NOTE: I'm having fun with this one! Things are going to start getting very twisty and turny soon, so hold on to your fezzes.
Chapter Three
"Doctor?" Amy called. "Doctor?!"
"Maybe we shouldn't be making so much noise." Rory advised. "We have no idea what is down here."
"Like what? Biggest thing we've come across is a dragonfly."
Rory looked around the glowing cavern nervously. He didn't like the idea of being underground to begin with, and the fact that it was an alien planet didn't help matters any. The fact that the Doctor had wandered off and left them alone in the eerie and confusing network of large tunnels and caves wasn't helping his mood any.
"Doctor?!" Amy called again.
"Amy, this way!" The Doctor called back with an echo. "Actually, wait there, I'm coming to you!"
The Doctor appeared at the entrance of a tunnel at the top of a small ledge on the far right wall. He looked over the eight foot drop and weighted out his options on how to get down. Rory worked his way through the forests of iridescent stalagmites and stalactites to help. With Rory's assistance the Doctor was able to safely get to the cavern floor. He was smeared in a red glowing stain which Amy found odd since he had been mostly interested in blue mosses before.
"Doctor, where did you wander off to?"
"I didn't wander off, you did."
"No we didn't."
"I was just looking around," the Doctor shrugged, wincing as he did so "I figured you were either following me or exploring something on your own."
"Doctor, please, what is going on?"
"Why must something always be going on?" The Doctor asked with an innocent smile. "Can't I just want to show you a beautiful place?"
"Of course. It's just..."
"Then come on, there is a waterfall near here that has little microbes in it that only light up when agitated, when the water hits the bottom and stirs them up and they glow a brilliant white with flecks of all the other colours of the rainbow. The species that glows white is the most populous, then there are rarer ones that give the other colours. It looks like the waterfall turns to diamond. It's just breathtaking."
Amy just sighed as the Doctor twirled in place and then took off towards one of the tunnel openings. Rory tapped on her shoulder to get her attention. Once she was looking at him he brought his arm up and held it protectively against his ribs mimicking the way the Doctor was holding himself.
"I know, I see it." Amy said sadly. "What do you want me to do about it?"
"You hold him down, I'll take a look at that shoulder."
"A little forced medical intervention might not be such a bad idea. However, I tried pinning him down once, he's surprisingly quick." Amy smiled at the memory of when she'd first started traveling with the Doctor and had cornered him in her bedroom in an embarrassing failed attempt at a sexual advance. "Anyway, you'd have to get the shirt off him first and he would probably take it the wrong way."
"Right, did not think of that." Rory flushed. "Okay, then do you know anything that can safely knock out a Time Lord for an hour or so? I'm just worried that there is an infection he's not treating right. If we could get him sleeping."
"River would know."
"Do you believe this whole 'Vortex Flare Storm' thing keeping the TARDIS from being able to travel in or around River's time?"
"I don't know what I believe anymore."
"Oy!" The Doctor called from the tunnel entrance. "This is how you two got lost last time."
"Sorry, Doctor." Amy called. "We're coming."
Rory took Amy's hand and they walked together to where the Doctor was waiting. He led the the rest of the way to the lazy waterfall. The cascading water was far more breathtaking than he had described. Flowing down the smooth slopes of the cliff face the water dropped off a ledge for the last ten feet into a large pool. At the bottom the agitated water sparkled a dazzling white with flecks of rainbow. In the pool swam small fish that had lights running down the lengths of their bodies.
The Doctor stood by the water's edge and stared at the waterfall with a slight smile touching the corners of his lips. Deciding against upsetting him at the moment Amy stepped up on his right side and took his right hand in her own. The Doctor kept his eyes on the waterfall as he gave Amy's hand a squeeze.
"What do you think?" The Doctor asked.
"It's truly amazing." Amy said honestly.
