Hey guys, we're finally there! The Pandorica Opens!

Next chapter (The Big Bang) is officially uncharted territory! Wooh!

Just to warn you, the chapters will likely come slower (expect 1-2 weeks) as I have to write them and re-write the script (on top of a normal life and other projects), but I'm genuinely so glad to finally have this all updated

Thank you all for being here on this journey and sticking with me!

A reminder, the fam, Dan Doctor, and Jack are set at the end of Power of the Doctor (BUT pre-regeneration, Yaz and the Doctor just separated), I'll sort the regeneration stuff soon! (at/after ch50)

Enjoy!


The group was happily chatting away, enjoying the break and the relative peace it provided them. It had been a few hours of peace but they were starting to get twitchy, thoughts turning to where and what the group that had been taken were up to. How long would it be for them, before they returned? What would be so different that the Tardis felt the need to return them to their timeline temporarily?

They weren't left in suspense long.

A chiming noise, like someone ringing a doorbell incessantly, rang throughout the rooms. People had congregated in the kitchen, drinking tea and enjoying some biscuits they'd found in true British fashion. Upon hearing the loud noise, conversations stopped and people turned to look at each in question.

Leading the way, River shrugged, sharing a look with her parents, before making her way back to the viewing room. The rest of the group followed behind her, their curiosity as strong as ever.

They were greeted with the same room they'd left, the screen still blank, and no one new. As if the Tardis was watching, which she likely was, another noise rang out temporarily deafening the group. A blinding light, continued the assault on their senses, making them slam their eyes shut in an attempt to protect themselves, ears still ringing.

As they finally regained control of their senses, warily opening their eyes they found the missing members of the group standing in the centre of the room, looking appropriately dazed. Standing next to Yaz, there was also a new man.

"Blimey." Graham rubbed at his eyes, "I forgot about this place. How did I forget about this place?"

"The Tardis probably, grandad." Ryan shrugged, looking around the onlooking group with a smile and nod for a greeting.

Yaz laughed a little, also turning to their onlookers with a grin, "Miss us?"

"You've only been gone a couple hours." Clara smiled but copied her laugh, happy to see them return.

Ryan shook his head, "Okay that's a bit weird. Been much longer for us."

"Huh." The Doctor's sound of surprise drew the group's attention to her, only to find her looking at her hands confused.

"Doctor!" Yaz had spun round, eyes widening as she finally registered the Doctor's presence. She stood in shock for a moment, scanning u and down as if searching for something. She frowned, jovial attitude gone in a flash, "You're not …?"

The Doctor shook her head, "It seems we're frozen here. Out of the timeline." River glanced between the two of them, both curious and concerned by the exchange occurring between the pair.

"Well, this is a cheery conversation!" Jack cut in loudly. "Nice to see you all again!"

"Erm, Doctor, Yaz?" The strange guy spoke up, gaining the group's attention to him as he peered forward a bit hesitantly. "Where are we? Who are these people?"

"Could ask you the same mate." Mickey snorted.

"Be nice Ricky." Mickey shook his head though everyone could see his fond smile as the Doctor stepped up.

Yaz just rolled her eyes but took pity on the guy and started to explain. "We're in a room created by the Tardis, outside the timeline apparently. They brought us all here to watch videos of the Doctor's adventures."

"Why?" The guy asked, blinking as he took in all that information.

It was Bill that spoke up, shrugging, "Therapy maybe? We're not really sure honestly. It's fun to see some of the videos though."

"Okay, and who are you all again?" The guy nodded along, looking overwhelmed.

The Doctor patted him on the shoulder in commiseration, gesturing wildly with her other hand to the group watching them. "Dan, meet some of my former companions. Guys meet Dan, he travelled with me and Yaz recently."

"Hi?" It sounded more like a question then a statement, but he offered a small wave.

Yaz snorted, entertained. "Don't think I've ever seen you this shy."

Dan turned on her, "I've just magically appeared in a room with a bunch of strangers who everyone apparently already knows, how would you feel?" Yaz just grinned in response.

The Doctor shook her head fondly at the pair as she started gesturing to people in introduction. "That's Rose, then there's Mickey and Martha who got married. Over there is Donna, and that's another married couple Amy and Rory. Next to them is their daughter and my wife, River. That's Clara and there's Bill, then Nardole. The American beside us is Jack, and you've been introduced to Ryan and Graham I believe." As their name was mentioned, each person waved in turn.

The Doctor didn't even bother to introduce the Master who had immediately returned to lounge in his armchair, pretending to ignore everything going on in the room.

"I have … so many questions." Dan finally managed to find his words as he stared at the group of onlookers.

Mickey laughed, stepping forward to pat the guy on the back in commiseration, "You get used to it, mate."

The group's attention was drawn to the screen as it turned black, signalling the start of another video.

"Guess we're getting straight back into it." Jack commented with a raised eyebrow.

They dispersed returning to what had become their normal seats, eager to see what the Tardis had in store for them this time. Yaz took pity on Dan, gesturing for him to follow and getting him to sit next to her on their sofa which had been extended so that both of them, Ryan and Graham could all fit on it comfortably.

"The Pandorica Opens?" Clara read the title as it appeared. "That seems … ominous."

The Doctor groaned as she read the title; Amy, Rory and River sharing a knowing look that didn't go unnoticed to the rest of the group.

"This one of yours?" Rose asked the trio.

Amy grimaced but nodded, "Unfortunately. And it's not a fun one."

Yaz snorted, "Perfect way to get back into the swing of things."

Apprehensive the group watched as the video started to play.

France 1980, it's night and raining. In a bedroom Vincent Van Gogh is having a breakdown by his new painting 'Still Life with Twelve Sunflowers', dedicated to Amy. His doctor, Gachet, is in attendance, asking if Vincent can hear him, please

"Vincent? As in Vincent Van Gogh? You met him?" Clara asked curiously.

Amy smiled fondly with a nod, "Yes, Vincent was brilliant."

"Had a crush on Amy." The Doctor added with a teasing grin at Rory, who simply rolled his eyes in response.

"We would have made beautiful ginger babies." Amy's smile turned bittersweet as she was reminded of Vincent's fate. Rory squeezed her hand in comfort.

Madame Vernet says it isn't enough he goes drinking all round town, now the whole neighbourhood has to listen to him scream. Gachet protests he's very ill, she looks at a new painting we can't see, declaring i worse than his usual rubbish and asking what it is supposed to be

"Important, I'm guessing." Martha remarked. If it wasn't she doubted they'd be seeing this.

In the Cabinet War Rooms of London, 1941, Bracewell brings the picture to the Prime Minister saying it was found behind the wall in an attic in France, a genuine Van Gogh. Churchill asks why bring it to him?

"That painting is moving." Mickey commented at the screen with a raised eyebrow.

Amy, Rory, River and the Doctor shared a knowing glance. "Moving between people we know." Amy added on, drawing curious looks from the rest of the group even as she refused to expand on her remark.

Bracewell replies because it is obviously a message and he can see who is it for

"So, whatever it is, it must be something clearly linked to the Doctor." Rose pointed out, because there was no doubt in their mind the painting was to do with the Doctor.

Churchill can't understand it, Bracewell says he isn't supposed to, he's supposed to deliver it

"Bit hard to do when you never know where the Doctor will end up." Nardole remarked.

In Stormcage Containment Facility 5145, a guard answers a telephone, saying the Doctor? Do they mean Doctor Song? River goes to the bars of her cell

"Your time in prison?" Bill asked River more curious than anything. They all knew why she was there after all.

"You're a criminal?" Dan exclaimed, looking at River in the room shocked. The only one who didn't know why she was there. "What did you do?"

River smiled a sly smile, shrugging "I killed the Doctor." The Doctor herself just sighed, shaking her head at River who was enjoying herself.

"You what!?" Dan shouted, glancing wide eyed between the Doctor and River as the rest of the group chuckled.

Yaz just patted him on the back, not bothering to repress her chuckles. "Don't worry about it."

"I feel like this is something to be worried about!" Dan protested but settled back into his seat with a few more grumbles.

River tells him to give it to her, seriously, she's entitled to phone calls. The guard gives her the phone and she says, Doctor?

"Must be important." Ryan said.

"Or the Doctor just wanted to see her wife." Clara snorted; it was fifty-fifty with the Doctor. Possibly even both at the same time.

A loud grumble came from Dan as he was reminded that River was the Doctor's wife (still a crazy thought) as well as a criminal (that claimed to have killed her) but he didn't make any more protests already learning that he wasn't likely to get any answers.

Churchill replies no and neither is she, where is he? River explains he is phoning the Time Vortex and it doesn't always work, but the Tardis is smart so re-routed the call

"The Doctor is unavailable so you get River." Rose nodded, "Question is, what's the Doctor up to?"

