A/N: Hope you're all ok, enjoying the British (lack of) summer and to all those from different countries I can assure you the whole of Britain envies your warmer climates. It's supposed to be the middle of summer here, but there's been nothing but cloud for the past few weeks, and the odd bit of rain. Typical! Anyways, I hope this chapter is good, and I look forward to reading your views!
Summary: The Doctor was thinking hard for a solution to Amy who had collapsed in pain which originated from her eyes. Her eyes had turned completely black and this puzzled the Doctor as to what had caused it. He presumed it was the mood drugs, so searched for any sort of reversal drug he could get to restore Amy's health. However it was a 'remember' drug he would have to try, which meant she would remember Rory. After giving Amy the remember drug, her effects were reversed but her memories of Rory hadn't; the dosage must have been too low to reverse the original effects of the forget mood drug. The Doctor had Amy strapped to a bed so she couldn't escape, and after the Doctor released Amy, she wanted payback so pushed him to the bed and strapped him in. She then decided to tease him by kissing him on the lips, but then pulling away when he was starting to really enjoy it. Amy left the Doctor wide eyed and draw dropped lying in the bed still strapped in.
The usual disclaimer of not owning Doctor Who or its characters, of which belong to the BBC
Amy woke up, in her bed staring at the ceiling. She was now full re-energized after that long sleep, and got in the shower. Wonder how long I've been asleep and if the Doctor has managed to get out of the bed I strapped him into she laughed out loud remembering his face when she left him. She got her clothes from the wardrobe, again using what the Tardis had chosen for her, and made her way to the centre console.
"Doc- How did you?" Amy stuttered.
"Ah Amy, you're finally up! And yes, you forgot one thing." As he said this he held up his sonic screwdriver. Amy rolled her eyes. She should have known.
"How long exactly have I been sleeping?" She said, sitting down on the seat by the centre console.
"Oh only about…" he tapped his watch "10 hours, 23 minutes and….7 seconds." The Doctor replied casually, then he continued to operate the Tardis. "I thought we should actually go somewhere. You know, planet-visiting. I mean we haven't done that for a while now…" The Doctor slowly stopped at what he was saying. He nearly said 'after the Rory incident' but remembered Amy had forgotten it all.
"Ok, where you taking me?" She asked. The Doctor could see her eyes lighting up at the thought of another planet.
"The planet of Stelpor." The Doctor grinned.
"Stelpor?" She asked.
"Pronounced 'Stell-pour', yes. A very beautiful planet, inhabited mostly by the Selonians. A striking race of creatures they are, a product of their planet. The planet is so elegant, so perfect if there is such a thing…it's like something…out of a fairy tale" As he said the last part of the sentence, he looked directly at Amy. Amelia Pond. Like a name in a fairy tale. "So then, fancy coming along, Pond?" he asked. Amy didn't answer with words, but hooked her arm around his, and they both eagerly went to the Tardis doors and pushed them open.
"Like something out of a fairy tale?" Amy questioned, raising her eyebrow then looked disapprovingly at the Doctor.
"Ah." The Doctor surveyed the area. He was on the right planet, definitely. "I think I may have landed 2000 years later than I was supposed to." He said tapping his watch and scratching his head. "Still, no harm in looking around now is there?" He continued, walking away from the Tardis. Amy shut the door and ran to catch up with him. It seemed to be evening on this planet, and it was pretty cold. Amy shivered. All around them was what seemed to be grass of some sort, but it looked dead, lifeless, clinging to the ground rather than erupting from it like it should be. There was a tall, spikey castle not too far in the distance, piercing the sky with its spikey turrets. The area was like a ghost town. There were cottages here and there, but they looked dull. On the outskirts of what seemed to be a village, was a forest. It was shadowy and uninviting. Amy heard a noise.
"Doctor, did you hear that?" she asked. She wasn't scared, but curious.
"Yes I did. Probably another creature. It looks to me as though the Selonians have deserted the planet, but other wildlife still exists." He explained.
"Oh. So there's no man-eating animals on this planet, is there?" but before the Doctor could respond, Amy felt a tap on her shoulder. It obviously wasn't the Doctor, and she screamed. She turned round to see a hunched over creature; it was tall and slender, but it had old-age qualities to it. Its skin was a dull pale grey, its arms were long and skeletal and its fingers were bony too. The creature's legs were reedy and looked malnourished. Its face was obscured by what seemed to be a shawl. Amy jumped into the Doctor, who looked surprised to see Amy scared.
"I apologise, my friend has never visited this planet before. I'm the Doctor. If you don't mind me asking, what has happened to your planet?" Amy realised that this creature must be a Selonian. She relaxed a little, but felt intimated as she couldn't see the Selonian's face.
