11. Van Gogh
"So this is one of the last paintings Van Gogh ever painted," a man explained as the Doctor, Tory, and Amy enter Musee D'orsay, into the Van Gogh exhibition room. "Those final months of his life were probably the most astonishing artistic outpouring in history. It was like Shakespeare knocking off Othello, Macbeth and King Lear over the summer hols. And especially astonishing because Van Gogh did it with no hope of praise or reward
"Thanks for bringing me," Amy said.
"No problem," Tory replied with a smile, trying to cheer Amy up. The girl deserves that after what happen to Rory.
"You two are being so nice to me. Why are you being so nice to me?"
"I'm always nice to you," the Doctor disagreed.
"Not like this. These places you're taking me. Arcadia, the Trojan Gardens, now this. I think it's suspicious."
"Well, it's not. There's nothing to be suspicious about."
"Okay, I was joking. Why aren't you?"
"He finds it very serious, Amy," Tory shrugged while looking around.
"Each of these pictures now is worth tens of millions of pounds," the man continued. "Yet in his lifetime, he was a commercial disaster. Sold only one painting, and that to the sister of a friend. We have here possibly the greatest artist of all time, but when he died, you could sold his entire body of work and got about enough money to buy a sofa and a couple of chairs." The group around him laugh. "If you follow me now..."
"Who is it?" A young boy asked, getting Tory's attention.
"It's the doctor!" A second boy replied, alluding to the portrait of Doctor Gachet, Van Gogh's physician. "He was the doctor who took care of Van Gogh when he started to go mad."
"I knew that."
Tory's eyes dart at the Doctor and giggles. "What? Expecting them to talk about you?"
Before he can answer, Amy grabs them by the arm and pulls them towards the painting of The Church at Auvers. She holds up her guidebook. "Look! There it is, the actual one."
"Yes. You can almost feel his hand painting it right in front of you," the Doctor shared. "Carving the colours into shapes..."
"Is that suppose to exist?" Tory interjected, pointing at the painting, at a dark figure in the window of the church.
"What?" Amy asked.
"That."
"What?"
"That! In the window of the church. Look at it."
Amy looks it carefully. "Is it a face?"
"Yes. And not a nice face at all," the Doctor addressed, looking at yhe painting seriously. "I know evil when I see it and I see it in that window." He makes his way over to the man who is still lecturing.
"It has changed hands for something in the region of 20..."
"Excuse me, if I can just interrupt for one second," he cut in and shows psychic paper. "Sorry, everyone. Routine inspection, Ministry of Art and... Artiness. So, um..."
"Dr. Black."
"Yes, that's right. Do you know when that picture of the church was painted?"
"Ah, what an interesting question. Most people..."
"I'm going to have to hurry you. When was it?"
"Exactly?" Dr. Black frowns.
"As exactly as you can. Without a long speech, if poss. I'm in a hurry," the Doctor suggested.
"Well, in that case, probably somewhere between the 1st and 3rd of June."
"What year?"
"1890. Less than a year before he killed himself."
"Thank you, Sir. Very helpful indeed. Nice bow-tie," he glances at Amy and Tory who standing not far from him. "Bow-ties are cool."
"Yours is very..."
"Oh, thank you. Keep telling them stuff." He grabs Amy and pulls her through the exhibit as Tory run alongside him. "We need to go."
"What about the other pictures?"
"This is a matter of life and death, Amy! And somehow Vincent Van Gogh is in this!" Tory exclaimed.
The Time Lords and Amy step out and head down the alleyway where the TARDIS landed.
"Right, so here's the plan. We find Vincent and he leads us straight to the church and our nasty friend," the Doctor appealed.
"Easy peasy," Amy expressed.
"Probably won't be easy," Tory added. "We might be in danger, considering that's always happen when travel with the TARDIS.
"That too," the Doctor admitted. "Now, he'll probably be in the local cafe, sort of orangey light, chairs and tables outside.
"Like this?" Amy asked, showing them her guidebook from museum that showing The Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum, Arles, at Night.
"That's the one."
"Exactly the same," Tory muttered, looking at the scene before them is the painting come to life.
"Yeah, exactly like that," the Doctor agreed and approaches the help clearing tables. "Good evening. Does the name Vincent Van Gogh ring a bell?"
"Don't mention that man to me," the man replied and walks back inside.
"So rude," Tory muttered and walks to the a waitresses. "Excuse me. Do you know someone call Vincent Van Gogh?"
"Unfortunately."
"Unfortunately?" Amy repeated.
"He's drunk, he's mad and he never pays his bills."
"Wow, these people are rude," Tory commented, tosses her hair. "And very insulting as well. I'm quite mad myself you know."
Everyone start to stare at her seriously, which make Amy and the Doctor shift uncomfortable but the young girl herself just snorted in amusement. Misconception in the past can be quite funny yet ridiculously stupid. To this day, she still never understood why sexism and racism ever exist.
