Author's Note: So it's been about a week since I've published chapter one. I'm hoping that I'll be able to update this story weekly. Again feedback is always welcome.
The Doctor and Cosette ran down small cobblestone streets tucked away in back alleys and raced through the central park of Montruil-ser-Mer. They ran until they reached the end of the park where a swirling blue staircase disappeared into a swarm of clouds.
"Where do those stairs lead?", Cosette asked, both puzzled and fascinated by them.
The Doctor turned to her and smiled. "You're about to find out", and with that he pulled her up the staircase.
They ran up the steps for what seemed like ages to Cosette. She was feeling a little dizzy once they got to the top, but it was shadowed by sheer amazement.
At the top of the staircase was a massively puffy white cloud, glowing from the billions of stars shining overhead. The night sky was so clear that Cosette felt as if she was peering into the whole universe.
"It's so beautiful", she gasped, but there was something strange resting on top of the cloud. Instead of a castle, as she had dreamed of, there was a funny blue box. She pointed to it and asked, "What is that?".
The Doctor seemed to have unceasingly smiled that night. "That's called a Tardis; time and relative dimension in space. It's my spaceship."
Cosette snapped her head around at him, "Spaceship? You mean, for traveling in space? But how is that possible? It's just an old blue box."
"It's not just any old blue box. Let me show you", the Doctor replied, leading Cosette onto the cloud and opening the front doors of the box.
The box was enormous on the inside. there were lights everywhere, beeping or whirling or flickering, intricate circles turning around above, different pathways and entryways and doors, and in the middle stood a large control center covered in buttons and igniters with a huge beam of light in the center shooting up into the ceiling.
"So we can go anywhere in time and space; you get to pick", the Doctor said while letting go of Cosette's hand and running towards the control center.
"It's bigger on the inside", Cosette stated, frozen from shock.
"Yep, everybody says that. So where do you want to go? Oh, and by the way what year is it again?"
"1823; it's Christmas Eve, too", Cosette answered, walking slowly towards the control center. "We can go anywhere we like?"
"Absolutely! It'll be your Christmas present then, I suppose. Now come on; where to?"
Cosette smiled. This would be her first Christmas present. She thought a minute, ran up to the Doctor and said, "I want to see the beginning of the universe."
The Doctor smiled and powered up the Tardis. "Hold on!", he yelled as they both fell from the Tardis' speed. The huge beam of light began to pulse up and down as a loud, timed-out noise filled the entire Tardis.
All of that commotion needed in seconds, everything becoming completely still.
Cosette was just starting to get up while the Doctor was already at the doors of the Tardis. She smiled and ran towards him.
"Are you ready, Cosette?", he asked.
She waited a second before answering. "I'm ready", she finally replied.
The Doctor smiled wider at her and opened the doors.
The two were floating in space, staring out at darkness lighted only by sparkling, ginormous clouds full of color. It was magnificent; Cosette had never seen anything like it.
"Post Big Bang. This theory that states that a large explosion created the universe and it just kept expanding upon itself. Particles formed, like quarks, which built up protons, electrons, and neutrons, which make up atoms. Atoms are the building blocks of all living and nonliving things in the universe", the Doctor explained.
"The Big Bang?", Cosette asked, a bit puzzled.
"Sorry, it's a modern theory. Currently being researched and used in the 21st century." The Doctor paused for a second, and then continued, "Now here's the fantastical part. Those cloud-like things are called nebulas. In nebulas, atoms and other particles are being forged together to create billions and billions of stars. And you know what else? You are made of the exact same atoms that those nebulas are using to make stars right at this moment."
Cosette thought this over for a few moments, and then said, " But Doctor, I am no where near as beautiful and grand as the many stars I gave upon. I'm just a homely little girl. How can I be made of those same atoms?"
The Doctor looked at her with love and compassion, saying, "You see, Cosette, from the beginning of time, an individual plan was mapped out for every living being in the universe. Those plans represent a living being's lifetime. If one of those plans was not completed, just one, the entire universe would be off balance. There would be absolute chaos, perhaps even the end of the universe. It would be as if a star was never created even though it was supposed to be. Your life, Cosette, is as precious as the existenand of each and every one of those stars. You are more than worthy to be made of the same atoms that build stars."
Cosette was so touched that tears began welling up in her eyes. "Thank you, Doctor", she finally croaked, giving him a hug.
Afterwards, the Doctor closed the Tardis' doors and skipped back to the control center. "So, where do you want to go next?"
Cosette thought for a minute and said, "I want to go see my mother."
