Chapter 2: Apple Grass
Macy awoke the next morning unsure of where she was for a moment. She sat up and looked around and then she remembered, she was in the TARDIS. She smiled; it hadn't all been a dream. She got up and got dressed again. After putting on a bit of makeup she found her way out to the console room. "Hello?" She called looking around.
The Doctor peered up through the glass floor. He was sitting in the harness and soldering a few wires. "Hello Macy! Good morning- well relatively speaking that is...Have a good sleep?" He jumped up from his seat, took the goggles off his head, and then bounded up the stairs to meet her.
"Yes, I slept like a rock," she laughed. "I really needed that. What were you up to? Something wrong with the TARDIS?" she asked, a bit worried.
"Oh that? Nope, nothing's wrong. Just usual maintenance! Glad you slept well." He clapped his hands together. "Breakfast?"
"Sure," she replied as her stomach seemed to growl on cue. "I also want you to tell me where you have decided to take me today," she said happily.
"Then follow me to the kitchen!" He grabbed her hand and tugged her along down a corridor. When they reached the kitchen he let go of her and spun about the room. "Alright, what shall it be hmmm?" he gestured about the room.
"Anything really, even some eggs would be fine." She replied, "I'm not picky."
"Eggs it is then!" He danced around the kitchen, throwing various things into a skillet. He put the concoction on a plate and placed it on the table in front of her. "Bon appetit!" He went over and pulled two mugs out of a cabinet. "Tea?" without bothering to hear an answer, he poured two cups of tea and brought it to the table. He sat down and took a sip.
"You aren't eating as well?" She asked as she took a bite. "This is wonderful!" She exclaimed smiling.
"Already ate, had a banana- bananas are good. Always carry a banana Macy, their wonderful at parties." He smiled at her, "Glad you like it. Trained with a chef in early 20th century France."
It was still hard for her to wrap her mind around the fact that someone who looked so young was so old. They sat in silence for a moment as she ate. "So about our adventure," she said smiling.
"Yes! Well I have a few things in mind, but first I wanted to ask if there was any place in particular you had your heart set on." He cocked an eyebrow.
"Not really, I'm up for anything, we have all of time and space to see." She replied grinning at him.
"Quite right! That we do!" He hopped up from his seat. "So, time or space? Or time and space?" He put his finger up dotting the air, "Or, Space and time!?"
A huge smile spread over Macy's face. "Let's go time and space! I wanna see something brilliant!"
"Brilliant it is!" Seeing that Macy was done, he grabbed her hand and spun her out of her chair before bounding down the corridor towards the console room. "Alright, calibration at 149- TF82!" he turned a dial. He skidded around the side. "Zone 5 phasers down! Better hold on to something Macy," he winked at her.
Macy grabbed on to the sides of the console as the TARDIS jolted under her feet. She looked at the Doctor, her smile beaming.
"And here...we...GO!" He hit a button and the TARDIS went off spinning into the vortex. He hung onto the railing and looked at Macy's face, it was surprise, excitement, and fear all rolled up into one. He laughed loudly.
After a few moments they landed and Macy took a deep breath, feeling her sense of vertigo normalize again. "Where are we Doctor?" She asked as she looked up at one of the screens trying to understand what he was reading.
"The Goddrick Nubula Station, 500 years in your future. Or at least that's what it says according to the readings." He pointed at the circular forms on one of the screens.
"Five hundred years...so I'm long dead..." the thought plagued her for a moment before she shook her head and smiled, "Cool!"
His brow furrowed, "Only if you want to get technical...but seeing as you're standing right here, you are very much alive. Right, shall we?" He offered him her arm.
She looped her arm through his, butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She was about to experience her first real adventure, on a planet she knew nothing about. They walked out and looked around, "This is beautiful Doctor!"
Goddrick Nubula Station was a planet forever suspended in a state of spring. Apple grass covered the lush rolling hills and tall trees with deep purple leaves spotted the area as far as the eye could see. A glimmering crystal blue lake sat in front of them. It must have been a holiday because a festival seemed to be going on near the water's edge.
"Oh a festival! I love festivals! Shops and treats and all sorts of stuff!" the Doctor exclaimed.
The view was breathtaking to say the least. "Doctor, what are they celebrating?" Macy asked as she watched the people. "And how come they look like elves?" She also inwardly wondered if they had noticed their presence, or if they were intruding.
"Well they're of elfish decent, so therefore they have very similar characteristics. Why? Were you expecting them to look human?" he laughed slightly. "Not quite sure what they're celebrating though...," he smiled at her.
She blushed a bit, "I'm not really sure what I thought they would look like. This is just all so surreal...If you had asked me yesterday morning if I believed in aliens, I would have laughed and told you that you were a nutter! But now, here I am walking arm in arm with one watching a bunch of others frolic and play on a whole other planet..." she smiled at him, happy to have all that out. Out of nowhere it seemed, music started playing and all the creatures started dancing.
