Goose meowed at the Time Lady "no, you're not seeing things, she really is here", she said "I think" the red head moved over to the scanner, turning it on "nope. She isn't an illusion or a hologram. She's as real as you and me" the Phoenix stepped back, shaking her head "normally I like to believe in 6 impossible things before breakfast but this…phew!"
"Where am I?" the bride demanded, gaining her attention "and who the hell are you two?!"
"You're inside my ship, she's called the TARDIS", the Phoenix replied "and I…"
"The what?" the ginger interrupted, looking even more lost and confused.
"It's called the TARDIS", the Time Lady answered, calmly. It wasn't going to do any good to get snippy or cross with the ginger, since the woman was already hysterical.
The bride shook her head "That's not even a proper word. You're just saying things", she insisted.
"I promise you miss…"
"Noble. Donna Noble", the woman supplied.
"I promise you, Donna that I'm not making it up. This is what my ship is called" the Phoenix moved a couple of steps toward Donna "I realise that this is a lot for you to take in at once…"
"Understatement", Donna scoffed "who put you up to this? Was it Nerys? Oh my God, she's finally got me back. This has got Nerys written all over it".
The Phoenix frowned "who's Nerys?" she glanced at Goose "do you know a Nerys?" the Flerken shook her head.
"She's your best friend obviously", the ginger snapped.
"I have many friends, a few I'd even consider as best friends but I don't have one named Nerys", the Phoenix assured her "I'd definitely remember a name a stupid as that" That got a little snort from Donna along with a little smile "Look, Donna I don't know how you got into my ship but I assure you I had nothing to do with it. How about we start again? Hi, my name is the Phoenix but you can just call me Nix", the Time Lady held out her hand and Donna shook it.
"Donna Noble"
The Flerken meowed "oh and this is Goose, my fluffy constant companion", the Phoenix told the bride "she likes your dress by the way", she added "I guess congrats are in order".
"Thanks. But I'm not even married yet. I was halfway up the aisle when I disappeared", Donna told her.
"Well then we better get you back there", the Phoenix said, going back over to the console "where's the wedding at?"
"Saint Mary's, Hayden Road, Chiswick, London, England, Earth, the Solar System", Donna replied, earning her a laugh from the Time Lady.
"Donna Noble, I'm starting to like you", she proclaimed "now hold on tight, it might be a bit of bumpy ride".
Donna was quick to grab hold of the console while Goose hopped up into the cat hammock that the TARDIS seemed to have installed recently. "I have to ask, with that hat…are you a space pirate?" the ginger teased, nodding to the hat still on the Phoenix's head.
The Phoenix grinned "Yep. Just call me Captain Nyx Barbosa", she said with a pirate voice "My brother and I…" she trailed off, shaking her head. No, she didn't want to talk about him just yet. It was still too fresh for her at this moment "right, let's get you to that church so you can be married".
Donna noted the change in topic but didn't say anything about it. She could guess that something must've happened to her brother that made her stop talking.
When they stepped out of the TARDIS, the Phoenix frowned at their surroundings. "This doesn't make sense. I put in the right co-ordinates", the Time Lady darted back inside, checking over the console "I don't get it. Something's messed with her" outside, Donna was slowly circling the TARDIS "Donna before you disappeared, did you notice anything strange? Any weird lights or sounds?" the Phoenix called out the open doors "Or did you happen to accidently touch anything?" Donna poked her head into to the TARDIS, her eyes widening at how it really was bigger on the inside "Donna?" Goose meowed at her and she looked down at the Flerken "She…what?!"
The Phoenix ran out of the TARDIS, Goose sprinting after her. The Time Lady called after the ginger. "Nix, leave me alone. I just want to get married", Donna called after her.
Not one to give up, the red head continued following Donna, eventually falling in step with her. "Come back to the TARDIS. I just need a moment to figure out what's wrong with her and I'll get you to the church", she said.
Donna shook her head "No way. That box is too weird", she stated.
"Well, she is both a space ship and time machine. Weird kinda comes with the territory", the Phoenix admitted.
Donna glanced at the slender gold watch on her wrist "Ten past three. I'm going to miss it", she grumbled.
The Phoenix stuck her hand in her pocket, feeling her for her phone. She cursed on her breath when she couldn't find it. "Well, there goes that plan", she muttered and then spied several black taxi's driving past "plan b".
"You have a plan b?" Donna questioned, brows raised.
"Of course. I always have a plan b", the Phoenix told her "case in point…" she stepped up to the curb, stuck her fingers in her mouth and whistled. A black taxi cab, screeched to a halt next to them. The Time Lady opened up the door "After you m'lady", she said, gesturing for Donna to get in first.