"I think the better question is how does Winston Churchill have the Doctor's number?!" Donna spoke up loudly. Somehow still surprised despite feeling like she shouldn't be anymore - the Doctor knew all sorts of people.

River tells him to talk quickly as the connection will last less than a minute. The guard asks if she is finished, and River returns the phone with a smile

"Oh, that's not a friendly smile." Mickey kept a wary eye on the River on screen, tense.

"River what are you about to do?" Amy raised a stern eyebrow at her daughter.

"What I need to mother." River's unrepentant declaration was followed by a third grumble from Dan, who did not have the context surrounding River that the rest of the room did.

River says he's new isn't he, he replies it is his first day. River apologises, before pulling him to the bars and kissing him. Later, a group of armed guards run to the cell, the guard is inside pointing his gun at something

"Hallucinogenic lipstick?" Jack raised an eyebrow, nodding approvingly. "Very nice."

"I try handsome." The Doctor rolled her eyes as the pair flirted with each other.

An arriving guard tells him to stay exactly where he is. The first reports that she had lipstick, hallucinogenic lipstick and tried to use it on him but her tricks didn't work, Doctor Song! He is pointing his gun at a stick drawing on the wall with a speech bubble saying 'bye!'

"I think they did, mate." Graham chuckled.

The Royal Collection 5145, empty frames hang in empty hallways. River finds the picture she is looking for and tears it out of its frame. She is halfway up the stairway when the light comes on. Queen Liz the 10th declares it the Royal Collection and she's the bloody Queen, what is she doing there?

"Queen Liz the 10th." Amy noted with wide eyes, "The painting really was getting between people we know." She shared a long look with the Doctor, both thinking the same thing – the crack had been following them for a long time.

River tells her it is about the Doctor, ma'am, and she met him once, right? She knows he came there. Liz says the Doctor? And River pushes he's in trouble and she needs to find him. Liz asks why she is stealing a painting then. River tells her to look at it, she needs to find the Doctor and show him this

River gave the Doctor a pointed look, not even needing to say the words she was thinking. The Doctor looked away pointedly, already tense and not looking forward to watching the rest of this mess with everyone, but she got the message – there were a lot of people out there who cared, and were happy to help as soon as her name was mentioned.

The Maldovarium 5145, River is at a nightclub table talking to a blue skinned man. Dorium says the word on the belt is she is looking for time travel

"Dorium." Rory acknowledged casually, "And he still has his head."

River hummed, "Found him before the Demon's run mess."

"What is going on?" Dan muttered quietly, only Yaz really hearing.

She turned to him with a grin, "Everything's a bit crazy here but you get used to it. You travelled with the Doctor too after all, we've seen some strange stuff."

River asks if he is selling. Dorium snaps his fingers and an alien bring a box, saying it is a vortex manipulator fresh off the wrist of a handsome Time Agent

Jack sat up eyes widening, he pointed at the screen, "Hey! So that's where that ended up!"

"Of course, it was yours." The Doctor shook her head, she should have known.

He opens the box and sighs, he said off the wrist. The alien takes the box away. Dorium says it isn't cheap, has she brought him a pretty toy? River takes off her earrings explaining it is a Calisto Pulse and can disarm micro-explosives from up to twenty feet

"Useful." Mickey nodded, but leaned forward getting a strong feeling River wasn't quite done.

Dorium asks what kind of micro-explosives and River replies the kind she put in his wine

"River." Rory sighed exasperated.

"Sorry dad."

In the Tardis, Amy is studying the engagement ring she found in the Doctor's jacket pocket. The 11th Doctor shouts vavoom!

The Doctor raised an eyebrow at Amy, about to comment on the ring but Dan speaking up distracted her.

"Wait, so that's really you, Doctor?" Dan pointed at the screen, looking more than a little bit overwhelmed by everything he was being bombarded with. Regeneration had been mentioned vaguely, and he's seen some of the mess with the Master but this was something else.

The Doctor smiled at him, nodding. "Yep, that was my face two ago? Yeah, not my last but the one before that." It was about to be three away but the group didn't need to know that. Being back in the room had frozen her in a state of pre-regeneration, or at least that was what she was assuming based on the lack of the familiar energy.

Amy asks va-what? The Doctor is saying he can't believe he never thought of it before, its genius, and they've landed. Amy asks where they are and the Doctor explains they're on Planet One, the oldest planet in the universe with a cliff od pure diamond and writing on said cliff. He continues no one knows that it says as no one has ever translated it

"So that's what you're going to do?" Rose raised an eyebrow. "Translate very old graffiti?"

The Doctor and Amy just shared a fond smile, not offering the group any actual answers.

Until today, Amy asks what happens today, and he says they do, the Tardis can translate anything – all they have to do is open the doors and read the first words in recorded history. They go outside and read it – Hello Sweetie and some coordinates, Amy says vavoom

"Of course, its River." Rory shook his head, stuck between exasperate and fond at his daughter. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Got to leave an impression." River smirked, with a win at her father.

The Tardis materialises at the edge of a wood on a hill. Amy asks if it is the right place and the Doctor replies he followed the coordinates on the cliff face – Earth, Britain, one oh two pm no AD

"That's a bit difficult to get mixed up." Clara shook her head fondly.

"And important." Martha added on. There was a large difference between a time of day and century.

Amy points out there is a Roman Legion below

"Yes, it is." Bill nodded thoughtfully, sharing a glance with Nardole and the Doctor. Her own experience with a Roman legion in Britain (though it was in Scotland and not England) had certainly left an impression.

The Doctor says the Romans invaded Britain several times during this period, Amy replies she knows, it was her favourite topic at school, invasion of the hot Italians and yes, she got marked down for the title

"It was worth it." Amy grinned at her past self, unrepentant. River nodded approvingly at her mother. Rory just sighed, shaking his head at his wife and daughter. It was easy to see how they were related sometimes.

A soldier (Claudio) runs up and salutes saying hail Caesar, the Doctor replies hi

"They think you're Caesar?" Mickey raised an eyebrow, giving the Doctor a pointed look. "That's a big mistake to make."

The Doctor smiled fondly, "They had a reason." No one missed the glance she made in the direction of her wife.

Claudio welcomes him to Britain saying they're honoured by their presence. The Doctor says they're only human, arise Roman person

"Roman person?" Ryan asked the Doctor, in a 'really'? fashion. The Doctor just shrugged.

Amy asks why they think he's Caesar, spotting the smear of lipstick on Claudio's face

"I think we can guess." Clara gave her own glance at River, the lipstick was a tell-tale sign of her presence.

Claudio declares Cleopatra will see them now. He leads them to Cleopatra's tent where River greets them

"You've made a name for yourself." Martha grinned. They were all getting familiar with how River worked, well enough to not be surprised by this and only be entertained.

The Doctor comments she graffitied the oldest cliff face in the universe and River replied he wouldn't answer his phone

"Appropriate reaction then." Bill nodded, only half sarcastic.

They're left alone as she offers the Doctor the rolled-up painting. He asks what it is and River explains it is a painting from his old friend Vincent, one of his final works. She adds he had visions, right? She thought he ought to know about this one

"Can we finally see it?" Yaz leaned forward, eager to get to finally see the painting that had travelled a long way to finally get to the Doctor. Maybe it would help put together what kind of mess they were getting into.

Amy asks what it is worriedly, and we finally see the painting which is a version of Starry Night with an exploding Tardis in the middle. Later the three are galloping along on horseback

"That's … that's certainly something." Rose nodded wide eyed. The tension in the room rising drastically as the painting was finally revealed.

"Not a promising sign." Jack declared, with a worried look at River and the Doctor next to him. It really didn't suggest anything good was going to happen in this video.

Amy asks why it is exploding and River presumes it is some kind of warning

"You think?" Mickey raised an eyebrow.

Amy asks if something is going on with the Tardis and River suggests it might not be literal but this is where he wanted them – date and map refrence son the door sign

"We can only hope." Donna declared.

Amy, Rory, River and the Doctor shared a long look. It had been very literal; they were just lucky they manged to fix it.

The Doctor asks if it has a title and River tells him 'The Pandorica Opens'

"The Pandorica?" The Master finally spoke up from where he'd been half sulking in his armchair in the corner after his latest defeat. "Interesting …" He trailed off, he'd heard some rumours about the prison. He shouldn't be surprised the Doctor was involved.

They're still riding as they speak. Amy asks what the Pandorica is, and River tells her it is a box, a prison, built to contain the most feared thing in all the universe

"So, let's not open it and find out what's in it?" Bill nodded frantically, "Decided, right? Good." The last thing they needed was to open it and face this thing, though knowing their luck that's exactly what would happen.

The Doctor protests it is a fairy tale, it can't be real

"When have things ever just been fairy tales with us?" Rose sighed, thinking back to her conversation with Sarah Jane during their first meeting. They'd seen some weird things.

