The Doctor Who Drabble Files by badly_knitted



Summary: A collection of drabbles set in the Doctor Who universe. Any characters and pairings from the show will be fair game; there will no doubt be both canon and non-canon, depending on inspiration.
Rating: Teen
Categories: Multi-Era
Characters: Amy Pond, Clara Oswin Oswald, Donna Noble, Martha Jones, Mickey Smith, Other Character(s), Rory Williams, Rose Tyler, The Cybermen, The Daleks, The Doctor (Unspecified), The TARDIS
Genres: Drabble, Mixed
Warnings: None
Challenges: None
Series: None
Published: 2015.02.07
Updated: 2023.03.26


Index

Chapter 1: For Her
Chapter 2: Same Difference
Chapter 3: A Matter Of Taste
Chapter 4: Utterly Alien
Chapter 5: Out Of Reach
Chapter 6: Just Whistle
Chapter 7: Hers Forever
Chapter 8: One-Sided Love
Chapter 9: The Dalek Way
Chapter 10: Admitting The Truth
Chapter 11: Unwelcome Guest
Chapter 12: Burning Off The Old
Chapter 13: Joking Aside
Chapter 14: Being Alone Is Worse
Chapter 15: Changed
Chapter 16: Dreams Of Home
Chapter 17: A Bit Of Rain
Chapter 18: Dreaming Spires
Chapter 19: Accidental Detour
Chapter 20: A Quick Dip
Chapter 21: Gridlock’s End
Chapter 22: Bright Sparks
Chapter 23: Perennial Favourite
Chapter 24: The Right Look
Chapter 25: The Ultimate Accessory
Chapter 26: Uninvited
Chapter 27: Collision
Chapter 28: Faint Warning
Chapter 29: Amy's Hero
Chapter 30: Wedding Gift
Chapter 31: Scattered
Chapter 32: Don't Worry
Chapter 33: Being Normal
Chapter 34: The Charms Of Gravity
Chapter 35: Spring Is Sprung
Chapter 36: Dreams
Chapter 37: Not Lost
Chapter 38: For The Planet
Chapter 39: Delayed Reactions
Chapter 40: Unexpected Revenge
Chapter 41: Aliens And Quarries
Chapter 42: The Centurion
Chapter 43: One Final Act
Chapter 44: The Power Of Magic
Chapter 45: Just A Few
Chapter 46: Destiny
Chapter 47: Haunted By Fear
Chapter 48: Bad Influence
Chapter 49: Crotchety
Chapter 50: Whimsical
Chapter 51: Flamboyant
Chapter 52: Useless
Chapter 53: Months, Not Hours
Chapter 54: Starless Sky
Chapter 55: Someone’s Missing
Chapter 56: How It Begins
Chapter 57: Journey’s End
Chapter 58: Reunited
Chapter 59: False Belief
Chapter 60: Breaking
Chapter 61: Rambling
Chapter 62: Providing Inspiration
Chapter 63: Amelia’s Wish
Chapter 64: Fishing
Chapter 65: In Dreams
Chapter 66: The Candle-Maker
Chapter 67: The Tower
Chapter 68: Inking It
Chapter 69: Anonymity
Chapter 70: The Nature Of Time
Chapter 71: Ageing Well
Chapter 72: Willingly
Chapter 73: All You Need Is Tea
Chapter 74: Consequences
Chapter 75: Instant Offspring
Chapter 76: Well Known
Chapter 77: Unprepared
Chapter 78: Unreal
Chapter 79: Christmas Miracle
Chapter 80: In Central Park
Chapter 81: Protector
Chapter 82: Out Of Kindness
Chapter 83: Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind
Chapter 84: I Am A Dalek
Chapter 85: Alien Sunrise
Chapter 86: Clinging To Hope
Chapter 87: Second Chance
Chapter 88: Doctor, Heal Thyself
Chapter 89: Witnessing Wonders
Chapter 90: Sugar Overload
Chapter 91: Taste Test
Chapter 92: Just Like The Legends
Chapter 93: To Visit The King
Chapter 94: Playing Detective
Chapter 95: Marriage Of Convenience
Chapter 96: Strange Phantoms
Chapter 97: Shadows
Chapter 98: From Friends To Enemies
Chapter 99: Spooked
Chapter 100: Words Of Power
Chapter 101: Halloween
Chapter 102: Together
Chapter 103: Funeral For A Friend
Chapter 104: Where First?
Chapter 105: Flower Power
Chapter 106: Chosen Path
Chapter 107: Warrior
Chapter 108: Thawed
Chapter 109: Making Merry
Chapter 110: Wedding Daze
Chapter 111: Monster!
Chapter 112: Of Teeth And Claws
Chapter 113: Always A Way Out
Chapter 114: Hanging With Santa
Chapter 115: Captives
Chapter 116: Starting Over
Chapter 117: Coward Or Killer?
Chapter 118: Too Silent
Chapter 119: A Charming Woman
Chapter 120: Undeserved
Chapter 121: Trouble
Chapter 122: Lost Potential
Chapter 123: Young Again
Chapter 124: Not Like Ancient Greece
Chapter 125: Plant Life
Chapter 126: Across The Pond
Chapter 127: Can’t Fool Me
Chapter 128: Unnatural Evolution
Chapter 129: Another Adventure
Chapter 130: Wrong One
Chapter 131: Deadly Pacifist
Chapter 132: String
Chapter 133: Amelia’s Fairytale
Chapter 134: Probabilities
Chapter 135: Toon Time
Chapter 136: Pandorica
Chapter 137: A Maid's Life
Chapter 138: Shiny!
Chapter 139: From The Depths
Chapter 140: Flying Free
Chapter 141: An Ordinary Man
Chapter 142: Broken Bride
Chapter 143: Vacation
Chapter 144: Everything's Wrong
Chapter 145: Cuckoo
Chapter 146: Imagination
Chapter 147: Van Gogh
Chapter 148: Among The Stars
Chapter 149: Not Fair
Chapter 150: Contested Ownership
Chapter 151: Wish Granted
Chapter 152: Jack
Chapter 153: Burden Of Shame
Chapter 154: Candle In The Dark
Chapter 155: Safe Return
Chapter 156: Welcome Aboard
Chapter 157: Purpose
Chapter 158: Encounter
Chapter 159: One Last Trip
Chapter 160: Waking Nightmare
Chapter 161: Educational
Chapter 162: Wanderlust
Chapter 163: Skills
Chapter 164: Out West
Chapter 165: Oh Snow!
Chapter 166: A Grain Of Truth
Chapter 167: Resistance Is Futile
Chapter 168: Super-Nanny
Chapter 169: Life Is Mucky
Chapter 170: Appearances
Chapter 171: Independent
Chapter 172: Out Of Sync
Chapter 173: All At Sea
Chapter 174: Free At Last
Chapter 175: Scheme Big
Chapter 176: Inebriated
Chapter 177: No Use
Chapter 178: Smitten
Chapter 179: Great Names
Chapter 180: Hats Are Cool
Chapter 181: Glorious Mud
Chapter 182: Gaps
Chapter 183: Space And Time
Chapter 184: Outside Help
Chapter 185: Pub League
Chapter 186: Postcards
Chapter 187: Strange Man
Chapter 188: Bad Timing
Chapter 189: Like Old Times
Chapter 190: Travellers
Chapter 191: Phone Home
Chapter 192: Battle Stations
Chapter 193: The Massacre
Chapter 194: Stowaway
Chapter 195: Unbreakable
Chapter 196: Surreal
Chapter 197: Tradition
Chapter 198: The Price Of Fame
Chapter 199: Life Changer
Chapter 200: Breaking Rules
Chapter 201: Volcano Day
Chapter 202: Unfair Trade
Chapter 203: Worth It
Chapter 204: Many Hands
Chapter 205: All The Same
Chapter 206: Veiled
Chapter 207: Adventures
Chapter 208: The Dreamers
Chapter 209: Cool World
Chapter 210: Run!
Chapter 211: Shadow Men
Chapter 212: Her Ideal Man
Chapter 213: Hello, Spaceboy!
Chapter 214: The Sisterhood
Chapter 215: Incredible!
Chapter 216: Ghosts
Chapter 217: Canary Wharf
Chapter 218: Only Forwards
Chapter 219: Potential
Chapter 220: Opposition
Chapter 221: Shrinking
Chapter 222: New Life
Chapter 223: By Himself
Chapter 224: At The Library
Chapter 225: Coming Clean
Chapter 226: Don’t Leave Me
Chapter 227: Extraordinary Girl
Chapter 228: The Grouch
Chapter 229: Having A Blast
Chapter 230: Travelling
Chapter 231: Contradiction
Chapter 232: Why Him?
Chapter 233: Hot
Chapter 234: Guilty
Chapter 235: When In Rome
Chapter 236: Roaming
Chapter 237: Travelling In Style
Chapter 238: In Trouble
Chapter 239: Don’t Pet The Aliens
Chapter 240: Keeping Busy
Chapter 241: Odd Aliens
Chapter 242: Substitute
Chapter 243: New Feet
Chapter 244: Beautiful Music
Chapter 245: Reactions
Chapter 246: Lost Skills
Chapter 247: Bananas
Chapter 248: Tea For Two
Chapter 249: Unspoilt
Chapter 250: Superior
Chapter 251: Offended
Chapter 252: Relics
Chapter 253: Colliding Realities
Chapter 254: Ginger
Chapter 255: Incongruous
Chapter 256: Back In Business
Chapter 257: Just A Dream
Chapter 258: Fiction Or Fact
Chapter 259: Picture This
Chapter 260: A Brilliant Mind
Chapter 261: Spoilers
Chapter 262: Stolen
Chapter 263: Waiting For A Sign
Chapter 264: Chaotic
Chapter 265: Effortless Charm
Chapter 266: No Good Choice
Chapter 267: Long Way Down
Chapter 268: Wrong Turn
Chapter 269: Lost Language
Chapter 270: Forbidden Knowledge
Chapter 271: Priceless
Chapter 272: Babbling
Chapter 273: New Style
Chapter 274: Full Of Surprises
Chapter 275: Emptiness
Chapter 276: Hopes Dashed
Chapter 277: One World
Chapter 278: Underwater
Chapter 279: Commodities
Chapter 280: Mysterious
Chapter 281: Saying Hello
Chapter 282: Forest
Chapter 283: Pinnacle
Chapter 284: Not Enough
Chapter 285: All A Game
Chapter 286: Rewritten
Chapter 287: Basic Maths
Chapter 288: Surprise
Chapter 289: Safest Course
Chapter 290: Insincere
Chapter 291: First Meeting
Chapter 292: Fixed Point
Chapter 293: Not Himself
Chapter 294: Getting There
Chapter 295: Puzzling
Chapter 296: Unimportant
Chapter 297: Faith
Chapter 298: One Chance
Chapter 299: Her Life
Chapter 300: Native Cuisine
Chapter 301: Prisoner
Chapter 302: Lost In Translation
Chapter 303: Enthusiastic
Chapter 304: New Earth
Chapter 305: Skipping Out
Chapter 306: Headfirst
Chapter 307: In The Moment
Chapter 308: Hard Choice
Chapter 309: Handy
Chapter 310: Three Doctors
Chapter 311: Hinky
Chapter 312: On Trial
Chapter 313: Doomsday
Chapter 314: Harmony
Chapter 315: Allergic
Chapter 316: Public Enemy
Chapter 317: Chance Encounter
Chapter 318: Unwelcome Reminder
Chapter 319: Quid Pro Quo
Chapter 320: Muck
Chapter 321: Bound
Chapter 322: Whirlwind Visit
Chapter 323: Playing A Part
Chapter 324: Young At Heart
Chapter 325: Close Shave
Chapter 326: Exciting Life
Chapter 327: Companions, Plural
Chapter 328: Extraordinary
Chapter 329: Stubborn
Chapter 330: Not Settling
Chapter 331: Odd Transport
Chapter 332: Red Giant
Chapter 333: Alarming Alien
Chapter 334: Familiar Object
Chapter 335: No Substitute
Chapter 336: Amazing
Chapter 337: No Longer Ordinary
Chapter 338: Club Badge
Chapter 339: Innocent Menace
Chapter 340: A Better Man
Chapter 341: Always Learning
Chapter 342: Dawn Chorus
Chapter 343: When It Rains
Chapter 344: Swarm
Chapter 345: Charmed
Chapter 346: Not A Monster
Chapter 347: The Coolest Thing
Chapter 348: Shared Purpose
Chapter 349: The Crash
Chapter 350: Destinies
Chapter 351: Indignities
Chapter 352: Modern Woman
Chapter 353: Perceptive
Chapter 354: What Now?
Chapter 355: Spectacular
Chapter 356: Poor Substitute
Chapter 357: Intimidating
Chapter 358: Humbling Sight
Chapter 359: Pastime
Chapter 360: Red Tape
Chapter 361: Timeworn
Chapter 362: Lost Dreams
Chapter 363: On The Moon
Chapter 364: Wrong Place
Chapter 365: Hungry Shadows
Chapter 366: Historic Moments
Chapter 367: Guardian
Chapter 368: Curiosity
Chapter 369: Self Service
Chapter 370: Appendages
Chapter 371: Natural Reaction
Chapter 372: Not An Idiot
Chapter 373: Alien Encounter
Chapter 374: Weird Wildlife
Chapter 375: Responsibility
Chapter 376: Hanging Around
Chapter 377: Bizarre
Chapter 378: Unwanted
Chapter 379: Punctuality
Chapter 380: Lending A Hand
Chapter 381: Not Happy
Chapter 382: Confused
Chapter 383: Misdirection
Chapter 384: Alternative
Chapter 385: The Gallery
Chapter 386: Mostly Harmless
Chapter 387: Elegant
Chapter 388: TARDIS Knows Best
Chapter 389: Goodbye
Chapter 390: Adjusting
Chapter 391: Military Might
Chapter 392: Splendid Occasion
Chapter 393: Sad Fate
Chapter 394: Small Problem
Chapter 395: Paying A Debt
Chapter 396: Walking Away
Chapter 397: Boom
Chapter 398: Immaculate
Chapter 399: Big Bully
Chapter 400: Clear As Mud
Chapter 401: Multi-Purpose
Chapter 402: Flawless
Chapter 403: No Quitter
Chapter 404: Sort Of Nice
Chapter 405: Sandy And Hot
Chapter 406: Unnatural
Chapter 407: Boring
Chapter 408: Advanced Science
Chapter 409: Untrustworthy
Chapter 410: Help Needed
Chapter 411: Incomprehension
Chapter 412: Circles
Chapter 413: Measuring
Chapter 414: Taking A Break
Chapter 415: All Dressed Up
Chapter 416: Oops
Chapter 417: Bright Idea
Chapter 418: Uninvited Guest
Chapter 419: Going Native
Chapter 420: Hazards
Chapter 421: New Look
Chapter 422: Impossible
Chapter 423: Brilliant
Chapter 424: Set In His Ways
Chapter 425: Lost Again
Chapter 426: The Artist
Chapter 427: Thrill Ride
Chapter 428: Ragged
Chapter 429: Everything's Right
Chapter 430: Mistakes
Chapter 431: New Year Party
Chapter 432: Half The Fun
Chapter 433: One Of A Kind
Chapter 434: Miscalculation
Chapter 435: Distraction
Chapter 436: Not Weak
Chapter 437: Unbelievable
Chapter 438: Dressing Up
Chapter 439: Hidden
Chapter 440: Feeling Small
Chapter 441: Instant Attraction
Chapter 442: What?
Chapter 443: Thoughtless
Chapter 444: Outranked
Chapter 445: Bazaar
Chapter 446: Odd Experiences
Chapter 447: Manners
Chapter 448: Rumour Has It
Chapter 449: Changes
Chapter 450: Stormy Weather
Chapter 451: Fractured
Chapter 452: Left Behind
Chapter 453: Wrong
Chapter 454: Relocated
Chapter 455: Bloody Gorgeous
Chapter 456: Weird
Chapter 457: Eternal
Chapter 458: Throne For A Loop
Chapter 459: Alien Identification
Chapter 460: A Stitch In Time
Chapter 461: Not Earth
Chapter 462: Fair Warning
Chapter 463: Inconvenient
Chapter 464: Opening Night
Chapter 465: Technical Issues
Chapter 466: Hazardous
Chapter 467: Hair Trouble
Chapter 468: Always Summer
Chapter 469: Silence
Chapter 470: Trash Or Treasure
Chapter 471: Sardines
Chapter 472: Diagnosis
Chapter 473: Primitive
Chapter 474: Solving Puzzles
Chapter 475: Best Man
Chapter 476: Artistry
Chapter 477: Secrecy
Chapter 478: Cult Following
Chapter 479: No Consolation
Chapter 480: Memento
Chapter 481: Campfire Tales
Chapter 482: Wrinkled
Chapter 483: Crystalline
Chapter 484: Unrequited
Chapter 485: Rough Ride
Chapter 486: Helpless
Chapter 487: Unique
Chapter 488: Weird Weather
Chapter 489: The Guest
Chapter 490: Refugees
Chapter 491: Surrounded
Chapter 492: Objection
Chapter 493: Justification
Chapter 494: Last Time
Chapter 495: Handyman
Chapter 496: Companionship
Chapter 497: Legacy
Chapter 498: Name Dropping
Chapter 499: Dropping In
Chapter 500: Always Prepared
Chapter 501: True Story
Chapter 502: Leaving Home
Chapter 503: Attraction
Chapter 504: Bad Idea
Chapter 505: Paradise Lost
Chapter 506: Hobby
Chapter 507: Paradise Found
Chapter 508: Bugged
Chapter 509: Priorities
Chapter 510: Undiscovered
Chapter 511: Not Interfering
Chapter 512: Reminder
Chapter 513: Resurrected
Chapter 514: It's All Relative
Chapter 515: Memory Worm
Chapter 516: Impressed
Chapter 517: Battleground
Chapter 518: Interstellar Life
Chapter 519: Victorious
Chapter 520: Unworthy
Chapter 521: The Doctor's Faces
Chapter 522: Lost
Chapter 523: Foiled Again
Chapter 524: Breakdown
Chapter 525: Released
Chapter 526: Panic
Chapter 527: Earth's Protector
Chapter 528: Obscurity
Chapter 529: Mistaken Identity
Chapter 530: Tied
Chapter 531: A New Mystery
Chapter 532: Correction
Chapter 533: Earth's End
Chapter 534: Magical
Chapter 535: A Man Of Honour
Chapter 536: Superstition
Chapter 537: Debutante
Chapter 538: Fever!
Chapter 539: Polluted
Chapter 540: Cold Comfort
Chapter 541: Grand Theft
Chapter 542: Winter World
Chapter 543: The Coat
Chapter 544: In Tune
Chapter 545: Visitors
Chapter 546: Like Magic
Chapter 547: Unappreciated
Chapter 548: Metal Army
Chapter 549: Cosy
Chapter 550: Home From Home
Chapter 551: Beach Life
Chapter 552: Mind-boggling
Chapter 553: Hot Stuff
Chapter 554: Shocking News
Chapter 555: Outwitted
Chapter 556: Uncomfortably Familiar
Chapter 557: Parting Gift
Chapter 558: Circuit Breaker
Chapter 559: Too Many Doctors
Chapter 560: Career Change
Chapter 561: Royal Welcome
Chapter 562: Regrets
Chapter 563: Shady Business
Chapter 564: Temporary Guest
Chapter 565: Not Required
Chapter 566: For Freedom
Chapter 567: Inventive
Chapter 568: Royal Visit
Chapter 569: Insulted
Chapter 570: Exasperating
Chapter 571: London Adventure
Chapter 572: Baggage
Chapter 573: Magic
Chapter 574: Tough Love
Chapter 575: Creepy
Chapter 576: Awe Inspiring
Chapter 577: Discordant
Chapter 578: Did You Know?
Chapter 579: Off Course
Chapter 580: Bubbleworld
Chapter 581: Sitting In
Chapter 582: Baffling
Chapter 583: Basement Encounter
Chapter 584: Emergency Repair
Chapter 585: Clogged
Chapter 586: Makeover
Chapter 587: Birthing Partner
Chapter 588: Insistent
Chapter 589: Another Earth
Chapter 590: Family
Chapter 591: Disregard
Chapter 592: Going Up
Chapter 593: Wayward
Chapter 594: No Way!
Chapter 595: Captivated
Chapter 596: Signal
Chapter 597: Daring All
Chapter 598: Undisputed
Chapter 599: Don't Panic
Chapter 600: Letting Go
Chapter 601: All Fall Down
Chapter 602: Decisions
Chapter 603: Communication
Chapter 604: Deal Breaker
Chapter 605: Switched
Chapter 606: Undone
Chapter 607: Famous Last Words
Chapter 608: The Bright Side
Chapter 609: Stranded
Chapter 610: The Fence
Chapter 611: Homeward Bound
Chapter 612: All Change
Chapter 613: Not Old
Chapter 614: Friendly Chat
Chapter 615: Misplaced
Chapter 616: Destination Unknown
Chapter 617: High Altitude
Chapter 618: Deceptive
Chapter 619: Stolen Property
Chapter 620: Home
Chapter 621: Grey
Chapter 622: Going Home
Chapter 623: Twisted
Chapter 624: Indecipherable
Chapter 625: Deafening
Chapter 626: Dalek Nature
Chapter 627: Sweet Treats
Chapter 628: Incarcerated
Chapter 629: Pirates
Chapter 630: Lunch Doubts
Chapter 631: Escape Plans
Chapter 632: Top Of The World
Chapter 633: Weighed Down
Chapter 634: Ailing Amy
Chapter 635: Slow Getaway
Chapter 636: Earth's Last Hope
Chapter 637: Double Trouble
Chapter 638: Discovery
Chapter 639: Tastes
Chapter 640: Overindulgence
Chapter 641: Baby Face
Chapter 642: Different Priorities
Chapter 643: A Tiny Problem
Chapter 644: Distant Worlds
Chapter 645: Celebrity
Chapter 646: Cycle Of Life
Chapter 647: Alone
Chapter 648: Blizzard
Chapter 649: Too Friendly
Chapter 650: Turning The Tables
Chapter 651: To The Rescue
Chapter 652: Alone Again
Chapter 653: The Stranger
Chapter 654: Dropping By
Chapter 655: Chance Meeting
Chapter 656: Scientific Term
Chapter 657: Final Release
Chapter 658: Don't
Chapter 659: Horsing Around
Chapter 660: Brooding
Chapter 661: Irresistible
Chapter 662: Bad Wolf
Chapter 663: Leap Of Faith
Chapter 664: Different But Good
Chapter 665: Short Hop
Chapter 666: Go With The Flow
Chapter 667: Feeling Tall
Chapter 668: One Wrong Step
Chapter 669: Traffic Jam
Chapter 670: Free Food
Chapter 671: Puzzled
Chapter 672: Dangerous Creature
Chapter 673: Picky Eater
Chapter 674: Other Worlds
Chapter 675: Fair Exchange
Chapter 676: Invasive
Chapter 677: Unimpressive
Chapter 678: Shocked
Chapter 679: Goldilocks
Chapter 680: Supply Run
Chapter 681: Healthy Appetites
Chapter 682: Revolution
Chapter 683: Bureaucracy
Chapter 684: Access Denied
Chapter 685: Far Away
Chapter 686: Acceptance
Chapter 687: Space Police
Chapter 688: Dear Sarah Jane
Chapter 689: Mysterious Planet
Chapter 690: Duplicate
Chapter 691: Breaking Free
Chapter 692: Wrong Impression
Chapter 693: Similarities
Chapter 694: Advanced Civilisation
Chapter 695: Impressive
Chapter 696: Airy Cakes
Chapter 697: Setting Free
Chapter 698: Appalling Insult
Chapter 699: Ding!
Chapter 700: Bad Landing
Chapter 701: Fruitful
Chapter 702: Doc Of All Trades
Chapter 703: Impostor
Chapter 704: Timely Arrival
Chapter 705: Introductions
Chapter 706: Emergency
Chapter 707: The Visit
Chapter 708: Balancing Act
Chapter 709: Flooded
Chapter 710: Temporary Parenthood
Chapter 711: Clever Idea
Chapter 712: Farewell Gift
Chapter 713: Impractical
Chapter 714: Adventurous
Chapter 715: Capital Offence
Chapter 716: Disaster
Chapter 717: Ingenuity
Chapter 718: Eating Machine
Chapter 719: Offering Advice
Chapter 720: Hiding The Truth
Chapter 721: Refusal
Chapter 722: Hero Worship
Chapter 723: Misread
Chapter 724: Too Alien
Chapter 725: Out Of Place
Chapter 726: Accidental Insult
Chapter 727: Familiar Face
Chapter 728: Tactical Error
Chapter 729: Champion
Chapter 730: Taking Flight
Chapter 731: Treasure Hunter
Chapter 732: Urgent Business
Chapter 733: The Monster Within
Chapter 734: Fractured Reality
Chapter 735: Purebred
Chapter 736: Faithful Friend
Chapter 737: Birthday Plans
Chapter 738: Options
Chapter 739: Freedom
Chapter 740: Unconstrained
Chapter 741: Evolved
Chapter 742: Bargain
Chapter 743: Salvaged
Chapter 744: Cobbled Together
Chapter 745: Impossible Choice
Chapter 746: Fugitive
Chapter 747: Persuasion
Chapter 748: Good Excuse
Chapter 749: Local Hazards
Chapter 750: Winter Wildlife
Chapter 751: The Tree
Chapter 752: Incognito
Chapter 753: A Better Life
Chapter 754: Thorny Problem
Chapter 755: Objectors
Chapter 756: Remembering Bessie
Chapter 757: The Pirate
Chapter 758: Parting
Chapter 759: Stocking Up
Chapter 760: In Disguise
Chapter 761: Fearsome
Chapter 762: Fooled You
Chapter 763: Ageism
Chapter 764: Careful Selection
Chapter 765: Being Inventive
Chapter 766: Wild Ride
Chapter 767: Solid Ground
Chapter 768: Science Fiction
Chapter 769: Future In The Past
Chapter 770: Spare Parts
Chapter 771: Hungry For Adventure
Chapter 772: Improper
Chapter 773: Stolen Worlds
Chapter 774: Hidden In Plain Sight


Chapter 1: For Her

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 538 – Daredevil at dw100.

