Doctor Who: The Time of the Companions: Book 3 (Doctor Who: The Companions' Adventure)

by Cour M.

“I’m surprised,” Amy mocked, “that you honestly thought that we would fall for that. You always say that you wish to do one thing, but you lie. You really intend to do something else.”

  “Have I changed, really?”

  “This is over,” C.S. said gravely, “we’ve got our soldiers. Now let’s leave.”

  “How can you?” The Dream Lord asked, “when you still don’t have the TARDIS?”

  “The game is over,” Rory refuted, “you’ve lost. Give it back.”

  “How can I when the game is not over?”

  “C.S. has figured out that this is his dream,” Ace pointed out.

  “Is it his dream?” The Dream Lord asked, then he turned to the Doctor, “is it?”

  Ten looked grave.

  “Well, sure it is,” Amy said, “after all, this is his creation. Doctor?”

  “Tell her, Doctor,” The Dream Lord assented, “tell her what you have realized for quite some time.”

  “Doctor?” Rory asked, “what is he talking about?”

  “Amy and Rory,” Ten began, heavily, “don’t you think it’s kind of strange that an Angel just happened to show up in the year that you were trapped? And that you happened to find a way to put my name on the statue? Do you even remember who you hired to do it?”

  “Yes,” Amy said, “their names were…” she trailed off when she couldn’t remember them. “Well, Rory, you remember, right?”

  “Yes, of course. Their names were…” But he couldn’t remember them either.

  “Yes,” Ten said, “you wanted to signal me, so it just occurred and you told yourself what you needed to.”

  “Doctor,” Amy stressed, “what are you saying? Please, tell me that…”

  “You never made it out of the 1930s, Amy and Rory,” Ten finalized, “you are still there now. Just asleep. And dreaming of finding me. The wrong Doctor just showed up. You brought the dream, while C.S. Lewis just supplied the backdrop and was a distraction.”

  “No,” Amy denied, “Doctor, we are here. Look, we’re right in front of you.”

  “You are, but you’re also far away.”

  “No,” Rory refuted, “this is not how the Dream Lord works. We have to be here. He only supplies the choices between two things, yes, but it has to be real.”

  “Because it is. Your minds are here, and your soul is your soul, but your bodies are left behind. And I’m sorry. But it’s time that you wake up.”

  “No, we fought so hard to get to you!” Amy cried. “We did everything.”

  “I know,” Ten said, holding her cheek and Rory’s arm, “And I loved every moment of it. But the fact is, I’m living on stolen time. You were not my companion, and I had no right to keep you. I just… I was happy, happy enough to deny that I had no right to try and keep it.”

  Ten raised his screwdriver up to the Ponds while Rory held Amy.

  “No, this is real,” Amy kept denying. “This is real.”

  “Doctor,” Rory said, “The Dream Lord is not real. Remember? He is just you. You told us in the future, that he was just you!”

  “That’s what I told you,” Ten voiced, “Truly, I must have really cared, to protect you. Rory, Amy… he is so much more than that.”

  He activated his screwdriver and the Ponds disappeared, where they woke up back in the 1930s, far away from him—and out of his reach.

  

  When they dissolved, Ten closed his eyes, loathing himself.

  “And how much you wish that it was the reverse,” The Dream Lord jabbed, “a part of you wishes that the dream never ended. My my, Doctor, and they call me the Dream Lord.”

  “Shut up!” Ten said, losing his patience, “Shut up! You won! As you always will, until the day that I defeat you. Because if there is one thing that I always do in the end: I come back. And I make the one who opposed me regret it.”

  “Ah, there it is,” he chuckled, “that cold, cruel look that hints at so much horror underneath. For that’s what you learned over this past year, isn’t it? That that monster you’ve always had within you is not dead, but rather it is still within you, willing to rise up and destroy anyone who gets too close. Now you know why you couldn’t travel with Martha. What really frightened you about her was that every time you went on an adventure, you felt the monster rising. You felt how every time you tried to impress her, you let her down. Then you damaged so many things when you failed to play the hero. You were afraid more and more, that you were losing your name with every action. No, for they were not the actions of the Doctor. You couldn’t travel with her, because you kept losing that title, the roles shifted, and you eventually became the companion—and a disappointing one at that. How does reality feel, Doctor? To be so alone.”

  “Oh do shut up,” Ace cried, “I’ve had enough of this.”

  “Look around, Dream Lord,” Jack Harkness added, “does he look alone?”

  Ten looked between Ace and Jack, his eyes full of gratitude.

  “No, he’s not,” Ace confirmed, “we all come and go, because we have no choice. Either we leave him, we get left behind, or we simply grow up. As we all have to some time. Yet the one thing that we never forget: our time as the companions. And that memory is too much, can combat the worst nightmare, even for a Lord of Dreams like yourself.”

  “And something tells me that you didn’t see that coming,” Ten added, “You can destroy every good memory I have, but they were all there. Every companion for every moment I was alone. Every life I saved for every life I destroyed. Every person I helped to stand balance against every one that I let down. You’re right. I almost lost my name, and I made someone suffer for it. Yet it’s still my name, and I will keep it from this day forth.”

  “Will you?” The Dream Lord taunted. “Or is that what you tell yourself?”

  Ten looked around him at all the soldiers who were returned to him.

  “They are now being taken from Neverland, by the boy who never grows up.”

  “Better that than the one who grew up too fast,” Ten said, gesturing to the Dream Lord. “And just curious. Look how many people are behind me?” He asked, gesturing to the soldiers, Jack and Ace, “and how many are behind you? Why do I get the sense, Lord of Dreams, that loneliness will always be your biggest nightmare?”

  The Dream Lord grinned ambiguously, and it could have meant anything.

  “Still, a deal is a deal,” he replied, “I shall once again, play fair, and reality belongs again to you.”

  He disappeared. As he did so, the world of Boxen suddenly was getting sucked in all around them, as if it was being pulled down a drain past them. They clung to each other as the scenery rushed in all around them. When they looked up, they were in the TARDIS.

  Ten grabbed Ace and Jack Harkness, hugging them affectionately.

  “Thank you,” he sighed, “you are all that is best in me.”

  “Oh, we know,” Jack laughed.

  Ten then looked at all the soldiers and C.S. Lewis.

  “Well now,” Ten smiled, “it’s time you went home, and we all woke up.”

  Epilogue One

  Twelve & Donna

  Twelve landed the TARDIS right outside of Donna’s home once more and then looked at her.

  “You may not remember,” he said, “but this was how our first day ended together, when you were used by the Racknoss. I landed the TARDIS right in this exact spot when I brought you home.”

  Donna smiled.

  “Oh, spaceboy, don’t you dare joke about me forgetting things at a time like this.”

  Twelve smiled as he looked down at his hands.

  “Yes,” Donna stressed, “I remember it all. I was in my ugly wedding dress. Why did I get that wedding dress?”

  “No idea!” Twelve scoffed, “I mean no offense, but come on, you could have picked a better one.”

  “Yes, I could have.”

  Donna and Twelve nodded to each other as they began to walk to the TARDIS doors.

  “So, how do you feel,” Donna a
sked, “knowing that Clara is out there in your past, still traveling with your previous self? How are you feeling about it, because I don’t want you to be stupid and get jealous of yourself?”

  “I’m not, don’t worry. I just… those days are numbered. I saw her as she died, now I saw her again after it, and she is living on borrowed time.”

  “So is he.” They left the TARDIS and looked at Donna’s home. “So are you. So how is that going to work? When will he regenerate into you?”

  “There is no way of knowing. One thing is for sure. He will have to arrive at the exact same spot in his TARDIS at Trenzalore. Whether he needs to return there and I will just feel it occur, I am assuming that either way, we shall feel what is right—when the time comes. And Clara will have to be there as well. Only this time, she will be more aware. And see me for even less than what I am.”

  “Or maybe she won’t.”

  “Or maybe she won’t,” Twelve echoed. “Who knows, huh?”

  “And you’re going to see Bill now?” Donna realized, “that’s good, because you shouldn’t be alone.”

  Twelve looked her in the face, crestfallen.

  “Yes, I should see Bill again. She has your sense of humor.”

  “Then she’s a good egg, that Bill.”

  “Yes, she is. So, back to your life as it was before, huh? Well, Donna, it was a pleasure.”

  “Was a pleasure?!” Donna socked him lightly in the face.

  “Ow, what was that for?”

  “I said that you should never travel alone! What makes you think I’m not going to make you come and pick me up every once in a while, and drop off into space?”

  In hearing this, Twelve’s eyes lit up.

  “Then you mean…”

  “Yeah, you Dumbo. You great, curly-haired, Scottish sounding, Dumbo!” She laughed, “how dare you drop me off and threaten to forget about me?”

  “I had not… then you really mean…”

  “Of course, you great prat! Yeah, whenever Bill has a paper to write or whatever she does, I’m here for the moments in between.”

  “Oh, by the rites of the Rani!”

  Twelve and Donna embraced.

  “Don’t worry,” Donna sighed, “you haven’t seen the last of me at all. But if you don’t come in the meantime, at least do me the curtesy to stop by if you get a new face, I know you get busy, but at least remember to do that.”

  “Oh, believe me, this won’t be the last time you see this face.”

  Twelve rushed back to his TARDIS and turned to see Wilfred and Donna’s mom emerge from the home.

  “Donna, you are back!” Her mother cried. “Thank the lord for that, I thought it would never happen!”

  “My darling Donna,” Wilfred cried, “Come here, girl!”

  “Oh, of course I came back,” Donna laughed, hugging them. “I’ve got my TARDIS boy back now!”

  “And Doctor!” Wilfred cried, “come on in, man. You’re a hero again!”

  Twelve leaned out of his TARDIS and pointed at them.

  “Oh come on Wilf, me old son,” Twelve said, “you know I’ve got places to see. But I’m coming back. Remember, I’m always coming back.”

  Twelve closed his doors and the ship took off.

  

  Twelve parked again and emerged, feeling an immense sense of satisfaction. Donna was back in his life, and he would see her again, very easily. Also he had helped a race find their place in the universe, and now he had one more meeting to make. As he walked up to her door, he wrung the bell and very quickly, Bill appeared, wearing something that he really didn’t like… again.

  “Doctor!” Bill cried.

  “Hey Bill,” he smiled, raising up his hand for her to take. “Ready for another adventure?”

  Bill smiled and took his hand.

  “I was wondering if you would ever ask again.”

  They walked to the TARDIS together.

  “So, tell me. Any chance we’ll run into more of those Kelads again?”

  “For god sakes, they are called Daleks!”

  “I know,” Bill laughed, “just keeping you on your toes.”

  They entered the TARDIS and they took off, come what may.

  Epilogue Two

  Eleven & Martha

  Eleven landed once more on Cardiff in Marinus, where Martha breathed out evenly, then rushed to the doors and opened it. She was slightly dismayed when she realized that she was back on Marinus.

  “Home,” she sighed, looking out at it, “once more you took me home.”

  “Yes,” Eleven said, simply behind her.

  In the doorway, she leaned against the wood.

  “A bittersweet thing it is.”

  She turned to the Doctor and smiled happily.

  “You, sir, are a handsome face that I shall never forget.”

  “I should hope not,” he smiled simply.

  “Should we hug?”

  “I don’t know. It all feels strange.”

  “I know. And I don’t understand why, but it does. Shall I see you again, Mister?”

  “I believe you may, or you may not,” he smiled sadly, “you know me.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  She turned to leave and Eleven stepped forward.

  “Or you may,” he said suddenly, “if you…”

  “What?”

  “Come with me,” Eleven requested, sheepish, “I know you are married, but you’ve seen me at this point. I would love to have another married couple with me. And I’ll be better this time, I will. I’ll be a better man for you, Martha.”