"Good painter, though, eh?" The Doctor praised, trying to avert the situation from getting into a mess. It sorta work, he suppose, as the waitresses and the patrons laugh. Clearly not what he expecting, honestly.
"Come on! Come on! One painting for one drink. That's not a bad deal," a man voicd begged as the man from before comes out of the café holding a canvas followed by another man. A man Tory immediately knows as Vincent Van Gogh.
"It wouldn't be a bad deal if the painting were any good. I can't hang that up on my walls. It'd scare the customers half to death," the man before stated and holds the painting up. "It's bad enough having you in here in person, let alone looming over the customers day and night in a stupid hat. You pay money or you get out."
"I'll pay if you like," Tory suddenly cut in, smiling.
"What?"
"The drink? I'll pay for the drink. Or your paintings so you can use the money."
"Exactly who are you?" Vincent looks at the girl, confused.
"Historian. Or Tory, for short. Just arrive here with my brother and friend. Heard there's a great painter here. I wanna buy one for my new bedroom."
"Well, in that case young lady, you don't know three things. One, I pay for my own drinks, thank you," he claimed as everyone laughs that he ignores. "Two, no-one ever buys any of my paintings or they would be laughed out of town, so if you or your brother want to stay in town, I suggest you don't do that. And three, your friend's cute, but you should keep your big nose out of other people's business." And with that, he talks back to the man. "Come on, just one more drink. I'll pay tomorrow."
"No."
"Or, on the other hand, slightly more compassionately, yes."
"Or, on the other hand, to protect my business from madmen, no."
"Hey! Feeling insulted here!" Tory yelled and the Doctor just groaned.
"Oh, look, just shut up the pair of you!" Amy snapped and looks at the man. "I would like a bottle of wine, please, which I will then share with whomever," she looks at Vincent. "I choose."
"That could be good," Vincent admitted.
"That's good by me," he agreed.
"Good," Amy smiles and goes inside.
Tory quickly snatch Vincent's painting and stick out her tongue as she enter inside, holding Self Portrait with Straw Hat with a small smile. The Doctor looks apologetic before follows her.
Soon, they all sitting at a table, drinking wine. Well, except Tory, as her appeareance looks young for any waitress to serve alcohol beverage.
"That accent of yours. You from Holland like me?" Vincent asked.
"No," Amy replied as the same time the Doctor saying, "Yes."
"She means yes," the Doctor corrected. "So, start again. Hello, I'm the Doctor."
"I knew it!" Vincent remarked.
"Sorry?"
"My brother's always sending doctors, but you won't be able to help."
"No, not that kind of doctor," he assured him before laughs, points to a painting at the unfinished La Méridienne. "That's incredible, don't you think, Amy? Tory?"
"Absolutely. One of my favourites," Amy agreed.
"One of my favourite whats? You've never seen my work before," Vincent pointed out.
"Ah, yes. One of my favourite paintings that I've ever seen. Generally."
"Then you can't have seen many paintings, then. I know it's terrible. It's the best I could do." Then, Vincent looks at Amy's hair. "Your hair is orange."
Amy leans forward. "Yes. So's yours."
"Yes. It was more orange, but now is, of course, less."
The Doctor groans while Tory giggles at his reaction. Clearly he's jealous for hearing the discussion on red hair, something he wants for. "So, Vincent, painted any churches recently? Any churchy plans? Are churches, chapels, religiousy stuff like that, something you'd like to get into? You know, fairly soon?"
"Well, there is one church I'm thinking of painting when the weather is right," Vincent shared.
"That is very good news."
Then, they heard a woman screaming. "She's been murdered! Help me!"
"And that's not good news," Tory respinded as they all head for the door, into an alley, where they can see a body of a young woman is lying on the cobbles. A group of locals has already gathered.
"She's been ripped to shreds!" A man denoted.
"Please, let me look. I'm a doctor," the Doctor introduced so he can get closer.
"Who is it?" Another woman wondered.
"Oh, no, no, no," he breathed as he and Vincent kneel beside the body.
"Is she dead?"
A woman pushes her way through. "Away, all of you vultures! This is my daughter," she announced before caresses her daughter. "Giselle. What monster could have done this? Get away from her!"
"Jeez," Tory muttered quietly as the Doctor and Vincent both stand and back away.
"Okay, okay," the Doctor replied.
"Get that madman out of here!" The woman yelled and throws a stone, follow by the crowd as well. Tory groaned as some rocks hit her, but she doesn't mind for that, focusing to dragging the Doctor, Amy, and Vincent away from the alley. "You bring this on us. Your madness! You! He's to blame!"
"Someone's getting cranky," Tory digressed as they all stop from running to catch their breath.