Summary: Rory doesn’t really see himself as brave.

Rory had never considered himself especially daring or brave, he’d always been more clown material than hero material. Some days he wasn’t sure how he’d ended up here, of all places, travelling through time and space with a madman in a blue box, but then he’d look at Amy, vibrant and vivacious, and it all made sense.

His Amy. He’d loved her since they were kids, had never doubted that he would always be hers, if she wanted him. He was here because this was where she was; he would go anywhere and dare anything, just to see her smile.


The End

Back to index

Chapter 2: Same Difference

Author's Notes: Okay, spooky! My second drabble for dw100, and it too came out at exactly 100 words first try!

Written for Challenge 001 – Accidents at dw100.

Figured I might as well start at the beginning and see how many of the prompts I can write. I like a challenge!

Spoilers: Tooth and Claw.

Summary: 1979? They didn’t quite end up where or when they were supposed to.

1979, the Doctor had promised, reeling off the important events of that year; world affairs, politics, science, culture… Apparently the Doctor was a bit of a punk; Ian Dury in concert was an offer Rose wasn’t about to turn down.

Really then, she shouldn’t have been surprised that instead of Sheffield in 1979, she found herself somewhere in the Scottish Highlands, from the looks of things, a century earlier, surrounded by men with rifles. The Doctor was unfazed.

“1879. Same difference.”

Well, not from where Rose was standing. For a Time Lord, the Doctor was really bad at time travel.


The End

Back to index

Chapter 3: A Matter Of Taste

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 002 – Food at dw100.

Oops! I’ve left this collection hanging for quite a while. Apologies, I’ll try to get more written for it soon, I’ve just been tied up with my very long Torchwood fic and some less than pleasant events in real life.

Eleventh Doctor Era

Spoilers: For The Eleventh Hour

Summary: Everything changes when the Doctor regenerates.

Regenerating is full of annoying complications. Bad enough that he gets a new body, with long, gangly, uncoordinated limbs, hair with a life of its own, and a brain that can’t seem to make up its mind about anything, but no one ever warns you about the taste buds.

He’s starving, regenerating takes energy, he needs to refuel, but…

Apples are disgusting, yoghurt is nasty stuff with bits in, bacon is vile and baked beans are just plain bad. As for bread and butter… the less said about that, the better.

Then it hits him: Fish fingers and custard!

Perfect!


The End

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Chapter 4: Utterly Alien

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 003 – Alien at dw100.

Spoilers: Flatline.

Summary: Clara’s never encountered anything so completely alien.

Travelling with the Doctor, Clara’s seen loads of aliens, large, small, friendly, hostile, fluffy, scaly, and everything in between. Some were even so like humans it was hard to tell the difference just by looking at them.

She’d crossed paths with some of the Doctor’s most implacable enemies, Daleks, Cybermen, and Sontarans among them, yet however alien they were she’d been able to understand their motives, at least a little.

But this time they’re up against something that defies comprehension. Two-dimensional beings have found their way into the three-dimensional world, and even the Doctor has no idea what they want.

The End

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Chapter 5: Out Of Reach

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 004 – Cross Over at dw100.

Spoilers: Doomsday.

Summary: It’s their last chance to say goodbye.

Through the last tiny gap between universes, on a bleak, windswept beach called Bad Wolf Bay, they look at each other for the last time, able to see and hear, but not to touch. It’s breaking their hearts in ways neither of them ever imagined.

The Doctor’s burning up a sun to buy them these few, brief moments; there’s just time to say goodbye, but it’s not enough, can never be enough. After everything they’ve been through together, how can they survive being ripped apart?

The gap snaps shut, leaving them both in tears, the way between universes closed forever.

The End

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Chapter 6: Just Whistle

Author's Notes: Crossover with The Clangers.

Written for Challenge 004 – Crossover at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor meets the Clangers.

It’s been a rough few weeks. With Amy and Rory staying on earth, the Doctor’s currently without companions, and after the battering she’s taken the TARDIS needs repairs.

The planet’s small, hardly more than a moon dotted with craters, but it provides a solid surface to land on and the natives are certainly friendly, if rather pink and looking remarkably… knitted. Well, he’s seen stranger creatures and he’s sure he probably looks just as odd to them.

“Thank you.” He smiles at the dragon, accepting green soup, and returns to his conversation with the natives. Good thing he can whistle!

The End

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Chapter 7: Hers Forever

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 005 – Love at dw100.

Spoilers: General for Rory and Amy’s time on the TARDIS.

Summary: No matter what happens, Rory will always belong to Amy.

Drabble Version

Rory’s loved Amy since they were kids. The first time he saw her, burnished red hair gleaming in the sunlight, she stole his heart; he knew he’d be hers forever.

She’s stubborn, proud, always eager for adventure, and so brave. Her courage has seen her through the worst times in her life. It’s her courage and not his own that sustains him through his darkest hours. Even when he’s alone he feels her strength, knows he can lean on her.

He’ll follow her to the ends of the universe, wait for her for eternity. She doesn’t even have to ask.

The End


Extended Version

Rory’s been in love with Amy since they were kids. The first time he saw her, burnished red hair gleaming in the sunlight, she stole his heart and he knew he’d be hers forever.

She’s stubborn, proud, always eager for adventure, and so, so brave. Her courage has seen her through all the bad times she’s had to endure, and in his heart of hearts he knows it’s been her courage and not his own that’s sustained him through his darkest hours. Even when she’s not there he feels her strength and knows he can lean on her.

She’s his world, and he’ll follow her to the ends of the universe or wait for her for eternity. She doesn’t even have to ask.

The End

Back to index

Chapter 8: One-Sided Love

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 005 – Love at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith and Jones.

Summary: Martha can’t help the way she feels.

The Doctor’s extraordinary, unique, amazingly wonderful, and oh, he opens Martha’s eyes to things she’d never have dreamed existed, even in her wildest imaginings. It doesn’t matter that he’s an alien; she can’t help but fall in love with him. When he kisses her, out of the blue, her heart beats faster and her knees go weak, and it’s the most incredible feeling.

He invites her to travel with him; she jumps at the chance, because love makes you do crazy things.

But the Doctor’s in love with someone else and her heart breaks a little. He’ll never be hers.

The End

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Chapter 9: The Dalek Way

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 006 – Hate at dw100.

Spoilers: General for everything Dalek.

Summary: Daleks aren’t completely emotionless.

Daleks, scourge of the universe. They’re cold, cruel, and deadly, determined to wipe out any living thing that isn’t a Dalek. It’s what they do, their whole reason for existing is simply to kill and keep on killing until they’re all that’s left.

They’re considered devoid of all emotion, but that’s not entirely true. They know nothing of love, mercy, kindness, sorrow, or fear, all those things and more have long been stripped away from them, but they do retain one emotion: Hate.

They hate everything, that’s what fuels them. One day, it might be what destroys them for good.

The End

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Chapter 10: Admitting The Truth

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 007 – Confessions at dw100.

Spoilers: Gridlock.

Summary: Confession is good for the soul.

He lies to Martha, telling her stories of the beauty and splendour of Gallifrey, saying he won’t take her there because he doesn’t want to go home. Been there, seen it before, travelling is more fun. He keeps lying until Martha backs him into a corner, metaphorically speaking, and compels him to honesty. Then it all comes out.

It feels good to confess, admit the truth. He wants nothing more than to go home, but he can’t, because home isn’t there any more: his world, his people, gone forever. The only thing he doesn’t confess is that it’s his fault.

The End

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Chapter 11: Unwelcome Guest

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 008 – Unexpected at dw100.

Spoilers: The Runaway Bride.

Summary: The Doctor isn’t prepared for an unexpected visitor.

It’s not possible, the TARDIS is in flight, it simply can’t happen! The Doctor’s so shocked that all he can say is “What?” and “But…” and “You can’t do that!”

The woman in the white dress doesn’t seem to be having the same problem with words, ranting about him kidnapping her, which he didn’t, he’s sure of that, and demanding to be taken back immediately. Which he’d be happy to do, because a loud redhead appearing unexpectedly in the TARDIS is the last thing he wanted, even if he didn’t know that until it happened.

This really isn’t his day.

The End

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Chapter 12: Burning Off The Old

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 009 – Regeneration at dw100.

Summary: Regenerating is no picnic.

It’s the Time Lord way of cheating death, but though it means he continues living, it’s not without its drawbacks, nor is it painless. It’s like an all-consuming fire, searing through every cell of his body, burning away his old self, creating him anew.

Golden flames race along his nerves, shimmer across his skin, forming his body into a new shape, no longer suffering the damage that was killing his old one. When it fades away, he’s unrecognisable, even to himself, and must embark on a voyage of rediscovery to learn who he’s become.

He doesn’t always like the answer.

The End

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Chapter 13: Joking Aside

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 010 – Jokes at dw100.

Summary: Humour can be an effective weapon.

The Doctor loves jokes; there’s no better tool for annoying his enemies than humour, preferably at their expense. While they try to be their best evil selves, he cracks jokes, taunts them, makes them react impulsively, even irrationally. When people of any species get angry, they make mistakes. It’s a universal constant.

Besides, jokes are funny, and what’s life without a bit of fun? Dead boring, that’s what. Laughter breeds hope, and where there’s hope, anything is possible.

That’s why the Doctor always wins. Not because he’s smarter, although he usually is, but because he knows which buttons to push.

The End

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Chapter 14: Being Alone Is Worse

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 011 – Companions at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor needs companions.

Every time he loses a companion, or has to leave one behind, he starts to think maybe it’s better that way. Maybe he shouldn’t pull these fragile little beings out of their humdrum, ordinary lives and drag them off on adventures that could get them killed, or worse.

Every time, he vows never again; they’re so short-lived, and he gets too attached to them, and then they leave, or he leaves, and it hurts. He hates goodbyes.

Every time, he travels alone, and it’s worse, because he needs his companions to be his conscience. Without them, he could destroy everything.

The End

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Chapter 15: Changed

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 012 – Out Of Character at dw100.

Spoilers: The Girl Who Waited.

Summary: Amy’s ordeal has changed her.

Amy’s changed. It’s not just that she’s older, although she is. She’s been trapped here more than thirty-six years, and it tears Rory up to think about her being alone for so long.

That’s what’s making her act so unlike the woman he loves. Not the time that’s passed, but the being alone. They didn’t mean to abandon her but it hardly matters. Intent is irrelevant when you have to fight for survival every day, knowing that no one’s coming to save you.

It’s turned her hard, angry, bitter, full of hate. The worst thing is, Rory can’t blame her.

The End

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Chapter 16: Dreams Of Home

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 013 – Gallifrey at dw100.

Summary: What does the Doctor dream about?

Contrary to what his companions believe, the Doctor does sleep, he just does it when no one’s looking. Everybody needs sleep; it’s an unavoidable biological necessity, required for both psychological and physical heath. If you don’t sleep, you don’t dream, and dreams are important.

The Doctor’s seen so much in his travels. He dreams of many things, but most precious of all are his dreams of home. He sees Gallifrey as he remembers her best, the Citadel gleaming beneath its dome, the red grass and orange sky.

It’s so beautiful, so heartbreaking, that he wakes with tears in his eyes.

The End

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Chapter 17: A Bit Of Rain

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 014 – umbrella / spire at dw100.

Summary: Weather’s unpredictable no matter where you are.

“Bloody Hell!” Donna peered out of the TARDIS door at the pouring rain. “Where d’you keep your umbrella?”

“I haven’t got one.” The Doctor stuck his head out the door. “It’s just rain. A bit of rain never hurt anyone.”

“If you think I’m goin’ out in that without a brolly, you’ve got another think comin’, spaceman! A girl could drown in that, not to mention what it’ll do to my hair. Drowned rat’s not a good look on anyone. Good thing I brought mine with me,” she added cheerfully. “Never know what the weather will be like in space.”

The End

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Chapter 18: Dreaming Spires

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 014 – umbrella / spire at dw100.

Summary: The city is as magnificently futuristic as anyone could wish for.

“Now this is more like it!” Rory stared around him at the tall, elegant, crystal and glass spires that were everywhere he looked, like magnificent cathedrals shining in the sunlight. He’d wanted to visit a properly futuristic alien city and finally he’d got his wish. It was everything he’d imagined it would be, and then some. “So where are we? Alpha Centauri? Betelgeuse? Canis Major?”

“Ah, well, not exactly.” The Doctor shuffled his feet a bit. “We’re in Oxford.”

“What?”

“Oxford, earth, twenty second century. Sorry.”

“Huh. It’s changed a bit.”

“Oh, not that much really. It still has spires!”

The End

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Chapter 19: Accidental Detour

Author's Notes: Spoilers: Planet of the Dead.

Written for Challenge 015 – heat / water at dw100.

Summary: This wasn’t where the bus was supposed to go.

It’s not every day you hop on a bus, accidentally go through a door in space, and end up on a desert planet with nothing but sand as far as the eye can see. All things considered, the Doctor decides the passengers are handling the situation pretty well.

It’s hot; deserts are like that. Being inside a metal bus in a desert isn’t ideal, but it’s better than the alternative. Outside, they’d probably roast. Everyone is scared and worried, but they needn’t be. After all, they’re lucky. They’re with the Doctor, and one way or another, he’ll get them home.

The End

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Chapter 20: A Quick Dip

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 015 – heat / water at dw100.

Summary: It’s amazing what you can find in the TARDIS.

There’s a swimming pool aboard the TARDIS. Not some piddling little one either, it’s full size, you could hold the Olympics in there. Donna’s kind of impressed because… Well, indoor swimming pool inside a police telephone box! She doesn’t even try to understand how that works, or how the water doesn’t all slop out when they’re travelling through the vortex.

Slipping off her shoe, she dips her toes in the water; it’s pleasantly warm. She should probably fetch her swimming costume first, but the temptation is too great.

She doesn’t know who’s more embarrassed when the Doctor catches her skinny-dipping!

The End

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Chapter 21: Gridlock’s End

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 016 – Traffic at dw100.

Spoilers: Gridlock.

Summary: They’ve been driving round and round for years, waiting for the surface to become safe for them once more.

The motorway traffic’s been driving for years. The youngest passengers have only ever known the interior of their car and the view, hazed by exhaust fumes, of car upon car, in front, behind, to both sides, above, and below. From time to time different vehicles drive in and out of sight, but everything else remains the same.

Until now: it’s all about to change.

The roof opens far above, daylight streams in, the smog-laden air starts to clear, and the cars rise, heading for the surface. The largest traffic jam in the history of the universe is over. Freedom awaits.

The End

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Chapter 22: Bright Sparks

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 017 – Insect at dw100.

Summary: Amy witnesses a beautiful sight.

The planet’s night, so shrouded by cloud that not a single star is visible, is nevertheless lit by billions of tiny sparks in every colour imaginable; they zip through the air like tiny shooting stars, leaving trails of light in their wake. It’s a sight so amazing that Amy doesn’t realise she’s holding her breath until she starts feeling light-headed.

“It’s beautiful! What are they?”

“Insects, like fireflies but more complex. Each colour is a different species; they swarm on the darkest night of the year to find mates and breed. It’s one of the greatest spectacles in the universe.”

The End

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Chapter 23: Perennial Favourite

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 018 – Favourite at dw100.

Summary: Regeneration changes more than just the Doctor’s appearance, but some things never change.

With each regeneration the Doctor changes, not just in his physical appearance but in his personality, his dress sense, his likes and dislikes. It’s always something of an adventure learning about his new tastes, especially in terms of food and drink, but the adventure is not always a pleasant one. Sometimes he finds he now loathes things he’d always enjoyed before.

Some things remain constants though. Throughout all of his incarnations, he’s hated pears, loved bananas, and no matter what else changes, he knows there’s nothing better than a nice cup of tea. It will always be his favourite drink.

The End

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Chapter 24: The Right Look

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 019: Dressed / Undressed at dw100.

Summary: Every new regeneration needs a new look.

A new face, body, and mind always mean a change of wardrobe. Often when he regenerates, he finds his old clothes no longer fit, and that’s even if they survive whatever caused his regeneration.

One of his first tasks, once everything has settled and his new brain can think coherently, is to find something to wear that suits not just his physical appearance but also his new personality. It can take a while, trying on countless outfits, but he knows the right look when he finds it.

Not until he’s fully dressed does he finally understand the person he’s become.

The End

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Chapter 25: The Ultimate Accessory

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 019: Dressed / Undressed.

Summary: The Doctor has one accessory that goes with anything.

His style has changed many times over his regenerations. There’s been velvet and lace, long scarves and floppy hats, umbrellas and pullovers, cricket whites and celery, suits and sneakers, jeans and leather jackets, tweed and bowties, even a fez or two. The Doctor always knows what looks cool; he’s an intergalactic trends-setter with his own unique sense of style, oft imitated but never bettered. It’s a good thing the TARDIS contains such an extensive wardrobe.

But no matter what eclectic outfit he chooses to wear, there’s one thing he’s never, ever without. He simply feels undressed without his trusty sonic.

The End

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Chapter 26: Uninvited

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 020: Crossover at dw100.

Summary: Crossover with Castle. The Doctor drops in on Castle by accident.

There’s a whole vast universe to explore, not to mention all of time. The Doctor can literally go anywhere, and anywhen, he chooses. There are no limits. So it’s a mystery to him just why he keeps ending up on planet earth in the twentieth or twenty-first centuries.

“Castle? Why is there a big blue box with ‘Police’ written on it standing in your living room?”

“Search me. It wasn’t there this morning.”

The door opens and a head pops out. “Excuse me, could you tell me where I am? I seem to be lost.”

“Okay, I wasn’t expecting that!”

The End

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Chapter 27: Collision

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 021: Boats at dw100.

Spoilers: Voyage Of The Damned.

Summary: Even out in space you have to watch out for traffic.

Travelling by TARDIS isn’t always completely safe. Safer than most forms of travel, true, but even a living spaceship can’t predict every eventuality. Nor can an over nine hundred-year-old Time Lord. Besides, some incidents are just so unbelievable that it wouldn’t cross the mind of even the smartest person in the universe to consider them.

When you’re way out in the depths of space, getting hit by a boat definitely falls into that category. But there it is, the bow of a ship sticking right through the wall of the TARDIS. Complete with a lifebelt.

The Doctor’s understandably confused.

“What?”

The End

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Chapter 28: Faint Warning

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 022: Whisper at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor and his companion are being hunted.

A whisper of sound, so faint it’s right on the edge of hearing. If the Doctor’s ears weren’t so sharply attuned to the breathless silence filling this place, he would have missed it and then… Well, it wouldn’t be a good thing.

No time to think about that right now though; their hiding place has been discovered, the only thing to do is run as fast as they possibly can, like the hounds of Hell are nipping at their heels.

Perhaps they are, in the form of the creature hunting them. The Doctor doesn’t intend to wait and find out.

The End

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Chapter 29: Amy's Hero

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 023: Hero at dw100.

Spoilers: The Eleventh Hour, The Pandorica Opens.

Summary: What is the true measure of a hero?

Amy waited for so many years, longing for her Raggedy Doctor to come back for her. When he finally does, she knocks him out with a cricket bat. It’s not an auspicious beginning, but he did come back, even if it took a bit longer than five minutes, and he does save her, along with the whole world. That’s what heroes do, after all, and she has no doubt that the Doctor is her hero.

It takes millennia trapped inside the Pandorica for her to realise she was wrong. The Doctor is everybody’s hero, but loyal, devoted Rory is hers.

The End

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Chapter 30: Wedding Gift

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 024: Holiday at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor’s wedding gift to Amy and Rory isn’t quite what they wanted.

The Doctor and his TARDIS can go anywhere in time and space. It’s amazing, the possibilities are infinite, and now he’s offering Amy and Rory the trip of a lifetime, their choice, like a pre-wedding holiday before they get hitched and start married life. How do you choose when you can pick literally any place and time, past or future or another world?

But their wedding is tomorrow, so their destination needs to be romantic, and where could possibly be more romantic than Venice? Canals, Gondolas, people speaking Italian…

They could have done without the vampires and mortal peril though.

The End

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Chapter 31: Scattered

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 025: Scattered at dw100

Spoilers: The End of the World.

Summary: 5 billion years in the future, humanity has come a long way.

Once upon a time, the beings who called themselves the human race had existed on just one small blue and green planet they called earth. That’s where they evolved and grew to become sentient, over time inventing all kinds of technology and eventually developing space flight.

By now humanity has spread across the universe, scattered among the stars, colonising every suitable planet they can find and mixing their gene pool with compatible species. Purebred humans are rare, but that’s just fine, the hybrids are more adaptable.

Earth itself is empty; everyone has left. This is the day the world ends.

The End

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Chapter 32: Don't Worry

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 026: Worry at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor and his companion are in peril. Again.

“Don’t worry!” the Doctor cries. “Everything’s under control, I know exactly what I’m doing!”

“You have a plan?”

“Yes! Well, no, not quite yet, but I will have. I always come up with a plan, I just don’t what it is yet.”

“If that’s meant to be comforting, it’s really not.”

“Oh come on! You humans, always panicking over nothing!”

“We’re about to die, I hardly think that’s nothing!”

“We’re not going to die. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

“It ran away and hid, which is what we should do!”

The Doctor never worries. He leaves that to his companions.

The End

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Chapter 33: Being Normal

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 027: Lazy mod week at dw100, using Challenge 019: Dressed / Undressed.

Spoilers: The Lodger.

Summary: The Doctor is confident in his ability to be normal.

Trying to be a normal human is interesting. There’s so much to remember; paying rent, proper greetings, being complimentary to the landlord…

Showers are great; all that hot water, and good acoustics for singing. Just have to remember to undress before standing under the water, and put something on when you get out. Towels are good. Wet floors are slippery, and electric toothbrushes aren’t effective weapons, even if you’re in a hurry because someone might be in danger.

Still, the Doctor feels confident that he’s fitting in. He can be just as normal as the next man if he tries.

The End

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Chapter 34: The Charms Of Gravity

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 028: On the meaning of space travel at dw100.

Summary: Gravity varies throughout the universe.

Gravity varies, planet to planet; sometimes it’s so low that a world’s inhabitants are barely held to its surface, bounding along in great leaps, almost flying. On other worlds, the strength of gravity is so great that the natives are only a few centimetres tall, creeping slowly over the ground.

The Doctor avoids high gravity planets. Although the TARDIS creates its own gravity field, to step outside her door on such a world would mean certain death, crushed flat in an instant. That’s something even a Time Lord couldn’t survive.

But zero gravity, well, that’s the best fun of all.

The End

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Chapter 35: Spring Is Sprung

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 029: Spring at dw100.

Summary: Spring by name, spring by nature.

The humans who colonised this world call it Spring; Amy thinks they chose the name well. The weather’s as balmy as the finest spring day on earth; warm sunshine, a few small, scattered wisps of cloud, a gentle breeze, and everywhere an abundance of green and growing things, a riot of colourful flowers.

Then there’s the native fauna. Small, fluffy creatures like dandelion clocks, tufty, feathery things, the planet’s equivalent of birds, larger grazing animals, even a few species of carnivores… None of them walk; they bounce or leap or bound. It’s dizzying to watch.

She can’t help but laugh.

The End

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Chapter 36: Dreams

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 030: Something that never happened at dw100.

Summary: Left behind on earth, Sarah Jane’s dreams are often disturbing.

Drabble Version

Sarah Jane dreams sometimes of things that never happened, the earth destroyed by Daleks, Cybermen, or other beings she can’t even put a name to. One thing is always the same though: earth’s in peril and the Doctor never comes. Humans face the threat bravely, but it’s never enough.

She saw so much travelling with the Doctor; then he left her behind. She waited, but he never came back, and now she can’t help wondering… When she dreams of things that never happened, is she seeing the future? Will earth eventually fall because its protector has better things to do?

The End


Extended Version

Sarah Jane dreams sometimes of things that never happened, of the earth invaded, enslaved and destroyed by Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, or other monstrous beings she’s never seen and can’t even begin to put a name to. But in every dream, one thing is always the same: the earth is in peril and yet no matter how many times they plead for help, the Doctor never comes. Humanity faces each threat with all the courage and defiance they can muster, but it’s never enough.

She saw so much, maybe too much, during her travels with the Doctor, but then he left her behind, abandoned her to normality, and though she waited patiently, he never came back. Now, she can’t help but wonder… When she dreams of things that never happened, is she seeing what’s to come? Will the earth some day fall because its protector has found better things to do?

The End

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Chapter 37: Not Lost

Author's Notes: Written fr Challenge 031: Lost at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor doesn’t get lost…

The Doctor claims he never gets lost, it’s just that sometimes he’s not entirely sure where he is. It’s not like it matters anyway; sooner or later he always figures out the exact where and when of their location, it’s simply a matter of taking a look around, and maybe asking the locals.

That’s the big thing, because when in doubt, you can be fairly certain that the locals can set you straight. Bound to know, if they live there, right? Besides, where’s the adventure if you always know exactly where you are when you get there? That’s just boring.

The End

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Chapter 38: For The Planet

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 032: challenge at dw100.

Spoilers: The Christmas Invasion.

Summary: He stands as Earth’s champion.

“I challenge you!”

It’s not the first time the Doctor has taken on the role of Earth’s champion, and it probably won’t be the last, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be an easy fight.

The leader of the Sycorax is the more experienced swordsman, right now the Doctor can’t remember if he’s ever even held a sword before, but he’s as bound now by the rules of combat as his opponent is. If he wins, earth is safe. If he loses…

That’s not an option. He’s not sure what kind of man he is, but he’s about to find out.

