Sarah Jane was the one to find the article. That's not surprising, as she's the only one who reads the newspapers, but still. My point stands that anything that happens today is her fault. To be entirely honest, I'm not quite sure what we're walking into, other than an antiques shop that may or may not have hosted the Gruffalo at some point. When we arrived at the shop, Sarah Jane read over the article again, just to clarify a few things. "The shops owner, Mister Smalley, who refused to give his age, said he saw a creature 12 feet tall, with huge fangs and red eyes." She read out, for at least the third time today. "What are we up against? The Gruffalo?" Clyde joked. I rolled my eyes as Rani laughed at his joke. "Well, there's only one way to find out!" Rani linked her arm with mine and started walking towards the shop. Clyde and Sarah Jane walked after us, if only to keep us under the umbrella that Clyde was holding.
The shop was dark, but warm. The bell rung as we entered. "Hello?" Sarah Jane called out. I jumped when a parrot squawked back. "Hello." The bird copied Sarah Jane. Rani obviously couldn't help herself. "Hello." She curtsied to the bird. I laughed before I got distracted by some of the artifacts on display. "Do we actually know what we're looking for, or is it a case of we'll know when we see it?" I ask when I realise that I should probably try and pay more attention. "We'll know when we see it." Sarah Jane says, distracted by her watch. "That's what my mum says when she's dragging me round Primark." Clyde whines, getting distracted by the painting. He's not the only one, as Rani finds a music box. She starts talking about how much she had wanted one as a kid. I pick up an arrow, examining it closely when I notice that the arrowhead is covered in red. "Real or fake blood?" I mutter to myself. "The blood is real. But whose blood?"
I jump as deep voice answers my question. I walk round the corner and see a man walking to the parrot. "That is the question." He grins at me. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mister Smalley...or co?" Sarah Jane jokes as the parrot starts squawking indignantly. He ignores her and carries on talking to me. "Some say that arrow was pulled from the eye of King Harold himself after the battle of Hastings." I interrupt him. "There are three possible ways he died during the battle. Shot in the eye, shot in the armpit, or trampled by a horse. Well, according to the tapestry. We don't even know if it's either of those men." He seems thrilled that someone was able to talk history. "The tapestry of time is a fragile thing. Apply the slightest pressure, and the threads of history can unravel. But you understand that, don't you, Sarah Jane?" Oh no. This was a trap of some sort. "How'd you know my name?" She asked him, coming to a similar conclusion. "Oh, I know a great many things." He replies vaguely. "The newspaper cutting, that was for our benefit, wasn't it?" Sarah Jane is just resigned at this point. "Look, I don't like being tricked. Who are you, and what do you want?" She asked quickly, just wanting this done with. He suddenly turned serious. "I need your help, to save the world. Time itself is under threat." that gets my attention. "From what?" "Chronosteen. A metal forged within the time vortex, with the power to reshape destiny. Four pieces of it, moulded into different objects, are lodged at key points in Earth's history." He stops talking as the parrot makes some noises. "They must be recovered." He carries on once the bird stopped. "What object? Where in history?" Rani starts trying to dig for answers. The man is entirely unhelpful. "They could be anything, anywhere." "Well, good luck with that." Sarah Jane scoffs, turning to walk away. "But you are the only ones who can do this!" I don't like this. Why is it always us? "You're the Earth's last hope." "Even if I believe you, how can we possibly find this chronosteen?" Valid question, I too would love to know the answer. "This is a time window, Sarah Jane." The man, who still has not introduced himself, says, gesturing to a portal like thing. It looks like it's made of shattered glass, the kind you'd get in a mirror, not a window. "It will take you close to the object." I groan. This isn't going to be good. "If you can create that, then why can't you go yourself?" Clyde asked. The man laughs. "It is forbidden for me to travel through time. But you can. All of you have passed through before." There are times I feel like I should regret my life, but then I remember that I love my friends, my boyfriend, and what we do. "Look, if we go, and I'm not saying we will, then how do we get back?" Oh, we are going. I don't think we ever really had a choice in the matter. "Find the objects, and they will bring you home." Yep, sounds about right. "And I'm afraid, Sarah Jane, there is no choice in the matter!" The man clicks his fingers a few times, and the Time Window thing swallows us up.