"Don't be like that," the Doctor lightly scolded her and check her head. "Are you all right?"
"I'm okay."
"Vincent? Amy?"
Amy nods and Vincent replying. "Yes, I'm used to it."
"Has anything like this murder happened here before?"
"Only a week ago. It's a terrible time."
"As I thought, as I thought. Come on, we'd better get you home."
"Where are you staying tonight?"
The Doctor simply claps Vincent on the shoulder. "Oh, you're very kind," he replied amd walks off down the alley alongside Tory.
Vincent is leading them through a maze of buildings.
"Dark night, very starry," the Doctor mentioned.
"It's not much. I live on my own," Vincent shrugged. "But you should be okay for one night. One night."
"We're going to stay with him?" Amy whispered.
"Until he paints that church, yeah," Tory noted as Vincent lights a lamp and removes his hat.
"Watch out. That one's wet," he warned.
"What?" Amy asked as the Doctor and Tory walk inside Vincent cottage. The man lights another lamp. Tory gasped after realizing his cottage is filled with paintings in various stages of completion.
"Sorry about all the clutter," Vincent apologized.
"Some clutter," the Doctor mumbled, amused by all paintings.
"I've come to accept the only person who's going to love my paintings is me."
"Wow. I mean, really. Wow," Amy enters the room, amazed.
The Time Lords examines some of the paintings including. Blossoming Almond Tree, Prisoners Exercising (after Dore), and Wheat Field with Cypresses.
"Yeah, I know it's a mess. I'll have a proper clear-out. I must, I really must," Vincent said amd offering drink. "Coffee, anyone?"
"Tea for me!" Tory said, lifting her hand so the painter knows.
"Not for me, actually," the Doctor remarked as he and Tory popping their head around the door in time to see Vincent put the coffee down on Still Life: Basket with Six Oranges. "You know, you should be careful with these. They're... precious."
Vincent wipes off the coffee ring with his hand. "Precious to me. Not precious to anyone else."
"Nah, I don't think so," Tory disagreed as she and the Doctor enter the main room. "Who knows? Maybe someone will appreciate these."
"They're precious to me!" Amy agreed, joins them.
"Well, you two are very kind. And kindness is most welcome," Vincent accepted.
"Right, so, this church, then. Near here, is it?" The Doctor asked.
Vincent gathers some wood for the fire. "What is it with you and the church?"
"Oh, just casually interested in it, you know."
"Far from casual. Seems to me. you never talk about anything else."
"Well, he's just interest with how you're painting, that's all," Tory elaborated, playing with her hair. "What about you, then? What are you interested in?"
"Look around," Vincent gestures surround. "Art. It seems to me there's so much more to the world than the average eye is allowed to see. I believe, if you look hard, there are more wonders in this universe than you could ever have dreamed of."
"You don't have to tell me," the Doctor pondered.
Later, the Time Lords are sitting in a chair by the fire as Vincet explains his views of art to them. "It's colour. Colour that holds the key. I can hear the colours. Listen to them. Every time I step outside, I feel nature is shouting at me. 'Come on. Come and get me. Come on. Come on!'" He grips the Doctor's lapels. "'Capture my mystery!'"
"Maybe you've had enough coffee now," the Doctor suggested. "How about some nice calming tea? Let's get you a cup of chamomile or something, shall we?"
"Amy? Want some tea?" Tory asked, when suddenly they heard the ginger screams.
"No, no. No!" The Doctor cried in panic as they all race outside, finding Amy on her knees in the yard. "Amy. Amy. What happened?"
"I was having a look at the paintings out here when something hit me from behind," Amy told him.
"It's Okay. He's gone now and we're here."
Vincent and Tory look around. The young girl gasps as she finds a strange creature roaming around. Vincent seems notice it as well as he raises his hands in fright. "No!" He yelled, backs away.
"Take it easy. Take it easy!"
Tory raises her arms and shots it using her gravity beams.
"What's happening? What are they doing?" Amy demanded.
"Don't just stand there! Do something!" Tory yelled and Vincet grabs a large wooden fork and holds it in front of him like a weapon.
"Do what?" The Doctor asked, confused, not understanding why Vincent and Tory seems so defensive.
"Run. Run!" Vincent yelled, running past them.
"Duck!" Tory warned as Vincent did so and Tory focuses on creating a large prison for the creature itself.
"Look out!" Vincent yelled as the creature's scaly tail lashes to the Doctor, hitting him down and making Tory losing her focus to imprison it. The creature roars and shreds one of the paintings.
"I can't see anything," Amy yelped. "What is it?"
"Something that's not good, for sure!" Tory replied, this time focusing on taming the creature by increasing the gravity on the creature. Upset, the creature roars and is thrown back over a table bearing irises in a vase. He lands at Vincent's feet and Tory takes that chance to send another gravity beam, causing it to run away.