Donna dropped into a curtsy "Why thank you, Captain Nyx", she said and got into the vehicle.
The Phoenix slid into the taxi as well, Goose jumping onto her lap. "That cat isn't allowed in my taxi", the cabbie said, eyeing the Flerken through the rear view mirror "not without being in a carrier".
"What cat?" the Time Lady asked 'innocently' as she opened up her pocket, allowing Goose to clamber inside. Donna smirked as the driver looked around at the pair, confusion crossing his face when he saw that it was just the two females, no cat.
The driver turned back around, the Phoenix gave Donna a wink and Goose stuck her head out of her pocket. The ginger grinned to herself. She was starting to like the Phoenix, despite her weird bigger on the inside box and the fact that the red head was clearly some spacewoman. "Where to?" the driver asked.
"Saint Mary's in Chiswick, just off Hayden Road", Donna replied "It's an emergency. I'm getting married".
"You know it'll cost you, sweetheart? Double rates today", the cabbie told the pair.
"Oh, my God", Donna breathed. She glanced at the Phoenix "Have you got any money?" she asked, really hoping she did have some.
The Time Lady went to check her pockets when she noticed Goose with her purse in her mouth. She smiled, gratefully and took it from her. The Phoenix opened it up and groaned when she saw it was empty "I'm afraid not", she said regrettably.
That of course had the cabbie dumping them back at the spot where he picked them up. "And that goes double for your mother!" Donna shouted as she slammed the door "I'll have him. I've got his number. I'll have him. Talk about the Christmas spirit".
The Phoenix raised her brows "Is it Christmas?" she asked, surprised. The weirdness that is time travel she thought. She should be used to it by now after spending so long travelling in her TARDIS.
"Well duh", Donna sassed "maybe not where you're from but here its Christmas Eve" she then spotted a phone box nearby "Phone box!" she ran towards it, the two time travellers running after her "We can reverse the charges!"
"How come you're getting married on Christmas Eve?" the Phoenix asked.
"Can't bear it. I hate Christmas", the Time Lady frowned "Honeymoon, Morocco. Sunshine, lovely".
"I don't think getting married on a holiday that you hate will make it better", the Phoenix stated "personally I would've chosen any other date".
Donna pointedly ignored her words as she pushed open the door on the phone box, picking up the handset "What's the operator? I've not done this in years. What do you dial? 100?" she questioned.
The Phoenix took the handset from her and flashed her sonic over it "Just call the direct", she instructed.
Donna slowly took it back from her, eyeing the Time Lady surprised "What did you do?" she queried.
"Don't worry about it. You call your family and soon to be hubby and I'll get the money", the Phoenix said and darted off to find the nearest ATM. She found one not too far away but to her dismay there was a queue. Goose meowed at her and she shook her head "No, you can't eat them", she scolded quietly "they're innocent people. I've got a better idea", the Phoenix grinned and took out a windup mouse. She twisted the key, set the mouse down and let it go. The toy did its job and made the other people scatter. The Time Lady stepped up to the ATM with a smile, putting the mouse away.
She got out her sonic and used it on the machine. The Phoenix took several notes from it and turned to head back to Donna when she noticed something that made her hearts stop. Three pilot fish! "Oh god", she breathed, remembering what happened the last time. But why were they here this time?
"I got money Nix!" Donna shouted. The Phoenix looked over to where she was standing and her eyes widened even more. The driver of the taxi she was standing by was a robot Santa too!
"Donna, don't move!" the Phoenix ordered. She flashed her sonic over the ATM, making money fly out of the it. It provided the best distraction as people scrambled to grab the notes allowing the Time Lady run toward Donna without the Pilot Fish stopping her. Before she could get to the ginger, another robot Santa pushed her into the vehicle. "No!" the red head exclaimed as the taxi drove off, taking a frighted Donna Noble with it.
The Phoenix took off to her TARDIS, Goose just about leaping in her pocket since the Time Lady was going a lot faster than normal. She burst into her ship and began to frantically pilot it to save Donna. It seemed like the TARDIS was helping her do so knowing how determined her Firebird was for not wanting to lose anyone else.
"Now how to do I get to her AND keep you steady?" she questioned. The red head got the answer when one word popped up on the scanner screen:
Auto Pilot
The Phoenix blinked. "You've never done that before", she stated "but thanks". She went to the doors, pulling them open, revealing the flyover. The Time Lady took several breaths "Ok here we go", she muttered. The Phoenix summoned the phoenix aura, promptly passing out as it flew out to the taxi Donna was in.
"What the hell?!" the ginger exclaimed as a golden bird appeared in the vehicle. It wrapped around her and she disappeared. The bride reappeared in the TARDIS and the phoenix aura sank back into the Time Lady. "What the hell was that thing?" Donna asked as the Phoenix gasped awake.
