Sorry guys for the update delay. Just came out of an exam week so I wasn't able to write as much. Thank everyone for reading! You guys are awesome :). Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. As always reviews/creative criticisms loved.

"Ready to explore?" The Doctor asked the Ponds, rubbing his hands together. He felt his hearts flutter; anticipation and excitement coursing through his veins...and also a touch of hope. He shook away this latter feeling. He was the last of the Time Lords, he reminded himself, he had to destroy them, they had grown corrupt and it was the only way. But all of this doesn't stop his guilt and it slowly ate away at him. Perhaps, just perhaps, this once he'll find another Time Lord, a good Time Lord. He shook his head to dispel this thought, plastering a smile on his face as he looked at Amy. Amelia Pond, he thought fondly, she was trying to act casual, but he had noticed all the worried glances she sneaked at him when she thought he wasn't looking.

"Let's go Doctor," Amy said, pulling him and Rory enthusiastically into the TARDIS.

"It's bigger on the inside like your TARDIS," Rory remarked.

That wasn't the only similarity that this TARDIS had with his own. The layout of the room was like his as well. The Master control console was stationed in the center of the room; its metallic surface polished, the console column glass shiny, and two stairs; one led to the tangle of wires under and another to the rest of the TARDIS. Etched within the metallic walls were round disks spaced evenly which emanated a soft blue glow.

"I love the round things," the Doctor breathed excitedly, a smile brushed his lips.

"Right...Doctor…" Amy dragged out her words, her attention claimed by various trinkets that cluttered the perimeters of room. They overflowed dozens of crates and chests carelessly pushed to sides and corners.

"I've always wanted to get myself one of these," Amy said, trying to draw out a sword from a crate. It didn't budge. She yanked hard on the hilt.

"Woah Amy, watch—" Rory never finished his warning because the sword suddenly pulled free and the momentum sent Amy reeling backwards. Rory yelped and dodged. The edge of the sword neatly cut off several strands of his hair.

"Amy, be careful! Were you trying to behead me? "Rory grumbled, catching hold of her hand. She poked him on the nose.

"If I was trying, Mr. Pond, you wouldn't have a head, "she teased, leaning up to kiss him.

"Good point, "Rory breathed, bending down to meet her lips.

The Doctor made a face, turning away from the Ponds and bounded toward the control console. Young lovers, he thought grumpily and shuddered. All that looking into each other's eyes and the kissing…. A sudden image of River popped up in his mind. Stop it, he told himself sternly, trying to brandish away the thought of her. Her image only smiled beguilingly at him. Stubborn, rash, and dangerous, she always crashed into his life, literally. He wondered where she was now. He sneaked a peek at the Ponds, still captivated in their own little world. He really missed River.

The Doctor grinned as he looked from the point of his screwdriver to a port located on the console; perfect fit.

"Doctor!" Amy shouted.

"What Amy?" He yelled back, plugging in the Sonic Screwdriver and turning the TARDIS screen toward him.

"What is that sound?"

The Doctor paused and listened. He could hear the sound of pattering feet rapidly approaching. It was coming from the inner corridors of the TARDIS. He moved toward the stairs and gave the Ponds a cautious look, "Don't know but it sounds like..."

And then the source of the noise appeared at the top of the staircase, blinking quizzically down at them.

"It's a giant...flying lizard," Amy hissed at him, as the trio stared at the creature. It was indeed a reptilian creature of some sort. It was the size of a small horse, brown scales glowing with a waxy sheen and giant bat wings folded around its body. It narrowed its eyes at them and grumbled, its claws clicked against the floor.

"Pond, be nice," the Doctor frowned at the creature, "Say that again?" The creature gave a growl. "I see.. Not a lizard. It's called a Serpingesor and…" The Doctor gave Amy an apologetic look, "Sorry. It just called you an idiot."

Amy sputtered and glowered at both the Doctor and the Serpingesor. Before she could speak, the Serpingesor growled and slithered down the stairs, its gaze never leaving the Doctor.

"Hello, nice to meet you too," The Doctor said brightly, backing away slowly. His back hit the consoles.

"That was a really bad introduction wasn't it? Don't worry about what Amy said; it's a Scottish thing. …Oh yes. I'm John Smith and these are my companions and we are from the Interior Decoration Corporation located in umm...well, somewhere...around...here. Totally famous…. Haven't heard of us? You must not go out much…."The Doctor continued to talk as he edged around toward his sonic screwdriver.

The Doctor glanced up as the lights of the TARDIS stuttered and blinked. The TARDIS cloister bells began to toll and then he felt himself falling… not down but toward the inner corridors of the TARDIS. He shouted in surprise and grabbed a lever to stop himself. Disco music boomed through the TARDIS. Shouldn't have pulled on that one, he grimaced to himself. He didn't dally on the thought. The force that pulled at him also pulled at all the objects in the room, causing them to plunge toward the inner rooms of the TARDIS. Crates and chests tumbled around him, their contents spilling; a sideway shower of artifacts. His eyes widened as a particularly large and sharp ax flew toward him. He yelped and with his free hand grabbed another handhold, which turned out to be another lever, and the sound of trumpets joined the cacophony. He sighed with relief as the ax passed safely by, disappearing into the TARDIS.

"Amy, Rory!" He muttered, where were they? He twisted his head around, searching for his the Ponds. He couldn't see them.

