Chapters Doctor Whooves: A Sparkling Return
"Clara sometimes asks me if I dream. 'Of course I dream,' I tell her. 'but, what do you dream about?' she'll ask. And I'll say, 'I dream about what everybody else dreams about. I dream about where I'm going. Then she'll laugh and say, 'but, you're not going anywhere, you're just wandering about.' Well, that's not true. Not anymore. Because, I have a new destination. My journey is the same as yours, the same as anyone's. It's taken me so many years, so many lifetimes, but at last, I know where I'm going. Where I've always been going. Home. The long way around."
"And?" Adagio asked, causing the Doctor's grin to subside.
"And what?" He asked.
"And, what's next?" Adagio asked.
"Nothing! That's it!" the Doctor said. "The end!"
Sunset rubbed her chin. "So, you met two different versions of yourself?"
"Yep." The Doctor said.
"And, saved your world from destruction?"
"Yep."
"By shoving it into a pocket universe, and hoping one day you'll find it?"
"Yep."
"You're crazy, you know that?" Adagio said.
"Yep." The Doctor said, smiling, "but, that's why you like me."
"Who said I liked you?"
"You did."
"When?"
"For you, last month, for me, last year."
"Anyway!" Sunset intervened, "why did you come to us first? Why not Clara?"
"I wanted to see you." The Doctor said, "is that alright?"
"Yes, but, you dematerialized the TARDIS around us," Sunset said, "while we were having lunch, claiming you had a majestic tale to tell us."
"Is was a majestic tale!" the Doctor replied, "Of three mad men in a box!"
"I'm not complaining about the story, it was very good, it's just, well, I'd like to finish eating." Sunset said, smiling.
"Oh, yes right, sorry." the Doctor said, just as his phone rang. "Hold on, just a moment." He walked over to the TARDIS door, and pulled the phone off the exterior, and stood in the TARDIS entrance. "Hello, Doctor Who's Pizza."
"Very amusing, Doctor," came the reply, "But, I have urgent news."
"Oh, Vastra, hi!" the Doctor exclaimed, "How are you?
"I'm well, but, this isn't a social call." Vastra replied.
"Well, no, of course not." The Doctor replied. "What's going on?"
"A woman appeared, or rather a young girl, I'd say about the age of eighteen," Vastra explained, "And, she claims to know you."
"She does?"
"It appears so, although, I do not believe she s aware of your current incarnation, but rather your previous one."
"I see." The Doctor said, "What does she look like?"
"Her features, and Jenny's DNA scan point to her being human, but her skin color and hair color point to a different species. She has lavender skin, and blue-violet hair."
The Doctor's face fell, remembering these features. "What is her name?"
"We are...unaware of it, at this time." Vastra said.
"Unaware?"
"She is being a little...uncooperative, at the moment. I can't tell if it's because of fear, or because of other reasons."
"Which one of you did she meet first?" The Doctor asked.
"She met all three of us at the same time."
"Oh, well, Strax must've scared her half to death. I told him to get a pedicure, but he didn't listen."
Vastra chuckled, "Doctor, do you know this woman?
"Possibly. I need a name, what is her name?" The Doctor asked, getting frustrated.
"As a said before, she's being uncooperative." Vastra replied.
"Very well, I'm on my way, and I'll be bringing some people with me." The Doctor replied.
"Clara?"
"No, two...others."
"Does this mean your travels with Clara are over?"
"No, they're still happening."
"Just two others then?"
"Yes."
"Wow, you do get around, don't you?"
"What?" The Doctor exclaimed, "No, not like that, I just...what are you implying?"
"Why, nothing at all, my dear Doctor." Vastra replied.
"Very well, I'll be there in a jiffy." The Doctor replied, and then hung up the phone, and walked back to the main console area, "Right them, you two need to change clothes."
Adagio raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"Preferably something Victorian," the Doctor said, punching coordinates on the console, "I'll be changing too, of course."
"Why do we need to change?" Sunset asked.
"We're going to Victorian London, Eighteen Ninety Four to be precise."
"Why?" Sunset asked.
"An emergency's come up, and I need to go there immediately, so go, change. Quickly please."
Sunset and Adagio exchanged a glance, and stood up, heading toward the wardrobe. Along the way, Adagio said, "We're never going to finish lunch, are we?
