The Big Bang: No More Stars
1,894 years later…
A little ginger girl knelt by her bed at night, saying her prayers before she went to sleep, "Dear Santa, thank you for the dolls and pencils and the fish. It's Easter now, so I hope I didn't wake you. But honest, it is an emergency. There's a crack in my wall..." she turned to glance at the crack before turning back sharply, unnerved by it, "Aunt Sharon says it's just an ordinary crack, but...I know it's not, because, at night, there's voices. So please, please, could you send someone to fix it? Or a policeman. Or..."
The rest of her prayers and pleas were cut off by a sound of rustling wind outside.
The girl looked back at her window, "Back in a moment," and ran to it, grabbing a small torch, looking outside to see...nothing there. She looked up at the sky to see the moon but no other stars out there.
She sighed, the sky was always like that, black, no speckles of light. She heard people talking about it, something called 'stars' or something, but she'd never seen them. Not awake. She dreamed of them though, that she was floating in space, in the black, and there were all these amazing lights around her, little pinpricks of light, just...glowing and warm and golden. But they were never there when she woke up.
She turned around and returned to her bed, continuing her prayers, begging for help in dealing with the crack. Her aunt didn't believe her when she said there were whispers coming from it...
~8~
Amelia sat, facing her aunt Sharon and a psychiatrist, on the sofa, the two women currently looking at a painting she had done of the night's sky, complete with stars. She'd tried to paint it like Vincent Van Gogh might and she hoped they liked it. The sky was always so black and depressing, the 'stars' or what she thought they might be, brightened things up.
"It's a lovely painting, Amelia," her psychiatrist, her current one, number 3 she believed, began, "And what are all these?" she pointed to the bits of gold painted into the black.
"Stars."
"Oh, Amelia!" Sharon scoffed.
"Tell you what, shall we go outside?" her psychiatrist asked, leading her outside to look up at the blackness of space, "What do you see, Amelia?"
"The moon," she answered, smiling at it, it was the only light out there.
"And what else?"
"Just the dark."
"But no stars. If there were stars up there, we'd be able to see them, wouldn't we? Amelia, look at me," she knelt down and faced Amelia, resting her hands on the girl's shoulders, speaking firmly and clearly, "You know this is all just a story, don't you? You know there's no such thing as stars?"
Amelia said nothing, only looked up at the sky. People said there were no such things as angels either but she drew them too, those pictures though she didn't show anyone. They were the only things that helped her sleep, having one of the pictures under her pillow, made her feel safe, like the crack wouldn't swallow her up, like she was protected and watched over.
It was odd, she felt the same when the daylight came and she looked at the (not-a-star) sun.
~8~
Amelia was lying in her bed, listening to her aunt and psychiatrist speak downstairs, able to hear them through her door being open a crack. It wasn't like they were even being all that quiet either. She sighed, silently getting up and sneaking out of her room, walking to the top of the stairs to listen in more clearly.
"It's quite common, actually," the psychiatrist was saying, "Throughout history, people have talked about stars in the sky. God knows where it comes from."
"I just don't want her growing up and joining one of those Star Cults," her aunt sighed, "I don't trust that Richard Dawkins…"
Amelia frowned and stood to go back to her room...when she spotted a figure outside her front door, what looked like the shadow of a man with a...thing on his head. The man crouched down and slipped something through the letter slot. She ran down and scooped it up before her aunt could see, her aunt was no fun at all and would have taken the paper away before she could see it. It might be a secret invitation or a treasure map or...the brochure for the National Museum? She frowned and opened it up to find the center of the page circled with an exhibit of the Pandorica, which was just some old box thing. She flipped it over, squinting at the note written in red ink on the back.
'Come Along Pond.'
~8~
Amelia and her aunt walked up the steps to the museum, Amelia excitedly pulling her aunt past a few exhibits, knowing exactly where she had to go, for she had determined it WAS a treasure map of sorts, she was on a treasure hunt and had to follow the clues!
"Come on, aunt Sharon!"
"Look at that!" her aunt stopped to look at something, "That's good, isn't it?"
"Not that! This way."
"But we're not looking at anything."
"This way!" she ran off, letting go of her aunt's hand, seeing the room housing the Pandorica, and raced in. She slowed, wandering around the room, glancing briefly at two strange creatures encased in stone standing before the Pandorica, Daleks the display said.