"A phoenix aura. Its new power thing I seemed to have", the Time Lady explained, closing the doors and going over to the console, taking the TARDIS off Autopilot.
Donna sat down on a rooftop, looking at her watch glumly. 3:30. She missed it. "Don't worry about it Donna, just give the TARDIS a few minutes to cool down and I'll hop back half an hour", the Phoenix said, sitting down next to her. Goose plopped down on her lap and she scratched behind her ears, making the Flerken purr.
"There's no point", Donna mumbled.
"Why? Don't you want to get married?" the Time Lady questioned.
"Yeah, course I do", the ginger fiddled with her engagement ring on her finger.
"But you don't love him", the Phoenix said softly.
Donna sighed "I really thought I did. I'd go all funny whenever I saw Lance, you know? That weird feeling you get in your chest".
"I'm vaguely familiar with it", the Time Lady admitted, smiling to herself at the thought of the Doctor.
"But now I'm actually getting married to him…or I was…I feel like I'm making a big mistake", Donna continued "we don't really have anything in common and when I natter on about this and that, he never tells me to stop".
"Maybe he likes to listen to you natter", the Phoenix offered.
"That's just it, I don't believe he is listening to me", Donna confessed.
"Well, then I say good riddance to Lance. But I wouldn't give up in finding the one for you", the Phoenix told her "He's out there somewhere". Her eyes flickered to the sky and she sighed.
Donna knew that look "you've got a fella waiting for you, then?"
"Yep", the Phoenix replied "his name is the Doctor, he's an alien like me".
"How long have you two been together?" Donna questioned.
"Oh, not very long", the red head answered "but enough about my love life" she took a ring out of her pocket "this is a bio-damper. It'll keep you hidden from the Pilot Fish".
"That's what those things were?" Donna asked, sliding the ring onto her finger.
The Phoenix nodded "their Santa garb is just a disguise, an attempt to blend in. personally they just look super creepy. Anyway, I ran into them last Christmas. They were trying to take the Doctor away".
"And let my guess, you stopped them?" Donna questioned with a grin.
"Actually, he did", the Time Lady corrected "they wanted him for his regeneration energy. What they want with you though, I have no idea. The scanner on my ship didn't give me anything to suggest that you were anything but 100% human" she ran a hand through her hair "could be to do with how you got into the TARDIS. What do you remember before you disappeared from the church?"
"I was surrounded by this golden light. Similar to your phoenix aura", Donna answered.
"Doesn't really narrow it down. How about your job?"
"A temp at HC Clements. Its where I met Lance. He made me coffee and that's how we started", the ginger explained.
"What does HC Clements do?" the Phoenix queried, mentally filing away the information Donna was giving her in case she needed it later.
"Oh, security systems. You know, entry codes, ID cards, that sort of thing. If you ask me, it's a posh name for locksmiths", Donna remarked "does any of this help?"
"Not yet", the Phoenix admitted "but I'm sure it will soon".
"So…what do we do now?" the ginger asked.
"I don't know about you but I fancy crashing a party" the Time Lady glanced at the bride "you?"
"I am in this pretty dress. Might as well get some use out of it", Donna replied "and I happen to know that my mother probably is having the wedding reception without me right now".
The red head raised her brows "Your mother would do that?" she asked, incredulously.
"I wish I could say she wouldn't but that it something my mum would definitely do", Donna admitted.
"Well, then" the Phoenix stood up holding out her hands to Donna who took them and she pulled her to her feet "lets go to your wedding reception".
By the time the pair got to the reception, the party was in full swing. However, when Donna's presence was finally noticed, everyone stopped dancing. "Hello all! I'm Nix. Just bringing your vanishing bride back", the red head said cheerfully, putting an arm around Donna "nice to see you all having this shindig without her. Good to see you all care".
"Well, it was all paid for. Why not?" Nerys spoke up, somewhat snootily.
"Doesn't matter if it was paid for blondie, you don't have a wedding reception without the other half of the couple! It just isn't right!" the Phoenix said angrily.
"Who the hell are you to decide that?" Sylvia demanded, eyes narrowing at the Time Lady "were you responsible for by daughter disappearing?"
"No she isn't", Donna spoke up defensively "she brought me back here safe and sound. And this little…debacle has made me realise something" she moved closer to Lance "Lance, once I loved you but I'm afraid that I don't anymore" she took off her engagement ring and held it out "I'm sorry".
Lance took the ring from Donna, staring at her somewhat heart broken but there was also a flicker of something else that the Phoenix had noticed very briefly crossed his face. It was relief. Why would he be relieved? Did he not want to marry Donna? She thought. His heartbroken expression changed to one of outrage when he turned to the Phoenix "this is all your fault" he accused "you got into her head".