The Doctor's face lit up as the music started to play. "OH! It's the Half-Cycle Solstice Festival! This is a brilliant one! Macy, my dear, may I have this dance?" He dramatically bowed, using his arm and all.
Macy smiled and playfully curtsied, "Of course." With that she took his hand and he whisked her across the courtyard. So much had happened in the last 24 hours that she didn't know where to begin. She was grateful though. She realized as she danced with the Doctor, that she may never know what she did to deserve something as wonderful as this. She had so many dark days, and hidden secrets locked away in her past. She knew though that this was the start of something wonderful, magical. She lightly hugged the Doctor as they danced, and she smiled up at him through her long eyelashes.
He twirled her about among the other dancers. They galloped about laughing as they went. He was so glad to have someone to travel with again. The Doctor had been terribly lonely as of late, making him incredibly moody and more susceptible to unleashing his oncoming storm. The music slowed and they swayed to the rhythm. "You're quite the dancer Macy."
"As are you Doctor" she replied as she studied him. She realized while yes, he looked incredibly young, his eyes were ancient. In them she could see sadness, deeper than any man should have to endure. "Are you alright Doctor?"
"Course I'm alright. I'm the king of alright- ok don't call me that...Why do ask?" He spun her out and twirled her back in.
"You just look so sad, even though this is a happy occasion." She replied, her green eyes bearing into his for a moment. "And trust me Doctor, I know what sadness looks like."
He turned the question back on her. "You're far too young to have experienced so much sadness Macy." He hoped that if he inquired about her life, that she'd let the subject drop.
And to his luck she did. The last thing she wanted was to put any more sad stories on this wonderful man, because she could already tell he would have taken them to heart. "Touché'..." she whispered as she rested her head on his chest as they twirled around. She listened to his heartbeats...two heartbeats... that would take some getting used to.
The pair spun about for a few more moments before the Doctor suddenly twirled her around and pulled her into a dip. He raised his eyebrows quickly and smirked. "Hello," he grinned.
Macy laughed, "So shall we explore a bit since we partook in the festivities already? Or would that be rude?"
"We can explore," he said with a smile before raising her to her feet. The Doctor straightened his bow tie and held out his hand for her to hold.
She took his hand, butterflies still flitting around in her stomach. She knew she shouldn't be falling for him, she knew it would never work, but somehow she was.
He squeezed her hand as they began walking. "So if I remember right, there's a village up ahead that we could explore." He swung their hands between them.
"That sounds wonderful," Macy replied smiling, her green eyes sparkling. She looked at the apples on the trees "Do you think those are safe?"
He led the way to one of the trees and took out his sonic screwdriver. He scanned one the brightly colored fruit that hung from the tree and flicked the device out in front of him to read the scans. "Should be fine, bit sour though," he said as he let go of her hand and flopped down in the lush grass. He spread his arms out and sniffed deeply. "Now if you want something sweet, you should try the apple grass." He tore a piece and started chewing on it.
"Apple grass?" She looked confused, but sat down next to him and tried some too. "Oh that's brilliant!" she exclaimed. She looked up and noticed for the first time that this planet had two suns. "I still can't believe this is happening, what else is out there Doctor?" she asked excitedly.
He turned his head and smiled, "Oh things you couldn't even begin to imagine! Slug creatures, Robots, Tree People, and hell, that's just the beginning! There are literally ZILLIONS of things out there and that number's growing everyday- and before you ask, yes zillion is a number."
She smiled at him, and then thought of something, "Doctor, why me? Out of all the people you could have chosen, why did you choose me?"
He turned on his side and propped himself up on an elbow. "Why not you?" He knew it was a simple answer, but he thought it fit well.
"I don't know," she replied, "Most adult's don't care much for teenagers though so I figured why me when you could have had an adult, someone with at least a bit of your intellect..." She felt nervous and she knew she would start to ramble, so she just let her voice trail off.
"I'm more of a child at hearts dear." He picked at the grass. "I've come to realize in all my years of traveling, that it's hard to find someone who thinks just like me, and besides that could get rather annoying. Plus, it's nice to have someone 'normal'. You lot keep me grounded." He stuck another piece of the sweet green apple grass into his mouth.
She felt her heart sink a bit. She knew that with his age he had to have had other companions, but something about the way he said "you lot" didn't sit well. It made her feel like just another tag-a-long. It made her feel inadequate, and she wasn't even sure why.
"You're not very good at hiding your emotions Macy. What's up? Something's wrong?" He sat up and turned his full attention to her.
