I've taken some time off of Together We Stand but will hopefully get back to it eventually. In the meantime, another plot bunny hit me. This is just a short story. Well, short for me. It features two characters from the Classic series that really should be brought back, the Black Guardian and the White Guardian. This is the wiki page for the Black Guardian if you want to read up on him: en./wiki/BlackGuardian and the White Guardian too:en./wiki/WhiteGuardian
This story is my first stab at horror. It's very dark with nasty themes. Thats why it has a high rating. There is violence and sexual abuse here. Please don't read if that sort of thing upsets you. I don't think it is that grahic and have read worse round here but here's your warning anyway.
I hope you enjoy it and please review if you have time :)
My Guardian Angel
Chapter 1 - In the Dark
It was a frightening thing to be alone in the dark with only one's thoughts for company.
The Doctor was scared. He was actually scared. Even after everything he had seen during his long years of travelling, fear was still a sensation that was rare for him. But right at that moment, in that cold, cruel blackness, he felt genuinely afraid. His hearts were beating frantically in his chest, causing him to sink to his knees, trying to steady his breathing. He needed to relax and think rationally.
He was the Doctor after all! He never panicked!
Only now, he was. He was terrified. And the worse thing was? He had no idea why. He had been alone so many times before, in worst places than this! So why was he considering giving up now?
He folded his arms around himself, hoping to gain some comfort. There was no other soul anywhere near him, he could feel it. He could sense – nothing. It felt like he had been in solitude for hours. Where was Donna? How had they become separated? He hoped she wasn't there stuck somewhere too, petrified and alone, like him. Crying out uselessly into the night. He prayed she was still in the TARDIS, safe and warm. That's where he had been, before he had found himself in his latest nightmare. Happy and content with his new best friend. With the woman who had taught him so much simply by being HER. Her humanity was like warmth to him.
He closed his eyes and pictured Donna, remembering the last time they had been together. She had wanted him to take her to see Wham in concert at Wembley Arena in 1986 and he had flat out refused. An argument had ensured, ending with Donna threatening to see "I'm your man" for five hours unless he gave in. He had rolled his eyes, smiled and set the coordinates without a word. She always won in the end did Donna. Maybe that's why she was so good for him? Then, he had felt strange and BANG, he had found himself in pitch blackness, completely alone, Donna and the TARDIS had gone. There was nothing to be seen, even though his eyes had slowly become accustomed to the dark. All there was was just constant never ending blackness. Why was he there? Someone must have brought him to the place? But who? And what had they done to Donna?
A nasty thought suddenly struck him. What if he never saw her again? What if she thought he had simply abandoned her?
A new sense of purpose hit him. What was he doing, crouched on the floor like a coward, trembling and moaning about his own fears when Donna needed him more? He was the Doctor! He would act like it. He would find his way out of this, just like any other situation and he would get back to his friend. He would not let her down!
"That's amusing Doctor! Don't you let everyone down in the end?"
The voice caught him completely by surprise. It was loud and deep and full of power. The Doctor got slowly to his feet, his eyebrows raised in interest.
"Ah," he said, "So, not so alone after all."
A booming laughter made his hairs stand on end.
"You are always alone. But then, you know that already don't you, Last of the Time Lords!"
The Doctor frowned. "Well, this is very rude. You seem to know so much about me whereas I don't even get to see you. You don't want to play fair then?"
"I play no games, Doctor. You know me of old," came the reply.
"Really?" The Doctor said, he eyes growing wide. "Now, that's interesting. Are you going to show yourself then?"
"In time."
"Hiding in the shadows? Seems a bit cowardly to me!"
The being hissed. "Look around you, Doctor. You are nowhere, trapped here in my domain. You shall have a future of only blackness and despair for all eternity with only my voice as company. Enjoy your new home, Time Lord. You want to know me. So you shall. You are my guest. To be a guest of a Guardian is a high honour indeed, would you not agree?"
Immediate realisation hit the Doctor. It may has well have been a light shining through the bleak blackness. Of course. How could he not have seen? The darkness. The constant night. The feelings of grief, loneliness and despair. He glared. "I know you."
The Black Guardian laughed again. "I am not easily forgotton. Your fellow Time Lords, together with the White Guardian, trapped me here in my own darkness and left me to rot. After seemingly endless pain and boredom, the chaos of the Time War finally set me free. And now, as the last of that arrogant, insignificant species, you alone must suffer my wrath!"
The Doctor couldn't speak. The Black Guardian was one of the most powerful creatures in the entire Universe. It was basically a God and could rip him apart if it so wanted. But to steal him from inside the TARDIS itself showed how much power the Black Guardian had – and how weak the TARDIS had become. His fears for Donna and for his Ship intensified. What if the evil entity had destroyed them?
"Where is my friend, Donna Noble?"