The End

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Chapter 39: Delayed Reactions

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 033: Newton's third law of motion at dw100.

Summary: Newton had it mostly right…

Drabble Version

Everything the Doctor does has consequences, every act creates a reaction; the problem is in gauging whether his actions will benefit or harm those he’s trying to help.

Push someone and they’ll inevitably push back, that’s how the universe works. For a human, Newton was pretty smart, but the Doctor knows a few things Newton didn’t. For instance, the reaction doesn’t necessarily follow immediately; it might take years, even centuries. That’s why having a time machine is so handy. If something goes awry, he can simply pop into the future and fix it.

A Time Lord’s work is never done.

The End


Extended Version

The Doctor is well aware that everything he does has consequences, every act creates a reaction; the problem is always in gauging whether the results of his actions will benefit those he’s trying to help, or harm them in ways that he’s failed to predict. Even a Time Lord can’t be expected to get things right every time.

If you push someone, they’ll inevitably push back, that’s just the way the universe works. For a human, Newton was a pretty smart guy, but the Doctor knows a few things that Newton didn’t. For instance, the reaction doesn’t necessarily follow the action immediately; it might take years or even centuries. That’s why having a time machine is so handy. Whenever something goes awry, and that happens more often than you might think, the Doctor can simply pop into the future and fix it again.

A Time Lord’s work is never done.


The End

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Chapter 40: Unexpected Revenge

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 034: Revenge of the at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has faced vengeance from a number of races, but he wasn’t expecting this.

Daleks are big on revenge, the Doctor expects it from them. Same goes for Cybermen, Sontarans, and a dozen other warlike races who really don’t like to lose. He can handle anything they throw at him, with a bit of ingenuity and quick thinking.

This is a bit more unexpected.

Thwap!

“That’s for leavin’ me in those bleedin’ stocks all afternoon.”

Thwap!

“That’s for draggin’ me through the mud! My shoes are ruined!”

Thwap!

“And that’s for puttin’ me up for sale in the first place!”

“You volunteered for that!”

“Don’t care!”

Nothing prepared him for an angry Donna Noble!

The End

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Chapter 41: Aliens And Quarries

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 035: Quarry at dw100.

Summary: Why are so many aliens found in quarries?

What was it about aliens and quarries? It seemed like anytime alien races came to earth, they made straight for the nearest quarry, preferably disused, and set up base there. Maybe abandoned quarries reminded them of home; there were a lot of bleak, rocky worlds in the universe. The Doctor had visited a fair few in his travels; there was no accounting for taste.

On the other hand, battling the enemy in a remote quarry had its advantages. Fewer people around to get hurt or captured; damage was restricted to rocks rather than buildings.

Best of all, hardly anyone noticed.

The End

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Chapter 42: The Centurion

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 036: Sleepless at dw100.

Spoilers: The Big Bang

Summary: Rory has a purpose that makes his existence worthwhile.

Two thousand years pass so slowly, one second following another, the tick, tick, tick of the universe almost audible to Rory. But it’s okay, because he has a job to do, a singular purpose more important to him than anything ever has been, or ever will be. He’s guarding the greatest treasure there is, his Amy, and he’ll never leave her.

He’s living plastic, doesn’t need to eat, never sleeps, but time teaches patience so he endures, watching dispassionately as the world changes around him. A lesser man would go mad.

But not Rory. Amy’s safety is all that matters.

The End

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Chapter 43: One Final Act

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 037: Old friends at dw100.

Spoilers: Gridlock.

I'm posting these drabbles in prompt order, which unfotunately means that I'm posting this one shortly after posting a ficlet on the same theme. Apologies to my readers, it was just the luck of the draw.

Summary: The Face of Boe’s life is coming to an end.

The Face of Boe had been waiting for this moment a long, long time, patient as only one so immensely old can be. He’d seen more than any other being that had ever lived, more even than the Doctor, his oldest friend, but finally his time was running out. He’d used his life force to protect the people in the under-city for the past twenty-four years. Now their salvation was at hand and he had just enough strength left to complete one final act.

He had a message for the Doctor.

“You are not alone.”

With that, he was gone.

The End

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Chapter 44: The Power Of Magic

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 038: magic at dw100.

Summary: Magic is nothing but science misunderstood.

Magic is nothing more than science not yet understood; that’s something the Doctor knows, and he uses it to his advantage. Primitive people are easy to impress with trickery; calling it magic sets them in awe of him.

Not that it always works, especially in places where ‘magic’ and ‘witchcraft’ are considered one and the same. Then things can get a bit sticky, especially as witches are, more often than not, put to death. He’s had more than his share of close shaves. But whenever ‘magic’ gets him into trouble, he can always rely on science to get him out.

The End

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Chapter 45: Just A Few

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 039: history at dw100.

Spoilers: The Fires of Pompeii.

Summary: Some things can’t be changed, but maybe they can be tweaked, just a little.

The Doctor loves earth history, there’s so many interesting bits; kings and queens and pharaohs, great writers and composers, scientists and astronomers who sometimes get things mostly right… Earth’s still young by galactic standards so there’s a lot that humans haven’t figured out yet.

It’s not all good though. Great civilisations rise, only to fall to war, or natural disaster. He can’t change things that are meant to happen.

They’re in Pompeii, it’s volcano day, and everyone’s going to die.

Donna’s not having it.

They can’t save everybody; fixed point. But who would it hurt to save just a few?

The End

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Chapter 46: Destiny

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 040: Emerson at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is fulfilling his destiny.

Self-belief is something the Doctor knows quite a lot about, mostly because he has so much of it. He believes he has a purpose, and that he does what he does for a reason; perhaps the universe itself set him on his course and continues to guide him, sending him where he’s needed. After all, why else would he end up somewhere he didn’t intend to go, at exactly the right moment to save lives, defeat threats, solve crimes, prevent disasters, or free entire worlds from tyranny?

He’s fulfilling the role he was created for, and it’s so much fun!

The End

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Chapter 47: Haunted By Fear

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 041: haunted at dw100.

Spoilers: The God Complex.

Summary: It’s like a maze, haunted by fear and something else.

Not everyone is haunted by ghosts. For some it’s the past that fills them with terror, or the future, or seemingly innocuous things that wouldn’t bother most people. Like socks, or balloons, or having their photo taken. Sometimes it’s that scary monster you saw in an old horror movie you shouldn’t have been watching when you were a kid, the one that gave you nightmares for months afterwards.

The hotel is vast, like a constantly shifting maze, and every one of its many rooms contains someone’s worst fear.

But something even more terrifying stalks the corridors, and there’s no escape.

The End

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Chapter 48: Bad Influence

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 042: Mischief at dw100.

Spoilers: General for the Eleventh Doctor era.

Summary: The Doctor’s a bad influence, but Amy doesn’t care.

Amy thinks he’s like the imaginary friend in a kid’s story, all boundless energy, gangly legs, eyes that twinkle with mischief, and hair that seems to have a life of its own. Everything’s an adventure to him, and he drags her along in his wake, getting her into one scrape after another, until she’s giddy and breathless.

She knows he’s a terrible influence on her, but she can’t resist going with him whenever he shows up, because even though it’s often scary and dangerous, the thrill of it all outweighs everything else.

He’s like an addiction she just can’t break.

The End

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Chapter 49: Crotchety

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 043: 1/2/3 at dw100.

Spoilers: General for the First Doctor era.

Summary: The Doctor finds dealing with humans frustrating.

The Doctor is well aware that he comes across as an irascible, crotchety old man, but how else is he supposed to act around these humans? In some ways he’s just behaving the way they expect him to. He looks like an old man, and indeed is old by their standards though still young by his own, so he treats them like the children they are.

He’s impatient with them, orders them around, because dealing with such primitive intellects is frustrating. There’s so much they don’t understand. But at least they’re trying to learn and that counts in their favour.

The End

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Chapter 50: Whimsical

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 043: 1/2/3 at dw100.

Spoilers: The very beginning of The Power of the Daleks. Second Doctor era.

Summary: The Doctor has just regenerated for the first time.

Like all Time Lords, the Doctor knows about regeneration; it’s a handy way of cheating death. You get a new body, face, and personality. Until now, the knowledge has been abstract, theoretical; it’s something he’s never experienced personally. But…

The face looking back at him from the mirror is unfamiliar, his new personality even more so. He’d never thought of the Doctor as whimsical, but the word seems to fit who he’s become. It’s like the Doctor, the one he was before, was another person altogether, someone he once knew.

Regenerating is very confusing. He’s not sure he likes it.

The End

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Chapter 51: Flamboyant

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 043: 1/2/3 at dw100.

Spoilers: General for early Third Doctor era.

Summary: The Doctor’s new persona is much more flamboyant than his last.

His hair is almost white again, but there’s much more of it. He appears younger than his first incarnation, but older than his second, and looks more… distinguished, perhaps. He’s certainly gained a more authoritative demeanour.

The clothes he chooses to reflect his new persona are flamboyant; velvet jackets, frills and lace-trimmed cuffs to his shirts, even a cape. He’s a man of style and elegance, the kind of person even UNIT’s bigwigs can’t help but listen to, at least some of the time. Just as well since he’s currently stuck on earth. Hopefully he can do some good here.

The End

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Chapter 52: Useless

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 044: sick at dw100.

Spoilers: The Christmas Invasion.

Summary: With the Doctor sick, there’s no one to save the earth from the Sycorax.

The earth is being invaded, but the Doctor is sick and getting worse; there’s nothing he can do to help them. They’re on their own and they’re completely helpless.

Rose wishes she knew what to do; she’s helped the Doctor take on the worst that the universe can throw at them. He always comes up with a plan and it always works, but without him she’s worse than useless. All she can think to do is to run and hide in the only safe place there is. The TARDIS.

She prays that the Doctor will wake up and save them.

The End

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Chapter 53: Months, Not Hours

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 045: Late at dw100

Spoilers: Aliens Of London

Summary: Rose is shocked to find out how much time has really passed.

Twelve hours! The Doctor said they’d been gone twelve hours! For a Time Lord, his sense of time is unbelievably bad. Twelve hours? Try twelve months. That’s how long she’s been missing, leaving her mum worried sick wondering what happened to her only child, imagining the worst.

Guilt hits Rose like a punch to the gut. She’s been off having a lark, travelling the universe with the Doctor, enjoying the best time of her life while her mum’s been going through hell.

“I meant to phone. I really did. I just forgot.”

No amount of apologies will ever be enough.

The End

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Chapter 54: Starless Sky

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 046: black at dw100.

Spoilers: The Big Bang.

Summary: Amy remembers stars.

The night sky is featureless, velvet black, an emptiness so deep and dark it sucks at Amy’s soul every time she looks at it. She knows it’s exactly how it’s always been, has never been any different, and yet at the same time, she knows it’s completely wrong.

She remembers how it was before, but before what, she can’t recall. All she’s sure of is that there used to be stars, like brilliant, sparkling diamonds scattered across the blackness, and they were beautiful.

Everyone tells her they never existed, but it hurts so much that they’re gone.

She misses them.

The End

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Chapter 55: Someone’s Missing

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 047: Missing at dw100.

Summary: Someone is missing on Amy and Rory’s wedding day.

It’s Amy’s wedding reception, she’s just married Rory, the man she loves more than anyone in the world. This should be the happiest day of her life, so why does she feel so sad? Their families and friends are here to celebrate with them, there’s music and laughter and dancing…

Amy looks down at the book in her hands and a tear drips onto it. Everyone who matters is here, except for one; someone so incredibly important to her is missing.

But she remembers. Her imaginary friend, her raggedy Doctor, is real.

And just like that, he isn’t missing anymore.

The End

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Chapter 56: How It Begins

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 048: Beginning at dw100.

Posting early today because I'll be at the hospital for tests at the time I usually post and I don't know when I'll be able to get back online.

Spoilers: Smith And Jones.

Summary: Martha’s life is about to change dramatically.

For Martha, it begins in the most extraordinary way possible. The whole of the Royal Hope Hospital, with all its staff and patients, is ripped from the ground and deposited on the moon. It’s incredible, unbelievable, has to be some sort of mass hallucination because if it’s real, why aren’t they all dead from the vacuum of space?

They almost do die, because there’s not an unlimited supply of oxygen and over time the air gets bad. But a man calling himself the Doctor saves the day then invites her to travel with him.

Extraordinary? She hasn’t seen anything yet!

The End

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Chapter 57: Journey’s End

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 049: The End at dw100.

Spoilers: Journey’s End.

Summary: Donna knows what’s happening to her.

It wasn’t supposed to end like this. They were going to carry on forever, two best mates travelling the universe, seeing amazing things, saving worlds, and just generally being brilliant. Because she’s like him now, knowing and seeing everything, and she understands the Doctor in ways she couldn’t before. His insane-sounding ramblings make perfect sense now.

In a way, that’s the worst part, because Donna’s head is starting to hurt and she understands what’s happening.

Her overloaded brain is killing her.

She doesn’t want to lose her memories, no matter what it costs.

The Doctor doesn’t give her the choice.

The End

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Chapter 58: Reunited

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 050: Reunion at dw100.

Spoilers: School Reunion.

Summary: The Doctor unexpectedly encounters Sarah Jane.

The Doctor wasn’t expecting to run into his old friend and travelling companion, not right now and certainly not like this, in the storeroom of a school. In a way though, it isn’t really strange; over the centuries he’s become accustomed to expecting the unexpected, and for once the surprise is a pleasant one.

Sarah Jane looks amazing. She’s older of course, but she’s still the same vibrant, intelligent, courageous woman he remembers from their many adventures together. It’s good to spend time with her again, but they’ve both moved on.

At least this time they get to say goodbye.

The End

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Chapter 59: False Belief

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 051: Mirage at dw100.

Spoilers: Army Of Ghosts/Doomsday.

Summary: The Doctor knows better than to confuse beliefs and facts.

They’re like mirages, illusions, things not quite there, ripples in the fabric of time and space. The people of earth call them ghosts, believe them to be their dear, departed relatives and welcome them into their homes, but the Doctor senses they’re not what they seem.

People see what they want to see. The figures are vaguely humanoid; it’s easy to imagine a resemblance to parents, grandparents, friends. But belief doesn’t create fact or alter truth.

When the eerie figures finally step through the veil, they’re not ghosts, they’re something far more deadly.

And it’s too late to stop them.

The End

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Chapter 60: Breaking

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 052: Heart at dw100.

Spoilers: Doomsday.

Summary: Rose’s heart is breaking.

Rose had given her heart to the Doctor, that impossible, wonderful man, without a second thought; no other man could possibly measure up to him. She didn’t care that he wasn’t human, he could offer her a life more packed with adventure than anything she could have found on boring old earth and she would have followed him to the ends of the universe.

She’d never believed it would end.

Now she’s standing on a windswept beach in Norway, looking through a crack between universes, and her heart is breaking. There’s no way across, they’ll never see each other again.

The End

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Chapter 61: Rambling

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 053: Nonsense at dw100.

Summary: Rory has trouble understanding the Doctor at times.

The Doctor’s talking nonsense again; Rory smiles vaguely, letting it wash over him. He knows to the Doctor, what he’s telling them isn’t nonsense at all; it’s just difficult explaining certain things to people who don’t have advanced degrees in sciences that probably aren’t even taught on earth yet.

For his own sake, Rory has long since given up trying to follow the Time Lord’s convoluted ramblings, they just make his brain hurt, but he can’t completely tune them out either in case something important is mentioned.

Rory’s far from stupid, but he wishes the Doctor would use smaller words.

The End

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Chapter 62: Providing Inspiration

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 054: Tolkien at dw100

Spoilers: Tiny for The Shakespeare Code.

Summary: The Doctor gets to meet and even influence a lot of people.

Travelling through time was a wonderful thing, and quite addictive. The Doctor got to meet the most interesting and influential people, often before they became famous.

Shakespeare was only one of many writers his path had crossed. He’d met Milton and Byron, Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker, H.G. Wells and C.S. Lewis.

And then there was Tolkien. He’d been writing The Hobbit at the time; they’d had an interesting conversation about stuff. The Doctor remembers telling him, ‘Just because someone wanders, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re lost.’

He’d been chuffed to find Tolkien had paraphrased that idea in his book.

The End

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Chapter 63: Amelia’s Wish

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 055: Wish at dw100.

Spoilers: The Eleventh Hour.

Summary: Amelia Pond makes a wish.

Amelia asks Santa to send someone to help with the crack in her wall, because she doesn’t know who else to ask and everyone knows Santa can do anything. He has flying reindeer and can come down chimneys, even when the fire’s lit, so surely he’ll help.

The raggedy man calls himself the Doctor. He’s funny and Amelia immediately likes him. He looks at the crack and she’s sure he can do something about it, but first there’s trouble with his box.

“I’ll be back in five minutes.”

People always say that; she wishes this time it would be true.

The End

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Chapter 64: Fishing

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 056: Fisher at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor fishes for information.

Discovering the truth of a situation is really a lot like fishing. You bait your hook with curiosity, or sometimes with bribes and promises, dangle it in front of everyone you meet, and wait for someone to bite.

If you do your fishing well, you get lots of nuggets of information. The useless ones you discard, but the rest you use as bait for bigger fish. Bt-by-bit you work your way up the food chain until you catch someone who can tell you everything you want to know.

When it comes to the truth, the Doctor is an excellent fisherman.

The End

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Chapter 65: In Dreams

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 057: Dream at dw100.

Spoilers: Human Nature.

Summary: John Smith is just an ordinary schoolmaster, but when he dreams…

In John Smith’s dreams, he’s someone else, living an amazing, incredible, unbelievable life full of impossible things. Sometimes when he wakes it seems as if his dreams are the reality and his life as a schoolmaster is the dream

In his dream-life he has two hearts, many faces, a blue box that transports him to distant places, and a whole array of implacable enemies he has to battle. It’s terrifying and exhilarating in equal measures, but sometimes he wishes he could just remain asleep and dreaming.

His life is so ordinary; only in his dreams does he feel truly alive.

The End

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Chapter 66: The Candle-Maker

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 058: chandler / castellan at dw100.

Summary: Somewhere in earth’s past, Rose watches a craftswoman at work.

The Chandler is a wizened old woman, and Rose watches in fascination as she dips the wicks into the bubbling vat of tallow, each time adding another layer that must be allowed to set before the candle to be is dipped again, growing a little more each time.

These aren’t the fancy scented candles she’s used to back home, the ones designed to add fragrance and atmosphere to a room. They’re purely practical, for lighting the homes of those who can’t afford oil lamps, and they smell awful.

Once again, Rose is grateful she comes from a place with electricity.

The End

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Chapter 67: The Tower

Author's Notes: Written For Challenge 058: chandler / castellan at dw100.

Spoilers: Heaven Sent.

Summary: The Doctor is determined to get answers.

Drabble Version

The Doctor doesn’t know where the teleport chamber has transported him to, why, or on whose orders, but he intends to find out, and if whoever’s responsible had anything to do with Clara’s death, they’re going to be very, very sorry. One thing the Doctor knows about this regeneration is that he’s not the forgiving kind.

Leaving the teleport room, he explores his environment, a stone tower like part of a castle, seemingly devoid of other life. But if there’s a castle there must surely be a castellan. The Doctor will find him and get his answers, whatever it takes.

The End


Extended Version

The Doctor has no idea where he is; where the mysterious teleport chamber has transported him, why, or even on whose orders. He intends to find out though, and if whoever is responsible had anything at all to do with Clara’s death, they’re going to be very, very sorry. One thing the Doctor has learned about his current incarnation is that he is not the forgiving kind. Vengeance is not his usual way, but there are exceptions.

Leaving the teleport room, he sets out to explore his unknown environment. By leaning out of one of the small windows, he discovers that he’s in an immense stone tower, like part of some ancient castle, and seemingly devoid of other life.

And yet, it stands to reason, if there’s a castle there must surely be a castellan. The Doctor vows to find him and get his answers, no matter what it takes.

The End

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Chapter 68: Inking It

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 059: tattoo at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor wants a tattoo. Tattoos are cool.

“I’m thinking of getting a tattoo,” the Doctor announces one day, completely out of the blue, causing Amy to stop so suddenly that Rory walks into her. She grabs him just in time to keep him from falling over.

“Why?”

“What?”

“Why d’you want a tattoo?”

“I don’t know; tattoos are cool. Body art’s very popular in some places.”

“What would you get?”

“Haven’t really thought about it. What d’you think?”

“Blokes usually get their girlfriend’s name,” Rory suggested.

Amy shook her head. “The TARDIS would be better. We could all get one! Matching TARDIS tattoos would be really cool!”

The End

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Chapter 69: Anonymity

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 060: anonymous at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor keeps his real name a secret.

He does have a name, given to him by his parents when he was very small, but he never uses it. That name is his most closely guarded secret because even beyond all folktales and superstition, names have power.

Besides, since he left the Academy as a fully-fledged Time Lord, his name hasn’t been required, his chosen designation is all the identification he needs, and in many places he doesn’t even use that. On most worlds, the people have their own names for him. Not all of them are flattering or entirely accurate, but they suffice.

Anonymity has its benefits.

The End

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Chapter 70: The Nature Of Time

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 061: Shakespeare at dw100.

Summary: Time passes differently for Time Lords.

Most living beings travel the slow path, each day of their lives following the one before, an endless progression until their deaths. Subjectively, the passage of time varies; for some the pace of life is slow, unhurried, while for others it passes so fast that if they so much as blink they might miss it.

For Time Lords it’s different. Where others see time as a one-way street, to the Doctor and his fellows it’s more like pool. They can dip into it wherever they choose, but must take care not to cause too many ripples.

Time can be fragile.

The End

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Chapter 71: Ageing Well

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 062: Vintage at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor sees himself as a vintage wine, improving with age.

The Doctor likes to think he improves with age. When he first started flitting around the universe in his purloined TARDIS, he’d been hardly more than a callow youth, despite resembling an elderly man with a touch of the mad scientist.

Some of his regenerations look younger than others, making it seem that he’s ageing backwards, but no matter how youthful he looks, each new body still contains all the accumulated knowledge and experience of his former selves, even if it’s not always readily accessible.

Age doesn’t necessarily equal maturity though. Youth is for those old enough to enjoy it.

The End

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Chapter 72: Willingly

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 063: Across the Universe at dw100.

Spoilers: The Beast Below.

Summary: Amy shows the people of the Starship UK the error of their ways.

The Doctor hadn’t understood, nobody had, until Amy showed them.

Everything they’d been doing had been completely unnecessary; they’d caused unimaginable suffering to an innocent creature for no reason. All the Star Whale had ever wanted to do was to help. The last of its kind, alone in the universe, it had sought a new purpose, but instead of accepting the help it freely offered, they’d trapped it, built on it, made it their spaceship and forced it to cooperate by means of torture.

So Amy freed it, but it didn’t leave. Now it carries humanity across the universe willingly.

The End

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Chapter 73: All You Need Is Tea

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 064: Tea at dw100.

Summary: No matter where you are, tea fixes everything.

It’s been an insane few days, battling monsters, but that’s life on the TARDIS. No matter where they intend to go or what they mean to do, they always seem to end up running for their lives, or saving people Donna never would have dreamed existed before she met her new best mate.

It’s mad, exhilarating, terrifying, and wonderful, but now they’re both feeling battered and bruised, not to mention completely knackered.

“You know what we need?” the Doctor asks. “A nice cup of tea.”

Donna grins. “I’ll go put the kettle on.”

Even in space, tea makes everything better.

The End

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Chapter 74: Consequences

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 065: Consequences at dw100.

Spoilers: Father’s Day.

Summary: Changing the past is not a good idea.

Every action has consequences. Sometimes they’re good, sometimes bad, but when you travel with the Doctor, doing the wrong thing can be catastrophic. Rose is learning that the hard way.

All she’d wanted was to meet her dad; he’d died when she was a baby so she’d never had a chance to know him.

Instead, she saves his life and almost ends the world.

There are horrible red-eyed flying creatures. The Doctor calls them Reapers, says they’re sterilising the earth. They can’t be stopped…

…Unless what Rose did is undone.

Every action has consequences, and Pete’s death saves the world.

The End

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Chapter 75: Instant Offspring

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 066: Inconceivable at dw100.

Spoilers: The Doctor’s Daughter.

Summary: Martha knows that reproduction doesn’t work like this…

Even after everything Martha’s seen, this is hard to accept. She’s a medical doctor, she knows how reproduction works, and it’s not like this. Yet she can’t ignore the proof.

A tissue sample’s all it takes, the Doctor’s hand is forced into a machine and a couple of minutes later, there she is, a young woman, grown from his cells. Even Sontarans take longer than that!

The method of reproducing people is bizarre enough to leave Martha off balance, but what’s even harder to take in is that this woman is essentially the Doctor’s daughter.

She looks nothing like him.

The End

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Chapter 76: Well Known

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 067: Reputation at dw100.

Summary: Sometimes it seems everyone knows the Doctor.

The Doctor’s reputation goes before him; sometimes it seems as if everyone they meet knows who he is. At first it’s a constant surprise when he’s recognised in unlikely places, but after travelling with him for a while, it’s almost more of a surprise when he’s not.

His enemies know him by name, if not always by sight. He tells her he’s worn many faces in his life and she wonders what he means by that. Is he a master of disguise or something?

Not until he regenerates in front of her does she understand how truly alien he is.

The End

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Chapter 77: Unprepared

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 068: Ghost at dw100.

Spoilers: Army Of Ghosts.

Summary: The ghost shifts seem harmless at first.

It happens almost overnight. Everything is the same as it ever was and then suddenly, the earth is haunted by millions of ghosts. After the initial panic wears off, people in every country of the world welcome the ghosts into their homes, treating them like the long-dead relatives they believe them to be. They seem harmless, after all; why should anyone suspect that they’re not what they seem?

The more people believe in them, the stronger they get, and when they finally break through, nobody’s prepared.

