Author's note: This is still one of my favourite episodes that I have penned, but I think that has something to do with the brilliance of the original fifth Doctor episodes written by Barbara Clegg from 1983. They were called Enlightenment if you were interested, and I strongly recommend that you should watch them. Here is the new and updated version!

Date updated 07/09/15

Episode Eight: The Eternals

Chapter One

Bella stepped out of the TARDIS and took in her surroundings. It was dark, which was the first thing she noticed. She squinted as her eyes adjusted and she could make out large wooden crates surrounding her with a picture of an anchor on them. Obviously some kind of brand, she thought to herself.

The TARDIS doors opened again and the Doctor stepped out and looked around him, his eyes adjusting quicker than Bella's had.

"Where are we?" he said as Bella looked up to him.

"I was about to ask you that very same question," Bella said smiling.

The Doctor cleared his throat and looked around them again.

"No, I know where we are – course I do!" He moved forward and knelt to begin to examine the crates.

Bella chuckled fondly to herself as she waited patiently for him to get his bearings. She had a wild guess as to where they might be, but she thought it best for the Doctor's ego to let him say it out loud first.

"Hmm, a lot of crates and some ropes," the Doctor observed to himself. "Feels like the ground is moving… We are either on a boat or a plane"

"I would have said a boat," Bella said amused, "rather than a plane. In fact I would go so far as to say that we were on some kind of sailing ship."

The Doctor stood up and frowned at her for a moment.

"Why do you always have to be right?" he asked cheekily.

"Well, apparently I have an 'exceptionally bright mind'," She quoted him smiling charmingly.

The Doctor grinned at her broadly before his smile faded, guilt rising quickly in his stomach, the memory of what he had done to her reforming in his mind. Bella saw this and her smile faded too.

"Doctor, don't." she said quietly.

He opened his mouth to say he was sorry but she cut him off.

"Please don't say you're sorry again, Doctor," she said wincing ever-so-slightly. "I don't blame you for what happened. It wasn't your fault. We need to move on… Besides, you've apologised too much anyway…"

The Doctor nodded, still feeling unbearably guilty but made an effort for it to not show on his face for Bella's sake. He felt like she was far to understanding towards him especially since he didn't think he deserved it from her, but no matter what he would be forever grateful that she wanted to travel with him still. She was so different now, so much older than she had been. The Doctor knew that Bella had only been on Nealon for five years, but her eyes looked like it had been many more, and he painful knew what caused that; the loss of so many people at once.

"So, we're on a sailing ship then," the Doctor concluded and he saw Bella's expression lighten. "I haven't been on one of these in years. The last boat I was on was the Titanic Space Liner."

"I don't know if that counts as a boat, Doctor," Bella laughed.

He shrugged, smiling down at her.

A door somewhere above them creaked open and they instantly stiffened as a tall man carrying a lantern came down the set of stairs, throwing light over them and the cargo hold.

They both looked up to the man who had stopped halfway down the stairs to look at them smiling.

"Hello Doctor and Bella," he said kindly looking at each of them. "Do not be alarmed, dear Bella, we mean neither of you any harm. Please, come upstairs to the bridge, my captain would love to meet you both."

He turned and began walking up the stairs and Bella looked to the Doctor.