"There is no time to talk here, hurry, and come with me." The Selonian whispered. Amy looked at the Doctor. The Doctor just ushered her along and the three of them, three different species from three different planets scurried across the landscape. Eventually they came to a cottage style building. The Selonian opened the door, and signalled for the Doctor and Amy to hurry inside. The Selonian looked around cautiously before shutting and locking the door behind. "Please, do sit down." And pointed to some elaborate if aged chairs.
"So…?" The Doctor asked, implying that he would like a name from the Selonian.
"Armist, Doctor."
"Armist; what has happened to your planet?" the Doctor asked.
"Doctor, terrible things, awful things. A civil war caused it. There were two leaders; Hysterio and Culfurus. Both wanted different things for this planet. You see our original king, our original saviour Iratiko died suddenly, and had no descendants. No one had any right to his throne, but there were two strong powerful leaders who had already formed a sort of political party so to speak with followers. The majority of the Selonians were either Hysterios or Culfuri. I was one of few who chose neither. But anyway, a civil war broke out between the two parties. The Culfuri 'won', but everything was lost. We live in dictatorship and in fear for our own lives. You may see no one around, but that is because those who are concealed are those who know best how to survive. Culfurus is a merciless being, he kills who he likes, and anyone who threatens him or displeases him is executed. He has a strong army who patrols everywhere, every inch of land there is. His army has permission to kill those who do not live in fear, who are rich, who step out of line or discuss with others the state of which this planet is in. I doubt highly he takes kindly towards aliens such as your selves"
Amy nearly laughed. Aliens like your selves? But she then realised that of course, her and the Doctor were aliens to them. She had always described an alien as being green with antennae's.
"You say his army patrols every inch of land there is – but we saw no one." The Doctor said.
"That is because Culfurus's army hides within the forest. The forests surround every dwelling there is, and they provide secrecy. This means we fear we are watched all the time, though it may not necessarily be true, there is no knowing. It means everyone sticks to the rules…Culfurus's rules."
"How long has it been like this?" Amy asked. She could feel pain in every word Armist was saying.
"30 years." Amy gasped in reply. 30 years of living in fear was enough to drive anyone mad.
"Well, we can't let this go on any longer, can we Amy?" The Doctor asked, suggesting there was an adventure to be had.
"Nope." She replied, slightly smiling, knowing they would be off on some wild adventure again.
"I must warn you, Culfurus is not someone to be underestimated, and nightfall is upon us. You must rest first, please." Armist pleaded.
"Ok then, it gives me time to think up a plan." The Doctor said.
"I will show you to your room" he said. They followed Armist, and on the way Amy noticed the height of the ceiling. Well, the Selonians are 7 foot tall. They came to a small room, which had a double bed. The walls were bare, the room felt cold. There was no fireplace, no features just a small window at the top of the room which ran the length of the wall.
"I'm afraid there is only the one single bed, but for creatures of your stature this will be suitable for the two of you to sleep in together." He said. He then went into seemingly his own room, and shut the door. Amy without hesitation jumped into the bed, since she was freezing cold.
"Come on Doctor, you heard Armist. Get some rest!" she said, hinting for him to get into bed with her.
"I'm a Time Lord, I don't need sleep. Well I do, but not that often anyway." He said.
"Well when was the last time you slept?" she asked, hoping it would give him the excuse to join her.
"A few months ago. Although I haven't slept in this current generation of myself…Oh fine. I'll have a bit of sleep. It'll give me a chance to think of a plan." Amy was pleased. The Doctor took off his jacket, and lay on top of the bed.
"Um, Doctor, aren't you going to get in? I don't bite…" Amy said smiling. But I would love to… she thought. "It's cold." She said shivering.
"Fine Pond, fine, if it will shut you up." He joked, and he slipped under the covers. Amy moved closer to him.
"Are you not cold?" she asked. It was freezing for her.
"No, Time Lords don't get cold easily." He replied.
"Would you mind if…since it's so cold…" Amy was struggling to get her words out. What was up with her? Normally she was fine around him. The Doctor knew what she wanted. He opened up his arms.
"Come here then." He said. Amy grinned and curled up into him, and the Doctor wrapped his arms around her. She loved the sound of his beating hearts, and it soothed her to sleep. The Doctor looked down and saw her sound asleep. He smiled to himself, and started stroking her velvet red hair. He kissed her head, tightened his grip on her and shut his eyes. "Amelia Jessica Pond. The girl who waited. The girl who ran away with a madman with a box."