Ghosts of Peladon
Rokesmith

Disclaimer: Doctor Who and its characters etc are property of the BBC. This fanfic was written for fun not profit.

Author's Note: This story is set just after Vincent and the Doctor, and as a result contains spoilers for Season 5 up to that point. It's set on the planet Peladon, which featured in two Third Doctor stories, but it's not necessary to have seen either of them to understand the plot of this one. Finally, this story is rated because it contains some quite dark themes. I've done my best not to depict them any more graphically than they have been done in the show itself. However, some readers may still find it upsetting.

Chapter One: A Fellow of Infinite Jest

The TARDIS phone was ringing.

Amy Pond paced back and forth in front of the console, wondering if she should answer it. It might be Winston Churchill again, or perhaps President Kennedy, or maybe even the mysterious River Song.

"Doctor!" she called for the second time. "The phone!"

Her voice echoed over the sound of the idling engines, but the Doctor still didn't answer. Amy gave the phone one more ring and then snatched it up.

"Hello?"

"Is this the Doctor?"

The voice was definitely female, that was all Amy could tell. She didn't recognise it but it was clipped, precise and confident.

"No," she answered, "but you've got the right number. Who's speaking?"

There was a pause. "May I speak to the Doctor?"

"I'm sorry," Amy said, "the Doctor's very busy at the moment but I'll make sure he gets your message."

Another pause, lasting long enough to make Amy wonder if the connection hadn't broken, then, "The Doctor is formally invited to take his place at the celebration of the ten year jubilee of Harulan the Fourth, King of Peladon, as befits the High Physician of the Royal Household."

"King?" Amy repeated. "Jubilee?"

"Yes."

Amy did her best to keep the excitement out of her voice. "Well... I think the Doctor will be happy to except your... generous invitation. You can tell the king that."

"I shall. Will he be coming alone?"

"Absolutely not. You can tell the king that the Doctor will be coming with his lovely companion... Lady... Amelia of... Inverness."

"Thank you."

The phone buzzed and was silent. Amy looked at it for a moment and then shrugged and replaced it. She tapped her foot impatiently against the glass floor and wondered whether she should go and look for the Doctor or just wait for him to come back. What put her off searching was the thought that he could be anywhere and she could swear that sometimes the TARDIS actually tried to stop her from finding him.

Unfortunately Amy had never been particularly good at waiting for the Doctor and after ten minutes she was contemplating typing 'Peladon' into the typewriter just to see what would happen. Before she had a chance, though, the Doctor was bouncing down the stairs, grinning and towelling off his damp hair.

"Ah, there you are Amy. I was suddenly overcome by a desire for a dip in the pool."

"You remembered to change first this time?"

"Of course, Amy. You know me, I never make the same mistake twice."

"You do."

The Doctor's smile flickered for just a second. "Yes, well, now I've had my swim, where would you like to go next? If you're in the mood for a dip too, then I could take you to Space Florida. They have sand there that's so fine and so smooth you can actually swim in it! Imagine that, Amy, you can hardly tell where the beach stops and the sea starts!"

"Actually, Doctor," Amy said, managing to make him hesitate enough for her to go on, "I think I might have found us somewhere to go."

"Oh, where's that then?" The Doctor cast a suspicious glance over the console, as if he was worried she'd been pressing buttons.

"Well, while you were in the pool, this woman rang and said we were invited to a royal celebration at a place called Peladon."

"Peladon," the Doctor repeated. "Peladon? Peladon! I haven't thought about Peladon in ages. And I haven't been there since... well, it was a very long time ago."

Amy grinned. "So we're going, yeah?"

"Of course! Space Florida isn't going anywhere and I love a good party."

He was already moving, long fingers dancing over the keyboards, tweaking the taps, prodding the buttons, his whole body in motion as he sent the TARDIS on course. The time rotor shuddered and the entire ship trembled as somewhere far away – or perhaps all around them – the engines roared into life.

"Right," he announced after a few moments. "Peladon here we come." He pivoted on his heel to face her again. "Come along, Pond. You and I need to get changed."