"Amelia!" her aunt shouted after her, but she just turned and pushed her way forward till she was right in front of the Pandorica. She moved to take a sip from her soda when the cup was grabbed out of her hand. She turned to see who took it but no one was there. When she turned back there was a yellow post-it note stuck to the box, the same handwriting and red pen as the pamphlet note.
'Stick Around Pond.'
"Amelia!" she heard her aunt call and quickly turned to hide among the crowd as Sharon stepped into the room, "Amelia? Amelia?" a moment later she left, "Amelia!"
~8~
The crowd started to thin out near closing time, a final announcement coming over the speakers, "Amelia Pond, please go to the reception, please. Your aunt is waiting for you there. Amelia Pond, please go to..."
~8~
As soon as night had fallen, Amelia crept of from hiding behind one of the exhibits, knocking part of it down, "Sorry," she whispered to it before making her way back to the Pandorica.
The display was far more disturbing at night, it was tall and large and imposing and had a faint, eerie, green glow to it, but she wasn't scared. She ducked under the cord around it and placed a hand on the object, making it really start to glow green. Hearing a mechanical noise she ducked back and watched as it opened, the beam of light that had fallen on her expanding to the outer exhibits behind her, including a Dalek.
Inside the Pandorica...was Amy, "Ok, kid," she panted, now very much alive, "This is where it gets complicated..."
~8~
1,894 years ago…
Rory sat, resting against a log, Amy's body across his lap, just...wanting to hold her, wanting her to know he was still there, that he'd keep her safe, that he'd never let her go, "So the Universe ended," he murmured, trying to be strong, trying to hope for a miracle...
But it all seemed so...pointless. He knew what the instructions has been for the Pandorica, to trap the Doctor in it, he'd heard it in his mind. And, given how the man hadn't appeared to stop the sky going black, the other soldiers had succeeded. He closed his eyes, he also knew what that meant for Angel as well. She was gone, she'd died in that explosion...though he prayed harder that she might still, somehow, be alive, because...he just...he felt like if she ever died, he'd FEEL it somehow. He'd just know. And he hadn't. But that was besides the point, Angel might be dead, the Doctor was trapped, Amy was gone, and the Universe was falling apart...
All he had left was his words, was talking and hoping.
"You missed that," he swallowed, "In 102 AD. I suppose this means you and I never get born at all. Twice, in my case," he sniffled, "You would have laughed at that," he looked at Amy, tears in his eyes as he stroked her face, "Please laugh..." but Amy was silent. He pulled her closer, her head resting on his chest as he looked up at the heavens, "The Doctor said the Universe was huge and ridiculous, and sometimes there were miracles," he swallowed hard, "I have a feeling he was talking about Angel though, I've seen her do some miracles in the time I was with you, you told me about some others. But she's in the TARDIS somewhere and the TARDIS is gone, exploded or whatever happened. I could do with a ridiculous miracle about now..."
And then the Doctor suddenly appeared before him, a red fez on his head and a mop in his hands.
Well that was certainly ridiculous enough.
"Rory!" the Doctor cheered, "Listen, she's not dead," he pointed at Amy, "Well, she is dead, but it's not the end of the world. Well, it is the end of the world. Actually, it's the end of the Universe. Oh, no. Hang on!" he tapped something into the device on his wrist and disappeared.
"Doctor?" Rory gaped, "Doctor!"
The Doctor reappeared but without the mop, "You need to get me out of the Pandorica," he reached into his pocket and grabbed the sonic.
Rory stared at him, "But...you're not in the Pandorica."
Had the man somehow managed to escape? How else would he be there, standing right in front of him? And...if HE managed to escape the inescapable eternal prison...maybe...maybe Angel had managed to escape the TARDIS with River!
"Yes, I am. Well, I'm not now, but I was back then. Well, back now from your point of view, which is back then from my point of view. Time travel, you can't keep it straight in your head. I see what Angel means about tenses..."
"But...how..."
"We don't have time Rory!" the Doctor cut in, before taking a breath, trying to be calm, if he didn't get himself out of the Pandorica he wouldn't be able to see what happened with the TARDIS, with Angel and River as he hadn't found them yet. He was starting to worry, it was like...with every breath he took he just...hurt...more and more. He shook his head, and held up the sonic again, "It's easy to open from the outside...just point and press. Now go," he handed him the sonic and disappeared, leaving Rory stunned for a few moments...before reappearing, "Oh, when you're done, leave my screwdriver in her top pocket. Good luck!"
And then he finally disappeared.
"What do you mean?!" Rory shook his head, "Done what?"