"Uh, no I didn't", the Phoenix shot back.
"She's right", Donna piped up "Nix didn't get into my head. I came to that decision on my own".
"How about we stop with the arguments?" the Time Lady suggested "I didn't just come here to bring Donna back. I came for the party. So what do you say, Donna? Fancy a dance?"
"Sure", the ginger replied. Lance and Sylvia watched, as the two of them began to dance along to the Christmas tune that was currently playing. They didn't know what to make of the entire situation nor of the woman with the pirate hat. Slowly but surely, the other wedding guests joined in with the pair on the dance floor with the exception of Donna's mother, former fiancé and Nerys.
It was about an hour or so later when the Phoenix was leaning against the bar, watching the guests dancing away. She smiled at Donna who was having fun with a little boy and girl. The ginger would make a great mother one day. The Time Lady's hearts panged as her thoughts turned to those that she had lost during the war, including her godchildren as well as her nieces and nephews.
She sighed and moved her gaze away from Donna, looking around the room. The red head then noticed a man making a video of the proceedings. She wondered if he'd possibly been recording the wedding too. With that thought in mind, she made her way over to him. "Excuse me, I was wondering, did you happen to record to the wedding too?" the Phoenix asked.
"Oh, I taped the whole thing. They've all had a look. They said sell it to You've Been Framed. I said, more like the News. Here we are" the camera man said and showed her the footage. The Phoenix's eyes widened as she watched as golden particles appeared from within Donna and made her fly off as golden energy. "Clever, mind. Good trick, I'll give her that. I was clapping", the man remarked.
"That's no trick", the Time Lady stated "I was to the universe it were". She darted over to Donna, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the children.
"Nix what's wrong?" the ginger questioned, seeing that she looked incredibly worried.
"You're in danger", the Phoenix replied.
"I know that. You told me earlier" Donna showed her the ring on her finger "but I'm safe thanks to you".
The Time Lady shook her head "Donna that ring is only useful as a piece of jewellery. Those gold particles you saw are called Huon particles, they're so old that they cannot be hidden by a biodamper".
Donna's eyes widened "Oh god", she breathed "my family…"
"They will be fine as long as I get you out of here", the Phoenix promised "the Pilot Fish only want you".
"That somehow doesn't make me feel better", Donna mumbled.
The Phoenix took her hand "I know. But I swear to you right now that those robots aren't going to get you again. I will keep you safe", she vowed "now come on, we need to go" she led Donna to the backdoor only to discover there were a couple of Pilot Fish waiting for them "Damn it", the Phoenix said slamming the door shut. She and Donna peered out of the windows at them.
"We're trapped", Donna stated, scared.
"No we're not", the red head said firmly "stay here. I'll deal with them". The Phoenix went to move when she noticed a remote control in one of their hands. She paled, instantly remembering last Christmas where the tree came to life. The Time Lady spun around, seeing a number of trees. "Get away from the trees!" she shouted.
"Don't touch the trees!" Donna added, she could guess why the Phoenix wanted them to get away from the Christmas trees. It had something to do with those Pilot Fish.
"Get away from the Christmas trees! Everyone get away from them! Everyone stay away from the trees! Stay away from the trees!" the Phoenix continued as she began to physically chase people away from them.
"Oh, for God's sakes, the woman is an idiot", Sylvia scoffed wondering why her daughter was following the Phoenix's example "Why? What harm's a Christmas tree going to…Oh!"
The baubles floated off of the trees and hove above people's heads. "Everyone down!" the Phoenix ordered and everyone hit the floor. She was quick to summon the phoenix aura, collapsing to the floor as it flew out of her body. The bird soared around the room and seemingly gathered up all the baubles from the air before disappearing out of the building. She ascended up into the sky as quickly as she could, the Pilot Fish watching her fly through the clouds before detonating the bombs.
Donna raced out of the building "Nix!" she cried, seeing the glowing, golden phoenix tumble out of the sky. She had to do something! But what? The bride ran back inside and went over to the unconscious Time Lady "come on Nix, you're not going to let a bunch of exploding ornaments stop you, are you?" she asked, shaking her shoulder "you're tougher than that" Donna eyed the Pilot Fish who were slowly approaching her "NIX!"
The phoenix aura burst into the room, startling everyone and attacked the Pilot Fish, taking them out one at a time. She then remerged with her body and the Phoenix groaned as she opened her eyes. "I'm glad Mickey wasn't here to see that", she muttered "he'd tell me off for being so reckless" she glanced at Donna "you ok?"
"I should be asking you that", Donna replied "you did get blown up".
The Phoenix shrugged and winced "I've dealt with an army of Dalek ships. Exploding baubles is nothing", she told her.
"What's a Dalek?" Donna asked as the Time Lady picked up one of the controls and examined it.
"Evil pepperpots that were created by an utter lunatic", she replied "oh hello!" she exclaimed "there's a secondary control. For the Pilot Fish it seems. Looks like these guys were controlled just like the baubles" the Phoenix scooped up a nearby robot head, immediately hearing the signal coming from within "Ooh something I can track!"
"Donna…who is she?" Sylvia asked, scared while the Time Lady raced out of the room with the robot head in her hands "Who is that woman?"
"She's the one who just saved our lives", Donna answered "now, if you'll excuse me". She darted after the red head. She found the Phoenix standing just outside of the building, scanning the head with her sonic "There's someone behind this, directing the roboforms", she stated, not looking at Donna.
"But why is it me? What have I done?" Donna asked, not understanding why anyone or anything would single her out. She wasn't exactly special or extraordinary unlike a certain Time Lady she knew.
"When we find the controller, then we will find that out", the Phoenix replied "Ooo!" she raised her sonic to the sky "It's up there. Something in the sky".
High up in the Earth's atmosphere was a web like ship, shaped like a star. It's pilot, the Empress of the Racnoss, touched the screen that showed the Phoenix looking upward. "Clever, clever, clever magic girl. She shall come to me, and the beautiful bride. Such secrets to unlock! I shall descend this night. I shall descend upon this Earth and shine!"
"Ugh, I've lost the signal", the Phoenix griped "Donna, we've got to get to your office. HC Clements. I think that's where it all started".
"I can give you a lift", Lance offered.
"Sure but then you can stay out of our way", the Time Lady said.
"Fine with me", the man agreed. He didn't want to be around the Time Lady any more than he had to but he still needed Donna for the Empress.
~HC Clements office~
"Now, lets see what your company have been up to", the Phoenix said, plonking down on the nearest chair and started to type away at the computer "Oh you've got to be kidding me!" she complained at the information that popped up on the screen.
"What?" Donna asked "what's Torchwood?"
"They're the organisation behind the battle of Canary Wharf", the Phoenix replied, hands curling into fists as her mind flittered back to the destruction that the Dalek's and Cybermen rained down on the city.
"What's the battle of Canary Wharf?" Donna questioned, making the Time Lady shoot her a look "what?"
"Cyberman invasion? Skies over London full of Daleks?"
"Oh, I was in Spain", Donna said somewhat dismissively.
"They had Cybermen in Spain", the Time Lady told her.
"I was Scuba diving", Donna stated.
"Well, that's one way to miss em", the red head remarked "anyway Torchwood was destroyed with a little help from moi , but HC Clements stayed in business. I think someone else came in and took over the operation".
Donna frowned "But what do they want with me?"
"Somehow you've been dosed with Huon energy. And that's a problem, because Huon energy hasn't existed since the Dark Times. The only place you'd find a Huon particle now is a remnant in the heart of the TARDIS", the Phoenix explained "oh and there's a tiny remnant within me too, that's due to my ancestry" the red head shook her head "I'm getting a little off track. Sorry. This is what happened" she picked up a coffee mug "the TARDIS" she held up a pencil "you. The particles inside you activated. The two sets of particles magnetised and whap" she shook both the mug and the pencil, then drops the pencil into the mug "You were pulled inside the TARDIS".
Donna raised a brow at her explanation "I'm a pencil inside a mug?"
"Well, you are in this scenario", the Time Lady answered and she glanced at Lance who was still hanging around "Lance? What was HC Clements working on? Anything top secret? Special operations? Do not enter?"
"I don't know, I'm in charge of personnel. I wasn't project manager. Why am I even explaining myself? What the hell are we talking about?" Lance demanded, suddenly defensive.
"I'm talking about the things that your company is hiding. Somehow Donna got dosed with Huon particles and I suspect it happened here", the Phoenix said "So if I were doing something very naughty and didn't want anything to know about it…I'd have a secret floor" the Time Lady got up from the chair and walked over to the lift "see? There's a button marked 'lower basement'".
"That's the secret floor?" Donna asked.
"It sure is", the Phoenix declared "its not on the official floor plans" she glanced at Lance "so whats down there then?"
"Are you telling me this building's got a secret floor?" Lance questioned, pointedly evading the question. That had both the Phoenix and Donna exchanging looks.
"It needs a key", the ginger pointed out.
The Time Lady grinned and produced her sonic "I don't", she said, flashing the device over the button "right then I'm going down, see you on the flip side".
Donna stepped inside the lift next to her "No chance, space pirate. You're the woman who keeps saving my life. I ain't letting you out of my sight", she stated "Lance?"
"Maybe I should go to the police", Lance suggested.
"Actually I think you should stay with us", Donna said "Nix?"
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have him with us. Someone to watch our backs", the Phoenix agreed. Lance sighed and got inside the lift.
~Lower basement corridor~
"Ok, I'm not liking this lighting, its eerie", the Phoenix stated as they walked.
"Ooh is the bad ass Time Lady scared?" Donna teased.
"No, not scared. Just uneasy", the Time Lady admitted "and not much does that".
"Do you think Mister Clements knows about this place?" Donna asked.
"The mysterious HC Clements? I think he's part of it", the Phoenix replied. Her green eyes lit up when she saw the Segways "Segway!" she cried, happily, running over to them.
Pretty soon they were all riding on each, trundling along the corridor. Donna looked at her former fiancé and the Phoenix and laughed. It was very comical how a groom, bride and space pirate looked on the vehicles. The Time Lady also started giggling as she too find it very funny.
Eventually they arrive at a bulkhead door labelled Torchwood. Authorised personnel only. The Phoenix turns the wheel to open it to reveal a ladder. "Wait here. Just need to get my bearings. Don't do anything", the Time Lady told them both.
"You'd better come back", Donna said as the red head grabbed the rung of the ladder.
"Don't worry Donna, I always come back", the Phoenix assured her with a wink and then started to climb up the ladder.
"Donna, have you thought about this? Properly? I mean, this is serious! What the hell are we going to do?" Lance demanded.
"Well, I don't know about you but I know Nix can handle anything that comes her way. and when this is over, I'm going to go travelling".
The Phoenix reached a sealed cover and spun the wheel to open it. "Huh, secret base under a major landmark", she commented, seeing that she'd come out from beneath the Thames Barrier "that's original". She was about to climb down the ladder to tell Donna and Lance what she found when something caught her eye attached the to the side of the barrier. It wrapped package with Gallifreyan written on it. It was her name! The Phoenix reached down and pulled it up, tearing off the paper. It appeared to be a newspaper with some news story on a guy named Saxon but she didn't really pay too much attention to it. The red head opened up the box and gasped at what was inside. "I don't believe it", she breathed, reaching into it and taking out the red feather that was inside "I thought you were lost".
The Phoenix attached the feather to her necklace and gasped when she felt the power surge through her. A red-gold glow appeared around her and she rose off the floor, hovering a couple of inches above it. She landed on the barrier, letting out a laugh. It was honestly exhilarating! And she suddenly felt…whole. Like all her life a piece of herself was missing and now it wasn't.
The red headed Time Lady let out a scream as a pain went through her head. She clutched her head as a memory flooded through her mind.
The Phoenix stepped out of the TARDIS and was met with a with Time Lords in soldier few Time Lords in solder type gear and Rassilon. "Oh, look it's the wicked witch and her winged monkeys", the Time Lady sassed.
Rassilon gave her an unamused look "still as sarcastic as always Phoenix", he remarked "I also see that you've been united with Taia's feather" he stepped forward "that's a real shame".
"Why?" the Phoenix asked, getting a real bad feeling.
"We don't want anyone being too overpowered", Rassilon replied. Before the Time Lady could stop him, he raised his gloved hand and used it on her. The Phoenix screamed and collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Rassilon walked up to her prone form and tore the phoenix feather from her necklace. "Pick her up", he ordered the Time Lords "we need to wipe her memory and suppress her powers". Two Time Lords grabbed the Phoenix by the arms and dragged her off. Rassilon looked to the orange sky "and so the war begins".
The Phoenix fell to her knees, shaking "Rassilon", she growled, green eyes blazing with fury. Not only did steal her ancestor's feather, but he attempted to suppress her powers. Some of which had come back the moment she'd taken in the heart of the TARDIS. He also had the audacity to take away her memories, moments in time that included her meeting Carol and helping her to save the world from the Kree. Plus the actual meeting of Goose too and not what was planted in her head.
If that Time Lord wasn't already dead, she would've hunted him down and given him utter hell! The Phoenix took a deep breath to calm herself. She had to get it together before going back to meet Donna and Lance. Lance…that man didn't sit right with her at all. The red head climbed back down the ladder, hopping off the bottom rung. "Thames flood barrier right on top of us. Torchwood snuck in and built this place underneath", she reported.
"What, there's like a secret base hidden underneath a major London landmark?" Donna questioned, both surprised and confused.
"Yeah", the Phoenix confirmed "bit meh really. I mean its been done before". The trio keep walking until the enter a laboratory complete with chemistry equipment and bubbling test tubes. "All we need now is a mad scientist and his assistant", the Time Lady joked, noting that all this equipment was capable of manufacturing Huon particles. "This is what is inside of you Donna", she stated, picking up a test tube. She turned the knob at the top making the contents glow gold as well as Donna. She herself was also glowing though there was red thrown into the mix due to her heritage.
"Oh, my god!" the ginger exclaimed. The Phoenix turned the knob again, ceasing the glowing.
"Particles are usually inert. They need something living to well…get a jump start so to speak. The human body naturally produces all sorts of chemicals and at certain times such as a wedding, you're body creates even more. When the Huons were charged enough you disappeared and reappeared in the TARDIS", the Phoenix explained.
"These particles are they dangerous?" Donna asked, looking extremely worried.
The Time Lady sighed "I wish I could tell you that you were safe, that they aren't dangerous. But I can't lie to you. Donna, Huon particles are deadly".
Donna let out a weak "Oh…" at that.
"My people tried to get rid of them for that reason but some still hung around. In TARDIS'…inside my family…" the Phoenix placed a hand on Donna's shoulder "But I am going to do everything in my power to get them out of you. I won't loose anyone else".
Suddenly there was a series of loud crashes and bangs, closely followed by one of the walls sliding upwards to show a chamber with a large hole in the floor. "Oh, she is long since lost" a female voice echoed around the room "I have waited so long, hibernating at the edge of the universe until the secret heart was uncovered and called out to waken!"
The walls of the chamber are lined with black robed robots. Pilot Fish is the Phoenix could hazard a guess. She ignored them as she made her way to the edge and peered down it. "How far down does it go?" she mused aloud.
"Down and down, all the way to the centre of the Earth!"
The red head arched a brow "What for?" she questioned "were you really bored or something or trying to break the world record for deepest hole?"
"Such amusing questions"
"You know, only a mad person talks to thin air and trust me, you don't want to make me mad. Where are you?" the Phoenix demanded.
"High in the sky. Floating so high on Christmas night"
"Oh, so you're a coward. My bad", the Phoenix sassed.
"I'm not sure it's a good idea to taunt the voice", Donna muttered.
"I think it's a great idea", the Time Lady told her "I mean whomever it is must so scared of two ladies that they haven't got the guts to show themselves!" she added loudly.
"You asked for it", the voice said before there was a flash of light. The Phoenix gasped as the large spider like creature before them.
"You're the Empress of the Racnoss!" she exclaimed.
"So you've heard of me then?" the Empress remarked "excellent".
"It's not really" the Time Lady stated "The Racnoss come from the Dark Times, billions of years ago. Billions. They were carnivores, omnivores. They devoured whole planets", she explained to Donna.
"Racnoss are born starving. Is that our fault?" the Empress argued.
"They eat people?" Donna gasped, paling. That was when the Phoenix noticed something sticking out of the webbing that stretched across the ceiling. A pair of fancy black and white shoes.
"Donna…what kind of shoes does your boss like to wear?" she questioned.
"Black and white ones" the ginger laughed "We used to call him the fat cat in spats. Why?"
"Cos I've just found him", the Time Lady said pointing upward. Donna paled even more.
"Mmm. My Christmas dinner", the Empress hummed. On the balcony above the Racnoss, Lance appeared, fire axe in hand.
"You shouldn't even exist. Way back in history, the fledgling Empires went to war against the Racnoss they were wiped out", the Phoenix stated.
"Except for me", the Empress told her.
The red head rolled her eyes "well duh otherwise you wouldn't be here now. Dummy", she said sarcastically making the Racnoss hiss at her "Oh, hiss off", the Phoenix said, waving her hand dismissively "you don't scare me. By the way Lance, acting is not your strong suit. I know you're working together". The former groom set the axe down, glaring that the red head, angry he was caught out before his big reveal.
"How did you know?" Donna asked, somewhat shocked at that fact Lance was a traitor.
"The Huon particles had to get into your system somehow. The only way was for Lance to have made you coffee on more than one occasion", the Phoenix explained "slowly poisoning you". She shook her head, disgusted.
"But…we were going to get married", Donna said weakly. She felt rather sick to her stomach at the thought of the man that she was so sure she loved was slowly killing her over six months.
"Well, I couldn't risk you running off!" Lance exclaimed "I had to say yes. And then I was stuck with a woman who thinks the height of excitement is a new flavour Pringle. Oh, I had to sit there and listen to all that yap yap yap. Oh, Brad and Angelina. Is Posh pregnant? X Factor, Atkins Diet, Feng Shui, split ends, text me, text me, text me. Dear God, the never ending fountain of fat, stupid trivia" the man sneered "I deserve a medal".
"No, what you deserve is a swift kick in the ass", the Phoenix growled, her anger having reached boiling point with every word and the hurt look on Donna's face.
"I loved you", Donna whispered, broken.
"And that's what made it so easy", Lance taunted "though you doing what you did at the reception was a bit of a curve ball. I was worried that you would never get here" he smirked "I guess I have you to thank for that Phoenix".
"You're not welcome", the Phoenix spat. She took several deep breaths , forcing herself to calm down. She needed to be for what she was going to say next. "Now here is whats going to happen, you are going to take Lance and get the hell of this planet", she ordered.
"I'm afraid I can't", the Empress said "my children need this planet". Her eyes travelled downward to the hole and the Time Lady knew that the Racnoss' babies were somehow in the center of the Earth.
"Well, they can't have it. The Earth is protected by ME and I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. So take the human and your kids away before I'm forced to do something that I will regret", the red head demanded.
"No", the Empress said, stubbornly. The Phoenix closed her eyes, hearts sinking. She was going to have to resort to something she wasn't going to like.
"You leave me no choice", she whispered "Donna I want you to close your eyes".
"Why?" Donna questioned "what are you going to do?"
"Something I'm going to regret. Now please Donna", the Phoenix pleaded. Seeing the hurt and regret in the Time Lady's green eyes, the ginger nodded. The moment Donna had done so, the Phoenix summoned the aura around her. It was far stronger than before thanks being reunited with her ancestor's feather. "You should've left when I told you to", the Time Lady said as she rose up into the air "cos now I'm going to show you what I'm capable of!"
The Phoenix flung her hands out, throwing fire everywhere. The Pilot Fish tried to shoot her but she easily deflected their blasts. Donna peeked through her fingers, hand completely dropping completely away as she stared at the Time Lady. With fire swirling around her along with the water from the Thames as parts of the chamber had been destroyed…she couldn't help but think the Phoenix was like some avenging angel or a very powerful goddess. It was both amazing and terrifying at the same time.
"No! No! My children! No! My children! My children!" the Empress shrieked in anguish as the water swirled down the hole, completely destroying any chance that they survived.
"Nix, you need stop now!" the former bride cried. The Time Lady glanced at her and Donna tried not to look away at her face that was void of any expression, even anger. "Please", she begged. The Phoenix flew down to where Donna was watching her.
"Let's go", the Time Lady said, grabbing her hand and took off running.
~Thames Barrier~
The Phoenix sank down onto the ground, trembling "I'm sorry", she mumbled.
"What for?" Donna asked, sitting down next to her.
"I'm sorry you had to see that", the Time Lady said "I'm sorry I had to resort to it. I never wanted to hurt them! I never wanted to hurt anybody!"
"Hey, its ok", Donna said softly, rubbing her back as she started to cry.
"How?" the Phoenix sniffled "I killed children!"
"You gave the Empress a chance. More than one in fact. She was just too stubborn to leave", Donna reminded her "so you did what you had to do".
"It doesn't make me feel better", the Time Lady said quietly.
"Well, how about this. Don't think about the ones you had to kill, think about those you saved", Donna suggested "The entire Earth is safe. That's billions of children who'll be able to grow up, thanks to you. And for what it's worth, I appreciate everything you've done. Thank you, Nix".
The Phoenix glanced at Donna and managed a smile despite her tears "you're welcome", she said.
"Oh, and there's one more thing. You drained the Thames", Donna added. The Time Lady looked over the area that the river used to flow through and laughed. The ginger quickly joined in with her own giggles. "Come on space pirate, I know exactly what you need. Christmas dinner at my house", Donna said.
"Sure, Christmas dinner sounds good", the Phoenix agreed.
~Outside the Nobles' home~
"That was a really nice dinner", the Phoenix remarked rubbing her stomach as she left the house, Donna following.
"Mum sure does know how to cook", the ginger commented.
"Now I think I owe you a Christmas present", the Time Lady said, turning to her.
"There's no need for that. You saved my life AND the world, that's a perfect Christmas present", Donna said, waving her off.
"I think there's something better" the Phoenix took out a small metal container "close your eyes". Donna did as she said and the Time Lady opened up the container, pressing a little button on the side. The Huon particles streamed out of the ginger's body and into the container. "You are now free of Huon particles", the Phoenix declared, snapping the lid of the container closed.
"Really?" Donna asked and the red head nodded "thank you!"
The ginger hugged the Time Lady tightly "you're welcome. Figured you wouldn't want those inside of you", she said, patting her on the back.
"You know, you really ought to go back to that fella of yours", Donna said, stepping back "cos I think you need to be with someone after what you've just gone through".
"I can't. Not right away", the Phoenix said.
"You shouldn't be alone. You need someone with you, if not to give you support but to stop you from losing control", Donna said.
"I'll…I'll think about it", the Time Lady promised. They hugged one more time before the Phoenix departed in her TARDIS.