River replies if it is real, it's here and opening and has something to do with the Tardis exploding. It's hidden obviously, buried for centuries, won't find it on a map

"Imagine that." Ryan snorted, "Big dangerous prison here. Where x marks the spot."

Yaz snorted, "I think you're thinking of pirates."

Ryan shrugged, "Who's to say they weren't pirates. Alien pirates." Yaz rolled her eyes but didn't dispute it, fond smile on her face.

Amy grinned, "I mean I have some experience with that." Ryan pointed at her with a 'see?' expression that made Yaz roll her eyes again.

The Doctor says no, but if you buried the most dangerous thing in the universe you'd want to remember where you put it

"So, they'll have left a marker." Nardole said.

Amy, River, Rory and the Doctor shared a look. Rory nodded for the group, "You could say that."

They arrive at Stonehenge and run inside the circle. The Doctor and River start scanning the stones

Mickey let out a low whistle, "That's certainly a marker."

Clara nodded along thoughtfully, "Does give an explanation for Stonehenge finally. Not that we can really tell anyone though." That was often the way, they found out the answer to some big mystery and then couldn't even tell people.

Amy asks why it isn't new and River tells her it is already old, it's been there thousands of years but no one knows exactly how long. Amy says okay, this Pandorica thing, the last time they saw her, she warned them about it after climbing out the Byzantium

"Your timeline is a mess." Bill shook her head at River, who just shrugged in response. It was true.

River says spoilers, but Amy pushes she said she'd see him again when the Pandorica opens. River replies maybe she did but she hasn't yet. She's picking up fry particles everywhere, energy weapons discharged on the site

"Lovely." Martha crossed her arms, "Let's hope you don't meet their owners."

The Doctor states if the Pandorica is there it could contain the mightiest warrior in history and half the galaxy would want a piece of that, might even fight over it so they need to get down there

"Or you could do the smart thing and not get involved." Nardole pointed out, very aware the Doctor had never done that once in her life.

It's night as River places a device on each corner of the Altar stone, she says ready as they hear machinery moving, then the Altar stone moves aside to reveal a staircase down into the ground

"Creepy." Rose grimaced.

The Doctor calls it the Underhenge

Jack grinned at the Doctor "You were just waiting for a chance to use that one." The Doctor grinned back, unrepentant.

They go down, nearby a severed Cyberman head twitches

"You have company." Ryan pointed out with a wary look at the screen.

Amy snorted, "Oh, you have no idea." The rest of the group all shared a look, not reassured by Amy's words remotely.

The Doctor lights a torch with his sonic as they descend, lighting another for River as they unbar a big door and enter. The Doctor says it is a Pandorica as they see a big square monument with a circular design on each face

"That's a small prison." Graham raised an eyebrow at the decorated cube.

No one enjoyed the long look the Doctor and Amy shared. They were both very aware of how small that prison was.

River says it is more than a fairy tale. The Doctor's foot touches a Cyberman's severed arm lying on the ground, The Doctor shares the story – a goblin, trickster, or warrior, a nameless, terrible thing soaked in the blood of a billion galaxies. The most feared being in all the cosmos, nothing could stop it or hold it or reason with it. One day it would drop out of the sky and tear down your world

The Master, unseen in his corner, raised a sly eyebrow at the Doctor, recalling more of the rumours he'd heard and getting more and more interested in seeing the Doctor's point of view of this.

Amy asks how it ended up here, and the Doctor says she knows fairy tales, a good wizard tricked it

Donna raised an eyebrow, pointing a finger at the Doctor. "And what are the chances that the good wizard is him?"

Her only answer was a knowing look shared between Amy, Rory, River and the Doctor.

River says she hates good wizards in fairy tales as they always turn out to be him. Amy replies it is kind of like Pandora's box then and it almost has the same name

"But wasn't that opened?" Bill pointed out, "We don't want this to be opened."

The Doctor says sorry what, and Amy explains the story of Pandora's box which held all the worst things in the world in it, it was her favourite book when she was a kid. She asks what's wrong as the Doctor says her favourite school topic and favourite story – never ignore a coincidence, unless you're busy in which case always ignore a coincidence

"I'm getting a feeling this is not a coincidence." Clara gestured at the screen, with a raised eyebrow at the Doctor.

Amy snorted, "There's not many genuine coincidences in our lives."

River asks if he can open it then? The Doctor replies easily, anyone can break into a prison but he'd prefer to know what he's going to find first

"Smart." Mickey nodded approvingly, "Don't open a prison when you don't know what it contains. Maybe you're learning after all." The Doctor didn't even register the back hand compliment.

River says he won't have to wait long, it's already open. There are layers and layers of security protocols and they are being disabled one by one, its being unlocked from the inside

"What's inside?" Dan leaned forward curiosity getting the better of him.

"Weren't you listening?" Yaz teased him, getting a roll of Dan's eyes.

Dan crossed his arms, "I did, but if they could escape at any moment why wait till now?"

"All good questions." River interrupted with a knowing look, glancing back to the screen instead of offering any more exact answers.

The Doctor asks how long they have and River says hours at most. He then asks about the kind of security and River replies everything, deadlocks, time stops and matter lines

Jack let out an appreciative whistle, "That's some serious security."

The Doctor asks what could need all that and River asks what could get past all that?

"I can think if a few things." The Master drawled from his corner; a lazy raised eyebrow aimed at the Doctor. His comment earned a few wary glances from across the room before they silently decided to ignore him.

The Doctor tells them to think of the fear that went into making the box, what could inspire that level of fear. He greets the box asking if they've met. River asks why it would start to open now

Amy, Rory, River and the Doctor exchanged yet another knowing look. The rest of the group was starting to get quite frustrated with their lack of answers.

The Doctor doesn't know. Amy asks how Vincent could have known about it as he won't be born for centuries. The Doctor replies the stones, they act as big transmitters, broadcasting a warning to everyone, everywhere, every time zone – the Pandorica is opening

"A marker and a warming alarm." Martha spoke up, "A multipurpose set of standing stones."

River latches onto the everyone everywhere part. The Doctor continues poor Vincent heard it all in his dreams, asking what is in there, what could justify it? River pushes, everyone?

"What's so important about that?" Rose asked River confused by why she had latched onto that part of the Doctor's remark. River just gestured to the screen in answer.

The Doctor is still muttering about how he'd know anything that powerful so why doesn't he know? River tells him he said everyone could hear it so who else is coming?

"Oh. Oh no." Clara exclaimed; eyes wide as she made the connection as to why River was so worried.

"You're going to have some company." Donna grimaced, "More than expected and nothing friendly."

The Doctor says oh, realising. River says if it is a transmitter they should be able to fold the signal back, the Doctor is doing that

"Might be too late." Mickey shook his head, "But worth making sure."

He moves round the bases of the Sarsen stones with his sonic. Amy asks what they're doing and Rives explains Stonehenge is transmitting and has been for a while, so who heard?

"Who didn't." Amy snorted quietly, sharing a glance with Rory. The few that heard her shared their own worried looks, that was not at all a reassuring thing to hear.

The Doctor should have it feeding back to her now, asking what is out there. River needs a moment and the Doctor tries to hurry her. She says around the planet there are at least ten thousand starships

"Oh." Ryan muttered, wide eyed and a bit hoarse in his shock. "Just a few."

Amy says at least? River replies ten thousand, a hundred thousand, a million, she doesn't know as there are too many readings

"Those are very different numbers." Nardole pointed out.

"But it will probably won't make a difference." Bill grimaced. With that many enemies circling, exact numbers weren't likely to make much of a difference.

The Doctor asks what kind of starships. They hear Daleks talking about maintaining orbit

"Daleks." Rose sighed, "Just what we want to see.

Amy and River point out those are Daleks as they hear more of them

"A whole fleet of them." Jack whistled lowly, watching the screen worried. That wasn't good news, and the Daleks likely weren't the only familiar enemy circling.

The Doctor says okay, okay, Dalek fleet, minimum of twelve thousand battleships armed to the teeth. But they have a surprise on their side! They'll never expect three people to attack twelve thousand Daleks as they'd be killed instantly, so it would be a fairly short surprise, forget surprise

"You've done it before, Doctor." Rose pointed out, gesturing to herself and Jack as she looked the Doctor down with a raised eyebrow. The Doctor winced at the reminder but just shrugged in response, they'd been panicking just a little bit at the time.

Then they hear Cybermen. The Doctor denies it but River pushes there are Dalek ships and Cyberships

"Just what you need." Graham huffed.

The Doctor declares they need to start a fight and turn them on each other, that's easy, it I Daleks they're always so cross

"Maybe if it was anyone else, but they both hate you too much." Jack raised an eyebrow at the Doctor, keeping a wary eye on them – it was clear to see that the Doctor was panicking, understandably.