Next time Sarah Jane asks me if I want to join her on an investigation, I'm saying no! Okay, that's almost definitely a lie, but whatever. I sit up from where I was lying on the floor. I groaned when I took in the sight around me. It looked to be a lab of some sort. I stood up and opened the door. I was greeted by the sight of people in the corridor. I somehow managed to sneak slightly further down the hall, ducking into a room and instantly regretting it. There were three people in there already. And the worst part was, I recognised two of the people from pictures Sarah Jane had in the attic. "Oh, I didn't realise we were being joined by another! Please, come, sit. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Doctor John Smith." The tall man with the silvery hair and old-fashioned dress sense introduced himself. This was the first face of the Doctor that Sarah Jane travelled with. The one Jo did too, if I'm right. "Lavinia Smith." Sarah Jane introduced herself...using her aunt's name? I guess she probably isn't actually meant to be here. "Joseph Rubeish." the final man introduced himself. "Uh, Asha. Nice to meet you?" I tried not to stare at Sarah Jane. Fortunately, Rubeish dude just muttered about overcrowding and went through a door I hadn't noticed. Sarah Jane excused herself shortly after, leaving me with the Doctor.
"Miss Asha," "Mister, actually, if you don't mind." I found myself saying before I could even think it through. "Ah. My apologies. Mr. Asha, forgive me, but you don't seem to be from this time." I sighed in relief. "I'm really not. I'm from about 37 years in the future, I think. It is 1974, right?" He nodded, confused as to how I would know that. I took pity on him and decided to explain. "The woman from a minute ago, Miss Smith? I know her in the future. It's mostly her fault I'm here." That seemed to confuse him more. "I do apologise, my dear fellow, but I don't follow. How is Miss Smith the reason you're here?" I sigh. "Is there any way we can talk without the potential risk of a certain someone overhearing anything I may or may not reveal about a future she shouldn't be aware of?" I asked pointedly, tilting my head in a way that makes it obvious who I'm talking about. Listen, I know Sarah Jane once she's grown into her journalism, as well as an ability to eavesdrop when she really shouldn't. I highly doubt that she was any better when she was in her twenties. In fact, I doubt she's developed her tiny sense of self-preservation yet. From the stories I've heard of her, that was only developed once she had Luke, Maria, and Clyde, and not a second earlier. The Doctor examined the device he had on his desk before inviting me inside the TARDIS so we could talk privately.
"So, do enlighten me. Mr. Asha." I rolled my eyes at the formality. "Just call me Ash. For now. Anyways, as what's going on...I don't exactly know. All I really know is that I'm supposed to find something that's been made from chronosteen and stop it from changing history. And it's her fault because she's the one who fell for the trap." The Doctor looked very confused. "Why would you be sent here and now, then? I highly doubt anything historical happens today." I shrug. "I dunno, dude. All I know is that the man at the shop said that I'd be brought close to the object, and that I'd know when I see it." We both stood in silence as he thought over what I said. "You seem to know me. You knew that the TARDIS was bigger on the inside, and yet you said nothing, there was no reaction from you, and you just called me dude. You also corrected me when I used the incorrect terms of address, even though you should not know if I would react well to it. Who are you?" I sighed. "If I just said spoilers and left it at that, you aren't gonna drop it, are you?" He just gives me a deadpan look. "Fine. Basic summary, yes. I know you. You promised to take me traveling with you once I grew up a bit. That day hasn't come yet, but I've been inside the TARDIS a couple of times. I have your phone number, and a promise that should I ever need your help, you'd come running. As for the correcting you, I'm gender fluid, and have people who have been drilling it into me that I deserve to be addressed correctly. So, yes, I did correct you. Because I'm not afraid of how you'll react, because I've seen the people who are the way that they are because they knew you. And that is kind." He looked emotional at that. He then makes his way to the door. "My apologies, Ash, but I've left my alarm far too long." I follow him out of the door and starts asking question about what's going on, hoping to get some more insight as to what might be going on.