He wished Angel was there to explain it to him. No matter the situation, she always took the time to simplify what she could for him.
~8~
Rory stood before the Pandorica, holding the sonic at it, and flicked it on. The doors slowly opened to reveal the Doctor sitting inside, looking at him, amazed, "How did you do that?" the Doctor wondered.
"You gave me this," Rory showed him the sonic as the Doctor slowly stood, the restraints releasing him.
"No, I didn't," he pulled out his own.
"You did. Look at it."
The Doctor stepped out of the box and held his sonic to the one in Rory's hand, they sparked, "Temporal energy. Same screwdriver, at different points in its own time stream. Which means it was me who gave it to you. Me from the future. I've got a future, that's nice, and speaking of futures," he looked around, "Where's Angel?"
"What?" Rory blinked, not quite sure if the Doctor had just implied that Angel was his future...
"Angel," he turned to Rory, "Yay high," he held up his hand to about his chin, "Black hair, blue dress, psychic..."
Rory nodded, oh, he'd meant future as in her visions, "Um...she's...not here."
He was worrying about that too, because if Angel had managed to get her and River out...where were they? Unless...they hadn't gotten out.
The Doctor frowned, "What do you mean she's not here?"
"I dunno," Rory shook his head, "She's not here. Doctor..." he hesitated, "She's...she's not still in the TARDIS is she? I mean...she can't be. It exploded!"
The Doctor spun in a circle, as though expecting to see Angel standing there somewhere, before slowing, swallowing hard, his hearts falling into his stomach, "No..." he agreed, wanting to believe it more than he actually did, "She couldn't be..."
"Then where is she?"
The Doctor closed his eyes a minute, "Where's Amy?" he asked, the one question he knew would get Rory off the topic of Angel.
"This way," Rory replied solemnly, turning to lead the Doctor out when they paused, seeing all the enemies that had been there for the Doctor standing as stone statues, "What are they?" Rory wondered as they passed.
"History has collapsed. Whole races have been deleted from existence. These are just like afterimages. Echoes, fossils in time. The footprints of the never-were."
"Er, what does that mean?"
"Total event collapse. The Universe literally never happened."
"So, how can we be here? What's keeping us safe?"
"Nothing," it was a lie, he had a fairly good idea what it was, but it was night, as far as he could see, he would have to wait till daylight to be sure and he didn't have the time, "Eye of the storm, that's all. We're just the last light to go out."
~8~
Rory led the Doctor to Amy's body, the man squatting down and lifting back the blanket that Rory had respectfully covered her with.
"I killed her," Rory whispered, so sad and hurt.
And…he wanted Angel. Because he knew the Doctor, he couldn't ever offer the comfort a simple hug from Angel seemed able to give. And right now, he just wanted someone to give him a hug, tell him it wasn't his fault, and that everything would be ok. And he'd believe it, if it was Angel. Because she could see the future and she didn't lie.
Angel had to be ok though first, she HAD to be, because he didn't think he could bear it to lose his 'wife' and his 'sister' at the same time.
"Oh, Rory!"
"Doctor, what am I?"
"You're a Nestene Duplicate. A lump of plastic with delusions of humanity," he soniced Amy.
"But I'm Rory now. Whatever was happening, it's stopped. I'm Rory!"
"That's software talking."
Rory looked down, he wanted Angel there too to prove he was real. Angel had hugged him as though he were still just Rory, and he knew, even now, that she'd hug him just the same. Like he was proper and real, and not just some fake version of himself with implanted memories. He didn't like that, thinking he wasn't real, having the Doctor tell him he wasn't real when he felt real, he felt SO real...it wouldn't hurt so much if he wasn't real, "Can you help her? Is there anything you can do? Can you find Angel or something?" the Doctor had often said Angel saved people he couldn't.
"Yeah, probably, if I had the time," he stood up.
"The time?!" Rory exclaimed, not sure he heard the man correctly.
"All of creation has just been wiped from the sky," the Doctor turned around and walked a few paces away, "Do you know how many lives now never happened? All the people who never lived? Your girlfriend isn't more important than the whole Universe. And Angel w..."
Rory grabbed the Doctor and spun him around, punching him in the face, knocking him to the ground, "She is to me!"
Never in his life would he have imagined punching the Doctor…but the utter lack of concern he showed not just for Amy but for Angel as well…God it was like he wasn't even worried about the women! The TARDIS had exploded, Angel had likely been inside it, she might be gone, Amy WAS gone, and the Doctor was just making rude remarks and changing the topic! If it had been Amy in the TARDIS, he knew he wouldn't stop till he found her again, he'd let nothing get in his way or stop him or distract him or...