"Ah yes, your human slave."
The Doctor, despite his grave state, couldn't help but smile. "Well, that proves you don't know her."
His prison seemed to quiver. He knew he had angered the Guardian.
"All life is known to me! From the smallest bacteria to a race as powerful as the Daleks! All will have respect for me!"
The Doctor decided his usual cockiness was the way to go. "It's been a long time since the Guardians were worshipped or revered. Your a thing of the past. A fairytale to frighten kiddies with! You're nothing!"
A roar, much like thunder, rumbled through the pitch blackness. The Doctor's charade fell only for a second. He didn't want to show any weakness to this creature, knowing that would be disastrous for him. He also wanted to keep the Black Guardian talking, hoping he would eventually let slip what had become of Donna and the TARDIS.
"The arrogance of your kind is without rival, Time Lord,"
The Doctor grinned. "Thank you! And I can assure you, I'm actually a Champion among my own kind!"
A snigger. "Indeed you are. The one who led his people during the Great Time War. The General who sacrificed his own race so he could survive."
The Doctor swallowed hard. He would not rise to the bait. "Are you going to come and say that too my face, then?"
"Do you realise I could end your pointless existence right now, simply by wishing you gone?"
"In that case, do I get a last request?"
A chuckle. "Go on."
"I want to see you. In your physical form."
Silence greeted him. He waited.
Finally, he got his reply. "As you wish, Doctor. But you may not be so pleased to see me once you work out the fate I have planned for you."
Suddenly, a shadowy figure was standing in front of the Doctor. The Time Lord blinked. Had he actually been there the whole time, unbeknowst to him? Listening to and enjoying his thoughts and fears?
"Hello again, Doctor." The Guardian greeted him, with a cold smile. He offered his hand happily.
The Doctor didn't return his pleasantry. His eyes narrowed. The Black Guardian was a creature that strived to cause chaos and agony for every race across the universe. He was the the living embodiment of everything the Doctor stood against. The Time Lord despised him.
"What do you want of me." The Doctor whispered.
Another cruel smile. "I have already told you. Revenge. I want you to suffer."
The Doctor paled but he stood firm. "And what exactly do you have in mind?"
The Black Guardian approached him. The Doctor found himself unable to move. He looked up into the eyes of pure evil and shivered.
"In Mind is exactly what I have planned, old friend." The Black Guardian reached out and touched the Doctor's face with his hand, slowly stroking his cheek. The Doctor was revolted but didn't flinch. Then, the creature gripped the side of the Time Lord's head. The Doctor couldn't even attempt to struggle. He was rooted to the ground. He set up defences in his mind but he was no match for the Black Guardian who easily knocked them down. Within moments, the Black Guardian was inside his mind. The dark creature instantly headed for the corners of the Doctor's mind, where all of his worse memories were hidden away. The Guardian gleefully invaded his victims most private, hated thoughts. The Doctor squirmed helplessly as his impressive mind was overpowered and controlled by the all powerful being.
"Doctor, you should see what I'm seeing. Such glorious darkness!"
"Please," the Doctor replied, stop."
The Guardian kept up the torture for a few moments longer before retreating from the Doctor's mind. The Doctor slowly, painfully, opened his eyes and saw the triumphant Black Guardian grinning cruelly at him.
"No wonder I could sense you so clearly," the Guardian said quietly. "So much darkness in you Doctor, so much pain. You are on the brink of greatness, do you realise that? You should let yourself go, give yourself to that blackness. Be free."
The Doctor shook his head and gritted his teeth.
The Guardian sighed. "As you wish, Doctor. We will do this the hard way. My plans for you have changed, my friend. I see a servant in you. A powerful follower who will take my darkness through eternal Time and Space!"
"Never!" The Doctor hissed.
The Guardian shrugged. "No will have no choice. You will give yourself to me. All those I choose do, in the end." The Guradian ruffled the Doctor's hair.
He sprang back, furious and humiliated. "Why don't you just tell me where Donna is?" He thundered.
The Guardian looked amused. "You won't care about her or any other life form for much longer, Dcotor." He turned away. "Ah. Sadly, there is work to do, the Council calls me." He waved a hand absently. "I will leave you Doctor in the company of your own memories and nightmares. I shall return to check on your progress later. Farewell."
He vanished. The Doctor covered his mouth with his hand. This was not good. He was in very serious trouble here. And for all he knew, Donna was dead. For the millionth time, he cursed the Time War. No wonder the Black Guardian thrived on the chaos caused. All those pointless deaths. So much suffering. He must have been in his element.
The Doctor knew he had to get away from this place. He had to find the light. If he didn't, he was in danger of losing his very soul.
"Doctor."
He froze. Her voice came from behind him. He knew that gentle voice anywhere. The Doctor didn't want to turn around. He didn't want to look.
