Demons and Wolves
This the third of my Ghost of the Rose series. Now, in previous two stories Rose was only mentioned, but what if she wasn't really gone? I mean, yeah the human Rose Tyler lives on Pete's world, but what about the echoes of Bad Wolf? No reuniting. Read and find out.
Everything belongs to BBC I am just a humble fic-writer. The story takes place during the Good man goes to War episode.
Silence, no light, no time, no space. I live outside this simple indicators which mortals created for themselves, I used to be one of them long time ago. Or maybe I will, or perhaps I am, it seems so irrelevant right now. I remember my life, my human, real life with chips and buses and dull job, I remember meeting Him, the man who changed my life forever, I remember becoming This, everywhere and nowhere at once, seeing everything that was, is or ever will be. I remember falling into the void of despair when I lost all of it, I remember becoming stronger and coming back. I remember when He became human and stayed with me until our dying days, the way we lived and travelled again, the way we loved each other, fully and without fear. The one who sacrificed that life with me thought I left him for good. Little did he know, I didn't just left messages through the whole of time and space, I became them. Because I saw it all, I knew that I won't be able to stay with him even for my human life, so I became this, watching silently never interfere just be there to help, when I can.
But today was the day when I have a choice, I can reveal myself for awhile or I could help silently like I always do. I am in the prison now, I can see the clumsy Roman who is desperate to find his wife and daughter and I can finally see her, the poor woman who sacrificed everything to ensure the Doctor's safety. I wish I could help her, I wish I could take her away from this madness and give her a normal life with her parents where she would be truly loved and cherished but I can't, not because I don't have enough power, I can restart the Universe if I want to, but I can't do this, because it's not right, re-writing someone's life is wrong no matter how much better you can make it, the lesson which the Doctor seems fail to learn, I smiled sadly, that is why today he had to be reminded.
I hear them talking about the upcoming battle
- They've taken Amy. And our baby. The Doctor's getting some people together. We're going after her, but he needs you, too.
- I can't. Not yet, anyway. – Melody answered, not that I don't like to think of her as "River" it's just , as me and the TARDIS agreed, Melody suits more to her, maybe because Amy chose it for her. I've always liked Amy, she was a great companion, well I mean she still is, at this point of time.
- I'm sorry? - Rory was really hurt, I could see that. Oh, poor Rory I wish I could say that is the worst part of your day.
- This is the Battle of Demon's Run. The Doctor's darkest hour. – I laugh to myself silently. Oh, Melody, how naïve you are to trust his words, he made you put in that blue book of yours. It was a hard day but he had harder, so much harder days and nothing will ever compare to the day he vanished his people. Melody continued - He'll rise higher than ever before and then fall so much further, and I can't be with him till the very end.
- Why not?
- Because this is it. This is the day he finds out who I am. – yes, it is. And after that day he will try to be responsible for you and fail of course.
Rory disappeared in the light of the manipulator and I could see that he was angry, couldn't blame to be honest, but me and Melody knew that sometimes, no matter how much you want to, you can't say a word.
-Hello, Melody Pond. – I decided to start without a prelude, but even I didn't except my voice to be so…well unhuman.
-Who's there? – Melody was really afraid, God, I admired this woman. She was always so very brave, no matter how much she was really afraid
-Don't be afraid, I am not here to hurt you, I just need to talk to you. – I said as gently as I could. I didn't speak to mortals in a very long time.
-Show yourself then!
In the dark of the cell I started to glow, the way I did when I first saw the raw power of time and space, when I became a part of this power. I took the form of the one who created me, the one I shared mind and soul with. I knew how Melody will see me, eternally youthful, I was twenty human years when I looked into the heart of the TARDIS. This woman doesn't know the connection I feel, as we are bonded through our beloved time machine and it's owner.
I wear a simple white dress with a vest and brown boots, my hair curly and I have a few thin braids, I think my eyes are lined, that's weird, perhaps I just missed human make up.
Melody looked at me with confusion, I knew she wouldn't expect an almost teenager to intimidate her, but I couldn't change my appearance, my echoes will always have my 20-year old face.
-Melody Pond,-I repeated – It's a great pleasure to finally meet you, or for you to meet me more precisely as I've been watching you your entire life. Yeap, I can see the whole life of a person, from birth to death by just looking at him or her, or it, I can see every possibility and every possible timeline, with people like Melody, time-travelers, and especially with the Doctor it wasn't always easy as their lives were in the constant change.