"He's gone," Vincent replied, looking at Tory. "How can you do that?"
"Already born with it. And some practice," Tory shrugged, closes her eyes. "But one thing that bothers me..." she looks at Amy and the Doctor. "How can none of you two can see it?"
"Right. So he's invisible? What did he look like?" The Doctor asked, already enter Vincent's house.
"I'll show you," Vincent said, takes one of his paintings of irises and paints over it with white.
"Oh, no, no, no!" The Doctor warned, but he's too late as Vincent already covers that painting with white. Amy gasps and covers her mouth while Tory tosses her black hair, looks unhappy.
"What?"
"It's just... That was quite a good... On you go."
Vincent sketches quickly and roughly with charcoal as the trio watch intently. He soon shows it to them. Tory admit, she's impress how accurate his painting with the actual creature.
"Okay. Okay," the Doctor nods and takes the sketch. "Right. Amy, Historian, make Mr. Van Gogh comfortable. Don't let any invisible monsters in through the front door."
"But it could be outside, waiting," Amy argued.
"Don't worry, I'll risk it. What's the worst that can happen?"
"Maybe got killed in the process?" Tory pointed out.
The Doctor winces. "Oh, right, yes. That. Don't worry. I'll be back before you can say, 'Where's he got to now?'" He said and leaves.
Amy turns to face Vincent before he comes back while saying, "Not that fast!" He added in fast tone, shocking Amy and Tory. "But pretty fast. See you around."
He leaves again.
"I'm tired," Tory suddenly said, looking at Vincent. "Do you have a spare bed?"
Sadly, Vincent doesn't have any spare bed for Tory. But the young girl just shrugged that off and proceed to sleep on the floor, with a small blanket that Vincent lend her. She had experienced sleeping in a cave once, during her days in Time War, so naturally, sleeping on a floor isn't bad for her. She's also quick to fall asleep, which adding some factor on her sleeping without problem.
The problem comes right when the Doctor decides to disturb her sleeping time.
"Wake, wakey. Rise and shine!" He shouted, enter Vincent's bedroom that Tory sleeping in with Vincent on his bed. "Breakfast is served in the courtyard." The Doctor opens a window. "Whoa! What a morning." He claps his hands. "Come on."
"Let me sleep," Tory drawled, but the Doctor just rolls his eyes and dragging her up.
"And Amy's got a little surprise for you," he added while forcing Tory to wakes up despite her whining over it.
"Just let me sleep! I wanna slay some smelly Sontarans and put some bombs without consequence," she mumbled, still sleepy.
Vincent looks uncertain with what he just heard from her mouth, but the Doctor just waves it off like nothing. "It's normal."
After some long force of waking Tory up from her deep slumber, the Doctor shows Vincent and her the printout of the creature.
"That's him," Vincent confirmed. "And the eyes. Without mercy."
"This is a creature called the Krafayis," the Doctor elaborated. "They travel in space, they travel as a pack. Scavenging across the universe. Sometimes one of them gets left behind and because they are a brutal race, the others never come back. So, dotted all around the universe are individual, utterly merciless, utterly abandoned Krafayis. And what they do is... Well, kill, until they're killed. Which they usually aren't. Because other creatures can't see them."
"But Tory and I can," Vincent stares at Tory. "How can you see it?"
"Lucky?" Tory shrugged, although she has some guess why she can see it. Perhaps due to the effect of her witnessed the Time Vortex that allows her to received some sort of gift. Like able to sense something's wrong with Toby with the Beast and able ro see a Krafayis. Or perhaps she got Leela's sixth sense.
"And that's why we are in a unique position today, my friend," the Doctor continued, "to end this reign of terror. So, feeling like painting the church today?"
"What about the monster?" Vincent asked.
"Take my word for it. If you paint it, he will come."
Vincent stands. "Okay. I'll get my things."
"In your own time. I promise you, we'll be out of your hair by this time tomorrow."
Tory notices how Vincent acts quite hesitates in the doorway. Not to mention, the look he has at Amy as he's going into the other room. "I'll help him," Tory suggested and follows him into his bedroom. The girl quietly knocks the door. "Vincent? May I come in?"
No respond. But Tory soon notices a quiet sobs from inside. The girl quietly enter his bedroom and finds the man's lying face down on his bed, crying. "Vincent, something's wrong? Can I help you?"
"It's so clear you cannot help. And when you leave, and everyone always leaves, I will be left once more with an empty heart and no hope," he cried, rolls over to look at her.
"My experience taught me that hope exists, one way or another. Same can be said with my brother," Tory denoted, trying to help Vincent out.
"Then your experience is incomplete. I know how it will end, and it will not end well."
Tory sighs. Clearly Vincent isn't in his best moment. He's clearly affected by the Doctor's words about leaving him alone. "I used to hate myself," she began, taking some few steps. "How I treated others badly, especially the Doctor." She smiles sadly. "I felt so bad to myself that I... I tried to made amends with those, to fix it, despite it never went away."