"The Gemina people never exploited these caves for their riches or their beauty." The Doctor said proudly. "These places were sacred ground and they were always treated as such. Even in the last days of the wars, when they could have dragged their armies down into the tunnels to hide, they never even thought of it as an option. They were willing to lose the war, to die, to protect the natural wonder beneath their feet. If only they could have treated the Gemino people with the same reverence as this fungus everyone might have survived and there would still be someone left other than us to appreciate this waterfall."
"You talk about the war as if you were there."
"I was." The Doctor confirmed.
"Which side were you on?" Rory asked without thinking.
"I wasn't on a side, Rory." The Doctor answered quietly. "I wasn't part of the war, I was just watching it. I hated watching wars so much."
"Then why did you?"
"Punishment."
"Punishment?" Amy repeated in horror.
"At the time if you'd asked Rassilon he would have said 'rehabilitation', not punishment, but I know what he was up to."
"I'm sorry," Rory said "I don't understand. How can anyone be 'rehabilitated' by being forced to watch wars?"
"Rassilon and the others were trying to temper my tendency to...um..."
"Interfere?" Amy offered with a knowing smile.
"Interfere with the affairs of others." The Doctor agreed. "They thought that if I watched enough civilizations pointlessly slaughter one another over trivia that I'd realize that it was just part of the Universe and that it was futile to involve myself in the problems of 'lower species' anyway since in the end they aren't worth saving."
"It didn't work."
"Not at all." The Doctor smiled brightly.
Amy leaned in and kissed the Doctor's cheek. He put his arm around Amy's shoulders and pulled her in closer. Standing quietly the trio just watched the waterfall in the gentle glow of the untouched cavern. Eventually the Doctor started to shift his weight uncomfortably. Amy looked over and saw the flashing of the Nova Diamond through the Doctor's shirt. She reached over and put her hand over it. The Doctor looked down at Amy's hand on his chest.
"Doctor, please..." Amy left the rest of the statement open.
"Amy, I know you think I'm not taking care of myself, and that I'm just stubbornly refusing help. However remember the fact that you sleep a good eight hours a night and I don't?"
"Yes. So?"
"I haven't been sitting around doing nothing during that time. I have been to the best of every physician, surgeon, specialist, shaman, cleric, healer, necromancer, and snake oil dealer that all of time and space has to offer." The Doctor said seriously. "If I thought for one second that there was something Rory could do that the others couldn't I would go to him, but he can't fix this. No offense, Rory."
"None taken, I just want to help."
"I know you do, and I appreciate that." The Doctor turned his attention back to Amy. "Please just trust me, Amy, that's what I need from you more than anything right now, please. I'm going to be okay."
"How? If the best medicine and magic of time and space couldn't help you, how are you going to be okay?"
"This is the part where you have to trust me."
Amy hesitated for a moment but eventually she nodded. The Doctor kissed her forehead and hugged her closer. He released her and looked around the colourful cavern before reaching up and pressing his hand against his shoulder. Amy looked to Rory, but now that they knew at least part of the story they realized that there really was nothing to be done.
"I need to go back to the TARDIS," the Doctor announced "it's bothering me more than usual. A have a few things that calm it down. You two can stay and explore if you'd like."
"I think I've seen enough." Rory said. "Amy?"
"I'm ready to go back."
"Admit it," the Doctor smiled mischievously "planets aren't as interesting when there isn't an element of danger or mystery."
"Maybe a little less interesting." Amy chuckled.
"I like it." Rory said quickly. "No running, I like the no running."
The Doctor chuckled and started off back towards the TARDIS. Amy was glad that she and Rory didn't stay behind because she realized that she had no idea how to get back anyway. The Doctor confidently guided them through the large tunnels and caves despite the fact that they didn't look like the ones that they had passed through before.
Eventually they came to a cavern that Amy recognized. Their footprints were still in the glowing moss, which helped lead the way. As they followed their tracks the Doctor suddenly stopped in the middle of the cavern. He looked off to the side at what looked to Amy like a large mound rocks with the usual glowing moss on them. Assuming the Doctor was interested in another moss strain she waited on the path with Rory.