Doctor Whooves: A Sparkling Return
"Oh, god, this is uncomfortable, how did people dress like this?" Adagio asked, uncomfortable in her violet Victorian-style dress.
"I'm pretty sure it was normal," Sunset replied, though she was uncomfortable as well in her light blue dress, "After all, girls dress like this when they're young."
"Besides, Victorian clothes aren't that bad." The Doctor said, pulling different levers on the TARDIS console.
Adagio crossed her arms. "You're one to talk, you're basically wearing your normal clothes."
Unlike Adagio and Sunset, the Doctor wore similar to his regular clothes. He wore his regular boots, tan plaid trousers, a white dress shirt, black velvet waistcoat, a reddish-purple frock coat with a fur collar, a red velvet top hat, and of course, a bowtie. He actually felt comfortable. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it." The TARDIS landed, and the Doctor smiled. "Come on then, Victorian London! Let's go see!"
The Doctor rushed out the doors, and sniffed the air. "Ah! Do you smell that? That's the smell of industry!"
"It smells horrible." Adagio said, closing the TARDIS door behind her.
"Well, yes, it does, a bit, but, hey, London Eighteen Ninety Four!" The Doctor said, gleefully.
"You seem overly excited." Sunset observed, "As in, more excited than usual."
"Well, I have a fondness for Victorian London. Especially this era." The Doctor explained.
"Why?" Sunset asked.
"I spent a lot of time here once. I was kind of moping, to be honest, but, hey, I left eventually, finally." The Doctor said.
"Doctor, why are we here?" Adagio asked.
"What do you mean?" The Doctor asked.
"Well, you were on the phone, and suddenly, you take us to Victorian London." Adagio said, "What's going on?"
"I got a call from a friend." The Doctor said. "She found something, or rather someone, and she called me."
"She?" Adagio asked.
"Don't worry, she's married."
"Oh."
"And, her wife is very nice."
"Her wife?"
"Yeah. And, she has a Sontaran butler."
"What?"
"Yeah." The Doctor heard a sudden beeping. "Oh, hello?" The Doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out his sonic screwdriver. the light was flashing. "Screwdriver's detected something."
"What does that mean?" Sunset asked.
"It means there's something nearby." The Doctor said. He walked off, the two girls following him, until he stopped at a brink wall. "Right here."
"It's just a wall." Adagio said.
"Maybe..." The Doctor activated the screwdriver, "If I can intensify the signal..." Suddenly a woman appeared, hanging laundry to dry. She seemed like a ghost, or an apparition, as she was translucent.
She looked to her left, and saw the Doctor, Sunset, and Adagio. "Blimey, sir, you gave me a fright!"
The Doctor shook off his shock. "Oh, right, sorry, didn't mean to scare you, we were just passing through."
"It's alright sir," the woman said, "What are you doin' out in the country dressed like that?"
"Oh," the Doctor said, examining his clothes, "We're on our way to a costume party."
The woman chuckled. "Did you get lost along the way sir, the nearest village is six miles away."
"Yeah, a bit lost actually." the Doctor said, "Tell me, what is your name?"
"Amelia sir, Amelia Wilson." She replied.
"Amelia, hi, tell me, what year is it?" The Doctor asked.
"Sir, are you sure you'll alright?" Amelia asked.
"Yes, fine, just, tell me what year it is."
"It's nineteen twenty three, sir." Amelia replied.
"Oh, thank you Amelia." The Doctor said. And, suddenly, she was gone.
"What happened to her?" Sunset asked.
"She was never really here, simply a ghost." The Doctor said, scanning where she'd been with his screwdriver. He flicked it open, and check his readings. "Oh, not good."
"What is it?" Adagio asked.
"There's an unusual amount of temporal energy here." The Doctor said. "It's odd. And, it coincides with what Vastra saw."
"Vastra?" Adagio asked.
"My friend, the one who called me."
"Oh."
"It's a coincidence, and do you know what I always say?" the Doctor asked.
"No." Sunset said.
"Never ignore a coincidence." The Doctor explained. "Unless, of course, you're busy, in which case always ignore it. Come on, I think it's time you meet Madame Vastra."
Doctor Whooves: A Sparkling Return
Twilight stared at the ceiling. She couldn't sleep. She couldn't even believe where she was, or how she got there. It was all a jumble, really. She was at Canterlot High on Christmas, she opened the crack, then it became blurry. She was holding the Doctor's hand, then she felt a sharp pain in her forehead, then her glasses fell off, her hand slipped, and she fell.