-Who are you? What do you want from me? And how is that you've been watching me my entire life, I've never met you! –I just noticed that Melody was pointing a gun at me, well me being not really alive and all it didn't matter much. But I still didn't like to talk through the gun.
-You should first put your gun down and then I'll answer all the question, well most of them, weeell those I CAN answer. Anyway, as I said I won't hurt you in anyway.
-Why should I trust you?
-You don't have to, but we don't' have much time. I am here because we need to talk and this won't be a nice talk unfortunately, cos I am here because of the Doctor.
-What? – she lowered her gun. – You know the Doctor? Is he all right?
-In your point of time he is fine and dandy, but not quite himself. Don't worry – I said when I saw Melody's expression. Damn it, I forgot how hard to talk about one point in time. – His life is save, well as save as it could be if you are someone like the Doctor.
I saw a faint smile on Melody's face
-Yeah, he is a walking trouble. But still you didn't answer my question. Who are you, and how do you know the Doctor? And what with all the glowing and scary voices?
-Sorry about the voice – I said quickly – I haven't really talked much to mortals in a very long time, so…
-Mortals? – her eyebrows went up
-Yep, I am a bit not alive, well I was long time ago but I am not anymore. Anyway it's not important and right now we need to talk about current problem you and I share.
-The Doctor?
-Yep, the one. You see.- I sighed and sat on Melody's bed – I sort of know when and why you'll meet the Doctor for the very first time, but I can't really go there and tell him all he needs to hear by myself.
-I am not sure that I trust you – Melody sat next to me – But if you explain what's going on I'll pass the message if it's important.
I smiled at her
-It's not about the passing my message it's about persuading. Plus, - I closed my eyes for a second. - You won't be able even to tell him who is it from.
River looked confused
-Why not? If you are a friend of the Doctor, it won't be a problem, will it? Who the hell are you?
I looked at her and my eyes glowed as I felt the power of the vortex running through my veins. Melody gasped a bit a bit, but reserved her composure.
-My name won't say you anything you've never heard of me or saw me before. There is no information about me in any universal databases.
-You don't know how good I am – Melody smiled mysteriously – plus the Doctor shares with me a lot of things, and I am sure he would have shared about someone so interesting as you appear to be.
As I thought, naïve. Well it was the beginning of her long journey she hasn't really SAW the Doctor yet.
-That's exactly why he won't say a word about me, ever. Especially considering that he thinks I am lost for him forever. And it's better to leave this way. He shouldn't know that I am around. It will make his life even more complicated then it is plus it's not fair, he has to move on eventually.
-What are you talking about? – I don't why but I was intimidated by this strange woman with golden eyes, River thought, and not in the power way, there was something about her, I don't know threatening, threatening my relationship with the Doctor. – You say stuff I don't understand at all! You came here, saying nonsense, saying that you need to talk to me about the Doctor, but not really saying anything, at all! .YOU?
The Bad Wolf sighed heavily. Melody did have a point. She wasn't just sure how to start.
-OK, I'll start from the beginning. My name is Rose Tyler, my human name I should say. But you may have heard about my second name, Bad Wolf?
-Bad Wolf? Isn't that an Earth fairytale or something?
-It is – Bad Wolf smiled gently. – I created it, sort of. I put that idea in mind of a writer so it could become my favorite fairytale.
-You put and…what? – River didn't like it. She didn't like it all, especially when she didn't understand something and it certainly was one of those moments.
-Nevermind, Melody. It still doesn't matter. You won't find any specific information on Rose Tyler, and you find nothing but some distant legends on the Bad Wolf, I made sure of it. No time traveler can ever interfere with Rose Tyler's timeline except for those she met in her original timeline and I erased information from every source, I literally live on only in the memories of those who met me personally.
I stopped to catch my breath.
-Why so many difficulties?- River asked – You did everything to erase everything about yourself, why?
-Because it's dangerous. And because I wanted to. I wanted that my time with the Doctor would never been disturbed by ANY kind of events or reboots of the universes, or re-writings of times or future friends or anything. At all. I protected every single moment. I know it's selfish but I couldn't help it. You may say that's it was my whim.
-So you traveled with him, you were his companion once? – River was hoping that this woman was just his companion, not the one she afraid she was.