Rank after rank of metal monsters march through the streets.

The invasion has begun.

The End

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Chapter 78: Unreal

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 069: Through The Looking Glass at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith and Jones.

Summary: Martha’s normal day has taken a distinct turn for the bizarre.

Martha’s beginning to understand how Alice must have felt.

Everything had seemed so normal this morning. Then that strange man on the street took his tie off at her, and the same man was there on the ward but said it hadn’t been him on the street, and when she listened to his chest he had two heartbeats!

Next thing she knows, the entire hospital is somehow on the moon, there are men in black motorcycle helmets and leathers, a bunch of rhinoceroses in space suits stomping about cataloguing everyone, and she’s running for her life.

She must be dreaming.

The End

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Chapter 79: Christmas Miracle

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 070: Magic at dw100.

Spoilers: The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe.

I’m not entirely happy with this one, but I haven’t been able to improve on it, so I’m posting it anyway.

Summary: Madge Arwell is facing a bleak Christmas after losing her husband to the war.

It’s her worst Christmas ever. Madge dreads having to tell her children their father won’t be coming home again, but she doesn’t want to ruin the holiday for them; if they don’t know, they can still enjoy this magical season. She wishes she could hide the truth from herself because her heart is breaking.

But terrifying and wonderful things happen that can’t possibly be real yet somehow are, and in the midst of everything, a miracle occurs. The caretaker says it’s her doing, that Reg followed her home. She doesn’t entirely understand, but that’s not important.

Her husband is alive.

The End

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Chapter 80: In Central Park

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 071: Hardboiled Detective Novel at dw100.

Spoilers: The Angels Take Manhattan.

Summary: The Doctor enjoys a good book.

Amy’s not completely sure whether she’s annoyed or amused. They’re in New York, picnicking in Central Park for goodness sake. The Manhattan skyline is all around them, it’s incredible just being here, there’s so much to see and do, yet the Doctor’s got his nose buried in some detective novel about a female private investigator.

She doesn’t care if he’s more interested in his book than in his surroundings, but does he have to read it out loud with so much relish?

On the other hand, it’s kinda nice listening to him.

As long as he stops with the yowzah!

The End

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Chapter 81: Protector

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 071: Hardboiled Detective Novel at dw100.

Could be any Doctor, but most likely Eleven.

Summary: The Doctor is the protector of the universe.

He’s as dangerous as he is cool, and everyone knows it, that’s why most keep out of his way. Only a fool would cross him, but it’s a big universe and there are plenty of fools only too willing to try. It never ends well for any of them.

You’d think people would learn from the mistakes of others, yet they all seem to think they have the edge over those who came before, that they’re smarter, more powerful, better equipped.

They’re always wrong.

One by one, he takes them down.

This is the Doctor’s universe, and he’s its protector.

The End

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Chapter 82: Out Of Kindness

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 072: Hidden at dw100.

Spoilers: Human Nature/The Family of Blood.

Summary: Hiding from the Family had been an act of kindness, but they misunderstood.

It wasn’t fear that made him use the chameleon arch to hide himself away among humans. The Family of Blood were dangerous, certainly, but he’d faced far worse enemies and stood firm.

They kept following him though, with their stolen vortex manipulator, and he knew they’d never give up; wherever he went in time or space, they’d be right behind him. Hiding was his only option, but they hadn’t understood. They’d kept hunting him; even hiding hadn’t been enough.

He’d wanted to spare them, but they’d wanted to live forever, and now they would.

Be careful what you wish for.

The End

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Chapter 83: Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 073: Silence at dw100.

Spoilers: Day of the Moon

Summary: Even the Silence can’t hide from the Doctor forever.

The Doctor finds aliens everywhere he goes, but in all the time he spent on earth, he never knew the Silence were there. Or maybe he did, maybe he found them over and over again, but just like everybody else on the planet, he always forgot them the moment they were out of sight.

How do you fight something you can’t remember, something that can make you forget it so completely you don’t even question your own lack of memories?

The Doctor found a way. The people of earth will never remember the Silence, but they’ll kill them on sight.

The End

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Chapter 84: I Am A Dalek

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 074: Exterminate at dw100.

Spoilers: The Witch’s Familiar

Summary: Clara only has so much control over her stolen Dalek shell.

It’s the goal of every Dalek to exterminate anything that isn’t a Dalek. It makes for a rather monotonous existence but Daleks don’t care because they can’t get bored or dissatisfied with their lot in life; the only emotion they’re capable of feeling is hate, it’s hardwired into their bodies and their shells so completely that it defines them.

Inside the Dalek’s casing, hooked up to it via electrodes attached to her head, Clara has control over its movements, but she can’t change its basic nature. When she says the words ‘I love you’, all that comes out is “Exterminate!”

The End

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Chapter 85: Alien Sunrise

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 075: Light at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor shows Donna something beautiful.

As Donna and the Doctor stand in the middle of a bleak and empty plain, on some remote planet no one on earth has ever heard of, the tops of the distant mountains, way off on the horizon, suddenly seem to catch fire.

The planet’s sun is slowly rising, its light catching the crystals that millennia of weathering by wind and rain have exposed on the mountain peaks. They sparkle in every conceivable colour, their radiance so dazzling that Donna’s grateful for the protective goggles she’s wearing.

“Pretty isn’t it?” the Doctor says, grinning at her.

“Pretty? It’s bloody incredible!”

The End

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Chapter 86: Clinging To Hope

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 076: Lost Causes at dw100.

Spoilers: Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: Martha has to believe that the Doctor can save the earth.

Martha thinks that to anyone but the Doctor, the situation on earth would appear hopeless. The Master is in control, destroying cities and people on a casual whim. His emissaries, the Toclafane, carry out his orders gleefully; they seem to delight in murder as much as the insane Time Lord himself.

Even though she doesn’t fully understand the Doctor’s plan, Martha does her part willingly. Walking the earth, spreading the word, is exhausting, terrifying, and lonely, but she clings to hope because it’s all she has.

As long as the Doctor lives, there’s no such thing as a lost cause.

The End

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Chapter 87: Second Chance

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 077: Lucky at dw100.

Spoilers: Partners In Crime.

Summary: Months after her disastrous ‘wedding’, Donna runs into the Doctor again.

Donna Noble’s no fool; she knows how lucky she is. Most people never even get a first chance to travel with the Doctor. When she turned him down all those months ago that should have been it.

At the time she’d been too raw from everything that had happened to her, but even that short time with the infuriating spaceman had opened her eyes to things she couldn’t possibly have imagined before.

Now he’s back, they’re investigating the same thing, but this time she’s ready. When he leaves she’s going with him, and she’s not taking ‘no’ for an answer.

The End

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Chapter 88: Doctor, Heal Thyself

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 078: Wounded at dw100.

Spoilers: The Stolen Earth.

Summary: The Doctor finds a way to heal without completely regenerating.

When he sees Rose walking down the street towards him, everything else goes straight out of the Doctor’s head. It’s impossible, unbelievable, but she’s real, and he runs towards her.

He doesn’t see the Dalek.

The extermination beam just grazes him, but that’s more than enough. Gravely wounded, his body failing, his companions carry him back to the TARDIS.

He’s a Time Lord so he won’t die, at least not this time; he’s not out of regenerations yet. Still, he’s reluctant to let go of this body. Maybe he doesn’t have to. He shunts excess energy into his spare hand…

The End

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Chapter 89: Witnessing Wonders

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 079: Peace at dw100.

Summary: Travelling with the Doctor does sometimes allow for moments of peace.

Travelling with the Doctor doesn’t always mean running for your life from mortal peril, although there’s certainly a lot of that involved. After all, the Time Lord’s main reason for existing seems to be to seek out trouble, wherever it lurks, and put a stop to it.

But in between the madcap adventures and the desperately heroic rescues against seemingly impossible odds, there are moments like this, lying on their backs in a grassy meadow, watching three moons go into eclipse and feeling completely at peace.

Amy doesn’t think she’ll ever get tired of witnessing the wonders of the universe.

The End

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Chapter 90: Sugar Overload

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 080: Sweet / Sour at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor knows all the most interesting places – and people.

“This,” the Doctor announced, throwing his arms out and turning slowly to indicate their surroundings, “is the biggest sweet shop in the universe. It’s been in existence for as long as anyone can remember. I used to get my jelly babies here. They sell every kind of candy ever invented in the whole universe.”

“It’s like something out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Rory commented, looking around in awe.

“Well, it would be,” the Doctor grinned. “This is where Dahl got the idea for his book.”

“Are you telling me that Roald Dahl was an alien?”

“Of course.”

“Huh.”

The End

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Chapter 91: Taste Test

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 080: Sweet / Sour at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has a habit of licking things to find out what they are.

The Doctor picked up a strange object, studied it carefully, and stuck out his tongue, but before he could try an experimental lick…

“Oi, Spaceman, why d’you go around licking everything?” Donna asked, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

“Tongues are very sensitive organs I’ll have you know, especially Time Lord tongues. I can tell a lot about things with a quick lick, analyse them right down to the molecular level, tell what they are and what they’re made from in an instant.

So saying, he gave the thing a good lick.

“So what is it?”

He pulled a face. “Sour!”

The End

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Chapter 92: Just Like The Legends

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 081: Robin Hood at dw100.

Spoilers: Robot Of Sherwood.

Summary: Robin Hood isn’t real. Or is he? Depends on your definition of ‘real’.

“No such thing as Robin Hood.”

The Doctor had been so sure he was right and that Clara would be disappointed, but the figure before them dressed in Lincoln green certainly looks a lot like the Robin Hood of legend. Not that the Doctor has any intention of believing it. He must be an illusion, or an impostor, or something. Robin Hood isn’t real and nothing will convince the Doctor otherwise.

Being both right and wrong at the same time is interesting; this Robin isn’t a real person, he’s a robot.

But that doesn’t prevent him from being a hero.

The End

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Chapter 93: To Visit The King

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 082: Elvis at dw100.

Summary: Donna should really be used to having everything she knows turned on its head, but sometimes…

“Where to now?” The Doctor grins maniacally, bouncing on his heels as he waits for Donna to make up her mind. “All of time and space to choose from,” he reminds her. “Anywhere at all!”

“Alright, I heard ya the first time! Let a girl think for a mo, Spaceman!” He’s always so impatient; sometimes she wishes he’d just stand still for once. “Ooh, I know! Let’s go see Elvis! Gramps is a big fan, I could get him a souvenir, maybe an autograph or something!”

“Elvis? Well, alright. Before he leaves earth or after?”

For once, Donna is speechless.

The End

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Chapter 94: Playing Detective

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 083: Sherlock Holmes at dw100.

Summary: Travelling with the Doctor means Rory gets to do things like playing detective. It’s weird, but it’s fun.

Rory thinks this is what being a great detective must be like. Sherlock Holmes maybe, or Poirot, or… Well, the Doctor seems to have more than a little Columbo about him. The thought makes Rory snigger to himself.

“What’s funny?” Amy hisses as they sneak about searching for clues to whatever’s going on here.

Rory shakes his head; this isn’t the time or place. He knows if he tries to explain it to her now he’ll lose it, and he doesn’t want them getting captured because of a giggling fit. “Tell you later.”

When did his life get so weird?

The End

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Chapter 95: Marriage Of Convenience

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 084: Charade at dw100.

Spoilers: The Husbands Of River Song.

Summary: It’s bad enough that River doesn’t recognise him, but finding she’s married someone else in his absence…

It comes as something of a relief to realise that River’s ‘marriage’ to the monstrous and very untidy King Hydroflax is a sham, a charade, an act to keep her close to him until she figures out a way to get at the priceless diamond lodged in his brain.

Now that’s the River the Doctor knows, sneaky, unprincipled, larcenous, and attracted to shiny things. The universe isn’t about to implode after all; it just seemed like it might for a bit.

On the other hand, she’s talking about murdering someone… Perhaps he shouldn’t have left her alone for so long.

The End

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Chapter 96: Strange Phantoms

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 085: Phantom at dw100.

Spoilers: Under the Lake/Before the Flood.

Summary: There are unearthly phantoms at large and no escape for the people trapped beneath the lake.

The research facility beneath the lake is different, even exciting once they realise something weird is going on. There are strange phantoms stalking the corridors and each death adds another to their ranks.

Excitement soon turns to fear though, and Clara almost wishes she hadn’t been so eager for another adventure. Be careful what you wish for because it might not seem quite as appealing when you get it.

The Doctor is a ghost now, although he’s still alive and trying to fix things in the past. Clara can only pray his plan works before they run out of time.

The End

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Chapter 97: Shadows

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 086: Shadow at dw100.

Spoilers: Silence In The Library.

Summary: When is a shadow not a shadow?

There are shadows in the library, shadows that shouldn’t be there, shadows with nobody to cast them, and that’s bad, because although the human eye perceives them as shadows, they’re really not. They’re something infinitely worse.

They’re known as Vashta Nerada, shadows that melt the flesh, a vast and perpetually hungry swarm, piranhas of the air. Let those shadows fall across any living thing, and the Vashta Nerada will strip flesh from bones in moments. They can’t be fought.

They’re not every shadow, but they can be any shadow, so if you see a shadow that shouldn’t be there…

Run.

The End

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Chapter 98: From Friends To Enemies

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 087: Archenemy at dw100.

Summary: They were friends, long ago.

How did they come to this?

Back on Gallifrey, lifetimes ago, they were boyhood friends, inseparable, but staring into the Untempered Schism changed that. It was a rite of passage for all those wishing to enter the Academy to become Time Lords; afterwards, neither one of them was quite the same. It changed them in ways the Doctor thinks they will probably never fully understand.

Now, instead of close friends, they’re in opposition, the Doctor always trying to mend things and people while the Master constantly seeks to tear down and destroy.

From friends to archenemies, where will it end?

The End

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Chapter 99: Spooked

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 088: Spook at dw100.

Spoilers: Silence In The Library.

Another one, I seem to have got stuck on this episode...

Summary: There are few things that can spook the Doctor

The Doctor has seen all manner of strange beings in his travels, from bizarre but harmless creatures to implacable enemies. He’s borne witness to war and plague and natural disaster, and while he’s never been left unmoved by the things he’s seen, both good and bad, he’s seldom been spooked.

Daleks are his greatest foes, Cybermen aren’t far behind, but while he fears what they might do, he’s not afraid of them. In their way, they’re understandable and can be fought.

The Vashta Nerada are a different matter entirely; not even the Doctor can fight shadows. He can only run.

The End

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Chapter 100: Words Of Power

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 089: Witch at dw100.

Spoilers: The Shakespeare Code.

Summary: Where there’s a Will, there’s a way.

Carrionites are just witches by another name, and witchcraft, magic, is merely a different sort of science. Human science utilises numbers where the Carrionites are all about words.

They hold more power than you’d think.

The right words in the right order, spoken in the right place at the right time, can do anything, even cause the world to end. That’s not something the Doctor is keen on seeing happen. He rather likes the earth and its people.

Earth needs a champion; to fight words, you just need better words, so who better than Shakespeare?

All’s well that ends well.

The End

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Chapter 101: Halloween

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 090: Trick Or Treat at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor gets caught up in Halloween.

Halloween is an earth thing. Other worlds have their own superstitions and traditions, their own days when the dead are supposed to be able to contact the living, or the other way around, but nowhere else has turned it into such a commercialised entertainment. It’s unbelievably tacky.

Surrounded by a swarm of small trick-or-treating vampires, witches, fairies, ghosts, and superheroes, the Doctor somehow gets swept up to a front door. The owner of the house looks at him, puzzled.

“What are you supposed to be?”

“I’m the Doctor!”

“Oh. Very good, have some candy.”

Oh yes, Halloween is completely brilliant!

The End

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Chapter 102: Together

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 091: Grave at dw100.

Spoilers: The Angels Take Manhattan

Summary: Amy’s place is with Rory, no matter what.

Drabble Version


“Trust me, and push.”

Amy can’t help Rory fall to his death, even if he’s convinced the paradox will resurrect him. She can’t push, but she can fall with him, because live or die, her place is beside him.

They fall, and they’re back in the graveyard. They won; the angels are defeated.

But one remains, with enough power left to zap Rory into the past, leaving a gravestone bearing his name.

Amy knows what she needs to do; there’s room on the stone for another name. It’ll be fine, she’ll be with Rory, they’ll live their lives.

She blinks.


The End




Extended Version


“Trust me, and push.”

Amy can’t do it, can’t help the man she loves to fall to his death, even if he’s convinced that the paradox will bring him back again. She can’t push him, but she can fall with him, because live or die, her place is with him, by his side, in his arms.

They fall, and just like that they’re back in the graveyard. They won; the angels are defeated.

But not all of them, one remains, and it has enough power left to zap Rory into the past, leaving behind a gravestone bearing his name.

Amy knows what she has to do; there’s room on the stone for one more name. It’ll be fine, she’ll be with her husband, they’ll live a good life.

She blinks.


The End

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Chapter 103: Funeral For A Friend

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 092: Bonfire / Gunpowder at dw100.

Spoilers: Last Of The Time Lords.

Summary: The Doctor consigns the Master’s body to the flames.

It takes time to gather enough wood, piling it high. The Doctor does it himself, the hard way, his penance for… what exactly? Failing to save his old friend? The Master was the only other Time Lord left; now the Doctor is the last of his kind again. It hurts.

So he builds the biggest bonfire he can, a funeral pyre for his childhood friend, wishing things hadn’t ended this way. The Master could have regenerated. Why didn’t he? That question will never be answered now.

Lighting the fire, consigning the lifeless husk to the flames, the Doctor walks away.

The End

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Chapter 104: Where First?

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 092: Bonfire / Gunpowder at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has a new companion; where should they visit first? [Eleventh Doctor, Ianto Jones.]

“Where do you want to go first?” the Doctor asks his new companion. “Anywhere in time or space, the universe is your squid!”

“Oyster, Doctor. The saying is, ‘The world is your oyster.”

“Oysters are boring. I like squid better.”

“You and Jack both.” It was muttered, so the Doctor didn’t quite catch the words.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.” Ianto smiled benignly. “How about we start close to home and work out from there? I always rather wanted to see Guy Fawkes’ attempt at blowing up the Houses of Parliament. Gunpowder, treason, and plot.”

“Ooh, good choice! Off we go!”

The End

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Chapter 105: Flower Power

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 093: Flowery at dw100.

Eleventh Doctor, Clara Oswald.

Summary: The Doctor and Clara visit a garden planet.

Stepping from the TARDIS, the Doctor threw his arms wide, breathing in the air of this new planet.

“Smell that air!” he enthused. “Did you ever smell anything like that before? All those flowers, it’s the most fragrant planet in the universe!”

Clara breathed deeply and smiled. “It certainly does smell flowery.”

“Come on, we should explore!” the Doctor grinned, leading the way out into the fields of blooms.

And hour later, they were heading back to the TARDIS, the Doctor’s enthusiasm noticeably dampened. His nose and eyes were red and he was sneezing continuously.

“Much too flowery,” he decided.

The End

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Chapter 106: Chosen Path

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 094: Prodigy at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor thinks back over his life.

Even when he’d been very young, the boy had been regarded as a prodigy.

“That one will go far,” his parents were told. “As soon as he’s old enough, he must be enrolled in the Academy. He has the potential to become a Time Lord.”

The boy wondered whether anyone would bother asking him if he wanted to be a Time Lord. Didn’t he get any choice in the matter?

Looking back, the Doctor wonders what his life would have been like if he’d taken a different path. He has countless regrets, but becoming a Time Lord isn’t among them.

The End

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Chapter 107: Warrior

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 095: Soldier at dw100.

Spoilers: The Day of the Doctor.

Summary: The War Doctor considers his fate.

The Doctor has always considered himself a healer, someone who fixes whatever’s wrong, making everything better. He doesn’t understand how he became this man. He never wanted to be a soldier, a warrior, fighting this soul-destroying war.

He doesn’t deserve the name Doctor, not anymore, but after so many centuries of existence, it’s stuck in his head, his indelible identity.

Now he’s in possession of the most powerful weapon ever devised, fully intends to end the war by destroying Daleks and Time Lords alike. He doesn’t want to survive the destruction, but if that’s his punishment, then so be it.

The End

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Chapter 108: Thawed

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 096: Frozen at dw100.

Spoilers: A Christmas Carol.

Summary: The Doctor takes a leaf out of Charles Dickens’ book.

There’s a girl who volunteered to be frozen when her family fell on hard times.

There’s an old man whose heart has turned so hard within him it might as well be as frozen as the girl. In its way, perhaps it is.

The Doctor believes both can be thawed. It’s a bit tricky, but if that fellow Charles Dickens can change Scrooge…. Should be a piece of cake.

It’s not, there are false starts, but the Doctor’s never been a quitter. Change the past, just enough, and the future changes too. If he gets it just right, anything’s possible.

The End

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Chapter 109: Making Merry

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 097: Merry / Marry / Mary at dw100.

Spoilers: The Big Bang.

Summary: The Doctor is intent on making the most of Amy and Rory’s wedding reception.

It’s good when nice things happen. With the way the Doctor’s life goes, nice things are something to be grabbed onto when they happen. Because in five more minutes you could be running for your life from some terrible creature intent on destroying the universe, and you right along with it since you happen to be in the way.

No doubt there’ll be more running later, but now’s the time to make merry, to celebrate the Ponds’ big day. He couldn’t be there for the wedding, but he’ll make the most of the party food and dancing.

Dancing is good!

The End

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Chapter 110: Wedding Daze

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 097: Merry / Marry / Mary at dw100.

Spoilers: The Wedding Of River Song.

Summary: The Doctor thinks he should really have expected something like this…

Somehow it’s appropriate. Maybe it’s because of who and what he is, but the Doctor supposes he should have expected his own wedding to take place in the middle of a crisis, not to mention a combat zone.

River doesn’t seem to mind too much, though he’s sure she would’ve preferred something a bit less rushed and perhaps a little more elegant. She loves wearing nice gowns and she cleans up well. Come to think of it, she’s rather lovely whatever she wears. He should probably tell her that at some point.

Later.

Right here and now they’re getting married.

The End

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Chapter 111: Monster!

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 097: Merry / Marry / Mary at dw100.

Summary: Rory is still adjusting to meeting aliens.

Rory gaped. “What is that?”

“Be polite, Rory,” the Doctor chastised. “On her own world she’d be considered rather beautiful, it’s hardly her fault she doesn’t measure up to the human ideal.”

“Sorry,” Rory said sheepishly, “she just looks like one of Doctor Frankenstein’s creations. It took me by surprise.”

“When Mary wrote her book, Frankenstein’s monster looked human, just stitched together from parts. The movies gave him that flat-headed look and the bolt through his neck everyone associates with her monster these days. Humans seem to prefer their monsters to look grotesque.”

Rory nodded. “I’ll try to remember that.”

The End

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Chapter 112: Of Teeth And Claws

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 098: Claws / Clause / Claus at dw100.

Spoilers: Tooth And Claw.

Summary: Rose trusts the Doctor completely, but being hunted by a werewolf is still scary.

Whatever you wanted to call it, werewolf or lupine wavelength haemovariform, the claws and teeth were impressive. Rose was torn between abject terror and giddy excitement, because… werewolf! A creature of myth, not supposed to exist, and now one was hunting them!

The Doctor would fix this; he always did. But still, hearing it sniffing and scratching away outside the library, either unable or unwilling to enter because of the mistletoe oil impregnating the walls, sent chills down her spine.

Sooner or later, the mistletoe would no longer be enough to protect them, so they’d better find something that would.

The End

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Chapter 113: Always A Way Out

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 098: Claws / Clause / Claus at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor can always find a way out of any situation.

No matter how dire the situation might seem, there’s always a way out, an escape clause if you will. It’s simply a matter of finding it and using it to your advantage. The Doctor’s good at that, but then he’s had hundreds of years of experience, so perhaps he has an unfair advantage over most people.

Whenever he finds himself in a tight spot, his brain works constantly, calculating probabilities and possibilities, loopholes and boltholes, whatever works. It might look as though he doesn’t know what he’s doing, but most of the time it’s simply that he doesn’t know yet.

The End

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Chapter 114: Hanging With Santa

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 098: Claws / Clause / Claus at dw100.

Spoilers: Small for A Christmas Carol.

Summary: The Doctor has some unusual friends.

Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Old Saint Nick. Call him whatever you like, he’s still the same fellow. The Doctor knows him by a different name: Jeff.

They hang out now and then, sometimes just the two of them, sometimes with others. There was that time in 1952, at Sinatra’s hunting lodge; that was fun.

“So, Jeff, how’s tricks?”

Santa Claus smiles through his beard. “Oh, you know me, Doc. Can’t complain!” Not that he would anyway, he’s never been the complaining sort. “How about you?”

“Oh, this and that.” They sip their tea companionably. The Doctor loves these little chats.

The End

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Chapter 115: Captives

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 099: 99 Bottles Of Beer at dw100.

Summary: Jack, Rose, and the Doctor have been captured.

“Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall…” Jack stared to sing.

“O!” The Doctor nudged him hard with his shoulder, the only thing he was able to do since the three of them had their hands tied behind their backs and their legs tied at the ankles. They were sitting in a row against the wall, the Doctor in the middle, Jack on his right, and Rose on his left. “Don’t start that again, it was bad enough the first five times; one more time and my head might explode!”

“Great!” Jack grinned. “Might blow a hole in this wall!

The End

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Chapter 116: Starting Over

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 100: Fresh Start at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor finally feels ready to take on a new companion.

Somehow, the Doctor always seems to gravitate back to Earth; he often wonders why he’s so drawn to the planet and her people. Maybe it’s because humans seem to need his help more often than other races; after all, aliens do target them a lot.

So he’s back here yet again, and so are the Autons, causing trouble as usual. This time a young shop assistant has been caught up in their schemes. After so long alone, it feels good to have someone running beside him once more.

Maybe it’s time to make a fresh start, with a new companion.