"AMY! RORY! WHERE ARE YOU?" He tried to shout over the noise, his voice laced with worry.

"Oh shut up! It's loud enough in here without you screaming too," An all too familiar Scottish voice grumbled nearby. And there they were, above him-Amy with the sword squished under her and Rory holding onto her. The couple was wrapped around the Console Column.

"Amelia Pond! I'm so glad to see you, I can almost kiss you," the Doctor exclaimed with relief. He noticed Rory's scowl, "On a second thought, Rory should do that."

"Doctor. We. Are. Hanging. Off. The. Console. Column," Amy gritted, "falling sideways. Explain. Now."

"Technically, I'm the one hanging-" the Doctor began.

"Doctor…" Amy cut him off warningly.

"Right. I'm copying information from the TARDIS data system to my sonic screwdriver. The sonic screwdriver probably...just hit some sensitive information and the TARDIS doesn't like it. She's changing gravity to stop us. So whatever you do, hang on tightly and don't-YOWZA," The Doctor's eyes widened as the Serpingesor lunged for him, wings spread and mouth wide. It's fangs snapped shut on air as the Doctor reeled in his feet. It arced through the air toward him again.

"I probably shouldn't have said all of that out loud," he huffed as he swung from one lever to the next. He prayed that he wouldn't accidently yank on the TARDIS destruct lever.

"Doctor! Hold on! I can help," Amy shouted, clumsily taking the sword out from under her.

"No no no no," the Doctor yelled in panic, "AMY! STAY PUT! DON'T MOVE."

As usual, Amy refused to heed his words. She swung the sword wildly at the direction of the Serpingesor. Now the Doctor had to fend off both Amy's wild swings and the Serpingesor's attacks. It was quite difficult with only one hand.

"Ow," the Doctor winced as the flat of the sword smacked him on the nose.

The Doctor's hearts almost stopped as Amy yelped when she reached too far and lost her balance. Luckily good old Rory was there to save her.

The chaos around him was starting to become too much.

"EVERYONE, EVERYTHING. STOP MOVING. SHUT UP. I'M TRYING TO THINK," The Doctor shouted and all the noise except for the tolling of the bells abruptly stopped. Even the Serpingesor flew back and clung defensively to the sides of the TARDIS at his outburst and hissed as it watched him warily.

"Ah, that's better," The Doctor continued in a quieter voice, "Amy, Rory. Stay there and don't fall. Because if you do, you will be lost in the TARDIS...forever and there will be nothing I can do to save you."

As if in response, the TARDIS groaned and the gravity began to fluctuate, pulling them toward different directions, trying to shake them off their perches like an angry bull.

Amy let out a squeak as a particularly strong jolt made her slid off the column, her feet scraping uselessly on the glass.

"Rory!"

"Amy, I won't let you go," Rory's voice was firm as he clenched her hand tightly. But he too was slipping.

Amy screamed as Rory lost hold. The Doctor seized Rory's wrist as Rory tumbled past him.

The Doctor panted as they dangled there, tossed around like leaves in a storm. He could feel his grip slowly loosen. It wouldn't be long now.

"No pressure or anything. But this is the time when you do something incredibly brilliant," Rory made out through gritted teeth.

"Uhhh…." The Doctor started, racking his mind, desperately searching for a way to get them out of this situation. His mind turned up blank.

He met the Ponds' wide and frightened eyes. They had always supported, trusted, and believed the best of him. But he knew he was a selfish man who was afraid of the loneliness. He was always running to them and because he couldn't stay away; they were in danger.

The TARDIS rumbled angrily.

"You don't have to hurt them," he said soothingly to the TARDIS, "let them go. They didn't know my plans. It was all me."

The shaking abated somewhat as if the TARDIS was considering his words.

"What are you doing Doctor?" Amy asked, her voice rising in disbelief, "We are NOT leaving without you."

"Amy, be quiet," he told her sternly. But warmth spread through him.

The TARDIS whirred uncertainly and the Doctor grinned excitedly, "That is wonderful idea. If you let us go, we will never come back. That thought won't ever cross our minds again. No more snooping around strange TARDIS. Isn't that right Ponds?"

"Oh yes, Doctor. Promise," Amy agreed enthusiastically.

The TARDIS grumbled. The Ponds looked at him questioningly.

"Oh look at me. Hands full and about to fall. Do you really think I can get my screwdriver? " the Doctor asked the TARDIS.

There was a moment of silence and then the TARDIS flung open its doors and adjusted the gravity field to expel them from its interior. The Doctor released Rory and breathed with relief as they landed safely outside. The gravity change had brought him closer to his sonic screwdriver. If he reached out his hand…

Memories of the Time War and the near destruction of the universe flashed through his mind. He needed this information, to know what he was dealing with so that he could be prepared for the worst.

"Sorry," he apologized as he let go of the lever and snatched up his sonic screwdriver.

And then he was outside, flat on his stomach, the wind knocked out of him. He scrambled up to his feet, spinning around to face the Ponds only to see the furious Serpingesor hurtling toward them.

"Move Amy," He shouted as he pushed past them and slammed the TARDIS door shut just as the Serpingesor reached it. He sagged against the door in relief.

"Look up there," Rory pulled on his jacket, pointing at the sky. The Doctor jerked his head up to see a speck of grey rapidly becoming bigger as it approached them, alerted by the TARDIS bells.

The Doctor lurched up and grabbed his companion's hands, "Run!"