Rose's eyes glowed again.
-Yeah, I was. Long time before he changed in the man you know. But something happened to me and I left echoes of myself so I could help him when I can.
-I see…Actually, I don't but …And now he needs your help? – Rose nodded- Why? I mean I know that he'll soon find out who I am, but as I see you understand time and you are not here to prevent the kidnapping, so why are you here?
-I am here because I am concerned of what has become of the Doctor.
River felt like she was stroke by a lightning. What did she mean? What did become of the Doctor? He was mad and wonderful, a bit clumsy and egoistical but who wasn't? Her Doctor was perfect just the way he was.
-What is that supposed to mean? –River asked coldly
-Not that you thought – Rose smiled again. And then became deadly serious– It's just…the Doctor started to lose himself. Really lose. When you last saw him it was way long after the battle on Demon's Run, right? – River nodded. – But before that, while he was looking for Amy, his beloved friend, he broke something in himself in order to find her. He made people who didn't want to do that, help him. And you know the Doctor very well, he never comes for debts or revenge.
River thought for a minute, this girl was right. The Doctor never step those lines except when he did and then nobody could recognize him, he truly needed his rules. She sighed.
-You are right, but I don't know what I can do. You see he doesn't really know me yet, not in his point of time. – Rover smiled painfully – And I don't think he ever bothered to really know me, apart from the general information.
The Bad Wolf was surprised, maybe after all Melody wasn't so naïve as she thought she was. Well that's good, that'll make her task far easier.
-I am sorry if I triggered any bad memories – Rose said sincerely – but I really don't have much time. Today you need to tell him all the truth right into his face, Melody, of what he becomes…
-But…
-I know it's scary, believe me, every time I stood up against him it was like looking into the heart of a burning sun. We both know how dangerous he is but you have to be really brave and show no mercy to him, not today. – Rose looked into nothing, like she something no one could. – Our emotions and feelings in this case are not important, because – she smiled again – no matter how much I hate to admit this many lives and many things depends on him, the Universe needs the Doctor.
River didn't know what to say, she was frightened, no terrified, because she knew exactly what Rose meant. The Doctor was wonderful and everything but he also was like fire, when he was flaming too much, nothing could stop him unless slapping him into the truth of his actions.
-OK, - River said – I'll think of something, I had to go there anyway and I know he won't be happy to see me, so why don't do both, right? – she winked – It's just, I am not even sure If should trust you or not.
-Well, I am not asking you to jump of the cliff or something. Just snap him into the reality and right now you are the only person who is capable of that.
-I gather you won't tell me everything, will you?
-No – Rose said a bit too cheerfully – Even if I could or wanted to, for that matter, I can't stay long in the mortal's world. I don't belong here anymore. I am just a memory, nothing more.
-A very powerful memory if you ask me. And I can't tell the Doctor about you, right?
-Yes, you can't tell him you saw me. Because he can't…shouldn't know that I may be around–Bad Wolf said silently. – I watch his life in silence, never changing or touching anything, just helping if I can.
River looked at her and felt sorry for this girl, or memory. She knew that look she could see it every day on her own face. She and Rose both knew the price for getting to the Doctor too close. She just wasn't sure she wanted to know how exactly close this Rose and Doctor were.
-I'll do what you ask, and I won't mention you, but I'll still try to find anything I can about you.
Rose laughed.
-Good luck with that! As I said I protected my timeline, so you won't be able to get there in any way. It's like the whole different universe surrounded by untouchable bubble. Plus, - Rose added after a moment – I don't think you want to know anything about me for many reasons. It's better this way, think of me as a friendly ghost of the past. I promise I will never bother you again.
River looked into those woman's golden eyes and resigned. She'll do what she ask, but she will still ask the Doctor about her, no matter what she needs to know, no matter how much it'll hurt or the consequences. They'll fix it if something happens they always do.
-I know what you think, Melody and I won't stop you, I am not here to control someone's actions. But I need to warn you, that whatever happens next is on your consciousness.
-Than you know that I don't have one – River said confidently.
-Goodbye, Melody. – with that Bad Wolf-Rose vanished into the golden light.
River needed ask and it will be her only chance. She can't ask him on their next meetings because THAT will definitely rip the whole in the Universe, so today or never. Oh God, today will be really difficult day!