The End

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Chapter 117: Coward Or Killer?

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 101: Resolution at dw100.

Spoilers: The Parting Of The Ways.

Summary: The moment has come, will the Doctor throw the final switch or not?

The Doctor is firm in his resolve, knows what he must do and is determined to follow through, whatever the cost. The fate of the whole universe depends on him; what’s one small planet compared to that?

Innocent people have already sacrificed their lives in order to buy him the time he needed to construct the Delta Wave, and now at last it’s finished. All he needs to do is activate the signal and every living creature within range will die, Daleks and humans alike.

What is he, coward or killer?

Resolution crumbles; he can’t do it.

“Coward, any day.”

The End

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Chapter 118: Too Silent

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 102: Silence at dw100.

Spoilers: Silence In The Library.

Summary: The library should be full of people, but instead it stands silent and empty.

It’s the biggest library in the universe, the biggest that has ever existed anywhere, and it takes up a whole planet; millions of rooms filled with endless shelves, and books beyond counting. They’re the real thing, tangible volumes with paper pages, all collected together, sorted by year of publication and then by subject.

It’s a resource used by billions, and yet it’s unaccountably empty. Oh, there are books everywhere, but where are the readers? The place should be teeming with people, echoing to the sound of footsteps and rustling pages, but instead there’s only silence.

Something is very wrong here.

The End

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Chapter 119: A Charming Woman

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 103: Gracious / Ungrateful at dw100.

Spoilers: The Girl In The Fireplace.

Summary: From child to woman in the space of a few minutes; the Doctor is flummoxed.

As a young girl, Reinette was innocent, gentle, full of curiosity and wonder. As a grown woman, she’s lovely, gracious, charming, but still as curious as ever, though now with a quick wit and sharp intellect to go with her other attributes.

The seemingly sudden transformation from child to woman, at least from the Doctor’s perspective, is unsettling although it probably shouldn’t be. It’s not the first time he’s met the same person at different stages of their lives, but the period between meetings is usually longer than a few minutes.

Time here has been accelerated. It’s really rather confounding.

The End

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Chapter 120: Undeserved

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 103: Gracious / Ungrateful at dw100.

Spoilers: Tooth And Claw.

Summary: He hadn’t expected a reward, but he’d at least expected a thank you.

The Doctor feels he has every right to be miffed. After everything he did, this is how he’s repaid?

It’s not as if he’d been expecting to be knighted or anything, but he saved Queen Victoria’s life, among others, and sent the werewolf away from earth, to wherever it wanted to go.

Now as a reward he’s being banished from earth? How ungrateful is that? It hardly seems fair.

Then to add insult to injury, Her Majesty sets up the Torchwood Institute and makes him public enemy number one in their charter. What did he ever do to deserve that?

The End

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Chapter 121: Trouble

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 104: Flirting With Disaster at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor’s first meeting with River Song is disconcerting on so many levels.

There’s something magnetic and irresistible about the vibrant woman with the wild red hair. She makes the Doctor more than a little uncomfortable.

She acts like she knows him, even though he’s sure he’s never met her in any of his lives. She calls him Sweetie and when he tries to find out what they are to each other, at some indeterminate time in the future, she won’t tell him. All she’ll say, with a teasingly flirtatious expression on her face, is “Spoilers!”

Nevertheless, he’s sure of two things about Professor River Song; she’s trouble, and he’s flirting with disaster.

The End

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Chapter 122: Lost Potential

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 105: Last Call at dw100.

Spoilers: Set just after Journey’s End.

Summary: The Tenth Doctor grieves for all he’s had to take from Donna.

The Doctor’s not sure how long he’s been sitting here, wallowing in misery, trying to drown his sorrows, but the bartender just rang the bell for last call. Pushing his empty glass across the bar, he says, “Fill ‘er up again, my good man,” and watches the amber liquid flowing from the bottle. It’s almost hypnotic.

Donna’s gone. She’d blossomed as they’d travelled together, fulfilling the magnificent potential he’d seen in her, being awesome, and now she won’t remember any of it. It’s not fair.

Picking up his glass of ginger ale, he drains it. Time to go on alone.

The End

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Chapter 123: Young Again

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 106: Springtime at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor loves springtime on earth.

The Doctor loves to be on earth in the springtime, especially in Britain. It’s all so damp and green, with everything growing, and trees bursting into blossom, pink and white clusters of flowers, like bits of candyfloss have been scattered among their branches.

It’s not just the plants either; the whole little island always appears to be bursting at the seams with new life in spring. Everywhere you look there are nests crammed with baby birds, lambs and bunnies frolicking in the fields, calves and piglets and baby goats, long-legged foals…

Watching them makes his old heart feel young again.

The End

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Chapter 124: Not Like Ancient Greece

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 107: Wrestling at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor doesn’t understand wrestling.

“I don’t get it.” He really didn’t. Big men in weird costumes, grappling with each other in a small ring in front of a cheering and jeering audience; it made no sense to him.

“It’s entertainment,” Rory shrugged.

One man picked up his opponent and threw him against the ropes. The thrown man rebounded and knocked the first man flat on his back. The Doctor frowned. “Why didn’t he step out of the way? Wrestling was never like this in ancient Greece.

“It’s choreographed,” Amy explained, slurping on her drink. “More an exhibition than a fight. Have some more popcorn.”

The End

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Chapter 125: Plant Life

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 108: Plant at dw100.

Summary: Rose almost makes a terrible mistake.

“Don’t do that!” the Doctor shouted as Rose reached to pluck a pink flower from a slender plant, standing by itself in a sunny spot.

“What? Why?” Rose asked, confused. “Are plants like this one sacred to the people who live here or something?”

“Not exactly.” The Doctor shoved his hands in his trouser pockets and grinned that crazy grin. “Plants like that one ARE the people who live here, and they don’t take kindly to having bits pulled off them while they’re sunbathing.”

The plant in question turned to glare at Rose, who took a step back.

“Oops. Sorry.”

The End

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Chapter 126: Across The Pond

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 109: The Other Side of the Pond at dw100.

Spoilers: Daleks In Manhattan.

Summary: Martha and the Doctor arrive in New York.

“Where are we?”

“Martha, have you met my friend?”

Turning around, Martha looks up and her heart skips a beat as she sees the massive statue looming over her.

“Oh my God! That’s the Statue of Liberty!”

Even after travelling back to Shakespeare’s time and then visiting an alien world far in the future, somehow this is the most impressive thing she’s seen yet, because it’s familiar, recognisable, and the other side of the Atlantic. New York, a place she’s only ever dreamed of visiting but always wanted to see.

Travelling with the Doctor really does mean anything is possible!

The End

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Chapter 127: Can’t Fool Me

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 110: Fool at dw100.

Spoilers: Boom Town.

Summary: The Doctor and Margaret Blaine chat over dinner.

Mayor Margaret Blaine, also known as Blon Fel Fotch Passamer-Day Slitheen, seems to think the Doctor is some kind of fool.

She’s wrong of course, as the Doctor proves. Repeatedly.

She distracts him and poisons his drink. He switches their glasses.

She fires a poison dark from her finger. He effortlessly catches it.

She breathes poison gas at him. He retaliates with breath freshener.

Finally she resorts to pleading for compassion, freedom.

But she’s a killer; she killed the woman whose skin she’s wearing, and she’ll never change. The Doctor understands her only too well.

Maybe they’re not so different.

The End

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Chapter 128: Unnatural Evolution

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 111: Live and Let Live at dw100.

Spoilers: The Lazarus Experiment.

Summary: The Doctor prefers to preserve life, most of the time.

Killing isn’t the Doctor’s way, not if he can help it. He prefers to live and let live.

There are exceptions of course, there always are: Daleks, Cybermen, those for whom killing anyone not of their kind has become so ingrained into their society that allowing them to continue their wholesale slaughter of other races is intolerable. For the most part though, life is too precious, people of all kinds too marvellous and extraordinary, to rob them of their chance to see what they can become.

Evolution is a wonderful thing, except when it isn’t natural.

Professor Lazarus must die.

The End

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Chapter 129: Another Adventure

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 112: Here We Go Again at dw100.

Spoilers: Planet of the Ood.

Summary: Donna thinks she’s getting used to her new life travelling the universe.

Donna thinks she’s getting the hang of this travelling through Time and Space. She and the Doctor go somewhere, or somewhen, find something that needs fixing, and then save the day.

It’s exciting, scary, and completely mad, but it’s the most fun she’s ever had in her entire life and already she never wants it to end.

So here they are, on the planet of the Ood.

Benign beings, gentle, peaceful, but they’re being mistreated. Donna already knows that look in the Doctor’s eyes. Something’s about to kick off, and it’ll probably involve loads of running.

Here they go again!

The End

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Chapter 130: Wrong One

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 113: The Rain In Spain at dw100.

Summary: Amy and Rory are in for a disappointment.

They huddled under an awning as the rain poured down. Amy knew she should be used to the Doctor’s appalling sense of direction, but honestly, this took the cake. All she wanted was to head back to the TARDIS and get dry.

She dug her elbow into the Doctor’s side. “Barcelona, you said. You promised us a planet with noseless dogs, not a trip across the channel.”

“Alright, so I got the wrong Barcelona. It happens.” The Doctor shook rain from his hair.

Rory stared gloomily at the wet streets. “Somehow I always pictured Spain as being sunny,” he sighed.

The End

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Chapter 131: Deadly Pacifist

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 114: Pacifist at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor may prefer peace, but he’s fully capable of violence when the need arises.

The Doctor isn’t sure whether the term ‘pacifist’ fits him or not. On the one hand he abhors violence and the use of weapons, preferring to find peaceful, non-violent solutions to any situation he and his companions might find themselves in. Killing disgusts him, and taking lives denies those killed a chance to redeem themselves.

On the other hand, if fighting and even killing becomes necessary, as in his endless war against the Daleks, he can and will destroy his enemies wholesale.

He tries to keep his dark side buried, hidden from sight, but he’s always aware of its presence.

The End

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Chapter 132: String

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 115: Knots at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor finds string very useful.

“Ever so useful, string is,” the Doctor said brightly, tying a knot in the piece he’d wrapped around his finger. “I never go anywhere without a ball of string. You can tie things together with it, hang things up, even use it to keep from getting lost. It’ll hold your trousers up if you lose your belt, or replace a shoelace if you break one, and if you get bored you can tie knots in it.”

“So why’s that bit tied around your finger?” Amy asked him.

“To remind me to get another ball of string of course!” he replied.

The End

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Chapter 133: Amelia’s Fairytale

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 116: Fairy Tale at dw100.

Spoilers: The Eleventh Hour.

Summary: Young Amelia loved fairytales…

As a child, Amelia Pond had loved fairytales. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, the Princess and the Pea, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood; they were all stories of wonder and enchantment, where heroines triumphed, monsters were slain, and the prince got the girl.

But there was one fairytale young Amelia loved more than all the others, and it didn’t appear in any book. It was the tale of a little girl and her friend, the Raggedy Doctor, who would one day return and whisk her away on the most magical adventure of all, out among the stars.

It just hadn’t happened yet.

The End

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Chapter 134: Probabilities

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 117: Improbability at dw100.

Summary: Probabilities aren’t set in stone, they change according to circumstances.

The Doctor has long since learned that ‘improbable’ and ‘impossible’ are two very different things. No matter how unlikely something might seem, it’s a very bad idea to rule it out because for some reason, when he’s involved improbable things have a peculiar tendency to become facts, and anything that probably won’t happen almost inevitably does.

The most sensible thing to do is to just assume anything is possible given the right circumstances and that degrees of probability are constantly changing. It won’t help you anticipate the unexpected, but you’ll be better equipped to deal with it when it happens.

The End

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Chapter 135: Toon Time

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 118: Cartoon at dw100.

Summary: How do you tell when you’re in the wrong universe?

Martha stopped dead in front of a TV display in a shop window. “Doctor! You have to see this! I have a horrible feeling we’re not in our universe anymore.”

“Why d’you say that?” the Doctor ambled back to her.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but…” Martha pointed towards the biggest TV. “Don’t those characters look an awful lot like cartoon versions of us?”

The Doctor watched the action on the big screen for a moment, frowning. “Now you mention it, they do rather. What is it?”

“I think it said ‘The Infinite Quest’, something like that.”

“Oh dear. Spoilers!”

The End

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Chapter 136: Pandorica

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 119: Open And Closed at dw100.

Spoilers: The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang.

Summary: Some doors are designed as traps, letting you in with no way to get out. Unless you’re the Doctor.

Doors let people in and out, or sometimes just in. You can’t always trust doors; some only go one way, and then you’re trapped with no way out.

The Pandorica is like that; it’s a prison, designed to keep someone in; to get out you need outside help, which the Doctor has. All it took was a bit of time-hopping by his future self.

Rory opens the Pandorica to let the Doctor out, and when it closes again, Amy is inside. It’s meant to be the perfect prison; now it’s going to save a life, and maybe the whole universe.

The End

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Chapter 137: A Maid's Life

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 120: Hard Work at dw100.

Spoilers: Human Nature.

Summary: Martha thought she knew what hard work was until she spent time as a housemaid in nineteen thirteen.

Martha’s never been afraid of hard work, but this is something else. For the Doctor’s sake, to help maintain his disguise, she’s working as a maid in a boarding school where the Doctor is hiding as one of the schoolmasters.

If she ever gets her old life back, the real one, she’ll never complain about doing housework again, because washing machines, electric cookers, vacuum cleaners, and all the other mod cons of twenty-first century life make chores so much easier than they were before the First World war.

If she has to scrub many more floors she’ll develop housemaid’s knee!

The End

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Chapter 138: Shiny!

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 121: Ooh Shiny at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has a tendency to collect things.

The Doctor knows he’s a bit of a magpie, but he can’t help himself. Shiny objects, interesting things, bits of string… anything that catches his attention and doesn’t seem to belong to anyone somehow ends up in his pockets.

That’s the downside of having pockets that are bigger on the inside; even he doesn’t know exactly what’s in them. One in long a while he’ll have a clearout, rummaging around and rediscovering things he’d completely forgotten. There are probably drawers full of miscellaneous objects throughout the TARDIS, but still he can’t stop.

“Oooh, shiny!” And into his pocket it goes.

The End

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Chapter 139: From The Depths

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 122: Under The Sea at dw100.

Spoilers: The Wedding Of River Song.

Summary: Who says fixed points can’t be changed?

The figure rising from the water is impossible. It’s looks like an astronaut, dressed in a suit that could have come from the Apollo moon landings. It doesn’t belong here, and yet it does. The Doctor has seen it before, knows what it’s there for, and knows what has to happen next.

This moment is a fixed point, it’s inevitable, and it can never be changed.

Or can it?

Trapped inside the suit, River is helpless, watching as her prison zaps the man she loves over and over, just as she saw once before.

Only this time, it isn’t him.

The End

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Chapter 140: Flying Free

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 123: Return To Flight at dw100.

Summary: The TARDIS knows the role she has to play.

The TARDIS bounces around through space and time, landing here and there so the Doctor can investigate this mystery, or solve that problem, save a world or battle an enemy. There’s always somewhere new to go, another wrong to set right.

So wherever they travel, she waits, quietly, patiently, until the Doctor does whatever he came to do. It’s fine, she knows it has to be this way, he has responsibilities and it’s her role in life to help him any way she can.

But for her, the best part will always be in-between times, and the freedom of flight.

The End

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Chapter 141: An Ordinary Man

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 124: Remember at dw100.

Spoilers: Family Of Blood.

Summary: John Smith just wants to stay who he is.

He doesn’t remember. He’s John Smith, an ordinary man with an ordinary job, and a woman who loves him. That’s who he wants to be, a good man with a good life. Why can’t he stay that way?

Martha says he’s the Doctor, an alien who travels through space and time. She says everything he remembers is a lie, that the Doctor is needed, that John has to become him again. He doesn’t want to.

If he becomes the Doctor again, John Smith, with all his hopes and dreams, will be gone. It isn’t fair.

But he has no choice.

The End

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Chapter 142: Broken Bride

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 125: Nuts at dw100.

Spoilers: The Runaway Bride.

Summary: Donna’s wedding day is in ruins.

It’s nuts! The whole situation is completely nuts! One minute she was walking down the aisle in her wedding dress, the next she’s been kidnapped by a madman in a flying blue box!

That sounds like the worst thing that could ever happen to a bride on her wedding day, but it turns out it’s not; everything goes downhill from there, so fast it makes her head spin. Lance doesn’t love her; he’s just been using her to help some alien spider thing.

Donna’s hurt. She feels like a fool, but mostly she’s angry.

Even worse, she still loves him.

The End

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Chapter 143: Vacation

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 126: Vacation at dw100.

Spoilers: Midnight.

Summary: The Doctor and Donna both vacation their own way.

Donna and the Doctor have completely different ideas of what a vacation should be. He wants to be off visiting the planet’s tourist attractions, but all Donna wants to do is relax, lounging by the pool, maybe going to the spa.

Travelling with the Doctor is fun but exhausting. The past few months she’s been run off her feet, literally. She hasn’t run so much since PE lessons at school. It’s alright for spaceboy, he’s got energy to burn, but Donna needs a break.

Let him chase across the plant looking at waterfalls if he wants. Sunbathing is much nicer.

The End

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Chapter 144: Everything's Wrong

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 127: Forgetful at dw100.

Spoilers: Turn Left.

Summary: Why do things seem so wrong to Donna?

Everything is wrong, and Donna doesn’t know why she thinks that. Things are the way they’ve always been, right? They must be, because everything doesn’t just change overnight with nobody noticing, and yet…

Why do people keep staring at her back? Did somebody stick something there?

Then there’s the blonde girl, Rose, who keeps popping up out of nowhere. Eventually Donna goes with her. What else can she do? The stars are going out, everything’s going to hell. That’s when she learns there IS something on her back, a beetle. It’s been there all along, but somehow she just… forgot.

The End

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Chapter 145: Cuckoo

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 128: Phobia at dw100.

Spoilers: Night Terrors

Summary: What is young George scared of?

George is scared of everything, so scared all the time that his plea for someone to save him from the monsters reaches the Doctor in the TARDIS, far away in space and time.

It’s so unusual the Doctor can’t ignore it. Nobody, especially not a child, should be afraid all the time, and he’ll do whatever he can to help.

But George is no ordinary child, he’s not human, he’s an alien cuckoo in the nest, and he’s scared that his parents don’t want him. Once the Doctor understands, the problem is easily fixed. All it takes is unconditional love.

The End

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Chapter 146: Imagination

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 129: Pen And Paper at dw100.

Spoilers: Human Nature.

Summary: John Smith records his dreams in a notebook.

John Smith sits at his desk; the only sound the quiet scratching of pen on paper. He dips the nib in the inkbottle again and continues to write, deftly blotting away excess ink to keep it from running. It’s a habit so ingrained he doesn’t need to think about it.

He has to get the details of his latest dream down in his notebook before he forges them. His head is filled with images; faces of people, the outlandish forms of monsters, strange devices. He’d never realised he had such a vivid imagination.

Maybe one day he’ll publish his stories.

The End

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Chapter 147: Van Gogh

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 130: Art at dw100.

Spoilers: Vincent And The Doctor.

Summary: In his own time, Van Gogh is a struggling artist.

He’s one of the most famous artists in the world by Amy’s time, but like so many, in his own time his talent remains unrecognised. Vincent Van Gogh can’t even sell a picture for the price of a drink.

But he has pride, dignity, and the desire to paint, so a struggling artist he remains, through the ups and downs of his life, which seem to be mostly downs.

To Amy though, it’s still a privilege to spend time with one of the world’s greatest artists. It’s just a pity he doesn’t know how much he’ll be admired one day.

The End

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Chapter 148: Among The Stars

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 131: Stargazing at dw100.

Spoilers: General for Donna’s time with the Doctor.

Summary: Donna wishes her grandfather was with her.

Back home, Donna had often gone to the allotments with her grandfather late at night, sitting outside his little shed in all kinds of weather, staring through his telescope as he showed her the wonders of the universe. Constellations and planets, comets, meteor showers, and a total lunar eclipse; he’d seemed to know so much.

Thinking back on those times, she wishes he could be here with her now, and not countless light years away on earth, sitting in the dark, stargazing. He belongs here, actually out among the stars and seeing everything firsthand. She knows he’d love every minute.

The End

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Chapter 149: Not Fair

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 132: Fair at dw100.

Spoilers: Journey’s End.

Summary: The universe is a lot of things, but fair isn’t one of them.

It isn’t fair, but when has the universe ever been fair? It’s big and complex and full of as many horrors as there are wonders, but fair has never been an adjective the Doctor would use to describe it. Even Time Lords are too insignificant to rate any special treatment from the immensity that is the universe, so what chance does an accidental human Time Lord metacrisis have?

None whatsoever.

The only thing the Doctor can do for Donna now is wipe her mind clean of all her memories of their travels, everything she’s seen and done.

It isn’t fair.

The End

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Chapter 150: Contested Ownership

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge #133: Reptile at dw100.

Spoilers: The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood.

Summary: Who does the Earth really belong to?

Despite what humans think, they’re not the first sentient species on planet earth; the reptiles came first. Dinosaurs didn’t just come into existence and then die out to make way for mammals; they reigned supreme, changing and evolving over time, until after many thousands of years, the Silurians ruled the planet.

The trouble is, humans believe earth to be theirs while the remaining Silurians see them as apes, invaders and usurpers of what rightfully belongs to them. After all, they were here first.

Once again, it looks like the Doctor will have to broker a peace between the two species.

The End

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Chapter 151: Wish Granted

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 134: Hunting at dw100.

Spoilers: Human Nature/The Family Of Blood.

Summary: They wanted to live forever. Now they will.

We envied the Time Lords; we wanted what they had. Eternity. Our lives were finite, our time fast running out, but we wanted to live forever.

We were hunters, could sniff out anyone, anywhere; Time Lord scent was unique. He was the last, our only chance, we only had to find him and take what we wanted.

It wasn’t as simple as we’d thought; he tricked us, but we still found him and gave him no choice. Now we’ll live forever, but not as we wanted. He trapped us all.

Be careful what you wish for; you might get it.

The End

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Chapter 152: Jack

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 135: Shameless / Shameful at dw100.

Spoilers: The Doctor Dances/Boomtown

Summary: The Doctor’s new passenger is a bit of a handful.

The man has no shame! Men, women, aliens of any species, it makes no difference as far as the Doctor can tell. Captain Harkness will flirt with anyone. Given the slightest hint of encouragement, he won’t stop at just flirting either. Unbelievable! He can’t be trusted with an innocent greeting; he says ‘Hello’ like he’s inviting whoever he’s addressing to join him in bed!

The Doctor isn’t a prude, or perhaps he is, but the fact remains that he can’t take Jack anywhere without putting interstellar relations in jeopardy. He’ll have to keep his new passenger on a tight leash.

The End

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Chapter 153: Burden Of Shame

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 135: Shameless / Shameful at dw100.

Spoilers: Anything to do with the Time War.

Summary: The Doctor has a heavy burden to carry.

The Doctor has done many things over his long life that he’s not proud of, but one stands out above all, and the burden of shame and regret is heavy on his shoulders.

If allowed to continue, the Daleks would have destroyed every other race in existence; he couldn’t allow that. He thought of himself as a healer; someone who fixed things, made them better, someone who helped others. He wasn’t a killer, and yet…

To end the Time war, he committed genocide not once but twice, destroying his own people along with the Daleks.

And it didn’t even work.

The End

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Chapter 154: Candle In The Dark

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 136: Candle at dw100.

Spoilers: The Runaway Bride.

Summary: After losing Rose, the Doctor has lost hope.

Nothing has felt right to the Doctor since Rose was sucked into another dimension. Everything’s drab, grey, lifeless, and he’s weighed down by a crushing sense of loss. There’s little point to anything, he’s hollowed out inside, his hearts beat too slowly, and he half expects to crumble into dust.

It’s been a long time since he last felt so devoid of hope.

Then a woman appears in the TARDIS, all red hair and fury, and against his will he’s swept into another adventure. Donna Noble, his candle in the darkness. Without even trying, she restores his will to live.

The End

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Chapter 155: Safe Return

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 137: Grateful at dw100.

Spoilers: Aliens Of London.

Summary: Jackie has spent a year not knowing what happened to Rose.

Rose has been missing for a year, just went out one day and never came home. For twelve long, terrifying months, Jackie’s been living every mother’s worst nightmare. She has no idea whether her daughter’s out there somewhere, alive, or buried in a shallow grave.

When Rose shows up on the doorstep, casual as you please, like she just popped out to the shops, Jackie’s torn between gratitude at having her back, and anger over the months of worry she’s been put though.

The anger takes precedence at first, but in the end she’s just grateful that Rose is alright.

The End

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Chapter 156: Welcome Aboard

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 138: Welcome Aboard at dw100.

Spoilers: Partners In Crime.

Summary: The first time, neither of them had been ready; now they both were.

The first time had been an accident; the Doctor hadn’t wanted another travelling companion, not after Rose, and Donna had been annoyed about getting abducted from her wedding. It hadn’t exactly been an auspicious start, and the events that followed… Well, it was understandable that Donna hadn’t been willing to uproot herself from her familiar life and take off into the unknown. It was too soon.

Now though, Donna was all set, in fact she was amazingly organised. The Doctor found that a bit disconcerting, but…

“Here it is then, the TARDIS. Welcome aboard.”

This was going to be amazing.

The End

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Chapter 157: Purpose

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 139: Mysteries at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor thrives on mysteries.

Mysteries are the Doctor’s stock in trade, his bread and butter, his reason for being. Seeking them out and solving them keeps his brilliant mind occupied and entertained, because for someone who’s lived as long as he has, boredom is the greatest enemy.

The universe is vast, and having a time machine makes the possibilities almost endless. No matter how many mysteries he solves, there are always more to investigate. He dreads the coming of a day when no more mysteries remain, because then there would surely be nothing left to give him purpose, and that doesn’t bear thinking about.

