9. Is It Reality?
The Doctor rushes up the steps into the ruins. "Where have the children gone?" He asked, finding the area's empty with some small piles of dirt and cloth. He checks them with the sonic as Rory, Amy, and Tory follow him.
"Don't know. Play time's probably over," Rory guessed, turns to the ginger. "You see, this is the real one. I just feel it. Don't you feel it?"
"I feel it both places," Amy replied.
"I feel it here. It's just so tranquil and relaxed. Nothing bad could ever happen here."
"Not really me, though, is it? Would I be happy settling down in a place with a pub, two shops and a really bad amateur dramatics society? That's why I got pregnant, so I don't have to see them doing Oklahoma," Amy denoted. "Doctor, what are you doing? And what are those piles of dust?"
"Please tell me it's not what I think it is," Tory pleaded, using Gallifreyan language.
"Sadly that's not the case," he replied, lets some dust fall through his fingers and speaks English again. "Play time's definitely over."
"Oh, my God," Amy uttered.
"What happened to them?" Rory wondered.
"Why don't you ask the?" Tory gestures at the elderly who're walking along the path.
"hey're just old people," Amy insisted.
"No. They're very old people," the Doctor clarified, heads down the steps, holding Tory's much closer, looks pale. "Sorry, Rory, I don't think you're what's been keeping them alive."
They're heading towards them when the Dream Lord appears. "Hello, peasants. What's this, attack of the old people? Oh, that's ridiculous. This has got to be the dream, hasn't it? What do you think, Amy? Let's all jump under a bus and wake up in the TARDIS." He looks at Tory. "How about you first?"
"Leave her alone!" The Doctor threatened, keeping Tory away.
"Do that again. I love it when he does that. Tall dark hero, 'leave her alone'. Reserved only to family and not some simple-mind woman that stuck with her stupid, childish dream."
"Just leave her!" Rory warned, knowing that this man was talking about Amy's desire of traveling into a magical world she always dream about since young.
"Yes, you're not quite so impressive. But I know where your heart lies, don't I, Amy Pond?"
"Shut up!" Amy snapped. "Just shut up and leave me alone."
"But listen, you're in there. Loves a redhead, the Doctor! Has he told you about Elizabeth the First? Well, she thought she was the first. You're not the first. There are more people before you. Do you know what happen to his last companion?"
"Drop it. Drop all of it," the Time Lord hissed. "I know who you are."
"Course you don't."
"Course I do. No idea how you can be here, but there's only one person in the universe who hates me as much as you do."
"Yet not enough hate for your failure to protected your sister," the Time Lord snarled, before smiles mockingly. "But Never mind me! Maybe you should worry about them."
The elderly of the village begin advancing. They look to the Dream Lord, then back to the elderly residents.
"Hi," Rory greeted.
"Hello," Tory cheered with a big grin. "Wow. So many people! What's wrong? Why so serious?"
"Did you just quoted Joker?"
"We were wondering where you went," the Doctor blurted, focusing into their main problem. "To get reinforcements! Are you all right? You look a bit tense."
"Hello, Mr. Nainby!" Rory greeted an older man.
"Rory..."
"Mr. Nainby ran the sweet shop. He used to slip me the odd free toffee."
"Yeah, I don't think this old man is the same man you know," Tory retorted, pulling her sword as Mr. Nainby lifts Rory by the collar.
"Did I not say thank you?" Rory asked as he throws him into the mud. "How did he do that?!" He wondered while stands up.
"I suspect he's not himself," the Doctor suspected. "Don't get comfortable here. You may have to run. Fast."
"Can't we just talk to them?!" Amy suggested as the elderly open their mouths to reveal an eye. "There is an eye in her mouth!"
He uses his sonic screwdriver. "There's a whole creature inside her. Inside all of them. They've been there for years, living and waiting."
"That is disgusting," Rory commented. "They're not going to be peeping out of anywhere else are they?"
