"So, behind that door, I'm supposed to find a closet with clothes that I'll like and that will fit me?" Ruby asked incredulously.
The Doctor beamed with a wide grin. "That is correct. It's your personal closet."
She walked towards the door but stopped midway. "Wait a minute, how do you know my fashion style and sizes?"
"The Tardis has all this information, believe me." The mesmerisation and disbelief his companions showed, each time the Tardis decided to let them into some of her secrets, were priceless. He'd never get bored of it.
Still a little suspicious, Ruby opened the door. "It's a walk-in closet!' she exclaimed in awe. "It's massive! Oh my God, I love this…" She pointed at a pair of flared jeans. "And this" She took a bright-yellow blouse from a hanger and held it up to see how it would look on her, while checking herself out in the mirror. Her gaze soon shifted, and she dropped the blouse. "Look at this cute dress… and these shoes!"
The Doctor decided that this would be the right time to leave his friend to it, and he returned to the control room.
He had promised Ruby that he would take her to meet the Lumivara, a tribe of luminous creatures who dedicated their lives to nature-based living. They resided in the flower-decked hills of Lumivaria and spoke the language of the moon. Each year, they hosted the Luminous Games, an event similar to the Olympics but focused on harmony and celebration rather than competition.
His mind drifted back to the last time he'd visited the Games. He'd eaten so much of the banquet of glowing dishes, that he had to be carried home on the back of an unicorn. This time, he was eager to participate in the Games and take Ruby with him to show her the spectacular closing ceremony. This would usually feature excessive dance parties, a glowing procession and the most beautiful Northern Lights display in the universe.
As he pressed buttons and turned switches on the control panel, waiting for Ruby to return, he heard a rustling sound behind him. Quickly, he turned around. "Rubes, don't sneak up on me like that; you almost gave me a heart attack. Good thing I've got two hearts." He looked his friend up and down.
She was dressed in a jumper with a fall-toned checkered pattern, a black leather jacket, a skirt with thick tights, and black Chelsea boots.
"Is this what you're going to wear? I told you it's going to be hot where we're going. It'll be similar to thirty degrees Celsius here on Earth.' When he took a closer look, he noticed two frayed holes in her tights, a dried patch of blood on her temple, and a scratch above her eyebrow. "Rubes, what…?"
"Help. I need your help, Doctor."
Her voice didn't sound anything like her usual self. It was soft, a whisper almost, and raspy, as if she had come straight from battle. The way she looked at him, evoked a sense of terror. "I don't understand. You were just over there, picking out clothes. What's going on?"
"I don't have much time. I need to get back."
"Back to, where? The walk-in closet?' He felt disorientated, rambling in confusion, unable to fully grasp the situation - something he hated. 'What happend to you?" He would've walked towards her to examine her injuries, wouldn't it be for the fact that she looked at him with eyes as hollow as a starless night.
"I need your help. The world is coming to an end."
A realisation daunted on him. "You're not from here, from this time, I mean."
"No, I'm from the future to warn you and ask for your help. It's 2025 where I'm from, and we're under attack. You need to help us. Please, help me."