Then, there was blackness. There was someone there, but it was so difficult to tell, and then BAM! London, 1894. With aliens. But, she couldn't see. Without her glasses, everything seemed blurry, and out of focus. She hated it. Let alone these Victorian pajamas.
Before her thoughts could wander more, she felt something slam against her waist. She sat up quickly, and could make out a platter, with food on it, though she couldn't make out what it was. "Good morning." A voice in front of her said.
Twilight sat up quickly, and looked over to her right. The man that she'd seem earlier was standing there, holding some kind of tool. He held it up to her, and a random pulse noise began.
Twilight quickly swatted the device out of the man's hand, and then recoiled backward. "Stop fidgeting boy!" The man shouted, causing Twilight to question his intelligence, "I am merely scanning you for injuries!" The man bent down, and grabbed the device, and then started scanning again.
"Let's see..." he said, "Severe eye damage, imperfections in the spine, but remarkable brain processing speed!"
"Who-who are you?" Twilight stuttered.
"I am Commander Strax of the Eleventh Sontaran Battle Fleet!" Strax said proudly.
"Strax, you are a nurse working as a butler in my household," a voice said, as the green-skinned woman walked into the room, "Now, I would like to have a word with our guest. Go clean the stables."
Strax grumbled and wandered off, leaving Twilight and the green woman alone. The woman sat down on the edge of the bed, and said, "My name is Vastra, what's yours?"
Twilight didn't reply.
"I am sure you are wondering who I am, and why I look like this."
Twilight nodded.
"You see, I am a Silurian, or a homo-reptilian." Vastra explained, "My race inhabited the earth some time ago, but, now, I serve as a detective here in London, with my wife, and my butler, Strax. I am also a friend of the Doctor's."
This caused Twilight to perk up. "You know the Doctor?" She asked, squinting to get a better look at Vastra.
"Yes, I do." Vastra replied, smiling, "He was here for a long time, until recently, when he left. And, he is coming back."
"He is?" Twilight asked.
"Yes, but, I don't think you'd recognize him." Vastra said.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.
"Are you aware of the Doctor's regeneration ability?" Vastra asked. Twilight shook her head. "Well, you see, the Doctor has the ability to change his entire body, and his face, when he is going to die. The current Doctor is not the one you remember."
"How could you know that?" Twilight asked.
"You told me that you were with the Doctor in Canterlot." Vastra explained, "As I said, I know the Doctor well, and, the last time he was in Canterlot was in his previous life. Not his current one."
"I- I don't understand." Twilight said.
"You will soon enough." Vastra explained, "So, I'm going to get you cleaned up, and get you dressed, and we will wait for the Doctor together, alright?"
Twilight nodded.
"Oh, and don't eat that." Vastra said, gesturing towards the food sitting on Twilight's lap. "If Strax made it, you're likely to get food poisoning." The lizard woman stood up, and headed toward the door.
"Twilight."
"I'm sorry?" Vastra asked, stopping in the doorway.
"Twilight. My name is Twilight."
Vastra smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you Twilight. If you need anything, just give a shout."
Twilight hared Victorian clothes. They were uncomfortable, and too tight. Twilight put her hair up in a bun, and made her way downstairs, clutching the railing.
Vastra was waiting for her downstairs. "Hello Twilight, would you like some tea?" Twilight nodded.
Another woman walked up, holding a cup of fresh tea, and handed it to Twilight. "Oh, Twilight, this is my wife, Jenny." Twilight stuck out her hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am." Jenny said, shaking Twilight's hand.
"Just Twilight is fine." Twilight said and sat down.
"Twilight tell me, what is the last thing you remember?" Vastra asked.
"I see, well that is an interesting tale." Vastra said, finishing off the rest of her tea.
"It's a confusing one." Twilight said.
"Yes, well, I believe the Doctor should be here soon." Vastra said, "I should probably call him."
Twilight perked up. "Call him? But, you said he'd be here soon."
"Well, he will be." Vastra said. "I know he will be here because I'm going to call him. Thus, he will be here a few minutes after I call."
"I don't get it." Twilight said.
"You will." Vastra walked off, and made the call.
The Doctor walked up, and knocked on the door.
"So, who exactly are these people?" Sunset asked.
