Thanks for all who read the first chapter! I had a blast writing it, and I won't be stopping any time soon! Also, most of these won't be following each other in any particular order (unless there's a two-parter or something like that). So characters and themes will be changing from story to story.

God bless and have a great day (or night)!

-ThePro-LifeCatholic

Writing Prompt #16: World/City-Wide Blackout

Characters: Amy Pond, Rose Tyler, Donna Noble, Nancy (the mom from The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances), and George (the boy from Night Terrors, the one with the creepy dolls), 11th Doctor, 10th Doctor, 9th Doctor

Shippings: None

Genre: Hurt/Comfort (sort of)…sort of suspense, I guess. Also hopeful/courage/strength, but I'm not sure if that's even a genre setting on this site…

Rating: Leaning more towards K+, because of its more serious theme

When lights go out, people's first instinctive reaction is fear. Not so much of the dark itself, but of what can be lurking, unseen, within it.

A girl with red, shoulder-length hair was sitting on the wooden stairs that led to her bedroom. Her face was cupped in her hands, her legs drawn up almost to her chest. Her imaginative drawing, a deep blue canvas dotted with splashes of gold paint, had been trashed almost as soon as her aunt had seen it.

"There are no stars," her aunt had said, anxiously peering into her niece's eyes. It was as if she were searching for some illness within her.

Her aunt was still discussing it with her friend now. She had talked of little else during their meal of microwaveable hamburgers (little Amy had stopped trying to remember whether she was eating lunch or dinner). Of course, she was supposed to be in bed, but Amelia was obstinate. That, and she couldn't stop thinking about the black, blank sky outdoors. There was something missing, and she was certain that she was right and that her aunt was wrong. Even if it wasn't stars, there was something that belonged up there. Something that wasn't there now.

The letter-slot in the door clanged open and shut, and a silhouette scuttled away from the door. Getting to her feet, Amy crept to the door. Frowning, she scooped up the piece of paper that had fallen on the floor.

"Come along, Pond."

It's in those moments that people try to find a source of light. Darkness seems unnatural. There is something unnerving, frightening, about its oppressive presence. It grows, spreading out and staining whatever it can reach.

"RUN!"

Donna was running. She couldn't remember a time when she had run faster in her life. Behind her, she could hear the fizzing as the library lights went out, one by one. She didn't have to glance over her shoulder to see the swiftly growing shadows. They seemed to be chasing them.

Creatures of light aren't wanted here, it seemed to say. It was claiming land for its own, and it would soon claim her, as well.

If it weren't for the Doctor's hand securely wrapped around hers, she would've been too frightened to run.

As the darkness creeps along, hope seems to fade. Let's face it; people are more frightened in the dark. They're less rational; they can't think straight. In the books and movies, darkness is equated with deception, fear, evil things. And this is to be expected, because in many ways, this is merely a reflection of reality, of how that which is wicked is clouded, dimmed, blackened.

The boy curled into the smallest ball possible. His hands were clamped over his ears; his eyes were shut tight. His breath sounded loud to him. He shivered in his striped pajamas; he was aware of the tiniest noise. The room around him, so cheery in the daytime, was now a realm of nightmares. His curtains swayed back and forth without a wind, whispering. His bedside table rattled, and the pictures rocked on the walls. The banging, rattling "whoosh" of the lift his mother took to work blasted through the silence. Trying to suppress a scream, the small boy dove under the covers. Just as quickly, he jerked his head up again. What if he fell asleep? What if his pillows and blanket suffocated him? What if the unseen terrors crept out of his closet if he dared close his eyes, even for a second? What if…what if…what if...

"Please save me from the monsters," he whispered in a cracked voice, "save me from the monsters, save me from the monsters…."

Little did he know that, at that moment, a billion years and countless miles away, someone was reading his plea.

Even so, even in the dark, there should be no reason for fear. Yes, it can hide an unseen terror. Yes, it can carry with it an unpleasant omen of future days of black. But nothing, not even darkness, can last forever.

"The stars are going out."

A girl with blond hair stood outside, staring at the sky. Small pinpricks of light danced above her, but in between them, voids of black stretched empty. She hugged her arms around her body, listening to the soft whisper of the wind. It was a chilly night, and the added emptiness of the sky added to the cold that caused her to shiver.

She had noticed it a while ago. One by one, stars went out like candles, constellations vanished overnight. Sure, they had the charts and illustrations, but they were nothing compared to the real thing.

Rose sighed, her eyes fixed on the sky. If only he were here, she found herself wishing. He would know what to do. He had always brought light with him, even though he hardly knew it himself.

The girl straightened, hands falling to her sides. An unyielding, determined expression fixed on her face, she turned to the building behind her.

If he couldn't come to her, she would go to him.

The books and movies have spun it out for people again and again. Whenever the scene is at its darkest, when it seems that the story would end there, when darkness seems to be the victor, a bearer of light appears. Usually, it's the most unlikely character. Often, they themselves are unaware of how important and hopeful their role is to a despairing people.

Often, they feel unworthy of the task that is assigned to them.

"Don't mind me."

Nancy and the children gasped. The clatter of dishes and silverware ceased. The man in the leather jacket kept grinning, helping himself to two large pieces of turkey. He glanced around the table, eyes flashing with a bright light. Despite the initial surprise and suspicion, Nancy didn't necessarily feel threatened by the stranger. He made no move to do them any harm; he reached across the table for the gravy, talking cheerfully as he did so.

Little did she know that this big-nosed guest was going to save her child, and that she would receive from his friend the staggering news that the black skies weren't going to be there forever. A day would come, the blond woman assured her, when bombs wouldn't fall, children wouldn't be terrified and hungry, and gas-masks and this war would be an event of the past.

These stories are all pointing towards a fact of reality. When darkness approaches, when night has seemed to claim the world as its own, many are frightened, angry, confused. But others continue to smile, and look skyward with hope. They know that nighttime has to end with morning. They know that darkness only means that a brighter light is coming to chase it away.

When bringers of darkness rise, it's only a matter of time before the bearers of light rebel.

Well…that sort of deviated from the whole concept of a "blackout"…at least, a literal one. I guess I turned it into a sort of metaphorical blackout (with the exception of the first one; there was literally no light going on in the sky).

So…I guess enjoy and all that whatnot, and I'll be posting soon (I hope).

But before I do, I have one more question: who out there has been watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on abc? If you have, who's your favorite character? Least favorite (coughWardcough)? How about last week? And are you psyched for tonight (I know I am!)?