The End

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Chapter 158: Encounter

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 140: Creepy at dw100.

Spoilers: The Impossible Astronaut.

Summary: Amy keeps seeing it, but never remembers…

It’s right in front of Amy, ugly, bald, grotesque, a cadaverous head with empty, sunken eye-sockets and no mouth, wearing a sharp suit and tie combo, like it’s trying to fit it. The outfit only makes it look even more unearthly and out of place.

She remembers seeing it at the lake, but then she must have forgotten about it, which is strange. How could she forget something so… menacing?

With no mouth, there’s no way it can speak, yet she hears it anyway. She’s seen tons of weird stuff, travelling with the Doctor, but this thing is downright creepy!

The End

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Chapter 159: One Last Trip

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 141: Opulence at dw100.

Spoilers: Mummy On The Orient Express.

Summary: This is what travelling in style used to be all about.

The opulence aboard the train is impressive, it’s like stepping back in time to a grander age, where travelling for the sake of travelling was something only the rich did, and they could afford to do it in style. The Doctor tells her it’s a re-creation of the original Orient Express, only bigger; Clara can well believe it. Not that it’s overly spacious, but still…

If she’s really going to stop travelling with the Doctor, this is a good note to go out on. One last trip, seeing something that no one else on earth in her time ever will.

The End

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Chapter 160: Waking Nightmare

Author's Notes: Written For Challenge 142: Overwhelming at dw100.

Summary: Martha wishes she could believe it’s just a bad dream.

It’s impossible, there’s no way this can be real. It has to be some kind of mad dream, or more likely a nightmare. Perhaps she’s hallucinating; the pressures of her internship and all her family issues finally making her crack up. It makes more sense than the Royal Hope Hospital being transported to the moon, and it would explain why there’s still a breathable atmosphere…

Martha really wishes she could believe her explanation, but everything is too real to be so easily dismissed. It’s overwhelming, but she can’t afford to lose her head. Panicking isn’t going to help the patients.

The End

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Chapter 161: Educational

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 143: Foreign Customs at dw100.

Summary: Customs vary from world to world.

The old adage ‘When in Rome’ is as true out in space as it is on earth. Every planet has its own customs and laws, just as every species has its own idea of what is acceptable behaviour and what most definitely isn’t.

Even the Doctor doesn’t always get it right; he’s been wandering through space and time for centuries, yet he still gets himself arrested. Admittedly, sometimes it’s intentional, but more often than not, it’s because he contravened local laws in some way he wasn’t aware of. It’s an occupational hazard.

Travelling with him is nothing if not educational.

The End

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Chapter 162: Wanderlust

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 144: Blood at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor and his companions have something in common.

The Doctor never stays in any one place for very long; the wanderlust is too strong for that. It’s in his blood, and that’s always been the case, since long before his first regeneration.

It’s what compelled him to steal an obsolete TARDIS and take off for the unknown, travelling throughout space and time, exploring and discovering.

In many ways, the companions he chooses are the same; they share his spirit of adventure. Perhaps that’s how he finds them, or they him, like calling to like. The wanderlust courses through their veins too, a blood fever only travel can satisfy.

The End

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Chapter 163: Skills

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 145: Water at dw100.

Spoilers: The Return Of Doctor Mysterio.

Summary: The Doctor has some amazing skills.

Time Lord technology allows the Doctor to do things nobody else would even consider attempting; it gives him the kind of skills that amaze and mystify others. People look at him like he’s a magician or miracle worker.

Doesn’t hurt his image.

He’s particularly proud of his glass of water in the pocket trick; it isn’t just the TARDIS that’s bigger on the inside. Anyone else would carry liquids around in bottles, but then you have to open the cap to take a drink… His way is more convenient as well as being impressive.

Unfortunately, it can have unintended consequences…

The End

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Chapter 164: Out West

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 146: Riding at dw100.

Spoilers: A Town Called Mercy.

Summary: Susan the horse is quite a character!

The Doctor likes horses, they have a lot of common sense; he knows because he speaks horse. It’s a useful skill. He can ride too, which is fortunate, because out West, if you need to get somewhere quickly, horseback is the only way to travel.

Needing to track the gunslinger, he borrows a horse and rides out of town. Susan, as the horse prefers to be called, is an excellent mount, fast and sure-footed, intelligent, and has quite a mouth on him. The Doctor laughs to himself. The preacher would blush scarlet if he knew what his horse was saying.

The End

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Chapter 165: Oh Snow!

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 147: Ice And Snow at dw100.

Spoilers: The Snowmen.

Summary: Encountering something new is always an interesting experience.

Living snow; even for the Doctor, that’s a bit of a surprise. It talks too; talking snow is even better. The Doctor loves encountering new things. He’s seen so much in the past nine hundred plus years, it’s good to know he hasn’t yet seen everything there is to see.

Not good snow though. That’s a pity. Why does everything new turn out to be an evil intelligence intent on invading the planet and conquering its inhabitants? There must be something in the water.

And of course there is: a tragically frozen governess. Damn it! Now he’ll have to investigate.

The End

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Chapter 166: A Grain Of Truth

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 148 Urban Legend at dw100.

Spoilers: The Family Of Blood.

Summary: Urban legends usually contain a grain of truth.

In the Doctor’s vast experience, urban legends usually contain at least a grain of truth. Something nasty lurking in the sewers? Could be an alligator, or a mutant turtle, or maybe just an alien stranded far from home and making the best of a bad situation.

Then there’s the figure in the mirror, the one you catch a glimpse of and think someone’s standing behind you. They’re not.

The Doctor avoids mirrors now, except for once a year. He’s not without compassion; perhaps someday he’ll forgive her. She’s only a child.

Or perhaps she’ll remain where he trapped her. Forever.

The End

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Chapter 167: Resistance Is Futile

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 149: Resistance at dw100.

Spoilers: Rise Of The Cybermen.

Summary: To Rose, Cybermen are scarily like the Borg.

Rose shudders. The metal men are just like the Borg in all those Star Trek episodes. Resistance is futile. These don’t say the same thing, but the meaning of their words is just as clear.

“You will be upgraded!”

She doesn’t want to become like them, devoid of humanity, a brain stripped of all feelings and emotions, trapped inside a metal body, with only one purpose; to make more just like it.

“You will be deleted!”

That’s even worse. Deleted, erased, scrubbed out of existence. Dead.

The Doctor better have a really good plan to get them out of this.

The End

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Chapter 168: Super-Nanny

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 150: Speeding Bullet at dw100.

Spoilers: The Return Of Doctor Mysterio.

Summary: Grant considers his super-powers.

The Man of Steel, Faster than a Speeding Bullet, X-Ray vision, super strength, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

He’s every superhero from every comic book he’s ever read, all because of the crystal the Doctor gave him to hold, which he mistook for medicine and swallowed.

It wasn’t supposed to last; the Doctor said it would wear off once the crystal… passed through. Only it didn’t, he grew up, and the Ghost was born.

Helping people is great, really it is, but x-ray vision? It’s a mixed blessing.

The End

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Chapter 169: Life Is Mucky

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 151: Filth at dw100.

Any Doctor, Any Companion.

Summary: Dirt is everywhere.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the universe is dirty. No matter where you go, in space or in time, you can be guaranteed to encounter a certain amount of muck and filth; it’s something that can quite accurately be termed a universal truth, and yet humans always seem disappointed by it.

The Doctor’s current companion looked at their surroundings with a distasteful frown. “Somehow I always thought the future would be cleaner.”

“Dirt breeds,” the Doctor explained. “Wherever there are living organisms, there is bound to be dirt, because without dirt, there can be no life.”

The End

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Chapter 170: Appearances

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 152: Monster at dw100.

Spoilers: Nothing specific.

Summary: What defines a monster?

What makes something a monster? The way it behaves? Certainly anything that kills for no reason other than to snatch life from another living being can be described as monstrous.

Its physical appearance, perhaps? A creature that’s hideous to someone of a different species might be considered the height of perfection to others of its kind. Beauty, as humans say, is in the eye of the beholder.

Then again, something that looks beautiful can be malevolent, even deadly. Appearances are deceptive; you can’t always tell just by looking.

The Doctor sees a monster every time he looks at his reflection.

The End

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Chapter 171: Independent

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 153: Cats And Dogs at dw100.

Spoilers: Tiny for New Earth and Gridlock.

Summary: Evolution means survival of the most adaptable.

It’s always amused the Doctor that humans are so obsessed with pets; most families seem to have at least one, usually a dog or a cat. Dogs are pack animals, happy to follow whoever they consider to be their pack leader, and loyal to a fault. Cats, on the other hand, are independent creatures, often loners, and they do what they want to do, not what somebody else tells them they should.

Perhaps that goes some way to explaining why, in the future, dogs have remained unchanged while cats have evolved into an intelligent, sentient race in their own right.

The End

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Chapter 172: Out Of Sync

Author's Notes: Written or Challenge 154: Marriage at dw100.

Spoilers: Practically any episode River is in. ;)

Summary: River muses on the most unusual marriage in the universe.

Being married to the Doctor is a bit… haphazard. River seldom knows where, or even when, her husband is, and their timelines are completely out of synchronisation, which means she has to keep a very careful record of every time they meet in order to avoid spoilers. It wouldn’t do for him to know what’s going to happen to either of them in the future; it might change something, and paradoxes can be tricky.

She also has to avoid versions of the Doctor who existed before their first meeting.

On the plus side, nobody can say their marriage is boring!

The End

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Chapter 173: All At Sea

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 155: Lost At Sea at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor had to land to repair the TARDIS, but land is in short supply.

What a time to break down! The TARDIS is old, was an obsolete model when he stole her, but the Doctor’s never coveted the newer models. She’s his friend, his travelling companion, and his home, but like anything with mechanical components, a certain amount of wear and tear is inevitable.

It’s fortunate there was a nearby planet he could set down on, but bad luck that this world is ninety percent oceans and they missed the nearest landmass. Now they’re all at sea. Literally.

Perhaps if he sends out a distress call someone will come and tow them to shore.

The End

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Chapter 174: Free At Last

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 156: Tooth And Claw at dw100.

Spoilers: Tooth And Claw.

Summary: Is the werewolf the true villain of the piece?

The werewolf claims it wants to infect Queen Victoria, and through her gain control of Britain and the Empire she commands.

That’s not entirely true. It’s what the people controlling it want, but in truth, the werewolf is as trapped on earth, where it doesn’t belong, as the Queen is trapped within Torchwood House. All it really wants is to be freed so it can return home.

The Doctor has the means to make that happen, he just needs to refract the moon’s rays at exactly the right strength and frequency, bathing the werewolf in its light, and…

It’s gone.

The End

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Chapter 175: Scheme Big

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 157: Crime Does Not Pay at dw100.

Spoilers: General for anything involving the Master and his schemes.

Summary: The Master enjoys pitting his wits against the Doctor.

The Master always schemes on a grand scale. Let little people satisfy themselves with petty theft and murder; he’s more ambitious, and his intellect so eclipses that of lesser beings that they’re not worthy to grovel at his feet.

No, stealing pretty treasures is nothing when you can take whole worlds, and killing a few people pales beside committing genocide. Most people simply lack the imagination and daring it takes to plan such crimes.

Naturally the Doctor always comes along and spoils his plans, so his crimes never pay, but there’s always next time, and anyway, it’s so much fun!

The End

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Chapter 176: Inebriated

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 158: Intoxication at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor and Donna have a night on the town.

“Are you drunk?” Donna asked the Doctor, hands on hips and a stern expression on her face.

“I do believe I am!” He grinned back at her, that slightly manic grin she was already so used to. “Rather fun, isn’t it?”

“You won’t be sayin’ that in the morning, Sunshine!” she assured him, steering him in the direction of the TARDIS. “I should confiscate your keys, You’re in no condition to drive; we’d be goin’ around in circles.”

Although he could’ve shrugged off the effects any time he wanted, the Doctor decided he’d stay drunk just a little while longer.

The End

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Chapter 177: No Use

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 159: Useless at dw100.

Spoilers: The Angels Take Manhattan.

Summary: There are some things the Doctor can’t undo.

Owning a TARDIS is brilliant! With it, the Doctor can travel to any place, or any time, he chooses. The possibilities are endless!

Except, that’s not entirely true. There are some places he’s been before he can never return to, for fear that his very presence might create a paradox that could tear the universe, or even just one small corner of it, apart.

What use is a time machine you can’t use to save the people you care about the most?

None whatsoever.

Amy and Rory must live out their lives in the past. He’ll never see them again.

The End

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Chapter 178: Smitten

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 160: Twitterpated at dw100.

Spoilers: Set early in the Tenth Doctor’s adventures.

Summary: He knows there’s no future in it, but the Doctor can’t help the way he feels.

She’s a slip of a girl, hardly more than a child, and she’s human, which makes things even worse. Humans have such short lives compared to Time Lords. The Doctor knows it’s foolish, but Rose is so alive, so vibrant, full of curiosity, courage, and wonder, that despite his better judgement, he’s smitten.

It can never work between them; a time will come when he’ll have to leave her behind, just like everyone else he’s travelled with, but not just yet, and hopefully not for years.

For now, what does it hurt to let a little romance into his hearts?

The End

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Chapter 179: Great Names

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 161: Poetry at dw100.

Spoilers: Tiny for the Shakespeare Code.

Summary: The Doctor loves meeting talented people from earth’s history.

Despite dabbing a bit in odd moments, the Doctor isn’t much of a poet himself, but he’s met a fair number of them. One of the best things about time travel is being able to hop into the past and witness people of rare talent creating their masterpieces. Byron, Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth and his Daffodils… Oh, those were a lovely sight!

Shakespeare of course, poet as well as playwright, and a legend throughout the universe.

Many worlds have poetry, but earth’s poets are among the finest. The Doctor feels privileged to have met them. Maybe he’ll chat with Poe next…

The End

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Chapter 180: Hats Are Cool

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 162: Hats at dw100.

Spoilers: The Eleventh Doctor Era mainly.

Summary: The Doctor has a great fondness for hats, especially his Eleventh regeneration.

Hats are cool; there are so many kinds!

The Doctor has had quite a few over his lifetime; there were those felt fedoras his fourth regeneration was so fond of, the Panama hat his fifth regeneration wore, and he seems to recall at least one trilby… Sometimes it gets hard to remember details after so long.

He’s fairly sure he’s never had a fez before though. Fezzes are definitely cool! It’s just a shame nobody else seems to think so. There’s no accounting for tastes.

Ah well, surely nobody can object to a Stetson. This is the Wild West. Right?

The End

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Chapter 181: Glorious Mud

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 163: Treacle at dw100.

Summary: This is one adventure Donna could have gladly done without.

The mud was thick and glutinous, sucking at their feet as they walked. Donna was far from impressed.

“A pleasant stroll, that’s what you told me, Spaceman! A chance to stretch our legs and breathe fresh air!” She sniffed cautiously. “There’s nothing fresh about this air; smells like something died! As for that whole pleasant stroll, feels like I’m wadin’ through treacle. You got any idea what this is doing to my boots?”

“Bit of mud never hurt anyone, Donna! Where’s your sense of adventure?”

Moments later, the Doctor changed his tune.

“Rotten mud! It’s eaten one of my sneakers!”

The End

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Chapter 182: Gaps

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 164: Confabulate at dw100.

Spoilers: Set post-Journey’s End.

Summary: Donna has Gaps in her memory.

Donna doesn’t know what happened to her, there seem to be gaps in her memory, quite large ones in places, like there are things she should remember, important things, but they’re out of reach. So she tells herself it’s her imagination, and she becomes an expert at confabulation when she’s talking to her friends, because she doesn’t want anyone else to know.

She’s always had a good memory, that’s one of the reasons she’s such a great temp. Explain something to her once and she remembers. So why is her memory failing her now?

Maybe she’s better off not knowing.

The End

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Chapter 183: Space And Time

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 165: Yen at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor lives to explore.

Ever since childhood, the Doctor has had a yen to travel, to see things others of his race never have and never will.

Most Gallifreyans, even most Time Lords, are happy to remain on their own world, but not him. He’s never been satisfied with such a limited existence, not when there’s a whole universe and all of time waiting to be explored.

It’s like an itch, always there, urging him on over the next hill, or to the next world. Then when he’s seen what there is to see, he’s ready to move on again.

He’ll never settle down.

The End

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Chapter 184: Outside Help

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 166: Bluster at dw100.

Summary: Bluster doesn’t win battles.

Earth’s military, especially the officers, must be trained in the art of bluster. Even UNIT isn’t immune. If invading aliens could be defeated merely by talking at them, the Doctor thinks, earth would never need his help. They’d be more than able to cope.

Sadly, the universe doesn’t work that way. Despite all the hot air the military and politicians are producing, indignantly asserting their sovereignty over their planet, words can’t sway Cybermen, or Daleks, or even Sycorax. It’s a good thing the people of earth have a little outside help in such situations. Someone needs to keep them alive.

The End

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Chapter 185: Pub League

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 167: Pitch at dw100.

Spoilers: The Lodger.

Summary: Is the Doctor any good at football? He’s about to find out.

Sunday football game, pub league, and Craig’s team is short a player, so as his new flat mate, it seems only right that the Doctor should step in.

Amy approves, she says football’s good; it’s normal. Normal is the key, normal is what will help him blend in and avoid suspicion while he figures out what’s going on upstairs, so off he goes to play football. He has no idea what he’s doing.

Still, running down the pitch, dodging other players while dribbling the ball, is great fun, and when he scores there’s cheering! Oh yes, he loves this game!

The End

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Chapter 186: Postcards

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 168: Mail / Male at dw100.

Summary: Donna wants to shares what she sees on her travels with her granddad.

Earth is out of bounds, according to the Shadow Proclamation so the intergalactic mail service probably wouldn’t stop there even if it existed. Which it might, for all Donna knows; she’s never got around to asking the Doctor, there are always too many other questions to ask and no time to ask them. It’s hard to say much of anything while running.

There are postcards though, sort of, so she gets what she can when circumstances allow; pictures of the places she’s been. If she can’t mail them, she’ll take them home to Granddad herself. She knows he’ll love them.

The End

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Chapter 187: Strange Man

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 168: Mail / Male at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith and Jones.

Summary: Martha’s only just met the Doctor, but there’s no way she’s turning down a trip in his spaceship.

Martha isn’t quite sure what’s got into her. She’s always been the sensible one in her family, the oldest daughter, the one who sets a good example. Her mum told her when she was just a kid that she should never go off with strangers, especially strange men, but…

Here she is with the strangest man she’s ever met. Technically not a man, he’s an alien from another planet, but he’s most definitely male, not to mention hot, and he’s offering to take her with him on a trip through time and space.

She’d be a fool to say no.

The End

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Chapter 188: Bad Timing

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 169: Morning at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor shows up at the most inconvenient times!

“Wakey wakey, rise and shine!”

Clara groaned and rolled over in bed, glaring blearily at the Doctor. “You’re in my bedroom! Do you even know what privacy means?”

The Doctor ignored the question. “Ah, that’s better. Good morning!”

Picking up her alarm clock, Clara checked the time; it was three-thirty.

“It’s the middle of the night!”

“Earth revolves, most planets do, so it’s morning somewhere. Bound to be!”

“But not here and not now! Unless the world’s about to end, I’m going back to sleep.” She rolled onto her other side.

The Doctor stared in astonishment. He’d never understand humans!

The End

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Chapter 189: Like Old Times

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 170: Familiar at dw100.

Spoilers: School Reunion.

Summary: He looks different, and yet he’s still the same.

He looked completely different from the last time Sarah Jane had seen him; different face, different hair, different voice, and yet she felt as though she would have known him anywhere.

Stick her in a roomful of strangers and she was certain she’d be able to tell which one was the Doctor within a few minutes, because despite the changes in appearance and mannerisms, there was still something indefinably familiar about him, like he radiated an aura of some kind.

Working with him was familiar too. Just for a little while, Sarah Jane could almost believe she was young again.

The End

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Chapter 190: Travellers

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 171: Terminus at dw100.

Spoilers: Gridlock.

Summary: Boe has done all he can to preserve some of the planet’s population.

They’re all seeking the end of their long journey, the motorway’s exit, always believing others must have reached the terminus. The dream keeps them going, year after year; the hope of reaching their destination, of getting out into fresh air, where there are jobs to be had and a life to live.

In truth they’ll just go around and around, because the journey is all that’s keeping them alive. Everyone on the surface is long gone; the travellers in the under-city are the only survivors, and Boe will keep them down there, protected, until the Doctor comes to save them.

The End

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Chapter 191: Phone Home

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 172: Pod at dw100.

Spoilers: 42.

Summary: Martha is in a sticky situation; all she can do is wait and hope the Doctor can save her.

The escape pod’s been jettisoned, with Martha inside; that’s the worst thing that could’ve happened, because it’s being pulled towards the sun. The heat shields won’t last much longer; she and Riley won’t live long enough to be burned alive, which Martha supposes is some small consolation.

She’s not giving up hope though, not yet. The Doctor will save them, she has to believe that; if there’s any possible way, he’ll find it because he’s brilliant.

But just in case, she’ll phone her mum. If she doesn’t make it, nobody will ever know, but at least she’ll have said goodbye.

The End

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Chapter 192: Battle Stations

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 173: Ordnance at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor doesn’t approve of UNIT’s methods.

There were times the Doctor despaired. Humanity had potential, but they were so scared of everything, including each other, that they armed themselves to the teeth and did battle with anyone they didn’t understand. If they couldn’t even get along with their own species, what chance did people from other worlds have?

Admittedly, many of the otherworldly visitors who came to earth did so to destroy, invade, or enslave the planet, but did that give UNIT the right to greet every alien species with an array of military ordnance and a show of deadly force?

The Doctor didn’t think so.

The End

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Chapter 193: The Massacre

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 174: First Doctor Titles at dw100.

Spoilers: Army of Ghosts/Doomsday, through Torchwood’s eyes.

Summary: Jack arrives at Torchwood Tower and views the destruction.

People were already calling it the Battle of Canary Wharf, the deluded fools, but Jack knew better; the word ‘battle’ implied that either side could’ve won, but that hadn’t been the case. No, there was no battle here. It had been nothing less than a massacre.

The humans, outnumbered, outgunned, and without a hope in hell of defending themselves, were mown down by Daleks and torn apart by Cybermen, converted wholesale and then used as little more than cannon fodder.

All because Yvonne Hartman wanted more power for the Empire.

Jack had no pity for her; she deserved her fate

The End

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Chapter 194: Stowaway

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 175: Coax at dw100.

Summary: There’s a stowaway aboard the TARDIS.

“They’re a little shy,” the Doctor explained, as he attempted to coax a small, fluffy stowaway out of the hidey-hole it had found under the console. He wasn’t having much luck. No matter how much he chirped at it, and assured it they were friendly, the little creature seemed determined to stay right where it was.

The Doctor sat back on his heels, frowning. “It can’t stay there, it could short-circuit essential systems. Right, the time for coaxing is over.” He reached in and grabbed for the fluffball.

Needle-sharp teeth sank into his hand.

“OW!”

Amy laughed. “Serves you right!”

The End

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Chapter 195: Unbreakable

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 176: Bond at dw100.

Spoilers: The Angels Take Manhattan.

Summary: Amy will be with Rory no matter what she has to do.

There was a bond between them that nothing would ever break, not being kidnapped, nor being separated for centuries, and not even getting zapped back into the past. Amy and Rory belonged together; wherever her husband was, that was where Amy needed to be. How could the Doctor not understand that?

Rory would live to the grand old age of eighty-two, it said so right there on his gravestone, but he wouldn’t live that life on his own. If the Doctor wouldn’t help her get her husband back, well then, she’d just go and join him.

Nothing could be simpler.

The End

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Chapter 196: Surreal

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 177: Chips at dw100.

Spoilers: The End of the World.

Summary: Rose is still feeling a bit dazed from her first trip through time and space.

It’s surreal. Rose just watched her planet die, far in the future; now here she is, standing on a very much living earth, in the middle of London, among people just going about their daily lives. They have no idea.

They don’t know that aliens exist, that there are thousands of worlds out there, inhabited by people so strange even Rose finds it hard to believe, and she’s seen some of them.

The man standing beside her is an alien too, although he doesn’t look it. And apparently aliens like chips just much as any human. Who’d have thought it?

The End

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Chapter 197: Tradition

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 178: Tradition at dw100.

Summary: Where do traditions come from and what makes them so important?

Tradition is a strange animal; where does it begin? Often from fear or necessity, rituals devised for protection or to give the illusion of safety. Something done or said by chance protects the fearful, so they decide that’s the key to their safety.

Every culture in the universe has its own traditions. Earth has Morris Dancers, shaking hands, and saying ‘Bless you’ when someone sneezes. The Qualf shut their eyes and turn in a circle when the sun goes down, to ensure it will rise again in the morning. It always works.

The Doctor traditionally has companions. That works too.

The End

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Chapter 198: The Price Of Fame

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 179: Icon at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is far more famous than he’d like to be.

Without ever wanting it, the Doctor has become an icon; there are even statues of him on various planets, where he’s lauded as their saviour, all because he leant a hand at a tricky moment in their history. It’s one of the downsides of being a compulsive busybody, so it’s fortunate that his face changes periodically. It keeps him from being recognised too often.

His name is widely known though, and not everyone is a fan. There are whole worlds where his presence is less than welcome.

He never planned on becoming famous; he just has to live with it.

The End

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Chapter 199: Life Changer

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 180: Impression at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor changes lives, just not always in a good way.

One thing about the man who calls himself the Doctor; he makes an immediate and memorable impression, even if that that impression is often more along the lines of ‘Who is this madman?’

Ask any of his companions and they’ll tell you, because each and every one of them has been irresistibly drawn to him in one way or the other, and none of those still living will ever forget him. They wouldn’t want to even if they could.

He sweeps into their lives out of nowhere, shows them everything they’ve been missing, then leaves.

They’re never the same again.

The End

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Chapter 200: Breaking Rules

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 181: Portend at dw100.

Spoilers: The Time Of The Doctor.

Summary: The Doctor’s thirteenth regeneration is coming to its end.

The whole planet feels heavy with portents, dragging on him, weighing him down. This moment has been a long time coming, but he can’t escape his destiny. He’s an old man and he’s dying; it remains to be seen whether his final regeneration will wither away before the Daleks get up the nerve to take what’s left of his life.

Thirteen regenerations is the rule, and this body he’s wearing now is his thirteenth, technically speaking.

But rules are made to be broken, and the Time Lords have always done as they pleased.

He’s not finished yet. Far from it.

The End

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Chapter 201: Volcano Day

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 182: Acid Test at dw100.

Spoilers: The Runaway Bride, The Fires Of Pompeii.

Summary: Donna tests her own mettle.

Thanks to her mother always putting her down, Donna had grown up doubting herself, always thinking she wasn’t good enough. Her grandfather had done everything he could to bolster her confidence, and she loved him for that, among other things, but her mother’s criticisms never let up.

Marrying Lance had seemed like a triumph, until she’d learned the truth; he’d never loved her, and her self-confidence had suffered another body blow.

This was her acid test, here in Pompeii on Volcano Day. She had to stand up to the Doctor, make him listen to her.

“You can’t just leave them!”

The End

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Chapter 202: Unfair Trade

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 183: Trade at dw100.

Spoilers: Father’s Day.

Summary: Rose learns an important lesson; sometimes the price is too high.

Rose told the Doctor she just wanted to see her father, talk to him, know what he was like, because all she knew was what her mother had told her, which hadn’t exactly been complimentary.

But talking to him, she’d realised she would give anything to change the past and grow up having her dad in her life.

Risking herself to save him had been a no-brainer, but now, trapped in a church while hideous Reapers tore the world apart, she finally understood; one life for the lives of thousands wasn’t a fair trade.

She had to let him go.

The End

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Chapter 203: Worth It

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 184: Content at dw100.

Spoilers: The Parting of the Ways.

Summary: Jack knows he’s about to die, but at least it’s in a good cause.

Jack steeled himself as the Dalek approached. This was it, the end for him, no way out, and… he was surprisingly content with that. It was a better ending than he could previously have hoped for.

He didn’t want to die, he was young, with everything ahead of him, there was so much he hadn’t had the chance to do, but the same could be said of his fellow defenders, and why should their lives be less important than his own?

If his death bought the Doctor time, then it was worth it. He was helping to save the universe.

The End

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Chapter 204: Many Hands

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 185: Knack at dw100.

Spoilers: Journey’s End.

100 words exactly, first try!

Summary: Finally the TARDIS is being flown the way it should be.

There’s a knack to flying the TARDIS, and the Doctor is an old hand at it; he’s been doing it for hundreds of years, after all. Yes, it involves a lot of mad running around the central console, pushing this button, pulling that lever, pumping, cranking, twisting dials, but after so long it’s second nature; he barely even notices the effort he has to expend any more.

There’s no denying this is so much easier though, standing back and simply instructing the others on what to do. TARDISes are designed to be operated by six people, not one single pilot.

The End

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Chapter 205: All The Same

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 186: Ennui at dw100.

Spoilers: The Snowmen.

Summary: The Doctor just wants to be left alone.

Ennui is a sickness, and the Doctor has a bad case of it. For very nearly a thousand years he’s been running around doing everything he can to save the universe from itself only to finally come to the inescapable conclusion that the universe simply doesn’t care. If that’s the case, then why should he?

Well, he shouldn’t, and doesn’t; he’s well out of the Saving the Universe business. Why can’t everyone go away and let him mope in peace? He’s had enough, and if people want to accuse him of apathy, so be it.

It’s all the same anyway.

The End

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Chapter 206: Veiled

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 187: Investigate at dw100.

Spoilers: The Snowmen.

Summary: Madame Vastra keeps her true appearance hidden.

Madame Vastra is London’s greatest detective; her exploits are legendary thanks to the writings of Doyle, although of course Doyle writes his detective as a man. Equality between men and women is a long way off, but Vastra believes it will eventually become a reality.

Meanwhile, she hides her face behind a heavy veil when she leaves her home to go about her business; if people would be disturbed about a woman carrying out investigations into crimes, how much more dismayed would they be to know she is of a different species entirely?

Under the circumstances, her disguise seems prudent.

The End

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Chapter 207: Adventures

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 188: Lead at dw100.

Spoilers: Nothing specific.

Summary: The Doctor offers ordinary people a chance at unimaginable adventures.

Where the Doctor leads, others follow, usually humans. They can’t help themselves, because the Doctor isn’t like anyone they’ve ever met. He’s mysterious, and exciting, and probably dangerous, but he offers them an escape from their humdrum lives, a chance to see things very few people ever have. Who wouldn’t want that?

Some opportunities come along only once in a lifetime, if that, and saying no would lead to endless regrets and thoughts of what might have been. So when he asks, “Come with me?” what can they do but let him lead them into a universe of unimaginable adventure?

The End

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Chapter 208: The Dreamers

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 189: David Bowie - Planet of Dreams at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor and Amy visit a seemingly deserted planet.

“This was a beautiful world once, aeons ago, until war, pollution, and sheer carelessness made it all but uninhabitable,” the Doctor said quietly as he and Amy wandered through crumbling corridors, their footsteps muffled by centuries’ worth of accumulated dust.

“What happened to the people?” Amy asked. “Did they leave?” The place felt eerie in its almost complete silence, devoid of any kind of life other than themselves.

The Doctor shook his head. “They’re still here, waiting patiently. They built themselves cryo-sleep chambers deep underground, and there they’ll stay, asleep and dreaming, until their planet can once again support life.”

The End

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Chapter 209: Cool World

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 189: David Bowie – Real Cool World at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor takes Rose somewhere that’s really cool.

In Rose’s opinion, the Doctor needed to brush up on his earth slang. When she’d said she’d like to go someplace really cool, this wasn’t what she’d meant; even dressed in thick furs she felt chilly.

On the other hand, this was amazing, a world where even the seas were ice, waves towering above them, frozen solid before they could crash against the shore. It was like the universe’s biggest ice-sculpture, its scale so immense she simply couldn’t grasp its enormity. Never had Rose felt so tiny.

It might not have been what she’d expected, but it was definitely cool.

The End

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Chapter 210: Run!

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 189: David Bowie - Run at dw100.

Summary: Donna has never run so much in her life.

Why did it always come to this? Donna thought. It didn’t matter where they went, or why; sooner or later, spaceboy would grab her and yell, “Run!”

Everything chased them; humans, aliens, robots, animals of all shapes and sizes, and on one occasion, what looked like a herd of flying jellyfish. Then there were avalanches, dust storms, collapsing buildings, tidal waves, falling trees, and corrosive gunge. She’d lost a really nice pair of shoes thanks to that last one.

Stumbling into the TARDIS and slamming the door behind them, Donna leant against it, laughing breathlessly. It was so much fun!

The End

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Chapter 211: Shadow Men

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 189: David Bowie – Shadow Man at dw100.

Spoilers: The Impossible Astronaut.

Summary: The Silence are a mystery, even to the Doctor.

They’re like shadows, startling, even frightening when caught sight of unexpectedly, and they’re always unexpected, yet ignored and forgotten about most of the time.

Like shadows, they’re always present too, although never mentioned, because no one who sees them ever remembers them once they look away, even for the smallest instant.

Where they’ve come from, these tall, cadaverous figures in black suits, not even the Doctor knows, but any being so intent on hiding its presence can’t be up to anything good; the Silence are no exception.

But how do you investigate something you forget whenever they’re out of sight?

The End

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Chapter 212: Her Ideal Man

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 189: David Bowie – Loving the Alien at dw100.

Spoilers: Season Two.

Summary: Rose has found her ideal man in the Doctor.

Rose isn’t quite sure exactly when it was that she fell head over heels in love with the Doctor. She thinks it was most likely after his regeneration, because although she’d loved that brusque, big-eared man in the leather jacket, something about him had held her back. Perhaps because he looked around her mother’s age, whereas he seemed closer to her own age after he changed.

Maybe the when doesn’t really matter, because it happened, and now she can’t imagine not having him in her life. She doesn’t care that he’s not human; he’s still the only man for her.

The End

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Chapter 213: Hello, Spaceboy!

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 189: David Bowie – Hallo, Spaceboy at dw100.

Spoilers: Partners In Crime.

Summary: You never know who you’ll run into when you’re conning your way into places you shouldn’t be.

After turning down the Doctor’s offer to travel with him after her disastrous non-wedding, Donna had doubted she’d ever see him again. Maybe she’d blown her one chance of seeing what was out there in space, beyond the world she knew.

Still, just meeting him had opened her eyes to the fact that there was so much more to life than soaps and reality TV.

So here she is, sneakily investigating the new miracle weight loss drug. It seems too good to be true; there’s something fishy going on. And look who’s here, doing exactly the same thing!

Hello, Spaceboy!

The End

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Chapter 214: The Sisterhood

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 189: David Bowie – Cat People at dw100.

Spoilers: New Earth.

Apologies for not updating last week - between Halloween and a writing contest I was short of time.

Summary: The Sisterhood are dedicated to healing, by whatever means necessary.

Cat people! People who are cats, dressed like nuns! Rose would’ve never believed it if she hadn’t seen them with her own eyes. The Doctor tells her not to stare, but she can’t help it, they’re so incredibly brilliant!

They’re also up to something they shouldn’t be.

They mean well, they’re dedicated healers, doing everything they can to help their patients, but to do so, they’re using people, grown as lab rats to provide cures for those under the Sisterhood’s care.

It’s still wrong, so the Doctor frees and cures them. Now there’s a new human race, grown by cats.

The End

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Chapter 215: Incredible!

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 190: Nebula / Nebulous at dw100.

Summary: It’s the most incredible sight Martha has ever seen.

“How about that then?” The Doctor throws open the TARDIS doors and steps aside, so Martha can get an uninterrupted view.

“Oh my God!” Martha takes a step back, suddenly nervous, both hands rising to her mouth.

“It’s alright, come closer, you won’t fall out.”

“Well, if you’re sure.”

“I promise; it’s perfectly safe.”

Martha cautiously steps forward again, into the open doorway, and stares out at the nebula before them in space, a hazy, glowing cloud of gas and dust, seeming to glow from within.

“It’s incredible!” She doesn’t think she’s ever seen anything so amazing in her life.

The End

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Chapter 216: Ghosts

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 190: Nebula / Nebulous at dw100.

Spoilers: Army of Ghosts

Summary: Everyone thinks the hazy shapes are ghosts. They couldn’t be more wrong.

They’re hazy, nebulous, but vaguely people-shaped; that’s why everyone believes them to be ghosts, the spirits of loved ones who have passed away, returning for brief periods to watch over those they left behind.

It’s a belief that Torchwood fosters and encourages; better that than worldwide panic during the Ghost Shifts. Still, Yvonne Hartman and the team she has experimenting with the artefact have no better idea of what the indistinct forms might be than anyone else, so ghosts it is, unless and until they learn otherwise.

By the time they discover their true nature, it’s already far too late.

The End

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Chapter 217: Canary Wharf

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 191: Conflict at dw100.

Spoilers: Army of Ghosts / Doomsday.

Summary: The only person who can save humanity is Torchwood’s greatest enemy.

The people of earth are caught in the middle of a battle they can’t win, and can’t even hope to survive. While the Cybermen convert every suitable human into another emotionless metal soldier for their ranks, the Daleks slaughter vast swathes of humanity in an effort to prevent their enemies from creating reinforcements.

Every person on the planet is doomed, through the hubris of Director Hartman and her people; their only hope for survival is Torchwood’s Public Enemy Number One, the Doctor.

Yvonne would be horrified if she knew, but it hardly matters; she’s among the first to be converted.

The End

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Chapter 218: Only Forwards

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 192: Forward at dw100.

Spoilers: General for the Doctor’s story.

Summary: The Doctor tries to never look back.

The Doctor’s past is filled with so much pain and heartbreak, more perhaps than any other living being has ever known. Countless friends and loved ones have passed beyond the veil over the centuries, leaving him to carry on alone. Companions have come along to brighten his existence for a brief period of time, but they can never stay for long. They age too quickly, and he has to let them go before his way of life can end theirs.

The last of his race, he feels compelled to keep moving forward, because looking back will only break his hearts.

The End

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Chapter 219: Potential

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 193: Insult at dw100.

Summary: Clara is insulted on humanity’s behalf.

Twelfth Doctor.

“You know,” said Clara, “referring to humans as primitive apes is more than a little insulting.”

“Is it? Why?”

Clara frowned. For a supposedly superior being, the Doctor could be monumentally dense. “Because we’re a long way up the evolutionary tree from being apes. We’re an intelligent, civilised, advanced technological society…”

The Doctor cut her off. “You use your technology to find new and more effective ways of making war on your own kind. You’re nowhere near as advanced or intelligent as you think you are.”

“Then why d’you bother with us?”

“Because, my dear Clara, humanity has incredible potential.”

The End

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Chapter 220: Opposition

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 194: Coeval at dw100.

Spoilers: General for the Doctor and the Master.

I really didn't like this prompt.

Summary: They’d been friends as children, but all that had changed.

The Doctor and the Master, coeval, contemporaries, growing up at the same time on Gallifrey centuries ago. There’d been other children, but they had been especially close.

It had been a relief when they’d both been accepted into the Time Lord Academy. The elation of both being chosen had made them giddy. They’d had such plans; they knew they’d always be friends.

But then had come the Untempered Schism, and while the one who would become the Doctor had been filled with wonder, the other had been driven insane.

Now friends had become enemies, still close, but forever in opposition.

The End

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Chapter 221: Shrinking

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 195: Model at dw100.

Spoilers: Flatline.

Summary: Something us seriously wrong; the TARDIS is getting smaller.

The TARDIS is shrinking, which is more than a little unexpected. Already it’s like a half-scale model of itself, and getting smaller all the time. At first, getting in and out can just about be accomplished, although it’s a bit of a squeeze fitting through the door, but that stage doesn’t last long. The shrinking isn’t stopping. To Clara, it’s looks adorable, but to the Doctor it’s a serious problem that needs fixing as soon as possible.

With the Doctor inside and Clara outside, somehow they’ll have to work together to solve the mystery and restore the TARDIS to normal.

The End

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Chapter 222: New Life

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 196: Found at dw100.

Spoilers: Blink.

Summary: Kathy Nightingale knew her life was stuck in a rut.

Kathy Nightingale was lost long before the angels took her sixty years into the past and left her there. She hadn’t been unhappy as such, it was just that her life had been going nowhere and she’d known it. She’d wanted a fresh start, a new life, but with no way to achieve that she’d just kept plodding along in the same old familiar rut.

Then one day she’d blinked and when she’d opened her eyes, instead of London in 2007, she’d been outside Hull in December of 1920. A new life had found her when she’d least expected it.

The End

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Chapter 223: By Himself

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 197: Green Day, using All By Myself at dw100.

Spoilers: Everything to the end of Planet of the Dead.

Summary: The Doctor makes a decision to travel on alone.

They’re all gone. Rose, Jack, Martha, the incomparable Donna Noble… Each and every one of them left behind. Lady Christina would have gone with him willingly. They could have been great together, he could have shown her so much, the whole universe and all of time, but how could he do that to someone else?

He broke them all eventually. They joined him full of life and eager for adventure, but in the end, for one reason or another, he lost them all. He couldn’t bear losing another one. It would be better for everyone if he travelled by himself.

The End

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Chapter 224: At The Library

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 197: Green Day at dw100, using At The Library.

Spoilers: Silence in the Library/Forest Of The Dead.

Summary: A simple message brings the Doctor to The Library.

He gets a message on the psychic paper, no idea who from. It just reads ‘The library, come as soon as you can.’ There’s a kiss at the end. It’s a mystery, and the Doctor never could resist one of those, so instead of the promised beach, he drags Donna to the biggest library the universe has ever known. It takes up the whole planet.

The place appears deserted, and yet a scan reveals millions upon millions of life forms.

That’s not good.

They came here because of a message, but what’s in the shadows might cost them their lives.

The End

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Chapter 225: Coming Clean

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 197: Green Day, using Coming Clean at dw100.

Spoilers: Utopia.

Summary: It’s time the Doctor told Jack the truth about why he left him behind.

The Doctor supposes it’s time he came clean about why he left Jack behind. He should explain, but he keeps putting it off. “I was busy.” It’s really no answer at all, and certainly not what Jack wants to hear, but he won’t like the truth any better.

Why would he? Although, he takes it better than the Doctor would have expected. “I left you behind on the game station deliberately. You’re wrong,” he tells his former companion. “You’re a fixed point. You shouldn’t exist. It’s not easy even looking at you.”

“So you’re saying you’re prejudiced?”

Maybe he is.

The End

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Chapter 226: Don’t Leave Me

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 197: Green Day, using Don’t Leave Me at dw100.

Spoilers: Journey’s End.

Summary: Rose can’t believe the Doctor is leaving her behind again.

They’re on the beach of Bad Wolf Bay, and this can’t be happening; not again, not after all she went through to get back to her own universe, to return to her Doctor’s side!

Rose wants to tell the Doctor ‘No’, that she won’t go back to the alternate universe, that she belongs with him, in the TARDIS, travelling through space and time forever. She wants to beg him, ‘Don’t leave me!’ Did he ever truly care about her the way she does about him? If he loves her how can he reject her like this?

It hurts so much.

The End

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Chapter 227: Extraordinary Girl

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 197: Green Day, using Extraordinary Girl at dw100.

Spoilers: Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: Tom meets the legendary Martha Jones and is smitten

She’s extraordinary, this Martha Jones; Tom Milligan can’t help but be impressed. Look at her; she’s just a slip of a girl, probably not much more than twenty years old, if that. Slim and pretty despite the hardships she’s been facing over the past months, she carries herself with grace and confidence.

It takes guts to do what she’s doing. He doesn’t think he could do it, travelling the world, mostly on foot and alone, spreading her story. She’s already a legend and he’s honoured to help her, however he can.

He wishes they could have met under different circumstances.

The End

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Chapter 228: The Grouch

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 197: Green Day, using The Grouch at dw100.

Spoilers: Deep Breath.

Summary: The Doctor has regenerated and Clara isn’t terribly impressed with the new version.

He’s not her Doctor anymore; the gangly, energetic, tousle-haired man in the tweed jacket and bowtie is gone. He’s still tall, but older, grey haired, craggy-featured, with eyebrows that seem to have a personality all their own, and piercing eyes that could surely cut through solid steel.

It’s not just his looks that have changed, though that’s jarring enough. His cheery, cheeky old personality is gone, replaced by… a grouch.

Clara doesn’t think she likes this new Scottish-accented version of her old friend. He’s impatient, tactless, and definitely not a hugger.

But he needs her.

Maybe he’ll grow on her.

The End

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Chapter 229: Having A Blast

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 197: Green Day, using Having A Blast at dw100.

Spoilers: Season 10.

Summary: Bill Potts is having the time of her life.

It’s crazy! There’s this Professor, and he’s got a blue police box in the corner of his office that turns out to be a time and space machine! What’s with that?

So here she is, out in space, or time, or possibly both. Probably both. All because he noticed her attending his lectures despite not technically being a student.

And you know what else? She’s having a blast! It’s scary, insane, there’s running, and life-or-death situations, and she’s seeing things she’d have never believed if she’d not seen them herself.

Bill Potts, Time Traveller. Has a nice ring to it.

The End

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Chapter 230: Travelling

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 197: Green Day, using I Was There at dw100.

Spoilers: Tiny ones for Donna’s time with the Doctor.

Summary: Donna always wanted to see the world, but she never imagined she’d travel the universe instead.

Donna’s never really been anywhere in her life. She doesn’t count the trips to Marbella and Magaluf with the girls from work for a bit of fun in the sun. Everybody does that.

She’s always wanted to travel, see things nobody else has, make something of herself, but working in a temp agency… What are the chances?

Then she meets him, the Doctor, and he turns her whole life upside down, and… It’s brilliant! Visiting the Ood planet is a lot to get her head around.

‘An actual alien planet! And I was there!’

She’ll never forget any of this!

The End

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Chapter 231: Contradiction

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 197: Green Day, using Walking Contradiction at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith and Jones.

Summary: The Doctor looks like anyone else, but he’s not

He looks like anyone else really, just another ordinary guy, albeit with wild hair and a manic grin. When he accosts her on the street and takes his tie off, Martha thinks he’s a bit weird, but then, so are a lot of people.

He’s not what he looks like though, because he has two heartbeats. Turns out he’s an alien from another planet, and over nine hundred years old. No way anyone would believe that just looking at him.

He’s a walking, talking, living, breathing contradiction, and Martha’s sure she’s barely scratched the surface. She’s desperate to know more.

The End

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Chapter 232: Why Him?

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 197: Green Day, using Why Do You Want Him at dw100.

Spoilers: Season One.

Summary: Mickey can’t offer Rose the things the Doctor can.

Mickey had never thought of himself as the jealous type, not until he’d come along. The Doctor. All he’d needed to do was grin that cheesy grin and Rose had gone with him, not so much as a kiss goodbye for her boyfriend. Because Mickey was that, wasn’t he? He’d thought so, but now he had his doubts.

He wanted to ask Rose, ‘Why do you want him and not me? What does he have that I don’t?’ but he already knew the answer. The Doctor was Rose’s way out of her dead-end life. Mickey could never give her that.

The End

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Chapter 233: Hot

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 198: Dog Days at dw100.

Summary: Rose is too hot to go adventuring.

“What’re you lying around for? Don’t you want to see the sights?”

“Too hot!” Rose sighed, fanning herself.

“Hot? This is nothing.” The Doctor was still wearing his suit and long coat while Rose had opted for shorts and halter-top, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat completing the outfit. “It’s not bothering anyone else.”

Rose peered over the tops of her sunglasses. Here they were on Barcelona, the planet of the noseless dogs, and said dogs were sprawled limply in the shade everywhere she looked. “Really? What about the hot dogs?”

Moments like this reminded her how alien the Doctor was.

The End

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Chapter 234: Guilty

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 199: Denunciation at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is in trouble with the locals.

“You did wilfully aid the guilty to escape; by our laws, that is a serious crime. What have you to say in your defence?”

As denunciations went, the Doctor considered this one rather tame.

“Guilty? It was a goat!”

“It committed a theft. It broke into Goodman Durren’s orchard and ate the fallen apples that were to be made into cider.”

“Then Goodman Durren should build a better fence. That one wouldn’t keep anything out.”

“Nevertheless, a crime was committed.”

“It was a GOAT! You people have way too much time on your hands if you go around prosecuting livestock.”

The End

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Chapter 235: When In Rome

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 200: Rome / Roam at dw100.

Summary: Meeting the locals can be an interesting experience.

“Just do whatever they do,” the Doctor advised when the aliens approached, sniffing curiously at them. “Give them a good sniff, it would be appallingly rude not to; it’s how they say hello.”

“So sniff when you’re sniffed at. Got it,” Amy said.

“When in Rome…” Rory added, leaning in to sniff at the alien who’d just sniffed him. It smelled quite pleasant, vanilla with a hint of lavender.

The Doctor paused his sniffing to frown at Rory. “We’re not in Rome, this is Verdinuncx.”

“It’s just a saying, Doctor. Means we should follow the natives’ example.”

“I knew that.”

The End

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Chapter 236: Roaming

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 200: Rome / Roam at dw100.

Summary: There’s a whole new planet to explore!

“Here we are!” The Doctor threw open the door of the TARDIS and stepped out, throwing his arms into the air like he’d just conjured the planet out of thin air.

“Where’s here?” asked Amy, following him and gazing out across a vast expanse of something that looked vaguely grass-like, but came in every shade of pink imaginable.

“Amaparagorafimblesnooth!” the Doctor beamed back at her.

“Sometimes I think you just make these crazy names up at random. So, we’re here. Now what?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Roam around a bit, see what’s happening, maybe meet the natives?”

“Works for me!”

The End

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Chapter 237: Travelling In Style

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 201: Train at dw100.

Spoilers: Mummy on the Orient Express.

Summary: A train in space! This is the most extraordinary mode of space travel Clara has ever come across.

Clara’s seen amazing things travelling with the Doctor; some beautiful, some terrible, some mind-boggling, but this is something else entirely. She’s far into the future, yet feels like she’s stepped back in time to a more glamorous age.

Train travel certainly isn’t like this in her time; it’s all extortionate fares, endless delays, and crowded carriages, but this is sheer class. Spacious, elegant, luxurious… It could almost be earth in the twenties; only the view through the windows shatters the illusion.

The blackness of space lies beyond the glass, the Orient Express thundering through it without needing rails. It’s incredible!

The End

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Chapter 238: In Trouble

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 202: Miscreant at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has an uncanny knack for landing himself in trouble.

The Doctor’s been called many things by many people during his centuries of travel. Some have been flattering, others, like the Oncoming Storm, have passed into legend, but most have been somewhat insulting. ‘Miscreant’ is one of the milder ones.

He doesn’t set out to break laws or get into trouble; he simply can’t resist meddling. If something’s unjust, he has to set it right, and if there’s a mystery to unravel, he has to be first to unravel it. Why shouldn’t he? He’s brilliant!

Sadly, the locals don’t always see things his way, so now he’s in jail.

Again.

The End

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Chapter 239: Don’t Pet The Aliens

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 203: Waddle / Waffle / Wattle at dw100.

Summary: Some aliens aren’t quite as friendly as they look.

Rose was completely enchanted by the natives of this planet. The squat, pastel coloured creatures were barely waist-high to her, densely furred ovals perched precariously on a pair of short, stumpy legs. Because of their oversized, flat feet they didn’t walk so much as waddle.