Mrs. Poggit leans forward and shoots a green mist, causing Rory pulls Amy back to safety. The Doctor puts himself in front of them, holding's Tory. "Run!" He yelled at Rory and Amy to leave. "Okay. Leave them. Talk to me. Talk to me. You are Eknodines, a proud, ancient race, you're better than this. Why are you hiding away here? Why aren't you at home?"
Mrs. Poggit answering, "We were driven from our pl..."
"…Planet by upstart neighbours."
"So we've..." Mr. Nainby speaked.
"…Been living here inside the bodies of old humans for... years. No wonder they live so long, you're keeping them alive."
"We were humbled and destroyed," Mrs. Poggit said. "Now we will do the same to others."
"Really?" Tory scoffed. "You think some Eknodines will scared me? Woman, I've been dealt worse!"
A man comes up alongside them, pushing his bicycle. "Morning," he greeted them. Suddenly, Mrs. Poggit shoots the green mist at the man and he turns to dust.
The Time Lady stares at the dust. "You know what? I'd take it back."
The creature within Mrs. Poggit screeches. The Doctor waste no time to grabs her arm and run away. But while running away, the bird noises return again, causing both stumbling down the road as a group of elderly residents following.
"I swear, if I heard that stupid bird noises...!" Tory barked, fighting the desire off falling asleep just like the Doctor's doing.
They make it into the butcher shop. The Doctor locks the door and flips the sign to 'Closed'. Tory huffs to see the Dream Lord's behind the counter dressed as a butcher, complete with apron and boater. "Oh, I love a good butcher's don't you? We've got to use these places or they'll shut down. But you're probably a vegetarian, you big flop-haired wuss."
"Can you stop those birds singing? I'm getting sick of hearing that noise over and over! Can you just change it into another noise or something!?" Tory yelled, stomping her foot at him, while the Doctor takes a key from a shelf, dragging Tory with him as he tries to unlock another door.
"What? You want to change into the voices of the victims from the war? Is that it?" The Dream Lord asked as the Doctor slips to the floor and Tory takes the key. "Oh, wait a moment. If you two fall asleep here, several dozen angry pensioners will destroy you with their horrible eye things."
"Come on," Tory helps the Doctor as they go into the hall behind the counter, both cover their ears using their fingers, but Tory also adding some incoherent songs.
"Fingers in the ear? Brilliant! What's next, shouting boo? Come in. Come in. Yes, we've got lots at 'steak' here this week. Lots at steak. Get it?"
Tory finally opens the door using the key to unlock the door. She drags the Doctor, who's already asleep, inside the freezer room, locks the door behind her, and then, falls asleep.
The girl wakes up on the TARDIS floor with Amy and Rory on either side.
"Ah, it's colder," Amy said, clutching her blanket.
"The four of us have to agree, now, which is the dream," the Doctor's stated, helping Tory stands up.
"It's this, here," Rory remarked.
"He could be right. The science is all wrong here, burning ice?" Amy alluded.
"No, no, no ice can burn, sofas can read, it's a big universe," the Doctor insisted. "We have to agree which battle to lose. All of us, now."
"Okay, which world do you think is real?"
"None," Tory replied, causing all of them to look at her. "I mean, it makes sense, if you think about it. Why bother arranging this game of choosing dream and reality? If I were the dream controller, it would be boring to land a real one. Too generic. Having two dreams and force us to choose... is much more entertaining than ever."
The Doctor looks at his watch. "9 minutes till impact," he said and stands.
"What temperature is it?" Amy asked.
"Outside? Brrrr. How many noughts have you got? Inside? I don't know but I can't feel my feet and... other parts."
"I think all my parts are basically fine," Rory stated.
"Stop competing!"
"Can't we call for help?" Rory asked, holds out Martha's phone.
"Yeah, the universe is really small, bound to be someone nearby!" The Doctor replied, takes it back and taps it on the head before put it back.
"Put these on, three of you," Amy said, throws a poncho at the Doctor, Tory's old parka at the girl herself, and and slips another poncho over Rory head. "Sorry, Tory. But there's only three where I found it."
"I don't mind," Tory shared, put on her old parka that's too big for her. But's suitable.
