Chapter 3: The Journey Begins
The Doctor was going around on the new TARDIS excitedly. He was excited because finally his adventures start with this new face and TARDIS. Also, he met a mysterious girl who he first met when she was a little girl. She needed to wait 17 years to finally meet him again. He wanted her to come with him more than ever. He tried to find out something about those weird voices… why he heard the voices before he even met Oswin and Clara Oswin Oswald. He tried to understand why he met her twice. The only thing he knew that Clarity Oswald is a special girl and didn't want to let her go. He needed to know who is she. These thoughts made him more confused than ever. He quickly stopped thinking and travelled to Clara's time to get her like he promised.
Clara stepped out from the TARDIS smiling. After 17 years of waiting she finally met her 'imaginary friend', like her parents called him. In these 17 year, there were moments when she thought the Doctor was just an imagination so she gave up. This moment came when she was 16. She gave up her imaginary friend and lived her life. Her father's death made her to give the Doctor up for good. Dave Oswald passed away on 23rd May, 2005 in a car accident. The man who hit him let Dave die. The man didn't call the ambulance just drove away let Dave die there. After 3 years, the police found that man and arrested him. The guy went to jail. Clara relived and thought that her dad will rest in peace now. She graduated and went to a university. She got her degree and decided to travel for a year to get to know the world better and get more experiences from life. One week, she went over to the Maitland family to spend some time with them. But during that week, Mrs Maitland passed away in stroke. She couldn't have a heart to leave them, so she decided to look after the kids till they need her. She spent 2 years with them and then her imaginary friend came back. After 17 years, he came back and so did her faith. She couldn't wait till tomorrow so her dream can finally come true. This dream become even bigger. She couldn't believe this. It's like a dream. The smile on her face is indescribable. She forgot that her mother, Ellie was home too. She noticed her daughter's very good mood.
"What's that big smile on your face?" she asked curiously when Clara stepped inside the kitchen.
"Am I smiling?" the smile didn't disappear from her face. Ellie was suspicious.
"Yes. It's a very big smile on your face. You are very suspicious for me."
"Well maybe I'm just happy." Clara poured tea in her mug and drink it.
"I saw that smile before. It's a boy, isn't it?"
"Maybe yes, maybe no."
"So it is a yes. Please tell me that you didn't forgive Danny!"
"No way, mom! He is a jerk who hurt me. He doesn't deserve anything."
"Thank god! Then who is it? The man I met yesterday?"
"Yes."
"And who is he?"
"Do you remember when I was 9, I met a man called the Doctor and disappeared?"
"Your imaginary friend?"
"Yup!"
"Yes, why?"
"He came back."
"Your imaginary friend?"
"Yeah."
"So, the thing you want to say to me is that man that I met yesterday was your imaginary friend?"
"Yes."
"Clara! Why do you say silly things? You're not a little girl anymore."
"But I'm telling you the truth, mom. Have I ever lied to you?"
"No."
"See? I'm telling you the truth. The Doctor came back. You met him too. I didn't imagine him. He is real."
"Okay. Maybe you're right. But why did he come back after 17 years later?"
"I have no idea. But I'll find out."
"You trust him that easily?"
"I trusted him when I was a little girl. He made me laugh."
"You trust him because he made you laugh?"
"Not just for this."
"Then?"
"I don't know. I just trust him."
"I don't want you to be hurt again. Danny broke you heart. I don't want to see you like that ever again."
"I know, mom. Trust me!"
"Alright." Clara smiled and kissed Ellie's cheek.
"I love you!"
"Love you too!" Clara went up to her room and took out her book. She got this when she was little. When she opened it, she saw the leaf on the first page. She wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that leaf.
"Page one…" she smiled. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." she noticed a drawing of the Doctor too. She put the leaf on her desk and looked closely at the drawing. The Doctor was in his old clothes and his hands were glowing. Around him there were many foods he couldn't eat. That drawing made Clara laugh. She draw a bow tie on it. "Perfect." she put the leaf back and closed the book.
Next day Clara was waiting for the Doctor excitedly. She woke up very early so she can be ready in time. Now she just had to wait for him to come. The clock was striking 7 when she heard the TARDIS. There was a knock on the door. She quickly opened it.
"Are you ready?" the Doctor asked. Clara nodded and he grabbed her hand and went inside the TARDIS. Clara couldn't believe that this was real. It's like a fairy tale. A fairy tale that she made up when she was little. But it wasn't a fairy tale. It was reality. Her imaginary friend showed up at the best moment to make her smile again and travel around the universe.
"So, are you a Martian?" Clara sked.
"I'm not a Martian."
"Then you are an alien."
"Yes."
"What kind?" she checked him closely. "You look like a human."
"You look like us. We came first."
"What kind of alien are you?"
"Time Lord."
"Which means…?" she shrugged her shoulder and looked at him curiously.
"That I can travel in time and space. And this blue phone box is my spaceship. Time and Relative Dimension in Space… in short TARDIS."
"Wherever?"
"Wherever. May I?" Clara stepped back from the panel and let him do his job. The Doctor pulled the levers and then, they both went to the door. He slowly opened the door. She saw the universe. In front of her there was planet Earth, her home. She could see the Moon circling around the Earth. She saw the Sun and the Solar System's other planet which are circling around the Sun. She looked at her right and saw millions of shining stars far away. She put her head on the door and stared at her home.