Vincent silently looks at her, like hearing some sort of things he never thought others can understand.
"I won't say I can completely understand your feeling. I'm not good with that field. Trust me. But I can understand some form of your pain from my experienced. I'm never like to be alone, to be abandon," Tory continued, lowering her head. "While it may be impossible to be better, it's not impossible at all."
"How can you cope?" Vincent kindly asked, thinking how a cheerful girl like her can get out from those dark moments of her life.
"Someone taught me to stop blaming myself. To stop hating myself. I tried that slowly. It's not easy and there are challanges coming. But if you can fight those, perhaps you can slowly come in term with yourself."
She knows her advised might not come the best. But what else can she say? This man in front of her will committed suicide, and she knows, this won't change his tragic death. But she wants to give some help, some assurement, that he can be better. He has the ability to do so.
She just want to gives him a way to help him.
After that, they start their movement to the church. Amy is walking alongside Vincent, her arm tucked in his. The painter is carrying his easel and palette while Amy carries the paint case and canvas.
The Time Lords simply walking from behind.
"I'm sorry you're so sad," Amy admitted.
"But I'm not," Vincent responded. "Sometimes these moods torture me for weeks, for months. But I'm good now. If Amy Pond can soldier on, if Tory can be a brave girl, then so can Vincent Van Gogh."
"I'm not soldiering on. I'm fine."
"Oh, Amy, I hear the song of your sadness. You've lost someone I think."
"I'm not sad."
"They why are you crying?"
Both Time Lords wince, knowing very well that Amy's sad for Rory, despite she can't remember him.
"It's all right. I understand," Vincent told her.
"I'm not sure I do."
"Okay. Okay!" The Doctor interjected, trying to change the topic off. "So, now, we must have a plan. When the creature returns..."
Vincent stops and turns to face the duo. "Then we shall fight him again."
"Well, yes, tick. But last night we were lucky. Amy could have been killed if my sister didn't see it. So this time, for a start, we have to make sure I can see him, too."
"And how are we meant to do that, suddenly?" Amy frowns.
"The answer's in this box." He taps the case he's carrying. "I had an excellent, if smelly, godmother."
They stop as they see a funeral procession walking towards them. There are sunflowers resting on the coffin.
"Oh, no. It's that poor girl from he village," Vincent recalled.
They stand respectfully at the side of the road as the procession passes. The woman from last light looks at them but says nothing, simply keep walking.
"You do have a plan, don't you?" Amy asked again.
"You know he barely even make a great plan," Tory huffed playfully as they move to their destination.
Vincent sets up his easel and sits down to paint. The Doctor bends over, hands on the painter's shoulders. "And you'll be sure to tell me if you see any, you know, monsters."
"Yes. While I may be mad, I'm not stupid," Vincent noted.
"I agree," Tory denoted with a big grin, moving her legs around. "I mean, my head's full with lots and lots of idea that doesn't make sense but make sense as well. Like, do you know how often people get super sick just by bumping road? Like a big, big one? And brother dear here is very sophisticated when it comes with traveling..."
"Shh. I'm working."
"Oh, of course. Sorry."
Tory looks at Vincent's painting, impress that Vincent has outlined the top of the church and is painting the sky. "Do you know who I really detest the most in Earth?" She asked. "Hitler. That guy is really losing his sanity with his stupid ideology. I mean, the man had some gut to committed such heinous crime. If I met him, I will slashing his head with my sword and kick his stupid face..."
"Shh!" Amy cut her blabbering before the girl speaks more about planning some insane ideas like that and make her wants to vomit.
"... and I was like, 'what?! Are you kidding me?'" Tory keep blabbered. "The idiot just announcing his stupid plan to us! To us! Like, he didn't know what the Doctor and I can do together..."
"Quiet," Amy nudged her.
It's already night. Tory already stop the blabbering and simply playing her sword around in boredom, which Amy (and secretly Vincent) thank the Universe for that.
Unfortunately? The Doctor starts to blabbering just like her. Mentioning on and on about painters until he's bored.
"Is this how time normally passes?" The Doctor asked, looking around. "Really slowly. In the right order."
"I know," Tory admitted. "Good thing I brought my sword."
The Doctor gets up, walks behind Vincent and facing away. Confused, Amy joins him. "Are you okay? You seem a bit, if I didn't know better, I'd say nervous."
"There's something not right and I can't quite put my finger on it," the Doctor mumbled.
Tory frowns, stopping moving her sword. "I think we got our target."
"Where?"
"There, on the right," Vincent pointed out.
"As I thought. Come on, Historian. I'm going in."
"Well, I'm coming, too," Vincent declared.
Tory shook her head. "No. Don't. You and Amy should stay here."