Then River finds four battlefleets of Sontarans. Then more – Slitheen, Nestene, Sycorax, Zygon, Atraxi, Draconian etc, all here for the Pandorica

"Just a few then." Martha swallowed, flinching as the list went on and on with both familiar and unfamiliar names. The situation was looking worse and worse with every second.

The Doctor turns to the box asking what it is, what could it possibly be

"That's a very good question." Yaz muttered, watching the screen curiously. Whatever was in that box was drawing a lot of attention. The mystery was what was in the box and if it was worth it all.

Lots of spaceships buzz around the sky above Stonehenge

"That's certainly a sight." Bill declared, in awe (horrified awe, but awe) of the spaceships taking up the night sky.

"A terrifying one." Ryan added on. He was very glad he wasn't part of the group that had to deal with that mess, they'd had their own terrible adventures but nothing like this.

Amy asks what they do and River tells the Doctor to listen to her. Everything that ever hated him is coming there and he can't win this, can't even fight it. Just this once, please, he has to run

"We do a lot of running." Clara nodded, "But River's right, if there was ever a time to not pick a fight, it's now."

The Doctor suspiciously avoided eye contact, making several members of the group sigh. There was no way the Doctor was going to run from this fight, despite being so drastically outnumbered.

The Doctor asks run where and River counters fight how? He says the greatest military machine in the history of the universe, Amy asks the Daleks? The Doctor says no, correcting her to the Romans

"Maybe on Earth, but I don't think they'll stand much of a chance against all those spaceships." Bill countered, once again thinking back to her own experience with Romans and aliens. Then again, there was significantly more Romans now and they weren't deserters. Still, they were ridiculously outnumbered and outgunned.

River returns to the Roman camp and is taken prisoner. The commander has returned after a week away to discover they're playing host to Cleopatra who is in Egypt and dead

"Ah, that might be an issue." Martha managed a grin despite the growing tension in the room.

"He raises some good points." Rose added with a shared grin at Martha and a wink. Mickey narrowed his eyes and glanced between the pair. He was suspicious of the pair after their little talk in the break, he hadn't completely mixed all the glances and smirks he'd sent in his direction.

River replies funny how things work out. A spaceship buzzes them and the commander declares the sky is falling and she makes jokes, who is she?

"Not a bad interpretation of the millions of spaceships in the sky." Bill snorted at the absurd situation they were in.

River says when they fight Barbarians what must they think of them? The commander isn't impressed with the riddles but River pushes where do they think they come from?

"Maybe a bit too philosophical for the time limit." Clara mused; River just shrugged unrepentant she had a point she was trying to make.

The commander replies a place more deadly and powerful and impatient than their tiny minds can imagine. River uses her gun to disintegrate a wooden stand filled with ornaments as she says his world has visitors and they're the Barbarians now

"Way to make a point." Jack grinned at River with a chuckle, "Love the style."

"Style is important." River laughed, matching Jack's grin.

"Absolutely." Jack laughed. The Doctor glanced between the two before rolling her eyes, once again she was thankful, she hadn't travelled with the both of them at one time.

The commander demands to know what it is. River tells him a fool would say the work of the Gods but he's been a soldier too long to believe in gods watching them, however there is a man and tonight he will need their help

"That's one way to get some help." Yaz remarked with an appreciatively look at River. No one missed the look that Amy, Rory, River and the Doctor shared.

A soldier asks his attention and the commander has a whispered conference with a Centurion, the commander tells River they seem to have a volunteer

"What are they up to?" Donna raised a suspicious eyebrow at the Centurion. Something was feeling familiar about them, enough that it made the hairs rise on people's arms. Something curious was about to happen, or at least more curious than what was already happening.

Back in the Pandorica chamber, Amy asks what it has to do with the Tardis and the Doctor replies nothing as far as he knows

"I'm guessing that's not right." Ryan countered with a glance at the Doctor.

The Doctor considered it for a second before answering. "Technically I was correct. It was connected but I was not aware of how at that point."

Amy protests about Vincent's painting with the Tardis exploding, will that happen?

The silence in the room was loud, only growing as Amy, Rory, River and the Doctor shared a long look.

The Doctor says one problem at a time. There is forcefield technology inside the box and if he can enhance the signal, he could extend it all over Stonehenge and buy them half an hour

"Better than nothing." Graham sighed. Sometimes that was all they could ask for.

Amy asks what good is half an hour and the Doctor tells her there about fruit flies that live on Hoppledom Six that love for twenty minutes and don't even mate for life, he adds here was going to be a point to that and he'll get back to her

"Oh, you are stressed." Nardole commented with a glance at the Doctor. After spending so long together at St Luke's he'd come to know some of the Doctor's quirks.

Amy takes the ring box from her pocket and Amy asks if he is proposing to someone as she found it in his pocket. The Doctor denies it, saying it is a memory, a friend of his, someone he lost, does she mind?

Amy and Rory shared a long look, a lot of emotions being conveyed in a very brief amount of time. Watching this, knowing both what was going to happen and what had happened before gave it a whole new perspective.

"Who's ring, is it?" Dan asked confused and glancing around the room. He'd been staying a bit quitter as he adjusted to being in the room with everyone else who had apparently just accepted their crazy reality.

The Doctor glanced briefly at Amy before turning back to Dan, "That's … more complicated than you think. I'm sure you'll find out soon." Dan was confused by the cacophony of groans that erupted from the rest of the room at the Doctor's statement.

Amy says it is weird and she feels something. The Doctor tells her people fall out the world sometimes but always leave traces. Things we can't account for – faces in photographs, luggage, rings, nothing is ever forgotten not completely and if something can be remembered it can come back

"Not all of those are equal." Bill couldn't help but mutter.

"A beautiful sentiment, and important to remember." Rose smiled softly at the Doctor. The words rang a bell with the rest of the group, many of them being left in old memories with a fond smile on their face. People didn't have to literally vanish to leave and still matter.

Amy asks if she was nice, his friend? The Doctor asks if she remembers the night she flew away with him, she does, he continues she asked him why he was taking her and he said there wasn't a reason, he lied

"You do that." Amy remarked, "And you're changing the subject."

"Am I?" The Doctor countered with a softer look that made Amy frown. That whole nightmare had been a confusing mess and sometimes the abundance of memories still messed her up.

Amy says so he did have a reason? The Doctor replies her house, she repeats it confused

"The creepy house with the creepier alien hiding there?" Ryan recalled.

Amy was affronted, "It wasn't creepy!" She protested.

Rory hummed, wincing as Amy's glare turned on him. "I mean it was a little bit?"

He didn't flinch as Amy's glare lingered on him for longer, but his shoulders did sag in relief as Amy sighed accepting their words reluctantly.

The Doctor tells her it was too big, too many empty rooms and does it ever bother her that her life doesn't make any sense?

"Hypocritical coming from you." Martha snorted, earning laughs from the rest of the group and breaking through some of the tension in the room.

An energy weapon fires at them from the severed Cyberman arm and they take cover behind the Pandorica

"You've run out of time." Clara frowned. Conversations would have to wait; they were under attack now.

Amy asks what it was and the Doctor needs a proper look, saying he's going to draw its fire and give it a target

"The normal strategy then." Rose sighed, shaking her head at the Doctor.

Amy asks how. The Doctor says she knows how sometimes he has brilliant idea? She does

"This isn't one of those times." Amy finished the Doctor's sentence, rolling her eyes. This really was when she was still fairly new to travelling and it showed sometimes.

He apologises, running out and shouting to look at him, he's a target

"You're an idiot." The Master drawled as the Doctor found themselves with a pillow to her face, "That's what you are."

No one argued but they did send the Master wary looks, Dan and Yaz especially after their latest run through with him.

He gets shot at, then hides behind the base of a stone. Amy asks what it is, and he tells her the arm of a Cyberman, she asks what a Cyberman is

"Oh, you are new!" Bill remarked with a curious glance at Amy.

Amy snorted, a fond smile twitching at her lip, "And it was all downhill from here." Rory and River snorted at that in sync (showing the family resemblance) while the Doctor just sighed.

The Doctor explains it is part man, part robot and the organic part must have died years ago leaving the robot part looking for fresh meat

"Which makes this a good time to start moving." Mickey urged.

Amy asks like them? The Doctor continues it is like being an organ donor but you're alive and still kind of screaming. He needs to get behind it so he asks her to draw its fire

The group all turned disbelieving looks on the Doctor for that remark, the stress was really showing.

Amy asks like he did, and she tells him she'll be fine if she's quick, it only has one arm, literally. Amy runs screaming and the Doctor pounces on the arm

"Appropriate reaction." Martha chuckled. "Doing well under pressure."

"Not as well as you, lovely." Rose winked at Martha.

