Gray hesitated.
"...Who, me?"
The Doctor smiled. "I could give you a ride back home in the TARDIS before continuing on by myself. It should be a quick journey, no jelly babies sadly. What do you think?" He opened the police box`s doors.
"It..." Gray gasped. This was the Doctor`s time-machine she dreamed from before? "It`s bigger on the inside!"
The Doctor laughed, looking quite at home. "Oh? I never understood the reason everything aside from the old dear is smaller on the inside. Wonderful universe this is, eh?"
The TARDIS beeped. King Arthur`s last descendant slowly wandered around the console, too bewildered to answer. It was far more alien than she could ever think of for what was a simple old British police box on the outside... The madman had explained all of it as nothing, although for the young girl it was like she had entered into another world. A mysterious world where for once, Magic did not exist as Science ruled over all... "Time And Relative Dimensions In Space...what a strange beautiful name."
"Oh? Like your name is too?" the Doctor dematerialized the TARDIS into the time-vortex.
"At least I do not go around calling myself a 'Doctor'-Class Servant." Gray smirked quietly, her shyness finally disappeared from the Doctor`s presence.
The madman looked up from repairing the sonic-screwdriver. "Oi! Watch it! I rather think of myself as a gentleman of the universe first, not quite a - " An alarm unexpectedly sounded. "Oh, dear..." the Doctor quickly inspected the console monitor.
"What is it?" Gray asked worriedly.
"The TARDIS`s engine, the Eye of Harmony, is slightly malfunctioning from being in a multiverse of Magic. It shouldn`t be something to be worried about, only I need to conduct maintenance on its inner transduction operations before returning you home. Otherwise, overloaded temporal-supernova explosion in a police box, basically." The Doctor retrieved a standard Gallifreyean toolbox from underneath the console, not having the time to replace his charred overcoat. The TARDIS had this extraordinary skill of nearly reaching self-destruction when he needed it the least, only it really is ingenious in the way she does it...
Gray sighed, a little regretful of stepping into this otherworldly machine. "Lucky you..."
"I know...you should have seen her on our wedding day." the Doctor sighed. "Ah, this reminds me...would you like to see inside the TARDIS?"
Gray hesitated before quietly giving an affirmative.
"Wonderful." the Doctor smiled. "Geronimo!"
Everything was unexpectedly dark within the TARDIS.
"Old girl is on backup lights." the Doctor explained, heading away from the console room towards deep inside the time-machine. "Nothing to be surprised about...hopefully."
"...Er...are you certain everything is fine?" Gray was beginning to think the Doctor himself was becoming more anxious.
"Oh, I once had to reboot the entire universe after the TARDIS exploded. Unlimited fireworks for the day, long story." the Doctor sauntered past the time-machine`s library. "Although the old girl loves it when something excitable happens, don`t you? After all, she has become my Noble Phantasm in this Magical universe too." The TARDIS gave another beep. "...Oi! I am the Servant here, not you!" the Doctor halted to address the time-machine. "You aren`t my Master, I stole you, remember? I thought I explained all this in our marriage ceremony..."
Gray watched the lunatic madman speak to the TARDIS before looking back in the distance. She never would have thought her life will become like this... A simple, young amateur magus who was discovered by a time-traveling stranger. It was something from a childhood story the girl would read when she was young...only when she thought about it, was not everything a story in the end? All that matters was to make it a good one, after all...
It was a moment later when Gray recognized everything was quiet. Too quiet. "...Doctor?" she looked around, only to discern the madman had disappeared. "Doctor!"
No one answered.
"Oh...this is wonderful..." the girl ran forwards desperately. She was hopelessly lost inside the Doctor`s time-machine, with nowhere to go. It could be a long time before the Doctor would recognize she was gone, being the lunatic he is. What a disappointing story for her... "Doctor? Where are you - ?" Gray unexpectedly crashed into someone. "Ouch! ...Doctor?"
"Who?" A stern eccentrically-dressed elderly gentleman, carrying a wooden cane looked down upon her. His face was anciently old, only his eyes shone with air of a philosopher-like wisdom. "My dear child, what are you doing here? Inside this time-machine of all places, hmm?"
Gray blinked shyly. "Er...I...I`m...Gray." Strange...the Doctor did not mention there was another passenger in the TARDIS. "Who are you?"