He let out an angry breath, that was just it wasn't it? Angel wasn't Amy, and the Doctor wasn't him. But Angel was still the Doctor's people, still the last of their kind, and she was pregnant for crying out loud! He'd seen how the Doctor had been around Elliot, he loved kids, and now one might be in quite a bit of danger! He took a breath, steeling himself to do something he swore he wouldn't...he was going to break a promise to Angel.
If the Doctor knew about the baby, maybe he'd be more keen to help find out what had happened to Angel! Not that the man shouldn't already be willing to help since something was clearly wrong. But it seemed like he was avoiding thinking about that.
"Doctor..." Rory began, "I..."
But the Doctor just leapt to his feet with a laugh, "Welcome back, Rory Williams!" and spun to face him, cutting him off, "Sorry, had to be sure. Hell of a gun arm you're packing there. Right, we need to get her downstairs. And take that look off your plastic face. You're getting married in the morning!"
Rory frowned, watching the Doctor walk off with that stupid grin on his face, the one that made it seem like he thought all was right with the world, before turning to pick up Amy, thinking that, perhaps, he should have punched the Doctor twice.
~8~
The Doctor and Rory gently set Amy up in the Pandorica, "So you've got a plan, then?" Rory looked at him.
"Bit of a plan, yeah. Memories are more powerful than you think, and Amy Pond is not an ordinary girl. Grew up with a time crack in her wall. The Universe pouring through her dreams every night. The Nestenes took a memory print of her and got more than they bargained for. Like you. Not just your face, but your heart and your soul," he placed his hands on either side of Amy's face and closed his eyes, "I'm leaving her a message for when she wakes up, so she knows what's happening," he stepped back and soniced the Pandorica to close.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What are you doing?!"
"Saving her. This is the ultimate prison. You can't even escape by dying. It forces you to stay alive."
"But she's already dead!"
"Mostly dead. The Pandorica can stasis-lock her that way. All it needs is a scan of her living DNA and it'll restore her."
"Where's it going to get that?"
The Doctor checked his watch, "In about 2,000 years."
~8~
Amy fell out of the Pandorica, on all fours, gasping heavily, "Are you alright?" Amelia asked, eyeing her a moment, "Who are you?"
She sat on the floor, panting a moment, "I'm...fine. I'm supposed to...rest. Got to rest, the Doctor says."
"What doctor?"
"He's in here," she tapped her head, "Left a message in my head like I'm an answer phone. Where am I?" she looked around, "Hang on. National Museum, right? I was here once when I was a little..." she looked at Amelia, realizing who she was talking to and exactly what was happening, "Yeah, complicated," she stood up and looked at Amelia, "Let's see, it's what..." she put her hand on Amelia's head, measuring her against her body, and then touched her hair a moment, "1996?" she walked around the room.
"Who are you?"
"It's a long story," her eyes widened though, seeing a panel displaying the Pandorica's timeline, "A very long story."
But then...something else caught her eye...there was a picture of a Roman Centurion and the box...and her heart stopped.
Rory.
~8~
The Doctor took the Vortex Manipulator from River's bag, grinning, pleased that the woman had left it there, it was exactly what he needed. He started to strap it on, his mind drifting to Jack for a short moment, maybe, when this was all over, to make it up to Angel for letting her wander into the TARDIS, he'd take her to see Jack again.
"She's going to be in that box for 2,000 years?!" Rory cried, completely outraged by the Doctor's oh-so brilliant plan for Amy.
"Yeah, but we're taking a shortcut. River's Vortex Manipulator. Rubbish way to time travel, but the Universe is tiny now. We'll be fine so long as you don't tell Angel or the TARDIS we used it, they're very particular about TARDIS-travel and..."
"So the future's still there, then?" Rory cut in, knowing that the Doctor could ramble about that for a while and, as he kept reminding him, they didn't have the time, "Our world?"
"A version of it. Not quite the one you know. Earth alone in the sky. Let's go and have a look," he held his arm out, "You put your hand there. Don't worry, should be safe."
Rory just shook his head, "That's not what I'm worried about."
"She'll be fine," the Doctor rolled his eyes, "Nothing can get into this box."
"You got in there."
"Well, there's only one of me. I counted."
"This box needs a guard. I killed the last one."
"No. Rory, no. Don't even think about it."