"Rose," he mumbled. "It's not you."
He felt her touch on his shoulder. "Look at me, Doctor." She urged him, her tone kind and patient.
"You're not here." He threw over his shoulder at her. He would not look.
"Look at me, please. I need you. So lost..."
"It's not you!" The Doctor shouted. "I can't be."
"I'll never leave you. I told you forever, remember? You wanted me, you cried out for me. So I came." Her voice was so lovely, so inviting. "I told you I loved you. I meant it. Now, look at me."
He slowly turned around. His breath caught in his throat.
It was Rose. But she was wrong.
Her hair was black and lifeless, her eyes cold and hard. Her face appeared to be bruised and beaten. Her skin was gaunt and pale as a ghost's. She was so thin, her torn clothes were hanging off of her. It dawned on him with horror that she was dead and had been for sometime. This was nothing but a gruesome, decaying corpse. He stared at this monstrosity, at what his Rose had become.
"No," he moaned. "Please."
"You did this to me." She said to him, a terrifying smile on her lips. "You didn't come for me."
"You're not Rose," he murmured desperately. "You're not Rose."
"I trusted you!" She continued, still speaking in the same delicate, loving tones. "I would have died for you."
She reached out for him. He shook his head, trying to block her words out. This could not be real. It couldn't. The Guardian was playing with his memory, forcing him to see his worst fears. Rose was alive and well. She was fine..
The Rose thing before him reached out, grasping him tightly by the arms.
"I love you Doctor, come and be with me."
He tried to break free but couldn't. "Let go of me!" He shouted. Then, he shouted into the night. "Enough! Stop this!"
"One kiss, sweetheart. Then we'll be together again. And this time, it will be forever."
She leant in and forced her ice cold dead lips against his. His eyes grew wide in horror. He shoved her away from him as hard as he could, knocking her to the ground. With a cry like a banshee, the thing leapt to her feet and ran at him, knocking him flying. It crawled on top of him, hissing. It grinned nastily down at him, showing him it's pointed teeth.
The demon was so strong, there was nothing he could do to dislodge it. He was trapped beneath it. He closed his eyes in disgust as he felt it push his large coat aside and rip open his shirt. The next thing he felt was it's teeth as it bit deep into his flesh. He cried out in pain and outrage. When it finally lifted it's head and smiled at him again, still with Rose's face, it had blood on it's lips. With a cry, it began to claw at his trousers, tearing them to shreds, not stopping until he was naked. The Doctor, naked and freezing, couldn't bear any more. He closed his eyes tightly, waiting for what he knew was coming.
He was rolled over onto his front. He didn't understand or know what to expect. He was far beyond terror now. He wanted this to be over. He whimpered as he felt the thing lick at his earlobe. Then, still using Rose's voice, it hissed lovingly to him; "I've waited a long time for this, Doctor. No more teasing. Time to pay." He knew the creature wasn't even human. He wondered what it would do.
He didn't wonder for long.
The Doctor screamed in agony as the demon entered him roughly. The horrified cry cut through the silence of the Black World like a knife. The Doctor laid there, not fighting as the creature took his body. Tears ran down his young handsome face and his teeth were gritted as he tried to stop more screams from escaping. This was pain like no other he had experienced.
The demon grinned down at it's victim. His master would be pleased. The Time Sensitive would be broken by the time he returned.
"Scream again for me." 'Rose' urged the Doctor and raked her claws down his back.
The Doctor arched upwards and let out a blood curdling cry.
"Good boy," it hissed, finally using its own inhuman voice.
The Doctor sobbed.
"No! Doctor!"
Donna awoke suddenly and sat bolt upwards, her own scream still in her throat.
That nightmare had felt so real. She wiped at her eyes hurriedly. She had to find the Doctor, she needed to be sure he was safe. No matter how silly she looked. She could imagine his unimpressed look now. "Donna, dreams aren't real..."
She looked around her. She wasn't in her bed. She was on the floor in the TARDIS console room. The Doctor was nowhere to be seen.
Donna stood up quickly, panic already setting in.
"Doctor," she called nervously.
No answer.
"Doctor!" She cried frantically.
Still no reply.
Now terrified, she raced towards the door. "If he's wandered off without me, I'll kill him!" She yelled to no one. Only the TARDIS responded, with its usual gentle humming sound.
She got to the door and pulled it open.
"Donna Noble."
She let out a low cry of surprise and whirled round.
To her shock, an old man surrounded in a bright white light was stood in the centre of the console room. He smiled at her and beckoned her towards him.
She hesitated, so he tried again.
"Donna, do not be afraid my child. I mean you no harm. I am the White Guardian and I need your help."
She stared at him, speechless.
"I need you to help me save the Doctor from a fate worse than death."
TBC.
Part 2 to follow shortly :P