Another shortish chapter, but I'll be able to get the next one up sooner. I hope. The more reviews, the soon it'll be up!
Disclaimer: I'm starting to like this parallel universe idea, but as I said it is parallel and not this universe.
xxx
Rose walked around the forest, eyes wide with wonder. Rays of sunlight came through the leaves, making the forest look like something out of a fairy tale. Small, brightly coloured birds fluttered from tree to tree, singing the most beautiful songs she'd ever heard. The air seemed almost to have a sweet smell to it. The ground was soft beneath her feet. At first she felt bad for standing on the grass, but it always sprang back up again when she lifted her foot. There was something about this forest, this planet, that made her feel so warm inside. Not only was it the most beautiful place she'd ever seen, but it was the Doctor's home planet. Where he'd come from. Gallifrey, home of the Time Lords. The planet she'd heard so many legends about, and she was one of the only people in the universe who knew the truth.
Susan wondered through the forest, brushing her hand against the trees as she went past. She looked around at all the plants and animals, naming them all in her head. She never thought she'd see this again, her own planet. Judging from the environment, they were in Southern Gallifrey. She'd lived in Northern Gallifrey before, but it was still the same planet. The same planet she'd run away from so many years ago. But she'd run away because of the people, but now there seemed to be no people left. At least not here, anyway. There could be more people on the planet. For all she knew, something could have brought the planet back to the way it was before the time war. But that was part of the mystery. Funny, she thought, how she'd only just been reunited with the Doctor and already they were on another adventure. Not quite running for their lives yet, but she was sure that wouldn't take long.
The Doctor was sat down, head in his hands. He was still trying to sort out everything that was going on in his mind. He still couldn't believe he was back on Gallifrey. And materialising in a place as beautiful as this really wasn't helping him. He'd felt so guilty before about destroying it. And now being back here was making it worse. The only reason he was allowing himself to believe this was Gallifrey was because he could sense it was. All Time Lords were connected to Gallifrey telepathically, just like they were connected to each other. He could feel the planet, but still not anyone one the planet. It was deserted. At least it was as far as he could tell. But the fact that the planet was even here in the first place was still confusing him. He looked around the forest surrounding him. It was beautiful, he had to admit. Then he noticed something. It was a very small something, but he noticed it nonetheless. Slowly, he stood up and walked towards it, then sat down next to it. Reaching out, he touched it gently with the tips of his fingers. It was a small, yellow flower with 6 petals. Memento Mori was its proper name, but it was more commonly known as the Gallifreyan Flower of Remembrance. A sad smile came to his lips, as he felt the flower's soft petals against his skin.
"Grandfather?" He looked up suddenly, to see Susan standing above him. He pulled his hand away from the flower, and she sat down next to him. "Are you ok?" she asked. The Doctor leant back against a tree.
"Yea, I'm fine, thanks. It's just so weird being back here again." Susan nodded, and looked around her.
"The last time I was here was when I was called back for the Time War. But I spent all the time fighting in space. I never saw the planet while the war was on."
"I did," said the Doctor, darkly. "I saw the Daleks here, destroying everything. Everywhere was fire, death… you were lucky not to see it. It was better being on the ships. You didn't have to see this all getting destroyed." He ran his fingers through the grass, looking at it, smiling. He didn't exactly have many fond memories of this planet, but its true what they say – you don't know what you've got 'til its gone.
"But its back now," said Susan happily, trying to lighten the mood. "And it's just as beautiful as ever!" She stood up, and spun around, taking in everything around her. The Doctor smiled at her. He remembered one of the first adventures they went on when her schoolteachers had joined them, and they're materialised in a forest. Everything had been frozen, petrified, and she'd thought it was all very beautiful. She'd wanted to take a flower back to the TARDIS with her, but it ended up getting crushed.
Susan picked a berry off one of the nearby bushes, and ate it. She smiled and took a few more. She sat back down next to the Doctor, and offered him some. He smiled and took one. He ate it thoughtfully.
"Mmm, lushberry," he said, "very nice. One of the sweetest berries in existence. Not quite as nice as edible ball bearings, though. Or bananas. I like bananas. Bananas are good." He gave her a big grin, and she gave a confused laugh. "Did you know? The French really know how to party. Always bring a banana to a party. I didn't tell you about that, did I? It was our first adventure with Mickey the Idiot. We landed on this space ship, but the crew where nowhere to be seen…"
xxx
Rose had been wondering through the forest for almost half an hour, and had no idea where the Doctor or Susan had got to. But if she was going to get lost somewhere, there weren't many places she'd rather get lost. Then she saw the most beautiful flower she'd ever seen. The tree was covered in them. They were big enough to fit in her palm. They had golden leaves, with silver streaks, and smelt lovely. The petals felt so delicate, and so soft, like silk. Gingerly, she picked the flower from the tree, and went off to find the Doctor.
It wasn't long before she found him, she could hear his voice floating though the forest. He was laughing, which was a good thing, when he'd first walked off into the forest he'd looked quite upset. Oh wait. If he was laughing, that meant Susan was there. She wanted to see him alone, ideally. Oh well.
Stepping carefully through the trees, making sure not to knock or drop the flower, she came to where the Doctor was. She looked through the trees, and saw him sitting with Susan. They were both laughing, and eating berries.
"And then he snogged her!" the Doctor laughed, throwing his head back.
"Really?" gasped Susan.
"Yea!" they both laughed, just as she and the Doctor had before.
"Honestly, he was really going for it," he laughed again, and ate some more berries.
Rose watched, as her smile fell.
"She gave him one hell of a slap, I think she inherited it from her mother." They continued to laugh together.
Rose felt a wave of jealousy wash over her, as she dropped he flower and walked back out into the jungle.