"She'll be all alone."
"She won't feel it."
"You bet she won't!"
"2,000 years, Rory. You won't even sleep, you'd be conscious every second. It would drive you mad."
"Will she be safer if I stay?" Rory asked him, serious, "Look me in the eye and tell me she wouldn't be safer."
"Rory..."
"Answer me!"
"Yes. Obviously."
"Then how could I leave her?" Rory said simply.
The Doctor glanced over at the box at that...
~oOo~
"I'd wait for you forever."
Angel smiled at that despite the lingering pain in her head, "Really?"
"Oh yeah."
She shifted, looking up at him, "You'd really wait as time moved slowly around you, just for me?"
"Mhmm."
"So..." she smirked a bit, moving to sit back, across from him, a playful look in her eye, "If I was trapped in the Pandorica for 2,000 years...you'd wait outside the box and guard it?"
The Doctor smiled at her, "The Pandorica's a myth."
"But would you?"
He nodded, leaning over to kiss her deeply, "I would wait more than just 2,000 years for you Nella," he whispered, resting his forehead to hers when he pulled away.
She beamed, not pulling her head away either, "The man who waited," she murmured, "I'd wait for you too, you know."
"I'm glad," he laughed, giving her one more kiss before he pulled her closer, putting his other arm around her, just holding her as she snuggled up to him, enjoying the moment and the feeling of her in his arms, the TARDIS humming gently around them, "But, you know, neither of us would really have to wait for the other."
"How?"
He smiled, "Because I wouldn't leave you for a moment. If you were in that box, I'd be in there too, right there with you."
She laughed a bit, the vibrations of it sending shivers down his spine, "We'd be a bit cramped. I doubt it's as big on the inside as the TARDIS is. I'd probably be stuck on your lap for the rest of time!"
He chuckled at that too, "I have NO problem with that at all. You in my arms Nella, that's all I need for eternity. I'd be happy stuck in that box with you."
~oOo~
There was something about that box...about the notion of someone being trapped in there...that made him feel...guilty, like...like he'd broken a promise. But what? When had the Pandorica even been brought up before now? Never. It was a myth!
He shook his head, he was wasting time, and turned back to Rory, "Why do you have to be so...human?"
"Because right now, I'm not," Rory shrugged, before frowning, no, it wasn't that. It was because Angel had once told him that the best part of him was his humanity, that it was the absolute best part of all her companions (all two of them) and that was just one small part of what truly made him amazing.
He wasn't about to lose that.
He walked over to the other side of the Pandorica as the Doctor started setting the coordinates on the Manipulator, "Listen to me. This is the last bit of advice you're going to get in a very long time. You're living plastic, but not immortal. I have no idea how long you'll last. And you're not indestructible. Stay away from heat and radio signals when they come along," Rory put on his helmet, "You can't heal, or repair yourself. Any damage is permanent. So, for God's sake, however bored you get, stay out of..."
He disappeared, leaving Rory alone.
Rory took a breath and pulled out his sword, sitting down on the edge of the Pandorica, ready for his long vigil.
~8~
"According to legend, wherever the Pandorica was taken, throughout its long history, the Centurion would be there, guarding it," a video played, presenting a visual of the Pandorica's guardian as Amy watched, silent, tears in her eyes, "He appears as an iconic image in the artwork of many cultures, and there are several documented accounts of his appearances and his warnings to the many who attempted to open the box before its time. His last recorded appearance was during the London Blitz in 1941. The warehouse where the Pandorica was stored was destroyed by incendiary bombs, but the box itself was found the next morning, a safe distance from the blaze. There are eyewitness accounts from the night of the fire of a figure in Roman dress, carrying the box from the flames," a tear fell from Amy's eye, the Doctor's message had told her about Rory, what happened, what he 'was' now, plastic...plastic and heat...well, she knew from moments when Mels went through a hair dressing stage that Barbies and very hot blow driers did NOT work well, "Since then, there have been no sightings of the Lone Centurion, and many have speculated that, if he ever existed, he perished in the fires of that night, performing one last act of devotion to the box he had pledged to protect for nearly 2,000 years."
"Rory," she shook her head, her heart starting to beat again, only to break, "Oh, Rory."
"Exterminate!"
Amy and Amelia spun around to see a Dalek move towards them from another room, "What's that?" Amelia gasped.
Amy just jumped into action, running back to her and pushing little Amelia behind her as the Dalek advanced.
"Exterminate!"