  “Doctor,” she answered, sadly, “I can’t.”

  Eleven bit his lip, feeling a little ashamed.

  “Right,” he said, “of course I was being silly. Forget that I said anything about it.”

  “No, Doctor…”

  “No, truly, forget it—”

  Martha walked up to him and grabbed his hands to soothe him.

  “No, Doctor, it’s not that,” she assured him, “There was something I didn’t tell you. Doctor, I’m pregnant.”

  

  “What?”

  “Yes, I’m pregnant. Five weeks now.”

  Eleven looked down at her stomach and pressed his hand against it.

  “Why Martha Jones, Doctor Jones!” He laughed, “you and Mickey.”

  “Yes,” she laughed.

  “You let me drag you around the universe like that when the whole time you were pregnant?” He gasped.

  “I couldn’t help it,” she urged, “you showed up with your bloody blue box, a bow tie and nice hair. I got caught up in things and got ahead of myself.”

  “You like my hair?”

  “Oh shut up.”

  “Not a chance!” Eleven looked on her sadly. “It’s a strange thing,” he admitted, “I usually don’t tell anyone this, but I don’t like endings really. They are agony to me.”

  “And you don’t like saying goodbye, do you?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “And I was the one who left.”

  “Yes, you were.”

  “I want to see you again. Mickey and I would love that, but I have to not be selfish now. I have to think about what’s growing in me. He or she. I have to live for them now.”

  “I understand.”

  “Besides, you have an even bigger journey out there, don’t you? You know who I’m talking about; Clara Oswald. She’s out there, isn’t she, and waiting for you?”

  “Yes, she is.”

  “And if you don’t go, then she will always be waiting, and you don’t want to put her through that too, do you? If you do, then that will be the second girl who waited, wouldn’t it?”

  “Yes, it would,” Eleven chuckled, “but Martha, you don’t understand.”

  “What don’t I understand?”

  “I’m so old now, and I don’t feel things as I ought. I feel colder, sometimes crueler, and sometimes I don’t feel like… like I’m the Doctor. What if I do the same thing to her
that I did to you? What if I don’t let her in, because of ghosts? I fear that will happen.”

  “No, it won’t,” Martha assured him, “because you will not. Because of what I am going to tell you now. I know how hard it is when you lose someone, and you have a right to be broken for a time, but Doctor, this new girl that you found, she seems worth it. Because she is perhaps. And when you go and see her, make sure that she feels special, never make her feel second best, forgive her if she feels more than you ever will for her, and never be afraid of her feelings. Her possible feelings for you. You must understand what you are. You are a beckon of light, Doctor, and hope, and that is a new thing to see. When something so extraordinary lands in your life in a blue box amongst all the ordinary, it is hard not to be swept away. Therefore, do not fear her feelings, if they are there. For they are not what makes her bad, no. It is her feelings for you that show that she is truly good.”

  Eleven nodded and he kissed Martha’s forehead.

  “I like the kisses on the forehead a lot,” Martha acknowledged.

  “Do you think that Clara would like them?”

  “I bet she will.”

  “I hope so.”

  Martha removed the phone from her pocket and handed it back to him.

  “You know what that means.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “If it ever rings, make sure to answer the phone,” she demanded.

  “Will do.”

  “I’ll see you again, Mister,” Martha smiled and then she left the TARDIS.

  As she did, Eleven was stricken with a thought and then he leaned out of his TARDIS doors.

  “Ah, and no offense to Mickey,” Eleven said, “but I really hope the baby looks like you.”

  He closed the door before she could finish turning around and she saw the TARDIS as it began to de-materialize. As she stood there, smiling at the blue box once more, the soldier Nigel appeared at her side.

  “He’s leaving already,” Nigel said.

  “Yes,” Martha replied lightly, “he’s just returning to the time vortex. I’ve been there, it’s a lovely place.”

  Martha turned and began to walk, with Nigel following after her.

  “Oh and Mickey patched through. He’ll be here in a day or two.”