I pull up a chair to the desk as the Doctor explains what it is that he's looking for. Apparently, UNIT scientists have been going missing, so they're all on lockdown as they search for the cause of it. "So, what's this for?" He looks at me. "Well, seeing as I apparently promised to take you on as a friend, what say we start expanding your knowledge now, hmm? What do you think it is?" This regeneration is much more fatherly than the others I've met. I quite like it. "Well, it looks a bit like a smoke detector, or something similar, so I'd say it's a detector of some sort of particle. Now, I'm pretty sure it's a rhondium detector. Probably. Don't quote me on that, Luke's the tech genius, not me." I mutter, examining it closely. Okay, so Luke and I once went on a science binge with Mr. Smith and did about an hours' worth of research on detectors, and this was one I think might have come up. Luke and I came up with several ways to improve on them. The Doctor seemed shocked that I knew it. "Yes, exactly that. Now, I'm using it to detect Delta particles..." He's cut off by Rubeish. I tune out the conversation and grab a sheet of paper and a pen that's been left on the desk. I start trying to remember everything that Luke and I had discussed, but to be fair, it was several months ago, and we were both very sleep deprived at the time. I just ignored the conversations until I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I jumped, only calming down once I realised it was just the Doctor. "Sorry. I was distracted." I blushed as he waved the apology way, instead focusing on the maths I had been doing. He seemed impressed. He started fiddling with his machine, adding in the points that I highlighted could use improvement. It made me feel...I don't know. I was definitely proud. I mean, the Doctor was actually taking me seriously. But I was also feeling emotional about the whole thing. Sort of like when Sarah Jane is proud of me. Like, just this sense of accomplishment. Anyways, the Doctor, after explaining the machine in more detail, dozed off. I was about to get up when I noticed something the I hadn't before. The machine wasn't moving anymore. I shook the Doctor awake and pointed it out. The two of us then started pulling it apart to find what was wrong. I flinched when I cut my hand on something. "Ow!" I pulled my hand back, examining my hand before it was snatched by the Doctor. He seemed satisfied that it wasn't anything too bad, so we examined the object I'd cut myself on. It was some sort of screw. "I do hope you've had all your vaccinations." He joked. "Ha ha, very funny." I rolled my eyes, looking at the screw closer. It emitted this weird glow. Could this be... "Doctor, that nail wasn't originally meant to be there, was it?" I asked. He tiled his head as he examined it. "No, it wasn't. I do believe this might have been the object you were seeking. How bizarre. I wonder what was so important that it the machine might have changed history." I banged my head on the table. "It's Sarah Jane, you numpty. This obviously had some sort of impact on you becoming friends, so I'd say it's pretty important!" I exclaimed, temporarily forgetting that their story has barely started for them yet. "Ah, I'm guessing Miss Smith becomes a dear friend in the future?" I slump in my seat. "She's your best friend in my time." I tell him quietly before meeting his gaze. He gives me a compassionate look before gesturing to the screw. "I believe you need to return. I will cover for you." I thank him before grabbing the screw.
I'm spat out of the Time Window. I'm now back at the shop. The man quickly takes the screw from my hand, placing it in a padded case. "Where're the others?" I asked. "They have not yet completed their missions." He snapped at me, turning back to watch something on a crystal ball like thing. Honestly, at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a crystal ball. A few seconds later, he starts shouting at the ball. Clyde and Rani are then spat out of the Window. Rani's not in what she was wearing earlier, but in a Tudor style dress, clutching a dagger. Clyde's still dressed the same, but he's clutching a cross thing. Clyde checks to make sure he still has his ears, for some reason. The man quickly grabs the chronosteen from them. "I'm loving the new look." Clyde tells Rani, taking in her dress. "Yeah, Tudor dresses suit you." I joke, scaring the living daylights out of them. They obviously hadn't noticed my presence. Sarah Jane still hasn't gotten back. "Where's Sarah Jane?" I asked the man. "She's still in the past. And without her, the world is doomed." He says in a fake calm tone. The Time Window looks like it's trying to close in on itself but is being forced to stay open. It suddenly spits Sarah Jane out. "Sarah Jane!" I cried out, rushing towards her. I'm pushed out of the way by the man, who starts yelling that he needs the chronosteen. Sarah Jane says she lost it. Clyde volunteers to go back for it but gets shot down by the man. Apparently, it's now too dangerous. Without the key, he can't close the window, and with the window still open, the earth will be sucked into the time vortex.
