Epilogue
[Well here we are. This is it. The last chapter. Almost doesn't feel real. It's done. Wow. Thank you to everyone who read to the end. It's always great to know there are people reading and enjoying it. I certainly had fun writing it. I someday plan to write a story called 'Missed Adventures in Time and Space', because I think I'm funny like that, that will have some stuff from this universe. One shots and the very few arcs I considered but dropped. But that'll be a while. I should work on other things.]
Pride woke up, got ready for the day, and had breakfast with his mother. They talked a bit about what they'd missed in each other's lives, but there wasn't much to say. There was a lot of time they could spend together.
Pride tried to ignore the way his voice was doing the weird voice breaks now. Honestly, compared to getting a more human body (still not a fan of that) this was barely a drop in the bucket, but everyone seemed to make a big deal out of it. Tiring.
He and Mrs. Bradley finished breakfast and Mrs. Bradley went back to her room. She'd probably see Nora later. She might be roped into helping Nora. Ruling the planet took a lot time. Pride took the elevator down and attached his ear piece.
"Alright Nate, what is it today?" he asked.
"Ven street."
"Lee," Pride said derisively.
The most recent move of Lee's hadn't been very smooth. They'd ended up getting pelted by space rocks, and the streets on the edge of the city were damaged. But alchemy could right most of the damage. And luckily it hadn't hit any other populated areas on the planet. There weren't many civilizations outside the city, but there were a few spots, normally for things like farming and manufacturing. If any of those needed an alchemist to help with repairs it would take him most of the day to get there, or he could use a teleport and throw up.
Pride reached the edge of the city on foot, clapped his hands together, and sealed any of the nearby holes in the round. This would take a fair amount of time. Nate had been right. There was a high demand for alchemists here, finding something to do would hardly be a problem. If he was really desperate, he could go to the café and fix all the broken dishes the partial cyberman tended to make. But that was a last resort he'd rather avoid. It was beneath him.
"Thanks Pride," one of the residents spoke up as he started working on the buildings.
Pride sort of hummed noncommittedly, but he did like the acknowledgement.
There was a bang from further up the street, the undamaged section. Or rather previously undamaged. They both spun towards it.
"What was that?!" the man exclaimed.
"Crud," Nate said over the earpiece.
"Nate?" Pride asked, jaw clenched slightly. "What is it?"
"You know that other alchemist we rescued recently, that we thought was kind of suspicious? Yeah, we were right."
"I've got it," Pride said, already running that way with a grin on his face.
"Pride no. I'll take care of him. Just let met stun him."
Being in a dalek case, Nate was very good at neutralizing threats. But this was going to be the most interesting part of the day. Also, "I'm closer. He'll destroy half the city before you get there."
"Pride, last time you fought someone dangerous you threatened to put their spine on the outside of their body. And then did so."
Well yes, he had to make good on his threats. But Nate was clearly unhappy and Pride didn't want to upset him. Too much. "I promise not to do any permanent damage."
He had, at this point, found the other alchemist. The man had a transmutation circle on the ground. Upon seeing Pride, he brought the ground up as a giant fist. Pride clapped his hands together, moved to the side, and pressed his hands against the transmutation, breaking the fist into rubble that he was safely out of the way of.
"Fine," Nate agreed over the earpiece. (Well, a little late there.)
"So, you're the other alchemist," the man said. "I heard there was another one."
Pride smirked. "Indeed. And I think you'll find I have the advantage."
After all, Pride didn't need circles. The alchemist tried to pull another transmutation circle out of his jacket, but Pride created spikes out of the ground, forcing him to move. Pride had no intention of giving him the chance to attack again. He could stall until Nate showed up to stun the alchemist, but Pride would rather defeat him himself, before that.
Pride clapped his hands together and moved forward. A few people still on the street stared, though at least they seemed smart enough to get to a safe distance. These types of attacks coming from within the planet were rare, but even without the fighting, there was never a dull moment. Aside from the Doctor, the few people he honestly liked were on this planet, and his alchemy was in high demand. Yes, he was very happy here.