Just then the Doctor appeared between the Amys and the Dalek, "...trouble," he looked up to see the Dalek, "Oh!" and then Amy and Amelia, "Two of you? Complicated."
"Exterminate! Weapons systems restoring."
The Doctor rushed over, taking Amy and Amelia by the hand and leading them off, "Come along, Ponds!" and ran back behind the Pandorica for cover.
"Exterminate!"
He stopped at an alcove behind it, displaying North Africa, stumbling into one of the mannequins and catching the fez that fell off its head, "What are we doing?" Amy panted.
"Running into a dead end, where I'll have a brilliant plan, that basically involves not being in one," he answered.
"What's going on?" a man called.
The Doctor peeked around to see a night watchman appear with a torch, "Get out of here," he called to the man, "Go! Just run!"
The Dalek turned to the watchman, "Drop the device."
"It's not a weapon! Scan it. It's not a weapon, and you don't have the power to waste!"
"Scans indicate intruder unarmed."
"Do you think?" the watchman dropped the torch, his hand dropping open as well to reveal a gun which he fired right at the Dalek's eyestalk.
"Vision impaired! Vision..."
The watchman stepped out of the shadows, into the light, to reveal himself as Rory! He watched the Dalek carefully as its energy drained, the Doctor running around the Pandorica his sonic ready, Amy behind him, only to stop short at the sight, "Amy?" Rory's eyes widened.
"Rory!" Amy ran over to him and hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. It just happened."
"Oh, shut up," she kissed him.
"Yeah, shut up, 'cos we've got to go," the Doctor came up between them, "Come on!"
He was starting to get antsy now, he'd teleported there because that would be the only time Amelia would exist for Amy to get the living DNA, and now that Amy was free and sorted, the next thing on the list was finding Angel and the TARDIS, and their kissing and not moving was NOT helping him. He'd been...tense, since Rory brought up that Angel wasn't there when he'd been freed from the Pandorica. It was like...everything in him wanted him to find her and make sure she was ok, but there was just so much else going on that needed seeing to as well. So he'd tried to sort it as best he could, give it a quick (relatively speaking) fix so that it could wait till he'd gotten Angel and River back.
"I waited," Rory whispered to Amy, "2,000 years, I waited for you."
"No, still shut up," and then Amy pulled him into a longer kiss.
"And break!" the Doctor tried, "And breathe! Well, somebody didn't get out much for 2,000 years."
Amelia tugged on his sleeve, "I'm thirsty. Can I get a drink?"
"Oh, it's all mouths today, isn't it?!" he put the fez on her head but she shoved it back at him. He glanced over at the Dalek, "The light! The light from the Pandorica, it must have hit the Dalek…" his eyes widened, seeing the Dalek start to move, "Out, out, out!" he turned and ushered them out of the room, Amy and Rory running first as he grabbed Amelia's hand. Rory ran out, closing the door behind them as the Doctor soniced the lock, "So, 2,000 years," he looked at Rory, "How did you do?"
"Kept out of trouble."
"Oh," he put the fez on his head, realizing he was still holding it, "How?"
"Unsuccessfully," he looked over as the Doctor picked up a mop to help block the door and pointed at him, "The mop! That's how you looked all those years ago when you gave me the sonic."
"Ah! Well, no time to lose then," he activated the Manipulator and disappeared...only to reappear a few moments later, "Oops, sorry," he shoved the mop to block the door.
"How can he do that?" Amelia asked Amy, "Is he magic?"
The Doctor disappeared again and reappeared with a clap of his hands, "Right, let's go then…" he headed up the stairs and stopped, "Wait! Now I don't have the sonic, I just gave it Rory 2,000 years ago…" he tapped the Manipulator once more...and reappeared again, "Right then," he reached into Amy's pocket and pulled out the sonic, "Off we go! No, hang on," and then turned to Amelia, which made Rory roll his eyes, he was thrilled Amy was ok, but now he was starting to worry about Angel again...and that River woman. He'd tried to keep his eyes and ears out over the years for any hint that they had gotten out or survived, but...nothing, "How did you know to come here?" Amelia reached into her coat pocket and pulled out the pamphlet and the sticky note, "Ah, my handwriting. Ok!" he rushed over to a stand and grabbed a pamphlet and a note off the desk, writing on it quickly and disappearing to drop the pamphlet into Amelia's mail slot and then leave the note on the Pandorica, swiping Amelia's drink away as well. He reappeared and handed Amelia her drink back, "There you go, drink up!"