"Are you Sarah Jane Smith?" I whip round and stare in shock at the woman stood in front of us. When Sarah Jane nods, she starts digging through her handbag, completely ignoring the chaos behind us as she talks about how she promised to give her something. She pulled out a key, offering to Sarah Jane. The man snatches it from her, placing it in the case and snapping it shut. The Time Window closes alongside it. "Oh! We did it! The Time Window's shut!" Rani cheers, throwing her arms around me and hugging me close. We all laugh in relief. "Indeed, you did. How marvellous!" The man says, moving to stand next to the parrot. "Where are you going?" Clyde asked incredulously. "Now that would be telling. The captain's work in done here, which is all you need to know." I'm sorry, the captain is a bird? Also, we did the work, not the parrot! "I'd love to stay and chat, but duty calls." He sighs as the bird transfers to his arm. With a mysterious smile, he then disappeared. "The captain's work!?" Clyde repeated incredulously. "We've been working for a flippin parrot?!" I just laughed as I shook my head. "The situations you get us in, Sarah Jane." I sigh. "Who were they, anyway?" Rani asked. "Uh, I don't think they wanted us to know." Sarah Jane confessed. "Can't stick these enigmatic types." Clyde groaned. The lady from earlier just sighed. "Well, I was told to expect some strange things. And I must say, Miss Smith, you do not disappoint." Sarah Jane laughed. "Well, welcome to my world, and thank you Miss... Morris?" She asked. "Angela Pryce." She introduced herself. "Emily Morris was my grandmother." Ah, someone Sarah Jane met during our trip to the past. "Oh, good on Emily. She came through in the end." Sarah Jane muttered to herself. Angela then turned to the rest of us and started telling us the story of how she got her key. We stayed for another hour, as Sarah Jane asked all about how her friend was.
When we were in the car on the way home, I decided to be, well, me. "So, Sarah Jane, you use your aunt's name when you know you aren't meant to be somewhere?" I asked casually. I think Sarah Jane almost crashed the car when I said that. "I beg your pardon?" She asked. "Well, you know, I ended up in 1974 ish and happened to meet a young woman claiming to be her aunt." I told her innocently. "THAT WAS YOU?!" She yelled. "Yep. You really wanted to fight the Doctor, for some reason. What happened there?" I asked cheekily. "I thought he was behind the scientists going missing! How was I supposed to know that he was trying to help? It's not like he was telling me anything!" Sarah Jane said indignantly. "Hang on, Ash, you met Sarah Jane and the Doctor?" Rani interrupted. "Yep. I'm guessing you ended up in the Tudor era." I said, looking over her dress. "Yeah, I stopped Lady Jane Grey's assassination the night before her execution. She was your age." I froze when she said that. "You met Lady Jane Grey? The nine-day queen?" I asked, incredulously. "Yeah, she was such a sweetheart." Rani was fighting back tears. I stopped asking questions, remembering the end of that story. "I ended up in World War 2." Clyde piped up. "Oh, how did that go?" Sarah Jane asked from the front of the car. "It was alright. Helped stop the Nazi invasion." We spent the rest of the journey talking about our friends from the past.
That night, I texted the Doctor. Hey, when were you going to mention that you already knew me? It took a couple of minutes before he responded. Sorry, what? I rolled my eyes. I was there the day you met Sarah Jane. I laughed at his response. Okay, I may have known it was you, but I obviously couldn't tell you! You had said it yourself! Spoilers! Oh, I sound like River, now! We continued chatting for a while before I did have to go. I then had a chat with Luke, before reminding him that I love him, but really should go to sleep.
An: Yeah, I did this in one part because I only had to focus on Ash for this one. I'm obsessed with Sarah Jane when she's traveling with the Doctor. She's constantly prepared to throw hands with anyone who looks down on her, she befriends people she probably shouldn't and she's just a little gremlin when left unattended for half a second. As usual, I don't own the Sarah Jane adventures, or Doctor Who.