"Oh, a poncho. The biggest crime against fashion since lederhosen," Rory commented.
Amy puts hers own on. "Here we go!" She stands between them. "If we're going to die, let's die looking like a Peruvian folk band."
"We're not going to die."
"No, we're not," the Doctor disagreed and checks his watch, "but our time's running out. If we fall asleep here, we're in trouble." He starts pacing around. "If we could divide up, then we'd have an active presence in each world, but the Dream Lord is switching us between the worlds. Why, why, what's the logic?"
The Dream Lord appears, now with a poncho. "Good idea, let's divide you four up, so I can have a little chat with our lovely companion and your dear sister. Maybe I'll keep them, and you can have Pointy Nose to yourself for all eternity, should you manage to clamber aboard some sort of reality."
"Can you hear that?" Rory asked Amy.
"What?" Amy frowns. "No."
"Same for me," Tory added.
"Amy, don't be scared, we'll be back," the Doctor assured her, before looking at Tory. "Be brave. I will be back."
"I know," the girl replied as he and Rory fall asleep on the floor.
Amy approaches Tory. "Tory, I'm scared."
"We're going to have fun aren't we, Amy, Historian?" The Dream Lord asked and then disappeared.
"It depends," Tory responded, raising her eyebrown, looking curious.
"How are you not scared?" Amy wondered, holding her poncho much tighter with the cold surround them, looking confused at the girl in front of her who doesn't afraid or concern or anything that indicating some uncertaincy.
"Well, I've been dealt worse, Amy. I guess I'm not that much concern in this body."
Then, the ginger recalled what the Dream Lord said about her... about how the Doctor cannot kept Tory safe. "Did... did something ever happened to you? Something that... fatal?"
Before Tory can speak, the Dream Lord reappears beside Amy. "Poor Amy and Historian. He always leaves you, doesn't he? Alone in the dark. Never apologises. Not to mention," he stares Tory, "you."
"He doesn't have to," Amy insisted.
"That's good, because he never will. And now he's left you with me. Spooky old, not-to-be-trusted me." He moves to a chair, lounging in a robe that bares a deal of chest. "Anything could happen."
"Who are you and what do you want?" Tory asked, wanting confirmation.
"I'm sure you know the answer, Time Lady. You're quite smart in this incarnation."
"Learn from the best."
He huffed. "Even after what he did to you? To your home planet?"
"He had no choice for his decision on Gallifrey. It's wrong, but I can't say anything else because I'm not the one who did it. And for this me?" She gestures herself. "That's not his mistakes. I made those mistakes. Both times."
The Dream Lord stands and reappears back in tweed, squatting at the Doctor's feet. "But don't you think you're in delusion? You keep saying that because he's your brother, despite never related by blood. Despite he's the one who destroyed your home planet and irresponsible with your safety, causing you died twice under his watch."
Amy gaped hearing that statement, looking at Tory with shock. She never thought Historian ever experienced death before. Twice in her life, as a matter of fact.
"Shocking, isn't it?" He continued. "And let's not forget about your jealousy, Amy."
"I'm not jealous!" Amy snapped.
"Oh, don't be a fool. I know you've been jealous with Historian ever since you were young. Must be painful, knowing a girl living her life in this wonderful box, a girl that's not you, but someone else."
Tory raises her eyebrown as Amy looks away from Tory's eyes. Well, at least that's explain why Amy seems getting annoyed by her sometimes. "That's it?" Tory responded to the Dream Lord. "Meh. I don't care about that. She was 7. Bound to happen, you know."
The Dream Lord shrugged. "Let's move from that. Now, which one of these men would you really choose?" He gestures the Doctor and Rory, who're still sleeping. "Look at them. You ran away with a handsome hero. Would you really give him up for a bumbling country doctor who thinks the only thing he needs to be interesting is a ponytail?"
"Stop it!" Amy interjected.
"But maybe it's better than loving and losing the Doctor. Pick a world and this nightmare will all be over," he stands and reappears in front of Amy. "They'll listen to you. It's you they're waiting for. Amy's men. Amy's choice."