"But you're not armed."
"Yet I am quite powerful to handle that creature, remember? And my brother has his famous sonic screwdriver. We can handle this." Tory gives Amy a pointing look. "Better not follow us." She looks again at Vincent. "Either of you. Understand?"
"I won't," Amy promised.
The Doctor gives a thumbs-up as he and Tory heading towards the church.
The Doctor stops as he sets down the case and takes out the same device he used earlier while Tory takes out her sword. After he straps it on his body, he and Tory enters the church, slowly and cautiously. Tory acts more caution the moment she hear a low growling. "Stay close," the Doctor whispered beside her, keeps checking the mirror and pulls out the sonic screwdriver. He approaches a window and keeps checking the mirror.
"Get down!" Tory yelled as the Krafayis's arm ready to swipe them away. She manages to avoid, but sadly, the Doctor doesn't. Tory immediately swinging her sword so the Krayafis won't do something's dangerous to them as she helps the Doctor standing up.
"Doctor! Tory!" Amy cried, following them
"Argh!" The Doctor grumbled. "I thought I told you... Never mind. We'll talk about it later. Quick, in here." He ushers Amy and Tory to hide in confessional. Tory quietly witness the Krafayis moving around "Absolutely quiet," he whispered, slides the door over the grill between them. "Can you breath a little quieter, please?"
"No!" Amy replied before lifts the curtain. "He's gone past."
"Shush!" Tory muttered, narrowing her eyes to the Krafayis, who growls and blowing in the grating on Amy's the side of the confessional, causing Amy to screams.
"I think he heard us," the Doctor mumbled.
"Yoh think so?!" Tory responded before the Krafayis takes out part of the grating on her side. She stabs her sword to it's legs as it screams in agony.
"Hey, are you looking for me, sonny?" A voice demanded. Vincent's. "Come on. Over here. Because I'm right here waiting for you." He motions to the trio as it starts to come forward to him. "Come on. Quickly! Get behind me."
They get out and move closer to the painter. "Doing anything?" The Doctor asked.
"Clearly not," Tory answered as they all back out while Vincent still holds the chair in front of him defensively.
The Doctor looks around wildly. "Where is he?"
"Where do you think he is, you idiot? Use your head," Vincent replied as Tory sees the Krafayis walks towards them.
The DOCTOR stands by Vincent and uses the sonic again. "Anything?"
"Nothing much," Tory shrugged. "He seems entertain by your sonic, brother dear."
They start move apart. "Duck," Vincent and Tory warned, which the Doctor complies. "Left." He moves to his left and the Krafayis swats him away and he is slammed into a wall.
"Right, sorry," Vincent clarified as the Doctor sits up with a groan, holding his side and Amy rushes over to help. Vincent and Tory come over. Vincent with the chair and Tory with her sword, to help defend them. "Your right, my left."
"This is no good at all. Run like crazy and regroup," the Doctor blurted.
"Oh, come on, in here," Amy said before they run into another church building. Together, they begin to push the door closed. Vincent and Tory sees the leg of the Krafayis is keeping it open. The painter stamps his foot down on it and the creature yanks it back while Tory waving her sword to scared it before joining others.
They close the door and stand with their backs against it. "Right. Okay. Here's the plan. Amy, Rory..."
"Who?" Amy frowns.
"Sorry, um, Vincent."
"What is the plan?"
"I don't know, actually. But in future, I'm just using this screwdriver for screwing in screws," the Doctor blabbered while puts away his sonic.
"Give me a second. I'll be back," Vincent said and runs off.
"Maybe we can talking to it," Tory proposed.
"Talking to him?!"
"You never know. It could have some motive," the young girl shrugged as the Krafayis growls.
"Though maybe he's not really in the mood for conversation right at this precise moment," the Doctor added as it keeps growl and bangs on the door.
"Just try it!"
"Okay! Fine," the Doctor faces the door. "Listen. Listen! I know you can understand me. Even though I know you won't understand why you can understand me. I also know that no-one's talked to you for a pretty long stretch, but please... listen. I also don't belong on this planet. Me and my sister are also alone. If you trust us, I'm sure we can come to some kind of, you know, understanding. And then, and then, who knows?"
The window directly opposite them shatters as the Krafayis finds a way inside. It roars and displaces things as it moves about. Tory's eyes glowing in purple, ready to defend, as Vincent returns with his easel. "Over here, mate!" He yelled and three of them move behind him.
"What's it up to now?" The Doctor asked.
"It's moving around the room," Tory noted as Amy and Vincent move behind a sarcophagus. "Maybe trying to understand our movement?"
"No, I think it's like it's trapped," Vincent argued. "It's moving round the edges of the room."
"I can't see a thing," Amy muttered.
"I am really stupid," the Doctor mumbled.
"You always are, brother dear," Tory commented.