Martha sent a flirty smile back, "Thanks sweetheart, beautiful as always."

The group raised a few eyebrows at the pair, but decided it was better not to question it apart from Mickey who narrowed his eyes getting more and more suspicious.

Dan leaned closer to Yaz to whisper in her ear, "Is this normal?"

Yaz just shrugged, "Depends."

"That's not an answer!" Dan whispered angrily but Yaz refused to answer and the video continued leaving him confused.

The Doctor manages to sonic it, scrambling its circuits but tells Amy to stay where she is as it could be bluffing

"They can do that?" Graham asked a bit panicked. He didn't get an answer outside of a shrug from the Doctor.

Amy protests it is an arm, the Doctor repeats to stay where she is. Something creeps behind Amy and lassoes her ankle

"Uh oh." Nardole muttered, eyes transfixed on the train wreck about to unfold in front of them.

"Uh oh indeed." Bill agreed with a grimace.

She calls out for the Doctor as she's pulled to the floor. He shouts back but the cyberarm gives the Doctor an electric shock and knocks him out

"The Doctor's out for the count." Clara winced, "It's up to you Amy."

"Isn't it always." Amy replied distractedly, sarcastic response almost programmed into her despite the frown she was levelling at the screen.

Amy shouts for him again as she is attacked by the head of a Cyberman. She grabs it by the ear and the mask pops open revealing a skull which falls out making her scream. The mask snaps open and shut and she hits it against a stone until it lets her go, throwing it to the floor to crawl away

"Come on Amy!" Bill cheered earning a grateful smile from Amy for the belief in her capabilities.

It fires a dart into her neck

"Now would be a good time for backup to arrive." Jack grimaced at the screen, the situation just kept getting worse and worse.

The head declares she will be assimilated. Amy counter it and whose body? A headless and armless Cyberman enters, outing its head back on then going to the woozy Amy, she backs out the big doors

"That body." Ryan grimaced, leg bouncing as he leaned forward, nervous. The tension in the room rising as the situation was escalating.

Rory gave Amy a worried look despite knowing what was going to happen, seeing how close things had been was not great for his heart rate.

She calls for the Doctor

"So much belief in someone who can't save you." The Master remarked, head tilted and eyes dark as he gazed at the group. The room shared glances, uncomfortable with his comments (and presence in general really – it was just easier to ignore when he was quiet) before deciding to ignore him.

A Roman short sword pierces the door, swinging it open to reveal the Cyberman skewered to the wooden door

"Wooh!" Several people cheered as backup arrived just in time.

Amy asks who he is, and the Centurion removed his helmet to reveal Rory who greets her by name

"Rory the Roman." The Doctor smiled, though it was tinged with a bit of sadness.

"Cutting it a bit close mate." Mickey grinned teasingly.

Amy passes out

"Appropriate reaction." Clara chuckled, "Both because of everything you just experienced and because of the hot rescue." Amy laughed along as Rory blushed at the wink Clara sent him.

Rory catches her and gently lays her on a stone. A soldier calls him sir and says the man is coming round

"Wait, you're a Roman?" Dan spoke up, hand in the air as if asking a question in school and shaking his head in confusion.

"Yes and no." Rory answered with a head tilt as he confused his words, "It's more than a bit complicated but I'm sure it will be explained soon." He glanced at the Doctor who shrugged, they were pretty sure they discussed it but that didn't mean it would be shown.

The Doctor calls for Amy asking where she is

Amy smiled softly at seeing how the Doctor was immediately concerned about her. No one could say the Doctor didn't care about their companions when they saw moments like that.

Rory tells him she's fine, just unconscious. The Doctor sees her and agrees she's sedated and in half and hour she'll be fine. He then assesses the Romans saying good, he was just wising for them, good old River. He asks how many?

"Glad I can be of service." River raised an eyebrow at the Doctor, a silent question in her words to which the Doctor shook her head.

Rory tells him fifty men up top volunteered, asking about the box. The Doctor replies fifty isn't exactly a legion

"Better than nothing." Graham shrugged. It wasn't exactly an easy thing to explain yet alone get people to come along and help.

Rory says his friend was persuasive but it is a hard sell

"That's putting it lightly." Jack snorted, "You'd have to be crazy to help."

"What does that say about us?" Rose raised an eyebrow at Jack. All of them had been involved in situations like this (though not exactly the same).

"That we're amazing?" Jack's smug grin earned a matching roll of the eyes from Rose and the Doctor.

The Doctor knows that, Rory. He's not one to mis the obvious but they need everything they can get. He takes stock of the Cyberweapons saying it is a sentry box essentially so the Cyberman was a century and probably got messed up by the locals – never underestimate a Celt

"Celts, wooh!" Amy cheered quietly, earning several confused and curious looks to which she shrugged. "What? Got to represent the locals." It was impressive for them to have taken down a Cyberman, and she'd grown up on stories of how Celts and other 'barbarians' had stopped the Romans reaching Scotland, even if these locals were still 'English' in a loose term.

River just smiled fondly at her mother before turning a pointed look on the Doctor, "You are famous for missing the obvious Doctor, don't start on that."

Rory calls to the Doctor but he hushes him as he's thinking. Why leave a Cyberman guard unless it is a Cyber-thing in the box, but why would they lock up their own so no a Cyber-thing, but what? He's mossing something obvious, something bug, something right in front of him. Rory agrees yeah, he probably is

"Thanks Rory." The Doctor rolled her eyes.

"Anytime Doctor." Rory laughed, able to see much more amusement in the situation now than when he'd actually been experiencing it.

The Doctor says he'll get it in a minute, leaving the weapons and going to prod Rory saying hello again, Rory replies back

"You've not seen each other in a while then?" Yaz narrowed her eyes at the screen and the pair in the room with them, something wasn't adding up about how they were interacting.

Amy, Rory, River and the Doctor shared a grimace. That time in their lives had been exceptionally confusing. They didn't give the group any answers, just waving to the screen to the room's frustration.

The Doctor asks how how's been, Rory replies good, Roman. The Doctor tells him he isn't trying to be rude, but he died

"You did what?" Clara blinked surprised at the blunt declaration. Maybe she'd have to indoctrinate Rory into their 'dead, not-dead former companions' club too.

Bill tilted her head confused, "Unless I missed something important, I'm pretty sure the life cycle doesn't go life, death, Roman?"

The Doctor snorted in amusement at the reactions she'd known were coming. "Watch a little longer, if you're still confused, we'll explain."

Rory says he knows, he was there

Rory's blunt remarks earned several amused snorts and comments.

"Love your humour mate." Mickey nodded approvingly at Rory. They really needed to have a proper talk and commiserate the Doctor stealing away their significant other before they eventually joined the journey themselves.

The Doctor continues he died and was then erased from time. He didn't just die but was never born at all, never existed

"That's a level up from dying. Congratulations." Jack offered, only half-sarcastic.

"Thanks, I think?" Rory replied more than a little confused over whether that was a compliment or not.

Rory asks what he means by erased but the Doctor just counters by asking how he is here. Rory doesn't know as it is kind of fuzzy, he died, got turned into a Roman, it's very distracting. He asks if she missed him?

"Got your priorities straight." Martha smiled at the love Rory had for Amy. He'd died, been erased from time and become a Roman (apparently) and he could only think about Amy.

"You'd be my priority too, Martha." Rose winked at Martha who tried desperately to hide her laugh and offer her own flirtatious look back (while ignoring Mickey's narrowed eyes)

"Right back at you beautiful." She managed to reply, semi-straight faced.

The Doctor raised an eyebrow at the two of them, Rose discretely nodding to Mickey when he wasn't looking drawing the Doctor's attention to the beautiful contortion of confusion and suspicion on his face. She hid her smirk but couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Mickey who was at the pair's mercy, though knowing the pair, they wouldn't leave him suffering long.

Something shakes the ground and inside the chamber the circular designs on the Pandorica glows green, moving like cogs

"It's opening." Yaz leaned forward, incredibly curious about what possibly could be inside of it.

Rory asks what it is, what's happening. The Doctor replies the final phase, it's opening. River is on her horse watching the spaceships buzz over Stonehenge, she points out they're surrounded, asking if he has a plan through comms

"It's the Doctor, what do you think?" Jack laughed with a pointed look between River and the Doctor.

"Oi! I had a plan." The Doctor protested the slander against her name.

"Not necessarily a good one." River added offhandedly.

The Doctor turned a huffy scowl on her, "I never claimed it was!"

Donna snorted, "That's not the defence you think it is Doctor."

The Doctor replies yes and to hurry up and get the Tardis there as he needs equipment. He talks to the box, asking what it is as they're all here for it, what could it possibly be?

"You need a moment, Doctor?" Clara teased with a raised eyebrow. The Doctor was just like that sometimes with these things it always felt a bit like you were intruding on a private moment.

The Doctor stands on a stone in the centre of Stonehenge, greeting the spaceships and declaring who takes the Pandorica, takes the universe, but bad news everyone

"Speech time." Bill grinned leaning forward. The Doctor always got a particular voice when they were about to do a speech, and by the stars they could do a good impassioned speech when the moment called for it. She was excited to see what the Doctor had to say, and what their plan was for dealing with the enormous invasion heading their way.

DOCTOR: Because guess who? Ha! Listen, you lot, you're all whizzing about. It's really very distracting. Could you all just stay still a minute because I am talking! The question of the hour is, who's got the Pandorica? Answer, I do. Next question. Who's coming to take it from me? Come on! Look at me. No plan, no back up, no weapons worth a damn. Oh, and something else. I don't have anything to lose! So, if you're sitting up there in your silly little spaceship, with all your silly little guns, and you've got any plans on taking the Pandorica tonight, just remember who's standing in your way. Remember every black day I ever stopped you, and then, and then, do the smart thing. Let somebody else try first.
(The spaceships retreat.)

The group watched in silent awe as the Doctor spoke to the invaders, in full Doctor mode as they set out a challenge. One that worked nonetheless.

"That's." Rose swallowed as she tried to get her thoughts back into a coherent order, "That's one way to deal with some of them."

River smiled fondly at her wife who'd been watching her past self with critical eyes, "You're something else, you know that, Doctor?"

"Huh?" The Doctor broke out of their wandering thoughts at the sound of River's voice but she'd missed what had been said. River just shook her head, grasping the Doctor's hand and squeezing it. It had been an impressive declaration the first time, and no less impressive the second (if without the imminent fear and stress of danger).

The Doctor turns to the group on Earth saying that will keep them squabbling for half an hour

"Part 2?" Yaz smiled at the Doctor, familiar with how her plans worked by now.

"Part 2." The Doctor nodded back.

River is in the Tardis which dematerialises but jerks, she asks what is the matter with it

"The Tardis misbehaving?" The Master raised an eyebrow, unsurprised, tone dry. "What a surprise."

River scowled at him, wishing there was a pillow nearby that she could fling back at his smug face. He had no idea what was coming.

In the chamber, Rory points out they're still out there so what do they do now? The Doctor explains if he can stop whatever is in the box getting out, then they'll go home

"So just a little task." Mickey remarked sarcastically. The group watched concerned and curious at the shared look Amy, Rory, River and the Doctor shared.

He apologises to Rory saying he's going to have to be very brave now

The Doctor shot another look at Rory, apologetic. Rory nodded, understanding the message. It may not be as bad now, but it was still going to be painful to relive the next part.

Amy walks past Rory complaining about her head

"You're not going to acknowledge Rory?" Martha asked confused by Amy's complete dismissal of her husband.

Amy winced even as Rory squeezed their joined hands comfortingly. "He was erased from time when he died. I didn't remember him ever existing. No one did." Amy explained with a tired sigh. "Beside the Doctor and River who are complicated and normal rules don't really apply to."

"The ring is yours." Donna worked out, speaking up quietly with sad eyes. Memory issues were something she understood far too well.

"Yes." Rory spoke up softly, not explain anymore as the reality of the explanation caught up slowly with the rest of the group.

The Doctor tells her it was your basic knock-out drops, with some fresh air she'll be fine. Amy asks if it is safe above and the Doctor replies not remotely but it is fresh

"Nowhere is exactly safe at the moment." Nardole commented with a shrug.

Amy turns to Rory saying he's the guy, yeah? The one that did the sword-y thing. Rory is, she thanks his for it saying nice sword-ing before heading out

"Ouch." Ryan winced at the devastated look on Rory's face even as he tried to hide it. None of them could imagine how he was feeling as Amy spoke to him without knowing who he was.

Rory tells her no problem and her men are up there; they'll look after her. Amy says good, love a Roman

"Maybe there was always a reason for that." Amy whispered to Rory half serious and half suggestively as she squeezed their conjoined hands in an attempt of comfort.

Rory realises she doesn't remember him, asking how she doesn't remember him? The Doctor replies because he never existed

"Don't you love time travel." Jack grimaced. Sometimes the universe could be unbearably cruel.

In the Tardis it is lurching down the Time Vortex as River asks what it is doing, what's wrong?

The group shared a worried look at the quick flash of River, the painting that had started this mess still in their minds.

Back in the chamber, the Doctor explains there are cracks in time, and there is going to be a huge explosion in the future, on one specific day and every other moment in history is cracking around it

The four shared a knowing glance as they recalled the centre of that explosion.

"That explosion won't have anything to do with the picture of the Tardis exploding, would it?" Rose raised a worried eyebrow at the four who only winced but it was the only answer the group needed to be very worried about where this was all going.

Rory asks how that works, what kind of explosion and what exploded? The Doctor remembers a conversation with River about it being Amy's time. With Rory, the Doctor claims it doesn't matter as he cracks are everywhere now, get too close and you can fall right out the universe

"Cracks?" Ryan frowned, trying to think why that sounded very familiar. "Wait, like the one in Amy's house as a kid?"

"Exactly. Two points to Ryan!" The Doctor grinned proudly, her declaration earning a groan from Ryan, Graham and Yaz. He wasn't even traveling with her anymore and he still couldn't escape the points.

"Crack, what crack?" Dan leaned in to ask Yaz quietly, feeling (and rightly so) that he was missing some vital information.

"It's not important." Yaz waved him off casually.

"I have the feeling it is!" Dan persisted desperately but leaned back resigning himself to a lack of answers from Yaz. Maybe it would be shown or he'd pick it up with context? Or maybe he should start making friends and ask someone else?

Rory summarises so he fell through a crack and was never born, the Doctor says basically. Rory asks how he ended up there then

"Good question." Jack waved a finger at Rory, "But might I say you look dashing as a Roman?"

"Jack!" The Doctor scolded Jack as Rory blushed again and Amy cackled.

The Doctor doesn't know as he shouldn't have, he asks what happened physically from Rory's point of view. Rory recalls he was in the cave with him and Amy, he was dying and then he was just there, a real Roman soldier with a head full of Roman stuff. Like he'd woken from a dream. He thought it was a dream, him, Amy and Leadworth then today at camp the men were talking about visitors – the girl with red hair and he thought they'd come back for him but she doesn't even remember him

"I'm sorry Rory." Amy whispered hoarsely to Rory, unable to even comprehend what that had been like for him. Rory just smiled softly back, emotions filling his eyes better able to express his answer than any words.

The Doctor tells him to shut up, throwing the ring box to Rory and saying to go get her

"Go get her, girl!" Bill laughed quietly to herself, earning a few curious looks from those who overheard her laughter at seemingly nothing.

Rory doesn't understand, why is he here?

"Big question." Mickey whistled lowly, though Rory likely meant it far more literally than metaphysically.

The Doctor replies because he is. The universe is big, it is vast, complicated, ridiculous and sometimes, very rarely, impossible things happen and they call them miracles. Nine hundred years he's never seen one but this would do him, now go upstairs. She's Amy and she's surrounded by Romans; he's not sure history can take it

"Oi, you!" Amy protested, though everyone could see the big grin on her face.

"They're right Amy." Rory sided with the Doctor with a chuckle. Only now just getting to really appreciate the Doctor's complete support of his and Amy's relationship. There had been moments he'd doubted it, especially in the beginning but this just made him feel lighter (despite knowing all that was to come).

The Tardis stops, creaking. River asks if it is okay now, leaving. The scanner lights up revealing the location as Earth and date as 26/06/2010 before it breaks, a W shaped crack left in the glass and a voice declares silence will fall

The group all shared a glance, the phrase very familiar to all of them. Except for poor Dan who was just looking between worried phases feeling distinctly like he was once again missing something major but not trusting anyone would give him any answers.

River is outside Amy's house at night, she asks why the Tardis brought her here then sees scorch marks in the lawn and the front door hanging off its hinges, saying something has been there

"What makes you say that?" Donna snorted sarcastically. The area was displaying all typical signs of 'something was here'.

She follows her tricorder signal upstairs to Amy's bedroom. She mutters about both Amy and the Doctor, asking why she lets the Doctor out

"Oi!" The Doctor protested River's words, frowning at her wife who just raised a pointed eyebrow.

River finds a copy of 'The Story of Roman Britain' by Amy's bed and a copy of 'The Legend of Pandora's Box', saying oh no

"That all seems far too convenient." Clara frowned at the books which were suspiciously relevant to the situation at hand. "Why are thinks linking like this?"

The Doctor glanced at Amy who met her gaze with a matching frown, before the Doctor turned back to the room who was watching her carefully, "Stories can be powerful things." While the group wasn't satisfied with that answer, they didn't get a choice to contests it before the video continued.

Back at Stonehenge, Rory goes up to Amy asking if she is okay. Amy asks if the Doctor sent him as she's fine, he just fusses. Rory points out she got a blanket, that's good who gave it to her?

"This is so awkward to watch." Bill muttered quietly. It had to be weird for Rory trying to decide how to act around Amy when she didn't know who he was but seriously this was awkward to watch.

Amy says it was one of the guys, he asks who and she replies one of them, does it matter? Rory replies no, forget him, it, forget it

"Jealous?" Amy murmured into Rory's ear with a little smirk, it was much easier to understand was going on with all the context and memories now.

Rory turned red and muttered something intelligible but didn't deny it to Amy's amusement.

Amy asks his name and Rory introduces himself, asking what's wrong. Amy tries to claim nothing and it's not what you expect a Roman to be called, what's it short for? Roranicus? Rory says yeah but is stuck on the fact she's crying

"Some part of you knew." Rose realised sadly. If the situation wasn't so horrible it would almost be romantic.

In the Pandorica chamber, the Doctor contacts River asking where the Tardis is as she needs to hurry. River tells him not to raise his voice or look alarmed, just listen

"So, you don't have good news then." Mickey sighed, that was just typical.

Above, Rory asks what is wrong and Amy is confused as it is nothing but it's like she's happy, why is she happy?

The group offered the pair sympathetic looks but they only had eyes for each other, a silent conversation going between them as they held each other's hands tightly.

River tells the Doctor they're not real, can't be. The actual Romans she sent him, are in a story book she found in Amy's house, the actual ones, a children's picture book

"So, the Romans aren't Romans?" Ryan tried to summarise what River's was warning the Doctor of. "How can that be the case?"

The Doctor just waved to the screen in answer, sharing a knowing look with River.

The Doctor asks what she is doing there but River tells him it doesn't matter, the Tardis went wrong

"As normal." River added on, much more relaxed than her past self on screen.

She asks him how it is possible. The Doctor explains something is using Amy's memories. River asks how and the Doctor remarks she said something had been there, River agrees

"So, something is using Amy's memories to create this? Are you like in a fake world or something then?" Yaz asked, thinking back to the Solitract.

"Yes but no. This is reality." The Doctor offered a frustrating half answer.

Amy added on, "For now." Which only served to confuse the group more.

[Tardis]

She adds there are burn marks on the grass outside – landing patterns. The Doctor suggests if they've been to her house they could have used her psychic residue as structures can hold memories which is why houses have ghosts, so they could have a snapshot of Amy's memories but why?

"And who?" Martha questioned, glancing between Amy and the screen worriedly. Some unknown aliens trying to use Amy's memories didn't sound remotely good.

River asks him who are those Romans

"If they're memories or psychic residue it could explain why Rory is there." Bill theorised with a considering glance at Rory.

He says projections or duplicates

The Doctor couldn't help but glance at Rose, quickly turning away before she could notice her attention on her. The group had all seen how she'd met Rose but none had made the connection yet (not that there were many clues).

River argues the were helping them, and her lipstick worked. The Doctor explains they might think they're real, the perfect disguise as they actually believe their own cover story until they're activated

"The perfect sleeper agents." Clara mused with a worried frown at the screen. That didn't sound good for any of them, but especially poor Rory.

River mentions the Centurion as she's found a photograph of Amy in her policewoman outfit and Rory dressed as a Roman

"A handsome picture." Jack smirked with a wink at Rory who glanced at Amy unsure about the attention, Amy shrugged offering a smile. Then Jack continued a bit more serious, "And a strong piece of evidence for your theory and why Rory became Rory the Roman."

Above, Rory asks what the mater is but Amy doesn't know why she's doing that. Rory tried to tell her it's him, please, it's him. In the Tardis, River declares it is a trap, has to be, they used Amy to construct a scenario he'd believe to get close to him

"So that you'd be here for the Pandorica to open?" Martha said, forehead crunched in confusion. "But why? So, you could deal with the thing in the cage or so it could deal with you?" They had so many pieces of the jigsaw and yet no idea what picture they were supposed to be making.

The Doctor asks why? Who'd do that and what for? It doesn't make sense

"When does anything!" Dan threw his hands in the air in frustration. He was doubly confused with what was going on as he lacked the background information the rest of the room had.

In the Tardis something goes bang and over the comm the Doctor calls worriedly for River asking what's happening. River doesn't know, it's the engines, there's something wrong with the Tardis, like something else is controlling it

"Because that's just what you need on top of everything else." Graham sighed. Why was it that whenever things were bad, they always got worse before things got better?

He argues she's flying it wrong and River counters she's flying it perfectly as he taught her

"Which means you're not flying it right." The Master drawled from his corner, all smug smirks hiding the tension in his shoulders. Despite the rumours he'd heard he still didn't have much of a better idea of what was going on than the others, and that was frustrating him.

River just glared in answer before turning back to the screen.

The Doctor asks where she is, what is the date reading. River tells him it is the 26th of June, 2010 and the Doctor declares she has to get out of there now, get to any other time zone

"What's so important about that day?" Yaz inquired, noting the panicked look on the Doctor's face on screen.

"Boom." Was the Doctor's solemn reply, face serious as her eyes never left the screen. Several members of the group swallowed, sharing glances as a few more dots started to connect to form a worrying picture.

River can't break free though, the Doctor shouts to shut the Tardis down, shut everything down! River can't. The voices repeat silence will fall

"What if we say no?" Bill raised her hand lowly, resisting the urge to point out how not-silent an explosion would be (though the after effects may be deafeningly silent).

The Doctor snorted in amusement, "Sadly I don't think it works like that Bill."

Above at Stonehenge, Amy says she doesn't know him, hasn't ever seen him before in her life. Rory argues she has; she knows him. Amy asks why she is crying and Rory says it is because she remembers him, he came back and she's crying as she remembers him

"Oh, Rory." The Doctor frowned softly at his desperate hope for Amy to remember him. It was only going to get worse with what was to come next. Rory looked pointedly away from the Doctor; jaw clenched as he watched the screen. He knew what was coming but he couldn't find it in himself to look away.

In the Tardis, River says something else is flying it, an external force and she's lost all control. In the Pandorica chamber, the Doctor asks how and why before a high-pitched noise fills the chamber and the Romans temporarily slump over before reactivating

"They're activating." Jack sat up, face serious as he glanced between the four in the room and the screen. "Whatever's happening is going down now." He had the distinct feeling it wasn't anything good.

The Doctor tells River to listen, land anywhere, emergency landing now. There are cracks in time, he's seen them everywhere and they're getting wider. The Tardis exploding caused them but if she lands the Tardis, they can stop the cracks ever happening

"But they have happened so surely the Tardis explodes so that all this can happen?" Ryan's face was contorted into a picture of confusion, trying in vain to get his head around the mess of time they were witnessing.

The Doctor shrugged, "Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey."

River protests it isn't safe

"When is the Doctor's driving?" Amy snorted in an attempt of humour which fell a bit flat with the tension in the room. She shared a subtle nod with her daughter, both mentally bracing for what was to come.

In the chamber, the Pandorica starts to open, white light flooding out. The Doctor turns to it saying it's ready to come out then

The group all leaned forward, tension obvious in their posture, but curiosity strong to finally see what was in the prison.

Above at Stonehenge, Rory is fighting the activation begging and arguing no, he isn't going to, please, he's Rory!

"Fight it, Rory!" Several members of the group encouraged desperately. The way that Rory avoided any eye contact wasn't reassuring.

River calls for the Doctor telling him she's landed. He tells her to walk out the doors as if no one is inside the Tardis engines shut down automatically

"Come on River." Clara urged, eyes darting between the screen and the group in the room. Too much was going on at once; River was trying to escape the Tardis, the Doctor was facing the opening Pandorica, and Rory was fighting the activation sequence.

She just needs to get out of there, she says she's going and he urges her to run. The Roman's fingers drop away from their hands to reveals weapons and the fact they're Autons

"Autons!" Rose exclaimed wide eyed as she pointed at the screen, finally making the connection as to what they were. That wasn't good;

River shouts that she can't open the doors as the Doctor sees the Autons and realises the danger Amy is

"So much is happening." Donna muttered worried. How the group was going to escape this mess was a mystery to everyone but them.

Above, Rory tells Amy to listen, she has to run and get as far away from here as she can. He shouts he's a thing; he'll kill her, she has to go! He keeps protesting that he's Rory and he doesn't want to go

"Do as he says." Mickey encouraged the Amy on screen, either forgetting it was in the past or not caring in his panic. He knew all too well what the Autons was like.

Amy is remembering though, remembering his name is Rory Williams from Leadworth, her boyfriend. How could she ever forget him?

"Things are colliding, she's getting her memories back." Clara realised.