"What is that?" Amy frowned, rushing over to him, "How are you doing that?"
"Vortex Manipulator..." he held up his wrist, "Cheap and nasty time travel. Very bad for you. I'm trying to give it up."
"Where are we going?"
"The roof!" he turned, about to head up the stairs once more...
When a swirl of golden energy appeared at the top of the steps.
A moment later...Angel appeared within it, her dress dirty and smoking before she fell to her knees, narrowly managing to avoid falling down the stairs as she slumped onto her side on the floor. The Doctor's eyes widened as he ran up to her, checking on her.
"That's Angel!" Rory cried, his eyes wide, wanting to rush up and help the Doctor but Amy grabbed him, holding onto him, completely startled and devastated at the sight before her and needing comfort.
"What happened to her?" Amy's eyes filled with tears, seeing her friend in such a state.
"It's Angel," the Doctor nodded, already able to tell it wasn't quite the Angel they were looking for though, "But a future one," Angel's eyes blinked open and she weakly reached up to tug his lapel. He leaned forward, allowing her to whisper in his ear before her head lulled to the side.
"Is she…I mean, is she dead?" Amy asked cautiously, seeing the Doctor just...staring at Angel's...body.
"What?" the Doctor blinked, standing, before saying the words that made Rory feel like he'd been punched in the gut, "Dead? Yes, yes. Of course she's dead."
A/N: Just wait till we see Rory's reaction in the next chapter :)
Lol, I know a few of you were curious to why Angel did that with the TARDIS, why she didn't teleport out, and why River actually tried to stop her...all will be revealed (and hopefully make sense lol) in the next chapter ;) Speaking of the next chapter...wow! We might make it to the next sneak peek too! Awesome :)
And we have another submission for the HOTS challenge! The link is also on tumblr too :)
Time To Remember, by jordan. reed. 9480, (the fanfiction site)s/9595776/1/Time-to-remember
And now, as promised on tumblr, a Loki/OC intro for an upcoming Thor series! :) (notes on reviews after)
Thor: (Loki/OC)
A soft smile came to her pale pink lips as she stopped tracing the raised lettering of the book in her hands, "You cannot sneak up on me Mischief Maker, I know not why you insist on trying."
Loki let out a gentle laugh as he came to a stop behind her, reaching out to rest his hands on her shoulders, "I would not dare sneak up on you Kona."
She smirked, "I'm a seer Loki, I can see the truth as well."
He smiled, "Even without your sight you're as perceptive as ever," he leaned in, dropping a kiss to her hair, "But one day I'll manage it."
She let out a gentle laugh and brought her hand up to pat his…only to frown, laying her hand on his, "You're cold Loki…what have you done?"
He sighed, "Tried to stop Thor."
She stood, still holding his hand as she turned to face him, her unseeing eyes directed right at his face, "That is one future that will never happen."
He laughed a moment, just gazing her, her golden hair shining in the light of the setting sun, her eyes, once brown were hazy, "I am sorry Kona," he murmured.
She just smiled, knowing what he was speaking about and lifted her free hand, tracing his face lightly as she closed her eyes, "I can still see you Loki, I can always see you, in my visions, in my mind…" she tilted her head when she felt him lean into her touch, and gently brought her head to rest on his forehead, "I always will."
He nodded against her head, "You are the only one who truly sees me Kona," he moved his head slightly, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, raising his own hand to stroke her cheek, smiling as she beamed a dazzling smile of her own at him, just for him.
A/N: Kona comes from the Norse word Spaekona, which (I think) roughly translates to 'seer.' I can say that she's blind from a young age in an accident Loki feels responsible for (though it wasn't his fault), but losing her sight allowed her the ability to see the future, which makes her a great asset to Odin and very well guarded. There are times where the visions she sees can't be spoken of, because that future MUST happen, which makes things difficult for her at times, especially when Thor wants to know the outcome of a battle lol. She and Loki are close and she knows him better than anyone, which I hope came across in this little moment here :)
Some notes on reviews...