Stopping about ten feet from the mound the Doctor pulled out his sonic and scanned the heap on the floor. Looking at the read out he took a step closer. Putting the sonic away he traded it for a torch. Amy took more interest when the Doctor started to shine the beam on the 'rocks'. As he swept the artificial light over the form it revealed itself to actually be a large reptile sleeping on the floor. The creature's head was about six feet long with a serpentine neck leading to a large body that stretched out for about twenty feet before tapering off into the distance in a long tail.
"That is unexpected." The Doctor said calmly.
"Is...is that a dinosaur?" Rory stuttered.
"Uh, no, that would be a dragon. What is a dragon doing on Gemina? They are native to Gemino, there are no dragons on Gemina. How could it even live down here, there's nothing to ea..."
"Doctor...a dragon?" Amy whispered, afraid to wake the beast.
"Yes, you can tell by the head shape and the way the scales run down the back of the neck, also the snout has a muc..."
"What do we do?" Rory hissed.
"Just stay calm, it's perfectly harmless."
"Harmless? Are you mad?"
"Yes." The Doctor smiled. "Don't worry, for the most part dragons are just misunderstoo..."
Suddenly snapping open its enormous emerald green eyes open the dragon raised up its head and instantly focused on the intruders. Opening its toothy jaw it roared at the Doctor in deafening fury. The inside of the dragon's narrow jaw glowed a multitude of colours and its thick saliva dripped a bright rainbow as it drooled heavy.
"Never mind, I understood that perfectly." The Doctor said as he took a step back. "Run. Run!"
Amy was frozen to the spot but Rory grabbed her wrist and hauled her off down the trail marked by their foot prints. She looked over he shoulder as the massive reptile got to its four clawed feet. The Dragon shook itself off, sending the colourful moss flying, before it squealed in rage again. The Doctor was back up still, but not running away.
"What? You're not making any sense!" The Doctor shouted at the dragon in hopes of being heard. "I just want to talk, I'm not here to steal anything. You've got a riddle for me, right? I love riddles!"
"Doctor!" Amy cried as Rory continued to drag her away. "What are you doing?! Run!"
The Doctor went to try one last time to talk to the angry beast, but thought better of it when it lunged clumsily forward. The Doctor was able to get out of the way as the dragon slipped on the moss and stone floor and crashed down. Giving up on communicating he ran as hard as he could to catch up with Amy and Rory. The Dragon was slow to get to its feet, and they were able to put some distance between them.
The TARDIS was in the next cavern over and as they entered tunnel that would take then there they could hear the dragon following them. It sounded like it kept falling or slamming into the walls. It was certainly not trying to be stealthy in its pursuit as it continued to roar and bellow. Getting to the cavern they could see the TARDIS in the light of the turquoise fluid that was dripping from the ceiling. The dragon cried out again, but this time it was a far more mournful sound. The Doctor gasped sharply and skidded to a stop.
"Doctor?!" Amy cried.
"Get back to the TARDIS!" The Doctor ordered as he ran back down the tunnel
"Wait! What about you?" Amy asked as she forced Rory to a stop.
"I have to save her!"
"Save her?" Amy asked.
"Save who?" Rory asked confused as well.
"The dragon!" The Doctor called back.
"Doctor, she's trying to kill us!" Amy cried as she chased after the Doctor.
"She's dying!"
The Doctor raced back down the tunnel with Amy and Rory chasing after him. When he got half way back to the cavern he came to the body of the dragon. Laying on her side the dragon's ribs were heaving up and down as her tail thrashed. Her jaw was open and she was oozing a luminescent pool onto the soft mossy floor.