"Oh. Haha, very funny, sister dear. But back to the point. Why does it attack, but never eat its victims?" He moves to sarcophagus. "And why was it abandoned by its pack and left here to die? Why is it feeling its way helplessly around the walls of the room? It can't see, it's blind. That explains why it has such perfect hearing!"
"Which unfortunately also explains why it is now turning around and heading straight for us," Vincent concluded, steps forward and putting the sharp ends of the easel held out as a weapon.
"Historian, Vincent, what's happening?"
"It's charging now," Tory reported as Vincent motions with his hand.
"Get back. Get back!" The painter warned, moves forward and impales the beast on the easel. The Krafayis bellows in pain and anger. Still holding the easel, Vincent is suspended above the floor and right into its chest. He lets go and falls to the floor. The Krafayis collapses. "He wasn't without mercy at all. He was without sight. I didn't mean that to happen. I only meant to wound it, I never meant to..."
The Doctor and Tory kneel beside body. "He's trying to say something," the Doctor told him.
"What is it?"
"'I'm afraid. I'm afraid'," Tory translated, looking solemn as she and the Doctor reach out to stroke the body. "Don't worry. You'll be okay."
The moment the Krafayis dies, Tory closes its eyes.
"He was frightened… and he lashed out," Vincent realized. "Like humans, who lash out when they're frightened. Like the villagers who scream at me. Like the children who throw stones at me."
"Sometimes winning... winning is no fun at all," the Doctor mumbled, holding Tory's closer as they all leave.
Afterward, they all lie down in the field, heads together. Tory's hands holding the Doctor's and Amy's hand. "Hold my hand, Doctor. Try to see what I see. We are so lucky we are still alive to see this beautiful world. Look at the sky. It's not dark and black and without character. The black is in fact deep blue." Vincent points with his hand entwined with the Doctor's. "And over there, lighter blue." He lets go of Amy's hand and makes a sweeping motion. "And blowing through the blueness and the blackness, the wind swirling through the air and then, shining, burning, bursting through. The stars! Can you see how they roar their light? Everywhere we look, the complex magic of nature blazes before our eyes."
"I think I can," Tory agreed, imagining Starry Night above her.
"I've seen many things, my friend. But you're right. Nothing quite as wonderful as the things you see," the Doctor denoted, holding his sister's hand tighter.
"I will miss you all terribly," Vincent confessed.
The next day, Vincent gives Tory one of his painting, Self Portrait with Straw Hat.
"I only wish I had something of real value to give you," Vincent shrugged sadly.
The Doctor giggles as Tory holds it. "Oh, no, no. We could never accept such an extraordinary gift," he denied.
"You know," Tory suddenly said, got a brilliant idea. "Maybe I can..."
"No."
"But you haven't heard it yet."
"You're going to sell it in the future for money. No," the Doctor disagreed.
"Oh, come on!" Tory pouted. At least they have some cash money in case they're stand somewhere without the TARDIS.
Vincent chuckles at their banter. "Very well. You are not the first to decline the offer," he said and takes the painting back to his house and holds out arms at Amy and Tory. "Amy, the blessed, the wonderful. And Tory, the brave and amazing girl."
They hug each other and give each other a kiss on a cheek
"Be good to yourself and be kind to yourself," Amy said.
"I'll try my best."
"Stay strong," Tory advised. "And please shave your beard, if you don't mind. It's getting bigger."
"I will. I will," Vincent promised and looks at Amy. "And if you tire of this Doctor and his sister of yours, return, And we will have children by the dozen."
"Eek!" Amy responded.
"Doctor, my friend. Vincent takes his hand. "We have fought monsters together and we have won. On my own, I fear I may not do as well."
The Doctor hugs him tightly. And it's not gonna take some genius to know what his future will become and how much they cannot help him.
But maybe...
"Vincent," Tory suddenly cut in, stopping Amy and the Doctor from leaving the house. "Change your clothes. I want to show you something," she smiles sadly. "A parting gift, special to you only."
The Doctor darts his eyes to his sister. What is it?
Something that will help Vincent.
The Doctor, Tory, Amy, and Vincent walk through the village towards the TARDIS.
"Now, you know we've had quite a few chats about the possibility there might be more to life than normal people imagine?" The Doctor asked, stops with a sigh as he sees the TARDIS covered in bills.
"Yes," Vincent replied.
"Then you're gonna love this!" Tory beamed, snaps her fingers as the doors open automatically and enter. The trio stand in the doorway as Vincent looks around the TARDIS, sticks his head out and then examines the exterior as the painter steps inside again.
"How come I'm the crazy one and you three have stayed sane?" Vincent wondered.
"Well, I'm not really sane," Tory reminded him. "Quite mad, remember?"
The Doctor takes off his hat and tosses it to the side. Then, they walk to the console.
