Amelia felt like she had been struck round the head, the sheer force of all the forgotten memories suddenly forcing themselves back into her mind caused her to stumble violently backwards.
She felt someone catch her but the rush of negative emotions that hit her left her thinking about nothing else. It was physically painful; she had no control as she cried out in agony, trying with all her might to make some sense of what was running wild in her head.
Flashbacks started playing on what seemed like fast-forward in her head, she sees images flashing before her eyes. All the times she desperately wanted to explore new worlds and lands but only catching a glimpse of them before her father shuts the Tardis door telling her she's too young, She was forbidden to do her favourite hobbies but never told why, the times she caught him looking at her with distaste and almost shame. All that fear, isolation and loneliness. No wonder she wanted out.
She realised that The Doctor was holding her and scrambled away from both men as fast as she could, backing up against the wall with tears forming she confronts her father who was looking at her with pain in his eyes. Amelia couldn't bare it any longer.
"You always look at me like that, as long as I can remember, you think I don't notice but I always do, why am I such a disappointment to you? TELL ME!"
She screamed, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably, her eyes showed the years of desperation and the cold resentment she now felt.
The Doctor turned away from her but it didn't stop the stabbing feeling of guilt attack in full force, this clearly had a lasting effect on his daughter and he hadn't realised, He thought he had concealed his feelings but he had been terribly mistaken. She thought he didn't care and looked at her with bitter disappointment but really it was the opposite and with all his hearts he wanted her to know that.
The Doctor, with his back still turned away from his daughter spoke calmly trying not to let the breath catch in his throat.
"I…I never thought I could have a family again, not with the life I lead, When you were born I was…terrified, terrified of not being able to protect you. The guilt of knowing that you are in constant danger because you have me as your father was almost too much to bare."
He turned to face his daughter's tear streaked face, choking back his own tears as he continued.
"When I look at you and your brother I am so terrified of failing you, I want to keep you both safe from the horrors that you were born in to"
He stepped towards Amelia and cupped her face in his hands.
"You are my pride and joy, as are your mother and brother, you are my world and you will never...ever be a disappointment to me and even if it takes all my lifetimes to convince you I will never stop. You're my daughter, and we've only just got started. You're going to be great. No! You're gonna be more than great, you're going to be amazing."
Amelia starts to sob uncontrollably as she finally embraces her father. The Doctor holds his daughter tightly relief coursing through him as he strokes her hair soothingly.
A cough sounded alerting them both to the Dreamlords presence once again.
"Well that was charming I must say, I almost shed a tear, bravo! Bravo!"
The Dreamlord cheered, clapping his hands mockingly.
"Well since you have finally managed to work out your little domestic, It is now the appropriate time for you both to learn that actually The Doctors time is up"
The Doctor frowned
"How do you have the power to kill me when this is a dream? Killing me will only cause me to return back to reality"
The Dreamlord chuckled.
"Ahhhh, yes Doctor that is true, the last time we had our little encounter I was weak and foolish compared to what I have become now. Time is a beautiful thing Doctor, don't you agree?"
The Dreamlord paced around the pair savouring the moment as he continued.
"Since my last defeat I have had centuries to decide my next move, I knew I needed something more to get to you, Timelord, and I knew the weakness you have for the ones you love so imagine my delight when I learnt you had a family, oh dear me it was like Christmas!"
The two men were only fixated on each other so none of them noticed Amelia back slowly across the room desperately looking for something to defend themselves with, she didn't like the way this Dreamlord was talking, She searched keeping her eyes fixed on the Dreamlord listening to every word.
"You see I came across some rather unusual creatures and discovered that we shared not only very similar powers but also a purpose, to destroy you. The dream crabs they called themselves, they seemed to be particularly insistent that you perish, now who am I to argue? They helped me to become stronger in order to kill you, giving me the power to create dreamlike illusions. By using your beloved daughter as the vessel there was no doubt that you would follow her and fall into the trap your daughter unknowingly set for you."
The Dreamlord swivelled round revealing a weapon unlike anything The Doctor had ever seen before, yet something was telling him this wasn't the first time he had encountered it.
"Do you not recognise the weapon of your demise, Doctor, how about standing by a lake, is that jogging any memories old man?"
The Dreamlord teased.
The Doctor thought his hearts would stop as he realised he was threatened with the very weapon his beloved wife was forced to use against him. The power in that dreaded spacesuit had been condensed into a small gun. The agonising thoughts of his wife's torture because of him began to surface once more yet The Doctor stood his ground refusing to break, he had to protect his daughter the way he couldn't protect his wife. He owed River that at the very least.
Across the room, seemingly invisible to both men, Amelia attempted to stop the paralyzing effects of anxiety due the threat on her fathers life focusing instead on analysing the Dreamlord's words. He said she was the vessel and the trap set for her father was in fact her doing so that meant she must also be in some sort of control over the illusion. Amelia closed her eyes ready to test her theory, as she imagined it she suddenly felt the cold metal of the weapon the Dreamlord possessed, duplicated in her hands.
Amelia gasped in shock though not loudly enough to be noticed but that didn't matter something had clicked in Amelia's head and suddenly she felt larger than life at how much control she truly had over the situation. Straightening up she confidently addressed the Dreamlord who until now had not been paying attention.
"The problem with you, Dreamlord, is that you are so focused on destroying my father that you have failed to notice a fatal flaw in your plan"
The Dreamlord turned towards Amelia irritated and already bored with the little girls foolish intervention.
"Oh and what might that be my dear?"
The Dreamlord drawled whilst still keeping the gun pointed straight at The Doctors hearts.
"Me"
Amelia replied triumphantly as she raised the same weapon and pointed it at the Dreamlord a menacing feeling swelled inside her making her feel powerful as she loaded the gun.
The Dreamlord howled with laughter.
"Oh I really did underestimate your stupidity didn't I? Well I suppose that's what I get when I use a half breed as my vessel, how very disappointing. You can't destroy me, I used you to create this dream I am in control of everything in this place.
Amelia felt the anxiety hit her in the gut but held her stance as her mind began searching frantically for another plan. The anxiety became almost crippling as she realised what she had to do. Her eyes seemed to harden with acceptance.
"You're right there is only one way to stop you and that's to kill the vessel"
She declared as she pointed the gun at her chest.
The Doctor step forward arms raised, beyond terrified at what his daughter was about to do.
"No! You can't do this, we don't even know if you can regenerate…"
Amelia felt her hand start to shake and knew she couldn't hold it off any longer. Tears streaming down her face she turned to her fathers petrified face.
"…I'm sorry daddy, I got us into this mess and I will get you out, Mum and Freddie need you, tell them how much I love them, please."
She choked before closing her eyes
"I love you"
She whispered as she pulled the trigger.