((Epilogue))

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

"Doctor!"

Crash!

At the sudden cry of his name, the Doctor jerked his head up and slammed it into something hard. He muttered curses in multiple languages under his breath, rubbing his head with a wince as he rocked back to look up at his companion through the glass floor. "I told you not to do that, Clara!"

"Sorry," the Impossible Girl said with a shrug, not looking the least bit apologetic. She was kneeling over his spot, her brown eyes sparkling excitedly, and she clutched a journal to her chest. Well, two. One was larger than the other, the corners bent and aged. The second was a newer looking one, with swirls of TARDIS blue and gold. "I thought you'd want to come see this, Doctor."

Curiosity took over him and he told her to wait a moment as he came up. Within moments, he was bounding up a flight of stairs, shoving the goggles he wore to the top of his head and messing up his mop of hair even more than it already was. Clara moved over slightly as he flopped down beside her, sprawled out comfortably. Clara set the smaller notebook beside her, and then beamed. "I was walking around earlier, and the TARDIS just randomly opened up a room. I looked around, but I didn't pry too much. It was someone's room, I think, so I just grabbed these two things off the bed. I was looking through them last night and thought you might like them..." She opened the first of the two journals, the larger one.

The Doctor's breath caught in his throat, and around them, the TARDIS hummed. Before him was a sketchbook, the first page filled with doodles of many things he recognized. He previous regeneration's sonic screwdriver, a few different sketches of Carfioliax, even a Dalek, all surrounding a single phrase in the middle of the paper: Property of Alissa Levine.

"Ali's," the Doctor said softly, running his finger across the paper. "These belonged to Ali. The Successor. The one we saw a few days ago... You must have ended up finding her bedroom by accident." He flipped through the sketchbook with a small sigh, recognizing many of the things in it. There were a few different aliens, a few sketches of his previous companions and the TARDIS. Along with those came sketches of him doing miscellaneous actions. Driving the TARDIS, using his sonic, etc. There was even one of him simply standing there, his trench coat floating out behind him in a dramatic way as his hands were shoved in his pockets.

Slowly, he closed the sketchbook, his eyes filling with grief for the girl he couldn't save. The TARDIS made a small sound, as if reminding him of just where her spirit was, and he gave a slight smile before gently plucking up the very journal he'd given Ali. Slowly, he skimmed through it, more than just a little aware of Clara, who watched him carefully and silently. The first half of it was full of adventures he remembered having. He snorted softly.

"She must have written down a lot of things after I gave this to her, because most of this happened before she got it," he told Clara with a warmth in his voice that she rarely heard. "I remember a lot of this." He ran his fingers down a page that told of the fun they'd had at Canziar.

As he progressed through the journal, he found himself happy that Clara sat there silently beside him. He needed the comfort of her presence, especially as he got closer and closer to their last adventure. And then, he came to something that concerned him. "Clara, entry was made after her fulfilling her role as the Successor."

Clara's eyes went wide. "What?!" She peered curiously at the notebook. Indeed, the Doctor pointed out the date she'd been lost and the date of the entry. "What does it say?"

The Doctor cleared his throat before reading quietly aloud: "Dark. Nothing. Black. Silence." He stopped, his eyes narrowing. "It's a list of words like this...hm?" He paused when he moved to flip the page and something fell into his lap. Curious, the Doctor found himself examining it. "It's a letter."

"Stop sounding so surprised and open it," Clara urged.

He carefully pried it open, then turned it over to study the paper. It was from Ali, he realized dully, his grip on it tightening. And it was his name that was at the top of the paper. Quietly, his voice thick, he read it, then handed it to her, turning away from her and the letter. Curious, Clara read it.

Dear Doctor,

I'm sorry. If you're reading this, then...stuff's already happened, I guess. I did what I had to do and there was nothing any of you could have done about it. You just wouldn't accept what I had. Hope you've forgiven me at this point, I know you'll be plenty mad when I do go through with it. Whenever the hell that happens...

I have a request. Just like every other person who doesn't hate you, Doctor, don't travel alone. Travel with someone. Whether it be someone like Amy and Rory (I'm still not quite sure whether you've met them or not) or even Rose, travel with someone. Show that lucky person the stars, because there are dozens upon dozens who'd just love to see such a thing.

Also, do something for me? Find Clave. Please. I regret leaving him with Catie. But she needed him to protect her daughter more than I needed him. Please. Go back to when you first came across me and find him. I miss him. Desperately. I love him. If you want to use him to protect your newest companion, just tell him that's what I want and he should do as you say.

Doctor, you don't deserve the suffering I've put you through. I apologize. But you must understand. It was between that and yours and everyone else in every universe's death. And I just...I had to do what was right. Goodbye, Doctor. Don't ever stop showing those who need it the stars and saving the same ones you show.

Love,

Ali

Clara gave it a few minutes, absorbing what she'd just read, then turned to the Doctor, who was staring distantly at the TARDIS console, as if lost in thought. Gently, she touched his shoulder. "Doctor," she said softly, "You do know what this means, right?"

He glanced at her. "What?"

She smiled. "We need to find Clave. Then we can start looking into that last entry, see what it's about." She stood, trying to tug him up with her. He stood slowly, keeping a tight grip on Ali's sketchbook and journal, not willing to let go of them just yet.

Slowly, the Doctor nodded. "I suppose," he said warily, "We can look for Clave." Clara beamed in her excitement, and the Doctor found a smile slowly crossing his face as he reached for the controls.

And, in a place of isolated darkness, she screamed, sobbing hysterically into her hands as the deafening sea of black crashed down on her.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

A/N: So...here's the epilogue. |D Kinda sad this is over... I was all excited, too. XD

ALSO, IMPORTANT NOTICE: some of you requested to know if there was going to be a sequel or not. |D Well, here's your answer... there will indeed be a sequel. :D YAY! When it will come out, I'm not quite sure just yet, but it will contain not only Ali, but the eleventh Doctor, Clara, the lovely Clave, and quite possibly others. Soooo yep! SEQUEL IS A YES MY FRIENDS! *dances*

On another note...I do hope you enjoyed! Thank you, reviewers, favorite...ers, and followers! Keep an eye/ear out for the sequel and I shall see you again soon!

bored411: Well, she didn't exactly make it and nobody ended up happy...yet. XD

BrainStormer: Oh, chill out. XD Stop your fretting, things will soon continue...okay, maybe not soon as in the next week, but eventually. XD

Maren the fangirl: Crying is good. Thank you for the compliment. XD