The TARDIS likes ponies, AND she thinks they suit Elaine. Who would have thought? ;)

The worst of all was the echo.

The metal plate floor made each step terribly loud, and the sound echoed off walls, white and smooth like mother-of-pearl. Elaine felt like she was the first person for ages to walk these corridors, and at the same time was terrified of alerting the entire retinue, of them coming and asking questions. Mind, maybe this would make her feel better. There wasn't a single speck of dust. When she looked into a dark side corridor, it would be instantly flooded with an odd glare, bright as a sunny afternoon, cold and pale like moonlight.

She tried her best to thread softly. Every once in a while she'd stop, wait for the echoes to die and then, hugging herself, walk on, not sure herself what she was looking for.

Suddenly she smelled something unfamiliar, sweetish, and at once realised that up to then, the corridor had no smell. No smell at all. Like in a dream.

There was a spicy warmth to the smell, but nothing like any soup or stew Elaine would know. Sweet, but not honey-like, rich, a little like roasted hazelnuts, but subtler. It made her think of smooth silk.

She found herself at a door, a smooth, nondescript door made of single white pane, like all the other doors here, and distinguished from the wall solely by its outline. Well, that and the smell that came from behind it.

Elaine reached out and the door slid aside.

The chamber wasn't large. There were wooden cabinets both hung on the walls and standing beside them, some connected by a counter-top. A number of colourful things littered it. In the middle of the room, on a bare square table, there was a jug with a lid and a swan-neck-shaped spout, and by the table there was the master of the house, deep in thought, staring at the waft of steam that rose from the faïence mug he was holding.

If it wasn't for the delicate glittering in the steamy plume, Elaine would think she was looking at a painting.

"Chocolate?"

She shook herself and walked up to him, grabbing a chair on the way.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Hot chocolate. Would you like some?"

She hesitated. Then again, in Hy Brasil, or wherever it was they've been, she and the Doctor had shared a meal, so there wasn't much point in caution now. She nodded. The Doctor stood up to get her another mug, this one adorned with a painting of a yellow pegasus with a pink mane that reached its hooves.

The Doctor poured some fragrant, brown drink from the jug. The drink felt hot through the ceramic. Elaine took a deep breath before taking a sip.

It tasted... she thought of velvet, of hazelnuts, of spiced confections they would have on Christmas Day. The chocolate was less sugary and sweet, but very smooth on the tongue.

"Mmm..."

The Doctor smiled at her, and Elaine, without even thinking, smiled back. There was a moment of friendly silence as they each sipped their chocolate.

"It's horribly quiet here" she finally blurted.

The Doctor raised his brow, making a face so ridiculous she couldn't hold back a giggle.

"The last couple of days weren't eventful enough?"

"No, no, on the contrary. I'm simply wondering where your retinue are. I haven't met anybody."

"I have no retinue."

Elaine laughed, but the Doctor looked her in the eye, serious.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Who makes the lights, then? And cleans, and cooks? And if this is a ship, who's steering it?"

The Doctor sighed, reminding her of a parent of an unruly child. Both resigned and affectionate.

"She steers herself. Won't even let me think I have anything to say, these days."

"She?"

"The TARDIS."

"Your ship has an intelligence of her own?" Come to think of it, why not? Elaine had no idea how large planets could be, she wouldn't have accused them of leaving the sky and wandering so freely, like the TARDIS did, either, but this would explain quite a lot.

Maybe the other planets are ships, as well? Maybe they have sailors on them, like the Doctor? Moon people?

The Doctor nodded.

"Oh. And you speak with her?"

"Sometimes."

Elaine looked into his sapphire eyes, and he added "But the TARDIS can't speak the way we understand speech."

"Mhm. So I finally know why you took me."

"I never meant to" huffed the Doctor.

"The only member of your household doesn't speak. I would go mad, living like this, like a hermit."

"I meet droves of people."

"But you live on your own" she sipped her chocolate.

"I swear" the Doctor put his mug aside. He looked, very sincerely, into Elaine's eyes. "I'll take you back home."

"You could stay with us, if you want" she offered, unthinkingly. During the last few days her anger at the Doctor waned, only to vanish completely at this very moment.

"Thank you."

Elaine touched his hand.

"You don't have to be homeless."

"I stand by my word. I promise you, you will go back home."

She felt the traveller was speaking sincerely, but nevertheless Elaine hid her smile behind the cup.