"Oh, n-nothing," she stuttered as she looked away from him, "Just thinking." God she was a horrible liar, and she knew he could see it.
He gently turned her face so that she was forced to look at him. "You're also a terrible liar...might have to work on that. Now tell me, what's wrong?"
She sighed, "I don't know... Just the way you said that... 'you lot' got to me I guess."
"Whatever for? I meant that as a good thing- wonderful thing." His brow furrowed. "Oh...," he paused as he came to the realization of her meaning.
"I'm sorry Doctor," she mumbled. She shouldn't have taken it to heart, but she was just used to feeling inadequate.
"Don't be sorry. You don't have anything to be sorry about!" He pulled her into a side hug. He was pretty sure he knew why she was upset, but he still didn't like seeing her sad. "So what you're trying to say is that you hadn't realized I had other companions and now you feel sort of tossed in with the rest and not special?"
"Sort of, I mean I know you had others, but still... being lumped in, it didn't feel very comforting."
"I'm sorry...I didn't think- sometimes I can be so thick. I'm sorry...," he looked at the ground.
She smiled at him, "Doctor, don't be sorry, you were being honest. I was just being too sensitive."
"I still should have thought. And you know you are...special that is. Wouldn't have taken you along unless I'd seen some sort of brilliance in you."
She smiled, "Thank you Doctor. So," she asked changing the subject, "What next?"
He knew this talk wasn't over. It'd come back up eventually. "The village? We were on our way there after all."
"Ah yes," she said standing back up. As they neared the village she saw all the houses were quite small. "This is so cute," Macy said as they passed the village square. "I love this!"
"So glad you do!" He walked behind her and rubbed her shoulders slightly. "Wanna look in some shops?"
"Sure," she replied happily. She hadn't given much thought as to what you could find in shops on other planets.
The Doctor opened one of the shop doors and ducked inside. A tiny silver bell on the door rang, letting the owner know of customers coming and going. A small Nubularian woman with cotton candy colored hair and an extravagantly embroidered dress walked out from a back room. "Hello! Welcome! I'm Senty. Let me know if you need anything!"
"Thank you," Macy said politely. "People here all seem so nice. They welcome us like we aren't outsiders at all!"
"Oh yes, they're famous for their generosity actually." He walked with his head ducked about the store. This shop, in particular, sold books and trinkets from various places across the planet, a sort of curio shop.
"Wow," she mused, "It's sad though, these people can be kind to every other species, but humans still can't figure out how not to fight amongst themselves. They always treat each other with cruelty..." Her voice seemed hallow as it trailed off.
"Well you know you all are relatively new. You've barely just begun your existence." He turned to her and smiled. "Just wait, humans'll spread across the stars, learn new ways of acceptance, and then start practicing them yourselves."
She sighed, "I wish I could live to see that. I'm sure it will be long after my time though."
"You know we do have a time machine, love. We can go see it anytime you like." He looked at a few of the books that were on a display table. "Oh these are lovely books! Macy, come look at these fantastic books on the village histories!" He was like a kid in a candy shop.
Macy smiled and walked around the shop with him as he told her all about the different trinkets and books. She loved how his eyes lit up while he was talking.
"Oh now you see this...this is actually from off world...this is a book of fairy tales from Redentia." He turned it over in his hand and flipped through the pages. "Not even a translated edition...wonder how it got here." Clearly the Doctor could read it, if not for the TARDIS, then for the language that was in his repertoire.
"Why don't you buy it?" she asked, "You seem to like rare things... you know everything!"
"Only if you read it too," he gave her a smile.
She laughed, "I can't read that Doctor!"
"Macy, of course you can. See?" He handed her the book.
It caught her by surprise when the old text changed form right in front of her eyes. "Did the TARDIS do this too?"
"You catch on quick. Yeah...call it a perk to traveling in the TARDIS. She's a gem, she is!" He beamed at Macy, so proud of his machine.
"That she is...Fine, it's a deal. I'll read it too," she replied happily.
"Fantastic!" He took the book from her and walked up to the counter. "Hello again Senty! Yes I'd like to purchase this book!" The cheerful little woman beamed up at him. "Certainly!" she responded, "That'll be $9A23." The Doctor dug around in his pocket until he found his wallet. "Ah, here we are!" He pulled out some paper currency and handed it to the clerk. "Thank you sir." Senty rang up the purchase and handed the book back to the Doctor. "Have a brilliant Half-Cycle Solstice Day!" "You too!" he waved at the woman, "Come along Macy." He gestured her out of the store.
"She was so cute! In that little old lady sort of way ya know!?" Macy beamed. "They are all just adorable!" She walked with the Doctor back towards the TARDIS, still taking in all the sights and sounds of their new surroundings.
"She was rather sweet." He put the somewhat large book into his infinite pocket with ease and then grabbed Macy's hand once again.