The Doctor approached carefully with his hand outstretched while speaking softly. Rory held Amy back as the Doctor stepped close enough to touch the struggling monster. The Doctor knelt down in front of the Dragon and placed his hand on her snout. Amy was used to creatures being calmed by the Doctor's touch, but this one squealed in a high pitched voice of panic as it tried to lift its massive head.
"I'm not here to hurt you." The Doctor said soothingly.
The Dragon didn't have the strength to snap at the Doctor, but it did try to reach up and get him with her clawed hand. The Doctor didn't try to stop her, knowing that he was just out of reach of her short forelimbs anyway. After a few failed swipes the frustrated the Dragon gave in and simply whimpered.
"I'm sorry, I can't help you." The Doctor stroked the Dragon's snout. "Even if I gave you my life, it wouldn't save yours at this point."
The dragon began to shiver violently. The Doctor put both hands on her and concentrated for a moment. The dragon relaxed and breathed easier as death approached. Looking down on the dragon with a heavy heart the Doctor continued to try and comfort the dying beast.
"What's wrong with her?" Amy asked as Rory finally allowed her to come closer.
"It's a combination of starvation and poisoning." The Doctor announced sadly. "Gemino dragons don't glow, her saliva is coloured like this because she was so desperate for food that she began eating the moss and fungi. It's toxic in large quantities."
"Why is she dying right now? Right when we arrive?"
"She was in a kind of hibernation when we woke her, she used the last of her strength to chase us."
"To eat us?"
"Can you blame her? She's rail thin. There is *nothing* for a dragon to eat on Gemina." The Doctor turned his attention back to the dragon. "Talk to me, please, talk to me. How did you get here? Who did this to you?"
The Dragon had closed her emerald eyes, but she opened them once more. She began making a guttural sound that she repeated a few times. Amy could swear that she could almost make out a word, but it didn't quite make sense. Having exhausted the last of her strength the dragon relaxed in death. The Doctor stared at the dead creature with his eyes bright with unshed tears. Leaning forward he rested his forehead on the dragon's snout and closed his eyes.
"I'm so sorry." The Doctor whispered. "I didn't know you were here. I would have come sooner."
Amy stepped back and stood next to Rory to give the Doctor some space. She often wondered just how many dead bodies the Doctor had apologized over. Slowly getting to his feet the Doctor turned away from the corpse and began walking back to the TARDIS. Getting back to the TARDIS the Doctor stepped up to the console but rather than actually programing it to go anywhere he just randomly flipped a few switches. Amy came up and took the Doctor's hand.
"You know her death wasn't your fault, right?"
"If I had chosen a date even just fifty years earlier we would have been here in time to save her." The Doctor replied. "I know that doesn't make it my fault, but I hate the fact that my random decision to come now instead of then lead to her death. She was an intelligent creature and she starved to death alone and far from home."
"Why would anyone move a dragon?"
"No idea."
"What was that noise she was making?" Amy asked. "I could have sworn she was speaking. In fact, I felt like I could almost understand it."
"She was speaking. The TARDIS translation circuit doesn't work as well for non-humanoids for you. I was trying to talk to her to figure out how she got here."
"You speak 'Dragon'?"
"Of course I speak Dragon, I speak everything." The Doctor raked his hand through his hair. "But it didn't help."
"What did she say?" Amy asked.
"She just kept saying 'Doctor' over and over again. She was delusional with hunger and poison, but she must have recognized me just before the end."
"She knew you?"
"Yes. I didn't recognize her at first, it's been nearly a thousand years since I saw her last. She's so much older, and she's so thin. Her scales used to shine like gold. She used to guard a vault on Gemino. I answered her riddle and she let me pass. But how did she get here? Who would bother to move a dragon to Gemina only to let it die?"
"She seemed fairly determined to kill you. Could it have been a trap?"
"No." The Doctor answered instantly.
"Why not?"
"There are only two people in the Universe who knew I'd be coming here, and I trust them both as I trust myself. One of them actually is myself."
"Who's the other?"
"Your daughter."