I enjoyed writing it in a good and bad way :) There are moments I love because they're hopeful, but others where I'm just grinning imagining the reactions }:) We'll definitely find out why Angel didn't teleport herself out, though I can say that it wouldn't have hurt the baby, it would have been safe :) We'll also find out why River tried to stop her :) As for the Doctor, we'll have to wait and see when/if he remembers, but I can't answer the Jack/others though, since it would give away when/if he remembers :) I can say that someone will find out about the pregnancy and the amnesia by the end of this story, though it won't be Rory ;) Lol, is it bad that I'm sort of happy the stories are getting to you a little? :)
I completely agree that Angel doesn't deserve any of this, all I can say is...what doesn't kill you makes you stronger :)
Thanks! I'm literally freaking out about the reviews! I hadn't even noticed when it went over Hearts to Hearts' record! That's awesome :) Lol, I think it's amazing that this one, being angst, is the most reviewed even more so than Fading with the fear of Angel dying lingering there :) I think, if Angel loses the baby, I might go a bit easier on her, just because (even knowing there's a HUGE chance she could lose the baby and semi-expecting it) losing the baby would devastate her and I don't think I could bring myself to torture her too much after something like that :( But we won't know for sure if she'll lose the baby or if it'll survive :) I heard rumors that River might be in the 50th, I can't quite see Moffat, with something as big as the 50th NOT putting his 'favorite' character in it somewhere :)
We'll find out in the very next chapter why River tried to stop Angel from saving her :)
It think it's more difficult in that she's tired more so the Vortex affects her more and the cracks in time affect her more (and the time distortion) and just a lot of little things that make the pregnancy harder than a normal one :) And with all the dangers she's facing with the Doctor, it's difficult in that sense to that it's dangerous for her and the baby :)
Lol, I can't say whether Angel's own amnesia will be before or after, since we don't know if the Doctor will remember or not :)
Hmm...I can't say whether it'll be a good or bad one for the 'wedding' episode :) I don't want to give away too much :) But as for it possibly being 'honeymoon' well...River might try to step up her game earlier or...it might end with the honeymoon of River Song }:)
Rory has a little bit too much on his plate at the moment what with Amy having died and the world ending, and then the whole Pandorica-TARDIS crash thing, to think about the tiny hints Angel gave about the Doctor's memory loss in Hungry Earth, but he WILL start to think more on it and realize what happened at some point yup :) Lol, I think Rory's thoughts on killing him were more about how the Doctor didn't seem concerned with Angel being in some dangerous situation on her own and possibly facing death than that he doesn't remember. Rory, at that point, doesn't know the Doctor has amnesia, he's more upset that the Doctor let Angel go to the TARDIS knowing it might explode as the reason he'd kill the man :) Bu just keep in mind, it very much could be the Doctor's own fault he forgot, it is a possibility ;) In which case the anger might be justified :)
River did seem a bit OOC at the end didn't she? :) I can say there's definitely a reason behind it that will (hopefully) make sense in the next chapter :) Lol, I can say that the Ponds WILL meet Jack! I'm really excited for that moment, lol his reaction to them is cute :) Lol, I'll definitely KBO on Mondays :)
I have no idea why I did this to Angel lol, I think, in the end, it's to make her stronger :) And you need a little bit of angst at times :)
I don't know why I'm being so cruel to Angel, she's SO sweet and I do feel really bad for what I'm doing (and will do to her) we'll just have to see what happens :)
Oh the Doctor will SO not be happy with what Angel did. His reaction is quite...interesting :)
I can say there's a reason why Angel is risking not only herself by the baby as well :) We'll find out what it is very soon. And I can see the Doctor and Angel getting a little closer to each other as time goes on yeah :)
Oh River...well, let's just say...meeting everyone again will explain a little of her reactions in the last chapter ;) I won't say if I'm considering her regenerating or not, we'll have to wait and see :) I think, River and the baby...it'll depend on if River even knows about it. Like Angel worried for a few moments, River might not know because there might not be a child there for her to know about }:) I can't quite see the Professor dressed as Wonder Woman...unless it's to tease the Doctor...but I could see her as the 'strong warrior woman' sort of hero :)
I could see the baby being lost as devastating to her definitely. But as for the Doctor, we'll have to wait and see if he might remember }:)
Lol, I think Angel would probably want one of those squeeze toys than a punching bag, one of the cute ones with the googly eyes :)
Awesome! I put a little shout out to the story and a link on tumblr :)
That's an epic undertaking if you do it. I say sure! If you want to do a big collection of moments from each episode that's cool with me, you had make as many submissions as you want :)
That would be cool to be one of Angel's companions :) For some reason though, I feel like she'd only take on boys, to try and balance the Doctor having a female companion :)
Lol, I could see Matt being like 'what are you talking about?' if that happened :)
There's definitely a reason why Angel didn't teleport herself out too :) We'll find out what that is...tomorrow :)