The silver-haired gentleman sighed grouchily. "What does it look like to you, Grayson? Shouldn`t you recognize my identity? Should you?"
"No...I...my name is not Grayson - " Gray bewilderingly answered. There was something about this gentleman that reminded her of something...what was it?
"Hmph. Is no one interested in history!?" The gentleman did not acknowledge her, quickly looking about at the surrounding interior. "Good gracious me! What is - ? Ah...I understand. All this is from my future, is it not? The TARDIS has landed in a multiverse where that little 'Magic' nonsense exists, hmm? The old machine`s inner continuum has been malfunctioning from all that foolish 'mana' in the air, enabling past-versions of its inhabitants to come upon the other without creating a paradox. Therefore, I am basically a solidified 'temporal-ghost', a scientific-based astral projection existing in a future time as an aftereffect. My successor is heading for the Eye of Harmony to repair everything by himself, although for the moment..."
The gentleman grimaced. "Young lady, for the purpose of time, call me...'Theta'. Theta Sigma. I think the 'Doctor' you know has abandoned you behind - "
"What...abandon me?" Gray became pale. "The Doctor would never do that!"
"Oh, do not worry Grayson! It was a simple mistake by that lunatic of a replacement. I will guide you back to the console room." Theta stalked away. "Come! I will do enjoy this short time of wandering about the TARDIS once more. Fate is in the stars, after all. It is time to search for it..."
Gray hesitated. This old man was certainly an unearthly person, although there was no other choice unless she wanted to continue being lost.
Without another sound, Gray ran after Theta.
The inside of the TARDIS was dark only that did not stop Theta from continuing onwards.
"I could never have thought it all began in a junkyard too..."
Gray looked at him. "...Sorry, what?"
"Oh, it is nothing, my child! Nothing at all..." Theta answered warm-heartedly. Although he was quite grouchy at first, his eyes revealed an otherworldly kindness underneath that rivaled the Doctor. "Only memories of a home long faded in the past..." The old man staggered, grimacing from frail old age.
Gray hastily ran over, helping Theta steady himself. "Thank you, Grayson...wearing a bit thin, aren`t I?" Theta looked at the small container Gray carried that hid Grim Reaper (Scythe of the Death God) within. "Only I certainly will not be reaped from the likes of you, too adorable you are... It is regrettable my granddaughter is not here, otherwise you would make a fine companion with her."
"Your...Grandaughter?" Gray blinked, still thinking she was failing to understand something here. "The Doctor mentioned he had a granddaughter too."
Theta gave a mysterious smirk. "Oh, did he? Hmph. All this saving the Magical multiverse nonsense is certainly unexpected. I would be a more suitable Ruler-Class than any of my other successors ever would! Only what do you suppose the multiverse answered with? The Summoning of a lunatic in a box! What was Time thinking when appointing someone like him to be her Champion, hmm!?"
Gray smiled awkwardly, opening a door for him. "I...suppose?"
Theta scowled until he finally guided Gray into the console room, stopping in bewilderment. "My goodness gracious! The console...is this what it will look like in the future!? All blemished with rubbish nonsense everywhere like an endless identity crisis? Oh, this is hideous. Foolishly hideous. Unforgivable! I am going to regret becoming the runaway loon I will be..." With a hauteur sigh, Theta inspected the malfunctioning console. "Ah...I see my successor has repaired the engines in time...excellent. No oncoming supernova explosion to worry about. Only as an incentive..." Theta gently pushed a lever on the console with his cane.
Gray jumped as the TARDIS crashed backwards with a wheezing sound. "What did you - ?"
"Simple!" Theta cackled like a trickster. "I materialized the TARDIS outside of the time-vortex onto quite a sentimental destination. My successor should be running back to investigate this unexpected surprise. Think of it as a good-bye present from me, eh?"
The gentleman walked over, opening the TARDIS doors.
Gray gasped.
The TARDIS was floating gently in the tranquil void of outer space, revealing an immense heaven of beautiful lights. An ocean of stars. Stars everywhere, scattered with endless majestic fire. Quietly watching over this ever-distant universe, like flowers blooming in a solitary field of nothingness.