"What do these things all do?" Vincent asked.
"Oh, a huge variety of things. This one here," the Doctor turns a knob, "for instance, plays soothing music." He soon dances around alongside Tory. "While this one makes a huge amount of noise." Tory quickly covers her ears as a noisy sound comes out. "And this one makes everything go tonto." The TARDIS soon shaking around before finally stops.
"And this one?"
"That's a friction contrafibulator," Tory answered.
"And this?"
"That's ketchup. And beside it it's mustard."
"Mmm. Nice!" Vincent admitted before grips the Doctor's shoulders. "Come on. Back to the cafe and you can tell me about all the wonders of the universe."
"Actually, we have a better idea," the young girl offered and pulls up a lever, setting their destination to Musee D'orsay.
"Where are we?" Vincent asked as they all step outside.
"Paris, 2010," Tory shared. "And this place is Musee D'Orsay, home to many of the greatest paintings in history on Earth."
"Oh, that's wonderful."
"Ignore that," the Doctor told him when he sees two boy playing some portable devices. "I've got something more important to show you."
They enter the museum. Tory smiles happily to Vincent, who's overwhelmed by the grandness of it. Amy leads the way past some Monets and Rodin's The Kiss. Both Time Lords have to drag him from the Water Lilies into Van Gogh exhibit.
"What do you think?" Tory asked, spread her arms wide.
"Dr. Black," the Doctor called to the man they met before. "we met a few days ago. I asked you about the church at Auvers."
Amy brings Vincent closer so he can listen.
"Oh, yes. Glad to be of help. You were nice about my tie," Dr. Black recalled.
"Yes. And today is another cracker if I may say so. But I just wondered, between you and me, in 100 words, where do you think Van Gogh rates in the history of art?" The Doctor asked.
"Well, big question. But, to me, Van Gogh is the finest painter of them all. Certainly, the most popular, great painter of all time, the most beloved. His command of colour, the most magnificent. He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty. Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world, no-one had ever done it before. Perhaps no-one ever will again. To my mind, that strange, wild man who roamed the fields of Provence was not only the world's greatest artist, but also one of the greatest men who ever lived."
Tory starts to approaching Vincent who begins to cry outwardly. "Vincent? I'm sorry. I never want to upset you."
"No," Vincent quickly shook his head as the Doctor approaches him, worry. "No. They are tears of joy." He goes to Dr. Black and gives him a Gallic kiss before hugging him. "Thank you, Sir. Thank you."
"You're welcome. You're welcome," Dr. Black responded, confused.
"Sorry about the beard," Vincent added before Tory leading him away as they all go back to the TARDIS.
The old girl materializes and Vincent steps out first. "This changes everything. I'll step out tomorrow with my easel on my back a different man," Vincent remarked. "I still can't believe that one of the haystacks was in the museum. How embarrassing."
"It's been a great adventure and a great honour," the Doctor confessed and shakes Vincent's hand, then hugs him.
"You've turned out to be the first doctor ever actually to make a difference to my life."
"I'm delighted. I won't ever forget you," the Doctor shared ahd heads to TARDIS.
"And you are sure marriage is out of the question?" Vincent jokingly asked Amy who stand beside Tory.
"This time," Amy hugs him and whispers in his ear that Tory can heard. "I'm not really the marrying kind," she confessed and kisses him and heads back to the TARDIS.
"Oh, wait!" Vincent interjected as Tory's about to leave. "Just wait!" He repeated and running back to his cottage. Some minutes passed, and he return, now with a piece of paper in his hands. "Take this. You might want to check."
Tory lifts her eyebrown curiously. She looks at the paper and frowns, but smiles anyway. "Sure," she promised, giving him a big teddy bear hug before finally let go and enter the blue box.
"Come on. Let's go back to the gallery right now," Amy insisted.
"You can go first, I wanna check something," Tory told them as they arrive back in Musee D'Orsay. As they leave, Tory opens the monitor, checking some stuffs inside it. From his note, Vincent told her to check his paintings for a suprise. The Time Lady can only wonder what sort of suprise he meant.
But she got her answer the moment she spots Vincent's Still Life: Vase With Twelve Sunflowers. On the vase right above his signature, it says "For Amy", which makes Tory smiles fondly. The second suprise is from his painting Sunset at Montmajour. On the left side, she notices a blue box that resembles the TARDIS closely, with a signature that says "Thank you".
She's just about to close the monitor when her eyes darting something else. Something that captures her interest. Tory looks at a newest painting she's very certain never been made before by Vincent. Yet, the painting exist, just before Vincent ended his life, which makes her incredibly nervous and worry of what it means.
After all, the painting that she's witnessing now... is a painting of the TARDIS exploding.
Note: I cannot help myself to put that teaser in last moment. Which also means, I won't wrote the Lodger and will strike to post The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang!