Guardian to Gallifrey Chapter 1.
All stood ready to pass through the door to his home soil; his hearts were racing in anticipation. Around them the TARDIS hummed, as she was happy to be home, her happiness overflowing through the telepathic circuits making them all smile.
"Let me go first. Need to make it safe for you." Galen commented reaching for he door.
"Safe?"
"Gallifrey is stuck in time. Everything. Even the air, I need to go out and…excite the particles." He said with a smile.
"You can excite me anytime" Jack commented
"Jaaack!" came the reply with multiple eye rolls.
Galen walked from the TARDIS, and into the still air. He closed his eyes and thin gold lightening arched from his form. As quick as it came it went, and he called back to them.
"It's alright. You can come out now." They all came filing out, eyes wide in wonder. "Just stay near. My range is not that big for air."
They looked at the scene. The red sky stuck in a forever dawn, as time captured this moment. The leaves that had fallen from the trees hung in mid air, their silver edges glinting like fallen stars.
They could see the white stone of the citadel in the distance; in the light the walls dripped blood. Here and there were scorch marks from attacks. They could see people, fleeing from lost enemies, faces frozen in terror.
"What are they running from?" Rose asked.
"Dalek's I would imagine" The Doctor commented darkly.
"So where are they? I can't see any." Jack scanned around with his wrist computer
"Rose wiped them from time remember. Their bodies are gone" The Doctor turned to Galen, he was standing on the edge of the cliff that the TARDIS had landed upon, below them the two winding rivers looking like trails of blood. "What now?"
"We go to the Tower." Galen pointed to the Tower of Rassilon, a great spire reaching for the stars. It stood in the middle of nowhere. In the place the Doctor knew was called "The Dead Zone." It was here a millennia ago his people would place creature against creature. Kind of like a coliseum but on a much larger scale. The Doctor had been placed in this 'Dead Zone' once before, several incarnations of himself in fact; all thanks to his old mentor. Who now resided in the tower of Rassilon for all time, he got the immortality he sought, as a stone statue.
"How are we going to get there?" that had been Jack, coming to stand beside Galen.
" Fly of course." With that Galen burst into golden light, and there he was, standing in his true dragon form. No longer the sickly yellow from the planet. But the pure gold he had been. It made the Doctor happy to see him this way once more. He flapped his wings experimentally. Then smiled at them.
"Is this an acorn?" Rose asked randomly.
"Yes, one of us liked the tree so much he brought a cutting." The Doctor replied with a smile. Rose held the acorn in her hand, a little piece of home. Earth even managed to touch such a place. It was humbling to see how far they went.
They climbed upon Galen's back and he walked to the edge of the cliff. The three on his back looked at the long drop.
"You sure about this Galen? You sure your wings ok?" Rose asked tentatively, holding on to the Doctor, the acorn still in her grasp.
"Yeah it's fine." With that he leapt off and hovered in the air, his great wings beating a steady rhythm. They felt the large muscles bunch and release like springs. "See."
The next thing they knew they were plummeting like a stone, the left wing seeming to loose beat. The three screamed, not noticing the smirk on Galen's face as they plummeted. At the last moment he opened his wings, and with sure beats headed to the tower. He could not suppress the laugh as he looked over his shoulder seeing their faces. Rose sat at the front, the Doctor with his arms tight around her, her hands grasping his fore arms. Then he could see Jack, arms around them both. They all looked on wide-eyed, shell-shocked. The Laughter started deep within him, and burst out to the unmoving sky. He felt Jack whack his side.
"You sly bastard."
"What? You looked like you needed waking up." The swift reply came from Rose, with her acorn hitting the back of his head.
They all laughed as he continued to the great tower.
He came to the top of the tower; there was a strip of path jutting out from its surface, like a great balcony that a king could walk to the end to, to speak to his people. The path had a gold strip, almost Rose thought akin to a red carpet, with the white marble like stone either side.