"It...it`s beautiful." Gray finally whispered after a long silence. No...beautiful does not begin to describe this. She knew that stars are merely shiny little dots in the skies on Earth, although what is it that makes this so mysteriously captivating for her? She had seen the miracles Magic is able to create, only what makes stars this special from it all? What place does she have in it? ...Gray was unable to think of an answer. It was the eternal mystery that made this question beautiful... For once, the sentimental orphaned girl who was normally surrounded by death was grateful she was born, to witness this unforgettable sight that no one ever would...
"Hmm...is it not?" Theta pointed at an empty small patch in the void. "You see? Over there is where my home planet would have been had it existed in this multiverse of Magic. It is where I was born, exiled for my renegade wanderlust. At this moment I am from many places, only no home save that which I carry in my heart. Although one day, I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back..."
The TARDIS beeped.
"Gray?" a voice called. The girl looked back to see the Doctor running into the console room. "Ah, there you are! Sorry for abandoning you, the old dear was about to have a little overload with her engines. Luckily I re-booted everything. Clever girl you are, returning to the console all by yourself..."
The Doctor froze, staggering at the sight of Theta. "You...what are you doing here!?"
"What am I doing here?" Theta greeted the Doctor scathingly. "This is my TARDIS, my scarf-wearing scarecrow of a future! I live here! Oh, I do shiver thinking I would become you one day..."
Gray stared too in absolute bewilderment. "Your TARDIS...?" It couldn`t be... After all this time, Theta Sigma`s identity was -
"Indeed, Grayson!" The First of all the Doctors looked self-congratulatory. "I am the First. The original, one could say!"
"A 'temporal-ghost' of the original. You shouldn`t be here, Sir Grouchy. The Eye of Harmony will repair all time-abnormalities inside the TARDIS in less than a moment, erasing your existence." Gray`s Doctor scowled, although there was a slight admiration in his voice.
The name 'Doctor' was not the identity of a person. Rather, it is more of a promise. The All-Eternal Promise that symbolized a healer. Never cruel or cowardly. Never give in, never give up. The First was the original prototype to wield this unbroken promise, forging from it the eternal legacy of Time Victorious. What his later incarnations did was basically inherit the First`s legend, transcending his will until the end of Time itself. Therefore in this multiverse of Magic, the First would be the greatest of his incarnations to be Summoned as a Servant, as he was the one who began it all.
The First Doctor smiled roguishly. "Hmph. After all this time despite everything, it is reassuring I never stopped being an obnoxious madman. Certainly regeneration will come in time, although to know my story will be remembered by all the ones I shall become... I suppose the eternal spirit will indeed live on... Thank you."
Gray`s Doctor sighed. "I`m quite welcome. Good-bye, my once-former self."
"Good-bye, my future self. Good-bye, Grayson - er...Gray. Although I do hope I will see you all once more before this is over..." the First Doctor calmly began fading away into nothingness, like he was never there. "When the Last Phantasm is called upon..."
"...Eh?" the Doctor blinked. The...Last Phantasm? "Oi! What are you going about!?"
There was no answer.
The First Doctor had finally disappeared.
The TARDIS re-materialized inside the infinite cacophony of the time-vortex.
"The old cranky loon...quite the childhood renegade I was..." the Doctor muttered grouchily as he operated the console. Although it certainly was something for a previous incarnation to temporarily exist in this multiverse too...
Gray was quiet. The memory of that beautiful, endless field of stars from earlier had embedded itself into the girl`s mind. Where else would she ever watch something like this? For her to return back home as an amateur magus once more, pretending this all this never happened as a distant memory...would she be able to forgive herself after? All she wanted since her childhood was to live a 'normal' life, forsaking the burden of carrying King Arthur`s legacy...although at this moment...
"Er...Doctor?"
The Doctor looked at her.
"I..." Gray began hesitantly. "You don`t have to return me home...at least, not for the moment. I...I want to stay. With you. There is something about being with you that made me question my place in life. I think it was my time with the First that I thought of it, I want to continue understanding what I - "
The Doctor laughed. He had secretly been hoping Gray would ask him this. It was beginning to become quite lonely traveling about this multiverse of Magic alone. It was time to bring someone, a companion, to assist him with the rest of this long journey... After all, as there was the remaining mystery of what Gray had to do with his Summoning as a demi-Heroic Spirit, it will be good to continue having an eye on her too. A granddaughter indeed. "Gray...you are more than welcome to stay."
"I...am?" Gray blinked.
The Doctor smiled. "You are...where would you like to begin?"