She liked that the Doctor kept holding her hand, but she mentally scolded herself for thinking that way. She couldn't help it though. He was so alluring. She looked up at him with her green eyes, full of admiration.
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and saw her looking at him. "What? Have I got apple grass in my teeth?" He glided his tongue over his pearly whites.
She smirked, "No Doctor, you look just perfect." She let go of his hand as they neared the TARDIS, she knew he would need to unlock the door and such. Once inside she leaned on the console as the Doctor silently checked his different screens. Sometimes it seemed as if he was in another world in his own mind. "What are you thinking Doctor?" She asked curiously.
He fiddled with a few controls. "Oh, just about the last time I had apple grass I suppose." He set the course for the vortex, thinking that one adventure might be enough for Macy's first time out.
She didn't believe him but she didn't push the issue. She was just happy to be here with him. It amazed her that her whole outlook on life had changed in 24 hours. Yesterday, when he had found her, she was almost to the point of suicide... A dark shadow seemed to cross over her face, but just as quickly, it disappeared as she thought about her new life.
He glanced at her and saw the same darkness that had so often crept over him. He could spot that stare from a universe away. "You alright?"
"Fine now," she replied looking at him. "You spoke briefly about all these enemies you have, Do I ever get to see any of them? I can stand with you and fight," she smiled, "I'm honestly fairly feisty," she winked.
"While I don't doubt that for a second darling, I don't necessarily fight per say. I go traveling for the fun of it or someone sends a distress message and then trouble usually finds me." He grinned at her. "Besides, it's usually just a whole lot of running."
"Well, like I said I'm good at that too," she grinned. She thought or a moment, "Earlier, you referred to the TARDIS as a she... but because it can create rooms and learn my likes and dislikes, I feel the need to ask... is it actually... alive?"
"I really must be getting old! I keep forgetting to explain things! Yes, the TARDIS is a living thing, grown from the soils of Gallifrey. Only one left in existence...well in this universe anyway..." He thought about the chunk he had given to the metacrisis in his last regeneration.
"This is all so amazing, I keep feeling like I'm going to wake up and I'll be on another bench, or under another overpass, and I will just give up." She looked at the Doctor and still wished she knew exactly what it was he saw in her, because all she could see was a scared little girl running from her past.
"Don't think that way. Trust me, live in the moment- much better...maybe I should take my own advice sometime," he mumbled.
"I think that anytime someone gives out advice, it's more for their own benefit than it is the person they're speaking to," she replied. She stood next to the Doctor and leaned her head on his shoulder. "So how shall we end this wonderful day?"
"Maybe you're right..." He leaned his head against her for a moment. "It has been a wonderful day hasn't it? You Hungry? I know this brilliant little place in 18th century Italy!"
Her eyes lit up "18th century Italy! This is so cool!" She jumped up and down for a moment before realizing how silly she looked, "Umm I mean, yes, Italy sounds wonderful." She leaned back against the console coolly.
He laughed whole heartily. "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant you are. Well then, Geronimo!" He danced around the console setting their course. "Oh, and seeing as this is our first trip back in time, relatively speaking, on earth, the wardrobe is full of period clothing if you so choose to dress for dinner."
Her eyes lit up again and she made a small squeal as she ran upstairs to change. She didn't take too long but by the time she was done she certainly didn't look 16 anymore. She had picked a dark purple dress that would have been worn by one of the aristocratic women of that day and pinned her hair up in long curls that cascaded down her back. She wore full makeup but not too much; it all still looked very natural. "Hello Doctor," she stated coyly as she reached the bottom step.
He turned around, arms waving in the air. "Hello...Macy...," he trailed off. "Blimey...," he blinked a few times, "You-You-You're gorgeous." He ran a nervous hand through his hair and gulped.
"Thank you," she replied smiling, sort of liking the fact that she could make him look nervous. "I decided to go all out. I mean really, how many times does a girl like me get the chance to go to Italy? Are you changing too or will I be the only one over-dressed?" she winked at the Doctor, still smiling widely.
"I-I suppose I can go dress up a bit." He ran over to her, "Back in a tick!" He planted a quick kiss on her forehead and then ran down a corridor. "Gorgeous!" he yelled back over his shoulder. He ran to his room and changed into a black dress coat and a satin gold bow tie. Before he left the room, he grabbed a black top hat and flopped it onto his head. He ran back to the console room. "Alright, shall we?"
Macy smiled widely; she thought he was handsome before... on my word. She nodded. "You don't look too horrible yourself Doctor!" she exclaimed, "You are quite the looker tonight."
The Doctor blushed slightly. "Aww shucks...so Italy awaits us." He offered her his arm and grabbed the sonic cane that was propped against the wall.