"How do I look, Pond?"

Amy wasn't sure how to answer the question. She was at least glad to know the Doctor wasn't planning to attend a celebration on another planet dressed like a mad librarian in his grandfather's clothes, but she couldn't call this an improvement.

The Doctor was wearing a white silk shirt with a high Victorian collar, dark trousers and shiny leather shoes. Over the top he'd put on a waist-length burgundy frock coat and she was sad – but not surprised – to see the enormous dark blue floppy bow tie around his neck, held in place by a silver pin bearing some kind of figure-eight crest. It just looked, to Amy, like a more formal and even more old-fashioned version of his normal clothes.

"Well?" he asked expectantly.

"You look... nice," she said finally.

"Nice?" The Doctor twirled in front of the mirror. "Nice? Is that all? Well, I suppose it could be worse. You look nice too."

Amy's dress wasn't as frilly as she had expected when she'd found it. It was narrow, lilac in colour and with a high neck-line. She felt a little awkward in it, but she wasn't going to let it show. She'd also pinned her hair up and found a string of what she assumed were diamonds to go around her neck and earrings to match. Looking in the mirror, she knew that any man in the universe – except of course the Doctor – would say she looked a lot more than 'nice'.

The Doctor finished transferring the contents of his old coat into the pockets of his new one. Amy half expected him to offer her his arm, but he didn't, he just strode towards the wardrobe door. Amy put on the heavy white fur coat she'd picked out and followed him; keeping up in a formal dress and heels was even harder than normal. Fortunately, somewhere between the wardrobe and the console room, the Doctor seemed to realise this and slowed down enough for them to walk side by side.

"Welcome to Peladon!" the Doctor exclaimed, throwing open the TARDIS doors.

The first thing Amy felt was the wind whip her hair, and she was glad she'd pinned it up. The TARDIS had landed next to a rocky outcrop on the edge of a wide track in between further jagged rocks. And at the end of the road, on the pinnacle of this barren mountain, was a castle. It could have been carved out of the same grey stone, looming huge and solid over the mountain and the landscape beneath it. Above its towers, the sky boiled with dark clouds that stretched all the way to the horizon. Caught in the moment of setting, the dull red sun hung between the grey clouds and black land, and then it was gone.

"Hasn't changed a bit," the Doctor said happily.

"Doctor, if I'd know you were going to take me mountaineering, I'd have worn other shoes."

"You'll be fine. Come along."

As they picked their way over the rocks towards the points of light that marked the end of the road, the Doctor cheerfully babbled about his previous visits to the planet. Amy was far too preoccupied trying to keep her footing to really pay attention. She caught occasional references to kings, queens, miners and monsters, but couldn't tell how they related to each other, or if they did at all.

At the entrance to the castle, they were met by a pair of guards in emerald green livery and tricorn hats. The pikes they held might have been ceremonial, but they still looked sharp.

"Hello!" The Doctor called. "We're here for the jubilee. I hope I've got the right place. I'm the Doctor and this is..."

Amy cut him off. "Lady Amelia of Inverness."

"Lady Amelia?" The Doctor repeated. "Of Inverness?"

"Doctor, I am not going to a royal party as Amy Pond from Leadworth."

"But... Inverness?"

"Why do you think I talk like this?"

The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a third man, apparently summoned by one of the other two. He was small, bald and blinked up at the pair from behind a pair of heavy glasses.

"Doctor? Lady Amelia?"

"Yes?"

"I'm Phineas, the Royal Chamberlain. Please follow me. I'm afraid we weren't sure when to expect you. It's an honour to have you here."

The Doctor smiled. "Well, we're honoured to be here, aren't we Amy? We'd be even more honoured if you could tell us what's happening tonight. We didn't get the full program."

"Of course," Phineas nodded. "The other guests have already arrived. His majesty is hosting a ball tonight and the celebration of his jubilee is tomorrow evening with a dress rehearsal in the afternoon."