"Friends of mine." The Doctor said. "They helped me a while back."
The door opened and a man stood there.
"What the hell is that?!" Adagio shrieked.
"It's Strax." The Doctor explained, "Don't worry, he's harmless."
"Sir, I would hardly call a Sontaran warrior harmless." Strax replied.
"I would." The Doctor said, smiling. "Well, aren't you going to let us in?"
"Of course sir." Strax said, allowing the three to enter.
Sunset trailed quickly behind the Doctor, Adagio in the rear. She was the one who Strax stopped.
"May I take your coat?" Strax asked.
Adagio's face became confused. "I'm not wearing a coat."
"Then, what's all that?" Strax asked, gesturing to Adagio's dress.
"It's clothes." Adagio said.
"May I take your clothes?" Strax asked.
"Ugh!" Adagio recoiled in disgust. "Of course you can't! What's wrong with you?!"
"Easy boy," Strax said.
"Boy ?" Adagio asked, her face showing signs of anger. She grabbed Strax by his tie. "Look at my body! Do I look like a boy?! Everything about screams feminine!"
"Adagio!" The Doctor called.
"We'll meet again later." Adagio said, letting go of Strax's tie, and heading toward the Doctor. "What is wrong with that potato?"
"He died a while back and was brought back." The Doctor explained, "But, I don't think his brains made the return trip. Two genders is a bit further than he can count."
"I guess." Adagio said, "I mean look at me! Do I look like a boy?!"
"Uh...Jenny!" The Doctor shouted, as a girl walked up. "Your timing is impeccable. Will you let Vastra know we're here?"
"I've made the call and the Doctor should be here soon." Vastra said, sitting next to Twilight.
As if on cue, Jenny came running up. "Ma'am. The Doctor is here."
"Speak of the devil," Vastra mumbled. "Send him in!"
Doctor Whooves: A Sparkling Return
"And who might you be?" The Doctor asked, taking off his hat, and approaching the man.
"Oh, who are you, sir?" The man asked, cheerfully.
"I'm the Doctor, but you already knew that didn't you?" The Doctor said, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Of course I know that, Doctor." The man replied, "After all, you've been in my domain before."
"Your domain?" The Doctor asked.
"Yes, my domain." The man said, stretching his arms out. "If you think this is my domain, then you are sadly mistaken. For you see, this is simply a temporary area that serves no purpose in anything, except maybe seeing you. After all, you love Victorian London don't you? You spent quite some time moping around here. It wasn't until Clara and the snowmen came that you left your cloud."
"You still haven't answered my question." The Doctor said, walking around the man.
"Oh, yes, how silly of me." The man said. "I have many names. Dimentio, Luther, Slither, Canibel, Falswan, although, the most likely name you know me by is the Guardian."
"Guardian of what?" The Doctor asked.
"The Void." The Guardian said.
The Doctor chuckled. "The Void doesn't have a guardian."
"I don't understand," Jenny said, looking towards Vastra, "What is the Void?"
"The dead space, the vast nothingness in between the universes. It was called the Void by the Time-Lords, but most people call it Hell." The Doctor explained.
"Sounds cheerful." Jenny said.
"Ask Twilight, she was there." The Guardian said.
All eyes fell upon Twilight. "I think I was there. I was a vast amount of blackness."
The Guardian held up a finger, "Uh-ha, that's the Void."
"So, as the Guardian of the Void, what exactly do you do?" The Doctor asked.
"Ah, ah, ah, that information is classified Doctor." the Guardian said, "But, I do have virtually unlimited power."
Jenny chuckled. "I doubt that."
The Guardian moved swiftly towards Jenny and Vastra. "Oh, really? Okay, I'll prove it." He turned toward Vastra. "Vastra, I know your wish. You wish to be more compatible with Jenny, is that right? Well..." the Guardian snapped his fingers, and a flash of light appeared around Vastra.
When it faded, Vastra was still standing there, but she looked completely different. She was human. Fair, pink skin, with bright blue eyes, and long black hair draping her shoulders. Both her and Jenny stood there in shock.
Strax raised his gun. "Stand down scum! And surrender, for the glory of the Sontaran Empire!"
The Guardian quickly maneuvered over to Strax. "The Sontaran Empire, Strax?" He asked, pushing the weapon down, "Really? You aren't even in the Empire Strax, let alone a soldier for it. You're a nurse. But, I can change that."
