I'd just assumed some alien left them there."
"Well I am an alien," The Doctor pointed out. "And I did leave them there."
"You know what I mean," I protested, happy to have the Doctor back. For the first time since the Angels, I was truly happy. Now I just needed Rory.
"Amy," the Doctor said shifting to a more serious tone. He glanced at one of the many TARDIS clocks. "In 7 minutes you and Jack are scheduled to leave Pompeii via Vortex Manipulator. It's a fixed point, and," he took a deep breath, "I don't know if you'll ever see me again."
"I probably won't," I sighed, "it was nice meeting you. I'm glad I got to meet this incarnation of you." I smiled at him.
He just stared at me with this look I couldn't quite place. Then he leaned forwards and kissed me.
I slapped him. "What was that for?!" I asked.
His jaw dropped, "I am so sorry- I just thought that you and I were-"
I cut him off, "We weren't, I have a husband, and a daughter." Should I make him feel more uncomfortable? Probably not, but he just made me feel disgusted, so what's the harm? "Who's your wife?" I added.
"Oh my god, Amy," he apologized, "I'm really, so so so sorry." He raised an eyebrow, "Sorry, did you just say wife?"
"Spoilers," I mimicked River and laughed.
"Amy," the Doctor paused, confused, "this whole conversation is essentially spoilers, why note that one?"
"No, it's just that she says that a lot- she's a time traveler," I explained.
"Time Vortex Manipulator?" he asked, "you seemed to know what it was, or was it a-"
"Usually she uses a Time Vortex Manipulator," I felt he could have talked forever if I hadn't cut him off, "but sometimes she hijacks the TARDIS. Makes you- the future you- frustrated really since she can drive it better."
"I-" The Doctor was abruptly cut off when the doors banged open Jack and Donna entered the TARDIS. "What's wrong?"
"There were these crazy woman in red cloaks who were chasing us," Donna said after gasping for breath.
"The Sibylline Sisters?" I asked.
"Probably. They were cursing about a redheaded woman," Jack said. "Maybe we should leave now."
"Yeah," I nodded, following Jack out of the TARDIS.
"Where're you heading?" He asked.
"New York, 1938," I responded, elated to see Rory.