With the Dream Lord disappears, Amy bends over and straightens Rory's poncho, worry if he gets cold. Tory did a same thing with the Doctor's poncho, brushing his forehead that has some snow and looks around the TARDIS. "Hope they'll okay," Tory murmured.
Then, both girls hearing the birdsong and collapsed immediately.
Tory wakes, finding herself inside a van with the Doctor's driving it. Soon, they arrive at the cottage and sees the elderly just roaming around the cottage, two older woman just proceed to break inside.
The Doctor's eyes the cottage, looking for a way in. "Okay," he mumbled, looking at Tory. "Oh! You're awake! That's good! Come on."
They both get out of the van and hide behind, trying to find a way to get in.
"I have an idea," Tory said and climb up above the van. "Quickly!"
The Doctor also climbs up and look at her. "What now?"
"Hold my hand, this is going to be bumpy," she warned, strength up her power from her feet. And just in mere second, Tory and the Doctor jump high and landed right inside the cottege and smashes a window, scaring Amy and Rory.
"It's all right, we're just jumping!" The Doctor explained, rubbing his head. "That's really hurt, sister dear."
"What are we going to do?" Rory asked, helping Tory to stands up.
"I don't know. I thought the freezing TARDIS was real but now I'm not so sure."
"I think the baby's starting," Amy realized while gasping.
"Honestly?" Rory asked.
"Would I make it up at a time like this?!"
"Well, you do have a history of... being very lovely," he replied quicky at the end when Amy glares at him. The ginger cries out in pain. "Why are they so desperate to kill us?"
"Same things Humans always do when facing a dangerous species they never know," Tory replied, knowing that very well after what happened at Midnight.
A piece of garden statuary is thrown through the window. Rory takes to look, only to find Mrs. Poggit shoots the green mist at him. He falls back with a groan and Amy goes to comfort him. Tory soon knocks Mrs. Poggit from the roof with her power.
"Rory!" Amy called, panic.
"No! I'm not ready," he cried, already starts to dissolve.
"Stay."
"Look after our baby," Rory whispered and turns into ashes.
"No. No. Come back," Amy begged, then looking at the Time Lords. "Save him. You two save everyone. You always do. It's what you do."
"We're not god, Amy," Tory told her.
"Then what is the point of you?" She touches the pile of dust that was Rory then stands with the help of a bureau. "This is the dream. Definitely, this one. Now, if we die here, we wake up, yeah?"
The Doctor nods. "Unless we just die."
"Either way, this is my only chance of seeing him again. This is the dream."
"How do you know?"
"Because if this is real life, I don't want it. I don't want it."
They manage to leave the house, yet weirdly enough, the elderly don't react upon them.
"Why aren't they attacking?" Amy noticed.
"Either because this is just a dream, or because they know what we're about to do," the Doctor guessed as they walk to the bus and Amy stops, facing him. "Be very sure. This could be the real world."
"It can't be. Rory isn't here," Amy replied. "I didn't know. I didn't, I didn't, I honestly didn't, till right now. I just want him."
"Get in," Tory nudged her as the Doctod gives her the keys and holds her hand tightly.
Amy nods, thanking the young girl and walks around to the driver's seat to start the car. As the Doctor and Tory walk to the passenger side, they view the Dream Lord. Tory simply shook her head, not really concern about him and sits on the chair. And it seems the Doctor also think that as well as he gets into the vehicle.
"I love Rory, and I never told him, but now he's gone," Amy said, drives the car forward, smashing through the fence and straight at the front door.
Tory opens her eyes and soon stands up, finding Amy and Rory clasp on tightly.
"So...you chose this world," the Dream Lord concluded. "Well done. You got it right. And with only seconds left. Fair's fair. Let's warm you up." He looks up and restores the TARDIS' power. "I hope you've enjoyed your little fictions. It all came out of your imagination, so I'll leave you to ponder on that. I have been defeated. I shall withdraw. Farewell," he said before disappears.
The Doctor rises slowly to his feet. He and Tory start to work the controls while Amy and Rory kneel, facing each other.