"It's beautiful!"
"This is the Solar System, Clara. Want to check it out?"
"Really?" she looked at him. The Doctor just smiled.
"Yes." he took her hand. "You can step out."
"Are you insane? I'm going to die. I don't have a helmet and that weird clothes."
"Spacesuit."
"Whatever."
"You'll be fine, Clara. The TARDIS's atmosphere protect us."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Trust me!" Clara nodded carefully and squeezed the Doctor's hand. She slowly stepped out from the TARDIS into the nothing. There wasn't ground under her feet and she was levitating. First, she laughed then looked at the Doctor desperately.
"Don't you dare to let me go!"
"I won't." he laughed. The Doctor took her leg with his other hand and let go of her hand. Clara lifted higher and laughed. After a few minutes later he pulled her back. "How was it?"
"Amazing. There are no words for this experience."
"Now you believe me?"
"Of course. So, anywhere in time and space?" the Doctor closed the door and both went back to the panel.
"Anywhere in time and space. Where do you want to go, Clarity Oswald?"
"So we can go forwards in time?"
"And space, yeah."
"And we can go backwards in time?"
"And space, totally. So?"
"So what I want to see is…" she was thinking very hard to where they should go. The Doctor waited for her answer impatiently. "Is the Machu Picchu."
"Oh, Peru. South America."
"That was the first thing that came up."
"Then let's go to South America!" he pulled the levers and when the TARDIS landed they fell on the ground. The Doctor quickly stood up and shook his head. "Woaw! I need to refinance the landing."
"You are driving like a bad drunker. Didn't you take an exam at space school?"
"I did and I failed."
"I can understand you're terrible driving now." the Doctor smiled at her.
"Shut up!" he reached out his hand to her. Clara grabbed his hand and stood up. They both went to the door. The Doctor opened it and let her go first. "After you." she stepped out from the TARDIS and saw the amazing sight of the Machu Picchu.
"Wow! It1s beautiful! Can we see it? I mean closely?"
"Of course. Come with me!" he took her hand and went down to watch it closely. Clara was amused and ran ahead. The Doctor was smiling. Clara grabbed his arm and pulled him with her. They had a wonderful time here. When they needed to rest Clara climbed up on a tree. The Doctor just stood there.
"Coming?"
"Okay." he smile and climbed up. They were sitting on a branch of the tree and enjoyed the sight. "So, Clarity Oswald? What happened to you in the last 17 years?"
"Let's see… I grow up, graduated and got my degree."
"So, you went to university?"
"Yes. I finished medical school."
"Medical school? Wow! You always wanted to become a doctor?"
"Yes, that was my plan after I came back from my travel."
"You wanted to travel?"
"Yes. Before you showed up in my life. After I finished university I wanted to travel for a year to get to know the world more. I went over to the Maitland family one week and during that week Mrs Maitland died. Their kids, Angie and Artie had no supervision. Their dad usually work till very late so nobody could look after them. That's why I stayed till they don't need me."
"There are 101 places to see and you haven't seen any of it, have you?"
"But since my imaginary friend came back I have a chance to it." the Doctor smiled.
"And your family?"
"You met my mom the other day and dad died when I was 16."
"I'm sorry!"
"It was a car accident. The police found the driver and arrested him."
"Then everything's good?"
"Yeah, dad could rest in peace now. Since then, there is just me and mom. Just me and her. What about you? You are an alien, okay, but I don't know anything else."
"I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. I stole a time machine and ran away and I've been flouting the principle law of my own people ever since. I have two hearts and that's it, I think."
"And what was that golden powder you throw up? And the glowing hands?"
"Regeneration power."
"What's that?"
"It's a very long process. The point is that I can cheat death."
"So you won't die?"
"No, I'm just regenerating."
"Which means…?" Clara shrugged her shoulder.
"That I change. I got a new face and personality."
"So when you appeared in our house you were regenerating?"
"I regenerated on the TARDIS but yes. That is why I was so confused. Regeneration have this is the effect on Time Lords."
"Hah. Now I get it."
"You were the first face that this face saw."
"The first one?"
"Yes." he put his hand on her head.
"Is it like an honour?"
"Kind of. You became a very important person to me and I don't let anyone to hurt you. You were there to help me through with the regeneration. A kind little girl was beside me till I found myself. And this kind little girl became a beautiful, clever woman." Clara smiled.
"Don't make me blush!" she put her head on his shoulder. "You won't disappear now?"
"I won't."
"Are you sure? Last time you said 5 minutes I had to wait 17 years."
"I'm sure, Clara. I won't let your hand go! Travelling is only started now. Why would I let you not see the wonders of the world?"
"I don't know,"
"Can your unforgettable journey begin in time and space, Clara Oswald?" Clara looked up at the Doctor. He was holding out his hand to her. She didn't think, she immediately smiled and took his hand.
"Yes." they shook hands. "Now and whenever too." the Doctor smiled too. Suddenly, they heard a big explosion. "What was that?"
"I don't know. But I think this whole journey starts to get exciting." the Doctor jumped down and looked up. "Coming? The adventure and the excitement starts now. And the running also."
"Adventure and excitement? Sounds good." she jumped down. The Doctor grabbed her hand and they were running to the place where the explosion happened. The journey of Clara and the Doctor just only started now…