A/N: Happy Thanksgiving!
Vivian IV
Vivian was sitting upright on a chair in the National Gallery back on Earth. A cup of cold tea was in her hands, having cooled off a while ago. In less than twenty four hours, her world had turned upside down. First, Gallifrey lost the war. Second, It was The Doctor's fault. Then there was three Doctors all at once, breaking about fifty Time rules at one time and broke even more in an effort to save their home from destruction.
She didn't know what to think about him. He was reckless, no regard for the Laws of Time, but his methods… they worked. Everything about The Doctor shouted that he was impossible and should be Stormcage by now.
She glanced at the Gallifrey Falls painting that hung there, still on its transport frame. To the sharp right of the painting, three TARDIS's were lined up up by one wall. The opposite is decorated with a collection of roundels.
"I don't suppose we'll know if we actually succeeded." The Warrior said as he walked to his TARDIS, "But at worst, we failed doing the right thing, as opposed to succeeding in doing the wrong."
"Life and soul, you are." Clara remarked.
"What is it actually called?" Ten asked, glancing back at the painting.
The Doctor shrugged, "Well, there's some debate. Either No More or Gallifrey Falls".
The Warrior huffed, "Not very encouraging."
"How did it get here?" Ten asked.
"No idea." The Doctor responded.
"There's always something we don't know, isn't there?" Ten acknowledged.
"One should certainly hope so." The Warrior responded. Well, gentlemen, it has been an honour and a privilege." The Warrior said, shaking hands with Ten and The Doctor.
"Likewise." Ten stated.
"Doctor." The Doctor said, shaking his hand with The Warrior.
"And if I grow to be half the man that you are, Clara Oswald, I shall be happy indeed." The Warrior said.
Clara smiled, "That's right. Aim high."
The Warrior turned to Vivian, who got up from the chair, put her teacup down and walked over to the group. The Warrior said, "It was nice to meet you, Vivian." Then he turned to the other Doctors, "I won't remember this, will I?"
The Doctor shook his head, "The time streams are out of sync. You can't retain it, no."
"So I won't remember that I tried to save Gallifrey rather than burn it. I'll have to live with that. But for now, for this moment, I am the Doctor again. Thank you. Which one is mine? Ha!" He goes into the TARDIS with the most dust. It dematerialised a minute later.
"I won't remember either, so you might as well tell me." The Doctor previous regeneration asked.
"Tell you what?"
"Where it is we're going that you don't want to talk about."
The Doctor looked to be far away when he answered, "I saw Trenzalore, where we're buried. We die in battle among millions."
"That's not how it's supposed to be."
"That's how the story ends. Nothing we can do about it. Trenzalore is where you're going."
"Oh, never say nothing. Anyway, good to know my future is in safe hands. Keep a tight hold on it, Clara."
"On it." Clara responded.
Ten kissed her hand, "It was a pleasure to meet you, Vivian, I can tell you I will look forward to it."
Vivian nodded.
"Trenzalore. We need a new destination, because I don't want to go." He gets into the next TARDIS, not brightly painted but not as dirty as The Warrior's, TARDIS and it dematerialised.
The Doctor sighed, "He always says that."
"Need a moment alone with your painting?" Clara remarked with a laugh.
"How did you know?" The Doctor asked quietly.
"Those big sad eyes." Clara responded.
"Ah."
"I always know. Oh, by the way, there was an old man looking for you. I think it was the curator." She goes into the TARDIS and closes the door. The Doctor sits on a couch and looks looks up at Vivian. He pats the space next to him, "Sit."
Vivian eyed The Doctor and sat, but in the chair she was in before, not the couch, "So." Vivian started in Gallifreyan.
"Who are you?" The Doctor asked her, looking at Vivian, curiosity and mistrust shown through, "I know you're a part of the Gifted, you said so yourself. But… I feel as if I'm supposed to know who you are and I don't. It's just… urg." The Doctor ran a hand through his hair.
"You'll figure it out, Doctor. Think of it as a mystery." Vivian remarked.
"I'm quite clever at discovering mysteries." The Doctor responded.
Vivian gave a small smile, "You'll have a hard time with this one for sure." Vivian sighed, "Well, it looks like the crisis is over."
The Doctor grew sober, "Yes, I suppose it is." The Doctor looked around the room, "I could be a curator. I'd be great at curating. I'd be the Great Curator. I could retire and do that." Then The Doctor switched back to English, "I could retire and be the curator of this place."
"You know, I really think you might." A voice sounded from behind Vivian. She got up and turned around to see an old man walking towards them, leaning on a walking stick.
The Doctor stands up slowly and goes over to the man, "I never forget a face." He whispered.
"I know you don't. And in years to come, you might find yourself revisiting a few. But just the old favorites, eh?" The curator stated. The Doctor winks, "You were curious about this painting, I think. I acquired it in remarkable circumstances. What do you make of the title?"
"Which title? There's two. No More or Gallifrey Falls." The Doctor responded.
"Oh, you see, that's where everybody's wrong. It's all one title. Gallifrey Falls No More. Now, what would you think that means, eh?" The curator stated. At that, Vivian's breath caught in her throat.
"That Gallifrey didn't fall. It worked. It's still out there."
The curator shrugged his shoulders, "I'm only a humble curator. I'm sure I wouldn't know."
"Then where is it?" Vivian spoke up.
"Where is it indeed? Lost. Shush. Perhaps. Things do get lost, you know. And now you must excuse me. Oh, you two have a lot to do."
"Do we?" The Doctor asked.
"Mmm."
"Is that what I'm supposed to do now?" The Doctor asked the curator, "Go looking for Gallifrey?"
The curator smiled, "Oh, it's entirely up to you. Your choice, eh? I can only tell you what I would do if I were you. Oh, if I were you. Oh, perhaps I was you, of course. Or perhaps you are me. Congratulations."
"Thank you very much."
"Or perhaps it doesn't matter either way. Who knows, eh? Who knows?" The Curator nodded to Vivian and walked out of the room.
Vivian looked at The Doctor and crossed her arms, switching back to Gallifreyan,"Well, If you think you'll be looking for our planet without me, you're sorely mistaken."
The Doctor raised an eyebrow, "You really want to travel with me? Less than five hours ago you were yelling and attacking me."
Vivian stepped closer to The Doctor, "You're right. I still don't trust you. But your the best shot I have to be able to get back home."
"Oh, you'll like me soon enough." The Doctor remarked, moving over to his TARDIS and opening the door, making a sweeping motion with his hand to indicate that Vivian move forward.
Vivian shook her head and walked forward into the TARDIS, "Don't do that, it makes you look stupid." The TARDIS's door closed behind The Doctor who made an incoherent noise of protest and the TARDIS disappeared from the gallery.
END OF PART 1
A/N: Part 2 should be up by Christmas
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