Galen back winged, slowing his decent as he landed without a jolt, he folded his wings to his side the lay his front talons down so the others to get off. A great archway with darkness beyond stood before them. Galen walked forward with the others following, as he passed the threshold fire torches lit to reveal the bier of Rassilon. Around the side on tiles where the faces of people, stuck in a silent scream.
"Doctor?" Rose queried at the look on the Doctor's face. He was looking at one of the tiles with sadness.
"I haven't been here for so long. Never thought I would be here again. He was an old friend once, a fool and idiot at the end but all the same…"
"Once a friend, always hurts" she gave him a hug,
"Aww, isn't that sweet. They make the cutest couple" came two voices, they looked over to see Jack leaning on Galen's muzzle, and both their eyes were twinkling in mirth.
"Shut up" they both shouted back.
"SO my Guardian returns" came a deep voice from the direction of the bier, from hidden parts came lights that formed a hologram of a man, he had a large ginger mustache looking like some Victorian Brit.
"At your call my Lord" Galen bowed.
"Do you understand all that is asked?"
"Yes, I must relinquish the Time-Vortex. After giving myself over to it as a conduit to restore Gallifrey. I know fully the danger to this."
"What Danger?" Jack asked of Galen. Rose smiled; she could see Jack had his eye on Galen. Galen himself had begun to relax in Jacks Company, in all their company in fact. He had become less withdrawn. Though she still noticed he placed his hood up when he left the TARDIS, trying to hide from the universe.
Galen turned old eyes on them and smiled.
"You'll see. I am ready my Lord" Galen stepped forward to stand before the raised bier. From the bier came gold lightening that arched across and into Galen. His Gold scales shined even brighter as the Vortex inside him was fully tapped. Rose shivered in remembrance of that touch.
"You ok?" she looked up to see the Doctor had taken his gaze from the scene before him to turn his concerned eyes on her.
"Yeah, just remembering" she was quite surprised when the Doctor gave a sad smile and wrapped his arms around her from behind. So she was tucked safe against him as they looked on.
Finally the room went dim and there, Galen stood as the only light. Gold lightening now arching from different points on his form, from raised spikes that traveled from the middle part of his back, to the horns that protruded from the crown around the base of his skull to the top. The large horns would extend from his head, with thick pieces of skin webbed between. This made him more aerodynamic, making the air split round him like a cone, or like a ship passing through water.
Galen walked towards them and smiled.
"Shall we wake them up then?" he kneeled down so they could climb up on his back once more.
"You sure it's ok? I mean…I love strange gold lightening as much as the next guy…"
"You'll be fine, it won't harm you. It knows you through the TARDIS. Rose and the Doctor more so." They climbed up and Rose smiled. It was like regaining a part of herself. She felt safe, home and all things associated with it. The Vortex gave her a fleeting touch in welcome and recognition and she laughed.
"The Vortex really likes you," The Doctor said by her ear, making her shiver at his whisper and his arms holding her once more.
They all held on as Galen walked back to the walkway. "Ready?"
"Yes!' all three shouted back and he leapt to the air.
Galen soared in the air once more, his wings spread out as they beat the rhythm of flight. But now he glowed bright and from each point of his wings the gold lightening arched to the ground. Leaves began to fall, birds joined them in the air as the wind began to blow once more. Galen swooped past a building the Doctor knew all too well.
"Rose, look. That's my family home."
"I love it."
"Don't get to excited, it's dull and boring."
"But it's yours." Rose replied and he smiled.
Then they were over the city, hearing the people cheer as life and time returned. Children could be heard laughing and Galen dipped his wing so they could see them in the citadel, each shouting "Guardian! I knew they would come" as they jumped about. The Doctor spread his arms out and whooped in joy, his hearts never as full as they were now. He hugged Rose tight, kissing the top of her head in glee and she laughed and joined in the happiness. He then grasped hold of Jacks hand, wanting to share the feelings he felt.
"Doctor…look at who I can see." Galen called, and on top of the citadel tower was someone the Doctor had thought he would never see again.