And with a snap of his fingers, and a flash of light, Strax stood there in full Sontaran armor, marked with the highest rank available. "Ah, you see! Strax the undefeatable! Strax the bloodthirsty! The most feared warrior in the Sontaran Empire!"
"Guardian, stop this now!" The Doctor shouted, walking up toward him.
"Oh, but why Doctor?" The Guardian asked. "It's what they want, why not give it to them?"
"Because they don't want it." the Doctor said. "It's not what they truly wish for."
"He's right." Jenny spoke up. "It's not what we want. I love Vastra, just the way she is, and I wouldn't have her any other way."
"How poetic." The Guardian replied.
"Being made a fierce warrior with doing nothing to achieve it is not honorable!" Strax said. "I demand to return to my previous rank, and previous duty!"
"Oh, how dismal!" The Guardian shouted, "I give you your deepest dreams only to be smacked in the face!? What have I done to deserve this?"
"Guardian, return them to normal." The Doctor said, anger in his tone.
"Oh, fine!" The Guardian said, and snapped his fingers, and Vastra and Strax returned to normal. "But, what about your friends Doctor? What do they want?"
"Guardian..." The Doctor warned.
He started with Twilight. "Let's see, I know what you'd like." He snapped his fingers, and Twilight recoiled slightly. She blinked and pulled off her glasses.
"You...restored my sight..." Twilight said.
"Perfect vision!" The Guardian said, and moved on the Sunset. "Let's see...what do you want?"
Sunset glared at him. "Nothing you can give me."
The Guardian recoiled. "Oh, I see. That's...interesting." He moved to Adagio. "Oh, Adagio, I know exactly what you want. And, you want similar, don't you Doctor?"
"Shut up!" Adagio shouted, catching the Guardian by surprise.
"Why?" the Guardian asked.
"Because you're not helping them!" The Doctor shouted.
"I'm helping Twilight." The Guardian said.
"No you're not." Twilight said, as the Guardian turned to face her.
"But, I gave you your sight back." The Guardian said, "Isn't that worth something?"
"It is, but-"
"There you see?!" The Guardian gloated, facing the Doctor, "I am helping!"
"But, I don't want my sight back." Twilight explained, "I honestly like wearing these glasses. They separate me from Princess Twilight."
"Oh, fine!" The Guardian squealed, and returned Twilight's sight to normal.
As she put her glasses on, the Guardian faced the Doctor and said, "So, Doctor, you and your friends seem to be immune to my abilities. What do you plan to do next?"
The Doctor walked up to the Guardian, straightened his bowtie, and said, in a low voice, "I will defeat you. I will send you back to where you came from. And, I will stop you from doing this."
"How do you plan to do that?"
"I will motivate you." The Doctor said.
The Guardian recoiled. "Oh. I know what your thinking. And, not just yet I'm afraid. In fact, I think I'm going to retire for now. Go home, I think. And, once I do, you'll have about two minutes to save the world or it will be destroyed right here, in eighteen ninety-four. Good luck!" He snapped his fingers, and with a flash of light, was gone.
Doctor Whooves: A Sparkling Return
Previously, on Doctor Whooves...
Twilight rubbed her eyes, taking in her surroundings. The brick ground was cold to the touch, and she could barely see without her glasses. She glanced around, trying to make sense of everything, when she suddenly felt an arm on her shoulder.
Twilight was forced up, and pushed into what appeared to be an alleyway, at least with her blurred vision. "Is she human?" A voice asked.
"It appears so, ma'am." Another woman replied.
"I suggest we melt her with acid." A man's voice replied.
"Strax, shut up." the first woman said, and approached Twilight, "Can you hear me? Are you alright?"
Twilight stuttered, and said, "Wh-where am I?"
"You're in London, England, on Earth." the woman replied, "My name is Vastra, are you alright?"
"London?" Twilight asked, cradling in the alley, "But, I was just I Canterlot, with the Doctor."
"The Doctor?" the second woman asked.
"It's possible, Jenny," Vastra said, and turned back to Twilight. "When was this?"
"What?"
"When were you in Canterlot?"
"Twenty-fifteen, why?" Twilight asked, "When am I now?"
Vastra gulped, "Eighteen-ninety four."
Twilight's eyes opened wide, "Eighteen-ninety four?"