"For once I don't think that's a good thing." Martha frowned worried. Normally the group would be very happy Amy could remember Rory but right now it seemed like the last thing they wanted.

Rory tells her she has to run, he can't hold on, he's going. Amy argues he's Rory Williams and isn't going anywhere ever again

"Beautiful sentiment, maybe not the right time!" Yaz glanced panicked between Amy in the room and on screen. She was defenceless against Rory who while fighting, seemed to be losing against the programming in his head.

River is in the Tardis still, begging as she can't open the doors, please, Doctor, she only has seconds

"How do you choose?" Rose frowned in sympathy at the Doctor. He had to try and deal with whatever was coming out of the Pandorica, save River from far away, and stop Amy being hurt by the Autons (plus find a way to save Rory), it seemed like an impossible task let alone in such a time limit.

The Doctor's face was schooled, eyes never leaving the screen as she watched everything fall apart once again.

In the Pandorica chamber, the Doctor is piecing things together. Plastic Romans – duplicated driven by the Nestene Consciousness, Deep cover but what for? What is the box doing, what's in there?

"It's part of the trap." Bill reached the logical conclusion, "But what could be so important in the Pandorica that you need to be there?"

River hooks the Tardis engines to the main door handles as one of the romans – Marcellus – declares the Pandorica is ready. The Doctor asks if he means it is open?

"I don't think that's quite what they mean." Jack frowned deeply, an unsettling feeling that they were missing the obvious sitting heavy in his stomach.

A White Supreme Dalek trundles forward saying the Doctor has been scanned, assessed and understood, as a red and yellow Dalek beam in behind the first

"Daleks!" Donna threw her hands up in the air in frustration. Once again, the situation just kept getting worse. "Just what you need!"

Above, Amy tells Rory to remember the ring, he never let her wear it in case she lost it. Rory says the Doctor gave it to him and she asks for him to show it to her

"Good keep him remembering who he is." Martha nodded slowly, understanding what Amy was trying to do. While running may have been the smarter idea she couldn't help but glance at Mickey and think what she would do in that situation.

Rory protests but Amy insists so Rory shows it to her. Below, the Doctor is confused asking scanned? By what, a box? The Supreme Dalek announces his limits and capacities have been extrapolated

Jack sat back in his seat with an audible sound, eyes wide as he realised what was going on. "There's nothing in it." He stared down the Doctor beside him who refused to move her eyes from the screen still, "It's for you. That's why they're there, why it's a trap. They're going to lock you up in it."

The group was silent as they tried to take in that revelation. It certainly made sense, but it just added a layer of danger to the situation they were in (which was already a mess).

"The Pandorica." The Master spoke up, breaking the silence. His expression was schooled not revealing any of his emotions or thoughts but finally drew the Doctor's attention away from the screen. "Built to contain the most feared thing in the universe. The Doctor." The pair of Time Lords shared a long look, neither budging as a silent battle of minds occurred.

It was a few moments later that the Doctor glanced away.

Cybermen, Judoon and Sontarans beam down, Stark (a Sontaran) declaring the Pandorica is ready

"All your enemies teamed up against you." Jack muttered with a grimace. It sounded like his worst nightmare and he didn't have nearly as many enemies as the Doctor (despite his best attempts).

The Doctor asks ready for what and the Supreme Dalek replies ready for him. He struggles against the grip of two Romans

"Wait, the silence!" Clara sat up straighter, eyes narrowing at the screen as the strange 'silence falls' finally connecting in her brain. "That's why they want to imprison you! This is before Demon's Run so they think if you are imprisoned you can't destroy everything!" Other members the group made hums of agreement or realisation. River gave a little nod in answer in place of the Doctor who had turned her attention stubbornly back to the screen.

"Demons run? The Doctor will do what?!" Dan exclaimed, utterly confused. "Seriously what is going on?"

"Just go with it, Dan." Yaz shrugged, enjoying messing with him more than a little.

"It's not like I very well have a choice, now do I?" Dan grumbled his complaints but sat back with a huff as the video continued.

Above, Amy says he remembers, this is him and he is staying. Rory's gun hand activates

"No!" Half the room shouted, some leaning forward in their seats and other even reaching out desperately in a futile attempt to stop what they all knew was coming on screen.

He shouts no but shoots Amy even as he cries against it

Rory winced, jaw clenched and shoulders tight. It was still hard to watch despite knowing it had been coming. Ammy squeezed his hand in comfort, leaning in right against him to remind him she was still there and safe as the rest of the room descended into exclamations of shock and disbelief. The Tardis didn't give them any time to deal with what they'd just seen as the video continued playing.

River tries frantically to escape the Tardis, and in the chamber the Doctor is dragged closer to the Pandorica, then fastened into the seat inside with his arms, torso and head being clamped into places as his enemies stare him down

"Doctor, if you have a plan now is the time to use it." Mickey grit out nervously, eyes not leaving the bleak picture on the screen.

The Doctor asks how them all working together is possible. The Supreme Dalek states the cracks in the skin of the universe, Stark continuing all reality is threatened, and the Cyberleader finishing all universes will be deleted

"Good to know, all of the universe has to be threatened for them to come together." Jack muttered, attempt to inject humour inro the room falling flat to even his ears. How had he not heard rumours about all this? Surely this seemed like something he would have heard about?

River snorted, one of the few people in the room more relaxed (though still quiet tense at the reminder of how close everything has been). "The Doctor being the target probably helped."

The Doctor asks if they've come to help but Stark denies it saying they will save the universe from him. The Doctor is confused

The Master let out a hollow laugh, drawing nervous glances from the rest of the group. "Now you finally understand, Doctor." He sneered at anyone who had the misfortune of catching his gaze, annoyance mounting as the Doctor refused to look at him.

The Cyberleader explains all the projections and evidence concur, the Doctor will destroy the universe. The Doctor protests no, they have it all wrong

"They do and they don't." Amy muttered quietly so only Rory could hear; the pair shared a knowing glance with River.

The Cyberleader continues the Pandorica was built to ensure the safety of the Alliance with the Supreme Dalek adding a scenario was devised from memories of his companion

"So, they're the creeps the took Amy's memories." Bill huffed, feeling annoyed for Amy.

Stark adds it is a trap the Doctor could not resist. The Supreme Dalek continues the cracks in the universe are the Doctor's work, it has been confirmed. The Doctor protests no, it isn't him, it's the Tardis, and he isn't the Tardis, is he? The Supreme Dalek argues only the Doctor can pilot the Tardis

"False propaganda, thank you very much." Donna protested. She had helped pilot the Tardis before, River had several times (as they'd just seen) and several other members of the group had also helped pilot in the past.

He begs them to listen but the Supreme Dalek declares he will be prevented

"They're just looking for any excuse." Martha scowled at the group. Maybe they were partially scared of the whole universe destruction thing but really, they just wanted to get rid of the Doctor. Things would go a lot better for many of them if the Doctor wasn't around.

The Doctor shouts about total event collapse, every sun will supernova at every moment in history and the whole universe will never have existed, please listen to him!

"When does anyone ever listen to you?" Clara snorted with little humour; frown permanently etched on her face like many others in the room as they watched the mess on screen unfold.

The Cyberleader orders the Pandorica sealed. As it closes the Doctor keeps shouting and pleading for the to listen as the Tardis is exploding right now and he is the only one that can stop it! Listen! The Pandorica closes

"The Tardis that River is in?" Rose winced as the door closed on the Doctor, sealing them in. River had no way out of the Tardis before it exploded without the Doctor.

In the Tardis, River opens the doors to discover she is parked right against a rock wall with no escape

"Oh, come on!" Ryan muttered, annoyed at the lack of escape and answers for every one of the four.

River says she's sorry, my love. The Tardis explodes. Rory weeps over Amy's body and every star in the universe explodes

The group watched in horrified silence and awe at the final picture, Vincent's painting coming true, before the screen turned black.

"Seriously, it stops there?!" Donna protested with a scowl at both the empty screen and then up at the roof.

"What have we just witnessed?" Bill muttered still in shock. Things really had gone from bad to worse. The Tardis had exploded with River trapped inside, Amy was dead at Rory's hand leaving him weeping over her body, and the Doctor was trapped in an inescapable prison surrounded by enemies. They weren't sure how they were going to get out of this one.

The Doctor swallowed, just releasing how dry her lips were, as she dragged her eyes away from the black screen to glance around the rest of the room. "Well-."

"Nope." Yaz interrupted her immediately, waving a hand at the Doctor for added emphasis. "Don't say another word. We're watching the next part now! We need to know how you got out of this … mess."

The Doctor held her hands up in surrender before dutifully keeping her mouth shut. The rest of the group nodding along with Yaz's declaration, frantic for answers. Thankfully the Tardis was feeling merciful and complied with their request, drawing the group's attention back to the screen.