"ROMANA!" The Doctor shouted and Galen smiled, he dipped his wing to change direction to the right and he landed before President Romana.
"My lady" Galen bowed before her. Then the Doctor, Rose and Jack got off Galen's back.
"It is good to see you Guardian, and you also Doctor." The Doctor walked forward and gave Romana a hug, then he turned to Jack and Rose.
"Romana. This is Rose Tyler my plus one, and Jack Harkness…my fly boy." Grinning at Jacks face. "Rose, Jack. This is Romanaantideluvier. President of Gallifrey."
"Pleased to meet you." Romana replied and Rose shook her hand then Romana had her hand kissed by Jack.
"Jaaack" The Doctor rolled his eyes at him.
They all turned as the light left the sky, darkness descended as the sun disappeared.
"What's going on?"
They all looked to Galen, as he sighed. The city lights were tuned on, but he glowed like a star.
"I could save the Planet but not the sun. That exploded by your hand Doctor. Taking my planet with it. And now we come to the danger" he walked to the edge again, as in the distance a great bell chimed from the Tower of Rassilon.
"It is time my Guardian.""Very well my Lord." Galen leapt to the air, his wings snapping open to catch the wind. A thousand faces watching his progress as he shone, a rising star. A box, metal and about the size of a coffin came from the tower.
"The hand of Omega." Romana breathed in reverence.
Galen reached his destination in the sky, his wings snapped out and above him, touching the tip of his wings and forming the seal of Rassilon. The gold lightning arched up to join the seal. Then the Hand of Omega stopped below him, the top opened and pure power coiled round Galen like a white snake. There was an explosion as a ring of gold dust spread out around the planet. When the brilliance died down only the seal and Galen remained. But he was on fire, burning bright like a phoenix. With a roar he shot towards the stars, away from the atmosphere.
In space you saw a phoenix burst from the dark planet. It drew all the remains of a planet it once called home. The rocks formed around him and melted, becoming molten slag. He flew to he place were Gallifrey's sun once resided. And made his own. The explosion of light raced forward in time to bathe Gallifrey in its life giving light.
The orbit was set in motion; the world saved…and Galen fell from the sky…
He knew he was falling, seeing the Time-Vortex leave him. As the wisp of gold dust left his mouth, he felt as though the best part of him had been ripped from his body. Was this Rassilon's plan for him all along? He saw the ground rushing up to meet him. Then he felt a welcome caress as a little of the Time-Vortex returned to him.
"We do not wish to lose you, faithful Guardian.""GALEN, OPEN YOUR WINGS!" The voice of Jack came to him.
"GALEN, REMEMBER YOUR PROMISE!" that was the Doctor. He saw a flash of a face…Mizariah…and his wings opened.
His body ached from the power he had wielded. His limbs were sluggish so his landing wasn't the best he had ever done…crashed would be a better way to describe it. But it was controlled to some point…he hoped.
He lay upon the ground smelling the fresh grass, hearing people run up, smelling the scent of Jack, Rose and the Doctor. He opened his eye a little, seeing children's faces.
"Are you ok Guardian?"
"Yes surprisingly." He struggled to his feet, stretching as he did so. Then with a swirl of gold he became his human form.
"You ok big fella?" Jack ran up to him, looking him over.
"Yes I'm fine. You know…your eyes should be locked up…they're wandering." Jack just gave his sly grin. Then the Doctor and Rose were there. Rose embraced him, placing her head on his chest. Then the Doctor hugged him, nearly crushing Rose.
"Galen. You are fantastic. The greatest. You know that? Just fantastic, I need to get you a badge that says you're fantastic." He was overflowing with excitement. Galen laughed.
"Doctor…You're babbling." The Doctor just replied by swinging Rose around.
"I'm Home!"
"Guardian. We would have words with you" Galen turned his gold eyes on the President, and the formed council.
"Here we go…"
KITG: yay, Gallifrey is back! But have the Time Lords changed?