"Three parties in one day?" The Doctor exclaimed. "I never knew you lot knew how to have such a good time."

"You're welcome, Doctor," Amy said.

"The Doctor and Lady Amelia of Inverness!"

As the echoes of their booming announcement faded, the Doctor skipped down the steps into the banqueting hall. By the time he had reached the bottom, he already knew the exact layout of the room. The walls were hung with red, purple and green banners, bearing the crests of the Peladon royal houses. The chandelier hanging from the ceiling was carved out of an intricately complicated pattern of crystal that made the light dance over the pristine white tablecloths and golden cutlery that adorned the three long tables.

The people milling around the tables were divided up into three groups. There were the Peladonian aristocracy and minor members of the royal family in complicated and colourful robes and dresses, the representatives of the Mining Parliament in much simpler formal suits, and the delegates from the local human planets in their unique cultural costumes. A few of them looked up as he reached the bottom of the stairs, but the announcement of the entrance had mostly been lost in the sound of conversation.

Amy finally reached the bottom of the stairs behind him. "So who are all these people then?"

The Doctor pivoted back and forth, wondering which group to start with. "Well..." he began, but got no further.

The crowd in front of them parted and a figure loomed out of it. It was a mass of solid reptilian scales and armour towering over the Doctor and looking down at him dull red eyes.

"Doctor," it hissed. "Kashak. Of Mars."

"Hello!" The Doctor said. "Amy, this is Kashak. She's an Ice Warrior, but don't let the name put you off."

"Hi," Amy said.

"Is it you, Doctor?" A shrill voice came from behind the Ice Warrior.

Kashak stepped to her left. Behind her was a single large eye on top of an insect-like body with six arms, some of which were hidden in the folds of a long green cloak. Amy flinched and took half a step back.

"Alpha Centauri!" The Doctor was beaming now. "My dear fellow! Sorry, couldn't help myself. Amy don't be shy, he's not an Atraxi. This is Alpha Centauri. Well... he's an Alpha Centauri. Their names are unpronounceable to most species and so few of them leave their home planet – they don't like to travel, you see – that everyone just calls them by their species to save time."

"This is true, Doctor," the monocular alien replied. "It causes us no offense. We were invited to represent the Federation at the Jubilee. Are you the same Doctor who aided one of my predecessors on Peladon?"

"That's me."

"Then we are honoured to meet you, Doctor," Kashak said. "And your companion."

Phineas reappeared at their side. "Doctor, Lady Amelia, ambassadors. The king is about to make his entrance. His Majesty has been very excited ever since he heard you were coming and has set a place for you and Lady Amelia at his side. Please, follow me."

"Certainly," Amy said, but as soon as his back was turned, she spun towards the Doctor, beaming with delight. "Oh my god, this is amazing. First Liz Ten, now this. I bet you know loads of other royals too."

"I do," the Doctor replied. "But not all of them would be pleased to see me."

They were led through the milling crowd to the centre table. Everyone else was taking their seats too. A pair of footmen pulled out their chairs for them, but they barely had time to sit down before a gong rang through the hall and everyone stood up again.

The hall went silent and everyone turned towards the stairs as the major-domo announced, "His Majesty, Harulan the Fourth, King of Peladon."

The king led the procession down the steps. The first thing the Doctor noticed about the man in the formal uniform jacket and sash was his age. Harulan was in his mid twenties, hardly older than Amy, with a round, cheerful face and dusty blond hair just visible beneath his silver crown. He walked slowly down the stairs, took his place in the elaborate chair to the Doctor's left, waited for his entourage to find their own seats, and then signalled everyone to sit down.

Conversations slowly started up again, before the king turned to his guests of honour and asked uncertainly, "Doctor?"

"Yes. Hello, Your Majesty. It's very nice to meet you."

"You are not the man I was expecting," the king said.

"Sorry. I've... changed a bit since then."

"Doctor," Amy hissed.

"Yes, right. Your Majesty, this is my friend, Lady Amelia."

Amy leaned forward over the table, unsure if she was supposed to bow or curtsey while still sitting down, so she settled for holding out her hand. "Hi, Your Majesty."