"Something happened," Rory recalled, "I... What happened to me? I..." but Amy slowly takes him in a hug. "Oh. Oh, right. This is good. I am liking this. Was it something I said?" Amy releases the hug and looks at him. "Can you tell what it was so I can use it in emergencies? And maybe birthdays."
"What are we doing now?" Amy asked.
"Well first, the Doctor and I are going to blow up the TARDIS!" Tory announced happily.
"What?" Rory asked, shocked.
"Notice how helpful the Dream Lord was? Okay, there was misinformation, red herrings, malice, and I could have done without the limerick, but he was always very keen to make us choose between dream and reality," the Doctor pointed out and laughs.
"What are you doing?!" Amy protested.
"Doctor! Tory! The Dream Lord conceded. This isn't the dream!" Rory argued.
Tory makes a 'pff' noise. "Yeah right! You clearly forgot my theory, Rory. For all we know, this is still a dream!"
"Star burning cold. Do me a favour!" The Doctor noted. "The Dream Lord has no power over the real world. Historian's right. He was offering us a choice between two dreams."
"How do you know that?" Amy asked.
"Because I know who he is."
The TARDIS explodes and fades to black.
"Miss you, old girl," Tory murmured after finding out the TARDIS' back to normal.
The Doctor's is leaning against the console looking at something in his hand as Amy and Rory come down the steps. "Any questions?"
"What's that?" Amy asked, gesturing something in his hand.
"A speck of psychic pollen from the candle meadows of Karass don Slava. Must have been hanging around for ages. Fell in the time rotor, heated up and induced a dream state for all of us," he explained, goes to the door and blows them into space.
"So that was the Dream Lord then, those little specks?" Rory guessed.
"Actually, Rory, the Dream Lord was the Doctor himself," Tory clarified. "Psychic pollen. Mind parasite. It feeds on everything dark in you."
Amy frowns. "But why didn't it feed on us, too? Or you, Tory."
"Well, I'm still child, technically. Won't affect me despite I'm 117 years old."
Beside, darkness in you two would've starved to death in an instant," the Doctor added. "I choose my friends with great care. Otherwise I'm stuck with my own company, and you know how that works out."
"But those things he said about you... about your sister's death... You don't think any of that's true?" Amy asked, making the Doctor's tense up and Tory looks away.
"Amy, right now a question is about to occur to Rory," he replied, spins her by the shoulders to face Rory. "And seeing as the answer is about to change his life, I think you should give him your full attention."
He pushes her towards Rory and walks to the other side of the console with Tory. While the couple's talking, he quietly asking her, "What did he say? The Dream Lord?"
Tory winced. "Oh, you won't like it. At all."
"Try me."
"Well... he's basically exposed what happen to me, actually. How I got regenerated twice, wanted to doubt you, which is stupid." Tory looks at the Doctor, who starts to look guilty as usual. "Oh, don't give me that expression. How many times do I must tell you? What happen to me wasn't your fault."
"He has a point," the Doctor sighs. Because really, how many times he and Tory ended up in danger? How many times she almost died because of him? She got died twice under his watch. Who's to say he won't hurt her again? He bring nothing but bad influence and misfortune to Tory, to a child.
"Who cares what he said?" Tory rolls her eyes. "It's all in the past! What's the point of blaming yourself? It won't change anything." Tory grumbled when Amy and Rory still kissing. "Okay, lovebirds! You can do that when you're in your room. The console isn't a kissing booth!"
As Rory and Amy just shook their head over her complains, the Doctor's glance at the console. In the reflective surface, he sees the Dream Lord, smile back at him. He shook his head, not wanting to let his words getting into his head.
Note: Oh dear. It seems the Dream Lord's words might getting into the Doctor. He did raised a vital question regarding Tory's safety. We see how companions often find themself in dangerous situation during travel. While lots of companions in Classic Who managed to leave eventually on their own, that doesn't change that dangerous still lurking. And consider what happen with companions in New Who, safe to say, Tory's safety should be questioning itself.