"I'm delighted to meet you, Lady Amelia."

The Doctor slumped slightly in his chair. "Every time," he muttered.

A plate bearing a pair of small roast birds with garnish was served first. The Doctor cheerfully attacked it with a mismatched knife and fork while Amy delicately cut hers up with the dainty cutlery she was supposed to use, making sure none of the sauce that came with it got on her dress.

"So how's Peladon these days?" the Doctor asked when he was finished. "I haven't stopped by for a while."

"The royal records say four hundred years," the king replied.

"That's definitely a while."

"He does that," Amy put in.

"Things have changed on Peladon since those days," the king said.

Amy leaned forward. "How? I don't know much about this planet."

"Yes you do," the Doctor protested. "I told you all about it on the way here."

"But you haven't been here in four hundred years. Can you tell me, Your Majesty?"

"I can refuse nothing to a companion of the Doctor, Lady Amelia. Where should I begin?"

Amy pointed to the opposite table where the group of men and women in plain suits were talking intently. "Who are they?"

"They are the Upper House of the Parliament. The man in the middle is the Premier."

"The Parliament?"

The king smiled. "Surely you know, Lady Amelia, that Peladon's main industry is mining and that the Parliament is the miners' elected government?"

Amy looked over at the Doctor, whose mouth was currently full of the vegetable main course. "Sometimes he forgets to mention things... Your Majesty."

"No, I do not," the Doctor mumbled.

"Did he tell you why he decided to return to Peladon after all this time?"

The Doctor stopped, a fork half way to his mouth. "We were invited."

"Invited? By whom?"

The Doctor turned to Amy, who shrugged desperately. "I don't know. Someone just rang the TARDIS phone and said this was happening and asked if we'd like to come. She didn't say who she was."

"You knew we were coming," the Doctor turned back to the king. "How did you know?"

"I'm not sure." It was the king's turn to shrug. "My chamberlain came to me a week ago and said they had received a message from the Doctor saying he was coming to my jubilee celebration. I'll ask him about it as soon as he can."

"You do that," the Doctor murmured, then he smiled. "But there's no point spoiling our dinner worrying. What's for dessert?"

Dessert was a multicoloured fruit salad arranged in a pyramid that arrived a few minutes later. The Doctor smiled at it and slowly turned the plate around, examining it from every angle.

"I should come to Peladon more often. Even the food is built well."

The king looked past him at Amy, who was smiling with a weary resignation. "You seem used to this, Lady Amelia. Have you known the Doctor a long time?"

Amy smiled. "Ever since I was a little girl."

"Well that was a lovely dinner," the Doctor said. "Wasn't it a lovely dinner, Amy? We really must find whoever organised our invitation so we can say thank you. So what's next for the evening? We didn't get a programme, you see."

"After dinner..." the king said slowly. "Is traditionally... dancing."

"Dancing?" Amy exclaimed.

"Yes," the king nodded. "And... it would be an honour to dance with the Doctor's companion."

Amy hesitated. "But... I don't know the steps."

"I think I can teach you."

She looked over at the Doctor. "Can I?"

The Doctor smiled. "Go ahead, Pond."

The king rose. Everyone else did as well. The major-domo announced that the drinks and dancing would take place in the ballroom. Under the eyes of everyone in the room, the king held his hand out to Amy. She glanced back at the Doctor and then took it.

"Your Majesty..." she whispered, "There isn't a queen of Peladon, is there?"

The king smiled. "Of course there is, Lady Amelia."

Amy froze. "Oh."

He pointed to an elegant woman in a dark dress standing near the Premier. "My mother, Queen Rossum."

"Oh."

Amy looked over her shoulder at the Doctor, beaming broadly, and then turned her attention back to King Harulan as he led her towards the ballroom. The Doctor watched them go. In the noise of the crowd, no one heard him sigh, and no one saw his smile fade. He followed them into the ballroom trying very hard not to think about a boy who had never existed called Rory Williams.