They swarmed around her, peering up at her from round, black eyes on retractable stalks, whistling to each other in their native language, and patting her with broad, fuzzy flippers, like the wings of penguins.

“Aren’t you adorable!” she exclaimed, reaching to stroke one.

“Careful!” the Doctor warned, a little too late.

“OW!”

“They bite.”

The End

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Chapter 240: Keeping Busy

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 203: Waddle / Waffle / Wattle at dw100.

Spoilers: The Power Of Three.

Summary: The Doctor isn’t good at waiting.

Having the Doctor staying with them is… well, it’s not that Amy and Rory don’t want him there, he’s their friend, it’s just that he can’t sit still for five minutes, always has to keep busy. Everyone else has to be patient, waiting for the mysterious cubes to do something, anything, but the Doctor doesn’t do patience.

It’s maddening, but even Rory can’t deny the Doctor’s trying to be useful, some of the time anyway. He creosotes the fence, mows the lawn, does the vacuuming… He’s both the best and the worst houseguest ever.

But he does make excellent waffles.

The End

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Chapter 241: Odd Aliens

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 203: Waddle / Waffle / Wattle at dw100.

Summary: Some aliens just strike Rose as funny.

Not wanting to appear rude, Rose hid her grin behind her hand. How was she supposed to remain straight-faced when confronted by aliens who resembled humanoid turkeys?

They didn’t have feathers; in fact their heads were completely bald, aside from a bony blue crest, longer and darker on the males than on the females. They also had short, stubby noses rather than beaks. But from their jaws and throats dangled long, fleshy wattles, blue like their crests, which flapped and wobbled hypnotically as they talked.

If she didn’t get out of here soon she was going to burst out laughing!

The End

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Chapter 242: Substitute

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 204: Nuts at dw100.

Summary: What can the Doctor do when he runs out of his favourite nibble?

The Doctor dug in one of his capacious coat pockets, finally pulling out a crumpled paper bag and starting to open it. “Would you care for a jelly… oh.” He turned the bag upside down and shook it. Nothing. It was empty.

Screwing the bag up again, he shoved it back in his pocket and rummaged around in the other one, his arm disappearing to the elbow, then tried the first pocket again.

“I could have sworn I had some more. Oh well.” He pulled out a small, square packet and tore it open. “Would you care for some nuts?”

The End

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Chapter 243: New Feet

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 205: Footwear at dw100.

Summary: Every new pair of feet needs new footwear.

The Doctor has already been through quite a few regenerations, each new body requiring a change in style. The velvet and lace his third body had favoured would have been completely out of place on his ninth. His eighth might have been able to carry off such a flouncy style, he had the hair for it, but the cricket whites of his fifth regeneration would have looked silly on him.

It’s the same with footwear; different feet need different shoes, preferably something he can run in.

The Doctor waggles his new toes. His tenth pair of feet are definitely sneaker-wearers.

The End

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Chapter 244: Beautiful Music

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 206: Second Doctor Titles: The Highlanders at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor’s attempt to bring some traditional British culture into Rose’s life backfires slightly.

The first time Rose visited Scotland with the Doctor was a lot more pleasant in most respects than the second time. No werewolf for starters. The Doctor had wanted to show her how beautiful the little island she lived on was, so he’d taken her on a whirlwind tour of Britain, finishing up in the Scottish highlands, where he took her to a Cèilidh.

The moment they stepped into the venue, Rose winced.

“What is that noise? It sounds like someone’s strangling a bagful of cats!”

The Doctor glared at her. “You, Rose Tyler, have no appreciation for traditional music!”

The End

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Chapter 245: Reactions

Author's Notes: Crossover with Torchwood.

Written for Challenge 207: Sink / Swim at dw100.

100 words first try! Didn’t even have to fix any typos!

Summary: The Doctor invites Team Torchwood into the TARDIS.

Over the centuries, the Doctor had grown accustomed to the astonished reactions of the people he invited into his TARDIS. Mostly, they expressed amazed disbelief that anything could be bigger on the inside than it was on the outside, but there were occasional exceptions to that rule, such as Team Torchwood.

Gwen went the ‘bigger on the inside’ route, Tosh exclaimed excitedly over the technology, Ianto asked where the cleaning supplies were kept, and Owen…

“Blimey, you’ve got everything but the kitchen sink in ‘ere!”

“Oh, I’ve got one of those too,” the Doctor assured him. “It’s in the kitchen.”

The End

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Chapter 246: Lost Skills

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 207: Sink / Swim at dw100.

Summary: In gaining new skills, sometimes the Doctor loses a few as well…

Regenerating into a new body was always something of a lottery; each body was different, and came with its own unique set of physicals skills. For instance, his second body could play the recorder, his third knew martial arts, his fifth was good at cricket, and his Eleventh excelled at football. It was always fun discovering previously unknown talents.

The problem came not from discovering the new skills he’d gained, but finding out at the worst possible moment which ones he’d somehow lost along the way.

“Clara! Help!”

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t think this body knows how to swim yet!”

The End

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Chapter 247: Bananas

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 208: Bananas at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is as nutty as a fruitcake!

Donna loved travelling with the Doctor; it was brilliant, seeing the universe, visiting the past and the future, hobnobbing with aliens and historical figures alike. She honestly couldn’t imagine a better life than the one she was living; she never wanted it to end, and yet, no matter where they went, the Doctor always landed them in trouble.

He was a complete nutter! The worse things got, the happier and more excited he became.

He paused, pulling a snack from his pocket. “Want one?”

Donna shook her head. Maybe the Doctor was bananas because he ate so many of them.

The End

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Chapter 248: Tea For Two

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 209: Domestic at dw100.

Summary: It takes time to get from one adventure to the next, but in between there’s plenty of time for tea

Sometimes, Rose mused, life aboard the TARDIS could be positively domestic. They were on their way somewhere; she didn’t have a clue where because the Doctor said it was a surprise and she’d find out when they got there, which left her at a bit of a loose end. Mooching around the labyrinth of corridors, she found the Doctor in one of the kitchens.

“Hi!”

“Perfect timing!” the Doctor beamed at her. “I’m just making tea. Fancy a cup?”

“Oooh, yes please!” One thing she and the Doctor always agreed on; there was nothing better than a nice hot cuppa.

The End

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Chapter 249: Unspoilt

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 210: Susurration at dw100.

Summary: There are still many beautiful and unspoilt worlds in the universe.

The planet was an unspoiled wilderness, largely made up of wide-open plains and dense, ancient forests where most of the native creatures made their homes. Martha couldn’t help wondering if it was a bit like earth must have been millennia ago, before apes came down out of the trees and evolved into humans.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, entranced, as she sat on a fallen tree trunk, listening to the susurration of the breeze blowing through the leaves high above her. It reminded her of the sound of waves upon a distant shore.

She hoped civilisation would never reach this place.

The End

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Chapter 250: Superior

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 211: Acme at dw100.

Summary: The Daleks have a serious superiority complex.

The Daleks claimed to have done away with emotion, but that was a lie. They knew nothing of the gentler emotions, it was true, but pride and arrogance and superiority were part and parcel of their make up.

They considered themselves the acme of evolution, the highest and purest example of intelligent life that had ever existed, and as such, judged all lesser races to be an intolerable contamination of their purity, deserving only to be exterminated. Anything that wasn’t a Dalek was by definition inferior, a waste of resources.

They would not stop until all other life was destroyed.

The End

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Chapter 251: Offended

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 212: Dudgeon at dw100.

Spoilers: An Unearthly Child.

Summary: The Doctor is not at all pleased when Barbara and Ian force their way into the TARDIS without being invited.

How dare they? Barging into the TARDIS without a by your leave! Accusing him of holding his own granddaughter prisoner, of all things! Why couldn’t they have minded their own business? The Doctor was displeased; one might even say he was in high dudgeon. Indeed, there was a word that should never have gone out of fashion. Humans were so flighty, even their language seemed to change constantly.

Perhaps it was his own fault; he shouldn’t have allowed Susan to attend the local school, shouldn’t have remained in one place so long.

Whatever should he do about these two teachers?

The End

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Chapter 252: Relics

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 213: Watch at dw100.

Spoilers: Utopia.

Summary: The watch is old and broken, yet Professor Yana keeps it anyway.

The watch has always been with Professor Yana; it was with him when he was found as a child, and even after all these years he’s held onto it, though he can’t say why. It’s old, broken, completely useless, and yet, it’s all he has from before…

He’s never bothered to open it; why would he? There would be no point since it doesn’t work. It’s a keepsake, an ornament, nothing more. Well, perhaps a talisman or good luck charm, something of that nature. The case is attractive though.

They suit each other, two old relics whose time is past.

The End

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Chapter 253: Colliding Realities

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 214: Crossover at dw100.

Summary: Donna and the Doctor have ended up in the wrong place before, but usually in their own universe.

Travelling by TARDIS was always an adventure. Even when the Doctor chose a destination and set course for it, there was no absolute guarantee that’s where they’d end up, because the TARDIS was sentient and had a mind of her own.

Even so, when the Doctor said they were going to a planet called Mistlethwip and instead they stepped out into the gateroom at Stargate Command, Donna was flummoxed.

“Bloody hell! You took a wrong turn somewhere, Spaceman! I watch this on TV.”

“This is so cool!” Carter exclaimed. “I’ve never met fictional characters before!”

“Oi! You’re the fictional one!”

The End

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Chapter 254: Ginger

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 215: Red / Blue at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor wishes his hair was red.

The Doctor loved Donna Noble, she was smart, feisty, brave, funny, and generally amazing in every way, but he also envied her, because she had something he wanted; red hair.

Here he was, well into his tenth regeneration, and his hair had been dark brown, light brown, blond, even white, but never red. He’d wanted to be ginger for ages, but sadly had no idea how to influence what he would look like after regenerating; it was all a bit random.

Still, the next best thing to being ginger was travelling with one. He was having the best fun ever!

The End

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Chapter 255: Incongruous

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 215: Red / Blue at dw100.

Crossover with Torchwood.

Summary: PC Andy Davidson comes across something odd while on patrol.

The blue police box was an incongruous sight, something that had once been familiar but had long since fallen out of use.

Where this one had come from was anybody’s guess. Andy Davidson was sure it hadn’t been here earlier; he’d have noticed. Perhaps it was a prop for a TV show, or possibly a hoax, or a student prank.

The door opened and a dishevelled head poked out. “Hello there! What year is this?”

“Um, 2005.”

“Oh bother, I’m early.” The head vanished and with a grinding sound, the blue box faded out.

Andy shrugged. He’d seen stranger things.

The End

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Chapter 256: Back In Business

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 216: Free at dw100.

Spoilers: Utopia.

Summary: The Master has been trapped, his essence locked away in a watch, but not any more.

Trapped inside that accursed watch for so long, living a false life… No, he hadn’t been living, he’d merely been existing, but with the opening of the watch he was finally free.

It had provided the perfect disguise, perhaps too perfect. He’d forgotten himself, forgotten the power he wielded, but no more. He remembered now, and he had everything he needed, even a TARDIS. Not his of course, but what did that matter? It would serve him regardless.

Locking himself inside he allowed his regeneration to proceed, gifting him with a new, young body. The Master was back in business

The End

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Chapter 257: Just A Dream

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 217: Wake at dw100.

Spoilers: The Shakespeare Code.

Summary: Martha is sure this has to all be a dream.

Yesterday, Martha was just an ordinary medical student, living an equally ordinary life. Since then the hospital had been whisked to the moon and back, she’d met a nutty but gorgeous time and space travelling alien, and now here she was in a grimy little room centuries before her time, having just met William Shakespeare!

Head still whirling, she lay down on the small bed beside the Doctor, acutely aware of how close he was to her, and tried to sleep. This couldn’t be real.

‘I bet I’ll wake up tomorrow and find it was all just a weird dream.’

The End

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Chapter 258: Fiction Or Fact

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 218: Legend at dw100.

Spoilers: Robot Of Sherwood.

Summary: Clara wants to discover the truth behind the legend of Robin Hood.

The Doctor would have Clara believe there was never any such person as Robin Hood. He’s merely a legend, an invented character, a storybook hero. Clara doesn’t care; whether Robin Hood is real or fictional, Sherwood Forest is where she wants to go, so she can see for herself. She knows by now that all legends have a basis in fact. The Doctor’s a legend across space and time, and he’s perfectly real.

So is Robin, for all that he turns out to be a robot. In the end, what matters is that he existed, not that he never lived.

The End

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Chapter 259: Picture This

Author's Notes: Written for challenge 219: Wind at dw100.

Summary: The TARDIS is about to arrive on an alien world.

Picture the scene; an alien world, trees that bear no resemblance to those found on earth, grass that’s the wrong colour, orange, or pink, or turquoise. Maybe there’s more than one sun in the sky, or twin moons visible by day.

There might be a crystal city in the distance, or herds of peculiar ten-legged creatures gazing on the plains as strange scents fill the air.

Then a powerful wind gusts out of nowhere, a grinding sound stampedes the creatures, a blue box materialises, and people step out. For the Doctor and his companion, another adventure is about to begin.

The End

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Chapter 260: A Brilliant Mind

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 220: Cakewalk at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is a genius, so he naturally enjoys proving how clever he is.

The Doctor loved solving problems and putting things right. He was at his happiest when trying to unravel a particularly complicated mystery. He had a brilliant mind and delighted in showing off how clever he was at every opportunity. Modesty wasn’t his strong point; what was the point of being a genius if he didn’t use his intellect to help people?

He didn’t bother with minor mysteries though; anyone could get to the bottom of those. He set his sights considerably higher, but whatever he turned his mind to solving, one thing was always certain; it wouldn’t be a cakewalk!

The End

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Chapter 261: Spoilers

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 221: Entwine at dw100.

Spoilers: Nothing too specific

Summary: River and the Doctor’s lives are entwined.

River’s life is inextricably entwined with the Doctor’s long before he meets her for the first time in the Library, but they’re out of step with each other; that can happen when you’re a time traveller. She was younger than she is now when she first met him, but he was older, or will be. A later regeneration perhaps.

Really he shouldn’t be surprised that she needs a diary to keep track of their meetings, so she knows what it’s safe to tell him and what has to be kept secret. As she’s told him more than once, “Spoilers, sweetie.”

The End

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Chapter 262: Stolen

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 222: Oust at dw100.

Spoilers: : Utopia/Last of the Time Lords/The Sound of Drums.

Summary: It’s intolerable; the Master locked the Doctor out of his own TARDIS and stole her.

Ousted from his own TARDIS! It stung badly enough when the Master stole her, leaving him stranded with Jack and Martha at the end of time, reliant on Jack’s vortex manipulator to transport them back to the past.

That was nothing to how he feels now, wizened and shrunken, locked in a cage. The TARDIS is his and he is hers, but the Master has corrupted her into something unthinkable, evil and perverted: a paradox machine.

It’s so wrong; he longs to go to her, comfort her, restore her to her former glory, but all he can do is wait.

The End

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Chapter 263: Waiting For A Sign

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 223: Sign at dw100.

Spoilers: The Big Bang.

Summary: It’s Amy’s wedding day, and she should be happy, but something isn’t right.

It’s Amy’s wedding day; she should be happy, she’s marrying Rory, and she loves him with all her heart. Her parents are here, which is wonderful and slightly hard to believe, though she doesn’t know why. Everything is perfect, and yet she’s sad, perhaps sadder than she’s ever been in her life.

It’s as if something is missing, something she can’t identify but which she knows should be here because she feels its absence. So she’s drifting in limbo through what should be the happiest day of her life, waiting for some kind of sign to tell her what’s wrong.

The End

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Chapter 264: Chaotic

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 224: Hugger-Mugger at dw100.

Summary: Donna finds the Doctor’s way of life chaotic.

The Doctor’s lifestyle was impossibly haphazard and chaotic. One day they’d be on an alien planet, the next they might be in the distant past, or on a far future space station.

The interior of the TARDIS seemed to be as disorganised as the Doctor himself, with rooms appearing and disappearing at random; it was a wonder he could ever find anything. Hugger-mugger, that’s what her Granddad would call it; he’d be right at home, but Donna was an orderly person, organised and efficient as befitted a temp. She wasn’t used to such a topsy-turvy life. She’d sort him out.

The End

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Chapter 265: Effortless Charm

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 225: Charm at dw100.

Spoilers: The Empty Child and all Jack’s season one episodes.

Summary: Captain Jack Harkness can charm anyone.

Captain Jack Harkness was a charmer; that was the first thing the Doctor noticed about him. With his white teeth flashing in a blinding, perfect smile and a few well-chosen words he could have practically anyone eating out of his hand. Man, woman, alien, it didn’t matter; the Captain was indiscriminate.

Rose fell under his spell immediately, lapping up the dashing Captain’s attention, something the Doctor couldn’t help noticing. It was annoying. Could he be jealous? Surely not; he had no reason to be.

Nevertheless, if he were honest with himself, even he wasn’t completely immune to Jack’s effortless charm.

The End

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Chapter 266: No Good Choice

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 226: Outnumbered at dw100.

Spoilers: The Parting Of The Ways.

Summary: The Doctor has been outnumbered before, but rarely this badly.

How many Daleks were out there? Thousands? Millions? Billions? He’d been vastly outnumbered many times before, had defeated the Daleks more times than he could easily remember, but this time the odds seemed insurmountable. That was why he’d sent Rose to safety. He couldn’t risk her life along with everybody else’s.

He had a plan, but there wasn’t enough time to make the necessary adjustments to the Delta Wave. If he used it, the Daleks would die, but so would every human in the wave’s path. If he didn’t use it, they were doomed anyway.

There was no good choice.

The End

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Chapter 267: Long Way Down

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 227: Balustrade at dw100.

Summary: The view is spectacular, but the ground is an awfully long way away.

The view from up here was spectacular; mountains, valleys, forests and plains stretching as far as the eye could see to a far-distant, greenish ocean. Martha leaned on the terrace balustrade and peered downwards before taking several very hasty steps backwards.

“Whoa! That’s a long drop. How high are we?”

The Doctor leaned out over the edge at an angle that made Martha want to grab him and pull him back. “Oh, not all that high really, five or six miles, maybe a bit more. Hard to be exact; the ground’s uneven.”

“I’ll take in the view from back here.”

The End

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Chapter 268: Wrong Turn

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 228: Mazy at dw100.

Summary: The inside of the TARDIS is such a maze it’s easy to get lost.

‘How does the Doctor not get lost in here?’ Donna wondered as she wended her way through the mazy jumble of rooms and corridors that made up the interior of the TARDIS.

The Doctor had given her detailed directions to the vast room he called the wardrobe before sending her off to change into something suitable for the time period they were visiting, but she had a horrible feeling she’d taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way, because surely this narrow little passageway couldn’t lead to where she wanted to go.

Maybe she should go back and start again.

The End

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Chapter 269: Lost Language

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 229: Encrypt / decrypt at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has his own way of recording information so others can’t read it.

Sometimes the best way to keep vital information out of the wrong hands is to encrypt it so it can only be understood by someone who has the cipher, the key to unlocking the apparently nonsensical puzzle.

Many races use such encryptions in times of war to keep knowledge of such things as troop movements and battle plans from their enemies. They work well enough, at least until said enemies manage to get their hands on the cipher.

The Doctor doesn’t need codes; he simply writes in Gallifreyan. As the last of his race, it’s a language only he understands.

The End

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Chapter 270: Forbidden Knowledge

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 229: Encrypt / Decrypt at dw100.

Summary: River will go to any lengths to keep the Doctor from learning things he shouldn’t know yet.

River seldom leaves her diary unattended, citing ‘spoilers’ as the reason she won’t let him read it. She doesn’t want him knowing details of events she’s already lived through that he has yet to experience. On one hand he knows it’s a sensible precaution, but on the other… Well, curiosity is one of his major personality traits, so from the moment he first set eyes on that bulging book he’s been longing to get his hands on it.

When he finally does it’s almost insulting; River’s written the whole thing in code! Does she really think he can’t decrypt it?

The End

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Chapter 271: Priceless

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 230: Bauble / Babble / Bobble at dw100.

Spoilers: The Husbands Of River Song.

Summary: If River is going to get her hands on this particular diamond, she’s going to need some help.

The Halassi Androvar is perfect, flawless, priceless beyond belief, the most valuable diamond in the universe. All other diamonds, indeed all other gems of any kind, pale into insignificance beside it, mere baubles, worthless trinkets, insignificant bits of shiny mineral. River should know; she’s seen, stolen, and owned enough of them.

She’s never owned this one though, not yet, and her fingers itch because it’s so close and yet so far, lodged inside the equally insignificant brain of her ‘husband’. She’s supposed to return it to the Halassi, but…

First, looks like she needs a surgeon. Heads don’t remove themselves.

The End

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Chapter 272: Babbling

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 230: Bauble / Babble / Bobble at dw100.

Summary: Donna is used to not understanding the Doctor.

Donna’s reasonably sure the Doctor knows what he’s talking about, he’s always pointing out how brilliant he is, but despite taking science at school, most of what her friend explains to her goes right over her head, just a meaningless babble of nonsense words. Time Lord science is a bit more advanced than anything taught in British secondary schools; if she could understand what he was on about she’d be a genius too, not just a temp.

Then things get a bit freaky and instead of plain old Donna Noble, she’s the Doctor Donna. Technobabble’s easy when you know how.

The End

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Chapter 273: New Style

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 230: Bauble / Babble / Bobble at dw100.

Spoilers: Any hat-wearing Eleventh Doctor episodes.

Summary: The Doctor is tired of people making fun of his hats.

The Doctor can’t understand it; why is everyone against his choice of headgear? He likes it, the colour and the tassel; fezzes are cool, but nobody else seems to agree.

A trip to America gives him the opportunity to try another kind of hat; it’s very different from his fez, but checking himself out in a mirror he likes what he sees. Stetsons are very cool and it goes down a little better with his companions, but he still feels they’re judging him. So unfair!

Well, let’s see how they like his new style. What’s cooler than a bobble hat?

The End

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Chapter 274: Full Of Surprises

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 231: Full / Empty at dw100.

Spoilers: Rose.

Summary: Rose thought her life would be boring until the day the store mannequins came to life.

Rose hadn’t thought so, but it turns out life is full of surprises. She’d been resigned to a boring existence, working in a shop, living with her mum until she could afford a flat of her own, then maybe getting married and having kids to start the cycle all over again.

Instead, her she is, hand in hand with some strange big-eared Northern bloke with a manic smile, running for her life from a bunch of plastic store mannequins that’re a whole lot more lively than they should be, and it’s… terrifying, but fun.

She’s certain she’d follow him anywhere.

The End

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Chapter 275: Emptiness

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 231: Full / Empty at dw100.

Spoilers: Set after Doomsday.

Summary: The TARDIS contains the Doctor’s whole existence, but something’s missing.

The TARDIS is huge, which is fortunate because the Doctor’s been to so many places and times, and souvenirs do pile up. It’s not just the souvenirs either; there’s useful stuff too, clothes in every style and every size, handy gadgets he’s invented, a whole room stuffed with confiscated weapons, and of course plenty of tea. That’s an absolute necessity because some places it’s hard to get and nothing’s better than a nice cup of tea.

So here he is, in a TARDIS stuffed to the brim with everything he could want, and yet without Rose, it just seems empty.

The End

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Chapter 276: Hopes Dashed

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 232: Char at dw100.

Spoilers: Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: The Doctor would have saved the Master if he could.

He’d had hopes, however misguided they might have been. For a year that wasn’t, he hadn’t been the last of his kind. There’d been another Time Lord, someone he’d once called friend before the best parts of him had been lost as he’d gazed into the Untempered Schism. Mad and ruthless though the Master had become, he’d been the closest thing to family the Doctor had left, and he’d wanted so badly to hold on to him, perhaps heal him.

It wasn’t to be, so here he stands, watching the Master’s body char and burn away to dust. Hopes dashed.

The End

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Chapter 277: One World

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 10: Alien Nation at drabblesoup.

Summary: The Doctor is drawn to planet earth for reasons he’s not sure he understands.

The Doctor doesn’t quite understand what keeps drawing him back to earth. He’s tried many times to figure it out, telling himself it’s because humans have so much potential, which is true enough, and that they bear a striking physical resemblance to Gallifreyans despite only having a single heart, but surely there’s more to it than that.

Earth is a world of many nations, most of which seem to regard all others as alien, regardless of the fact that they’re all the same species. What will it take to unite them as one? Perhaps that’s what he hopes to discover.

The End

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Chapter 278: Underwater

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 233: Aquatic at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor sometimes wishes he could explore the depths of oceans.

Nature is incredibly diverse; the universe throngs with creatures, both sentient and not, adapted to suit every kind of environment imaginable.

There are creatures who swim through sand as though it were water, and others to whom vast ice-fields feel pleasantly warm. Still more make their homes deep underwater, shunning the surface where they’d suffocate, unable to breathe air not extracted from water by their gills. These aquatic creatures are the ones the Doctor knows least about; he can’t breathe their atmosphere any more that they can breathe his, but he envies their freedom to explore where he can’t go.

The End

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Chapter 279: Commodities

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 234: Fungible at dw100.

Spoilers: Planet of the Ood.

Summary: The Ood are being seriously underestimated by those who sell them as slaves; they’re more than they seem.

To those who sell them as commodities, the Ood are essentially fungible. One Ood is much like the next, just another saleable item, inventory to bring in profits. Ood live to serve, so let them.

For a time everyone wanted them, tractable servants who could do whatever was required of them, but sales are down at the moment, necessitating a price drop. Sell more cheaply in bulk to the military and profits will go up again. They’re just Ood after all, plenty more where they came from.

But the Ood are changing, bit-by-bit. If their eyes turn red, watch out!

The End

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Chapter 280: Mysterious

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 235: Lace at dw100.

Spoilers: The Snowmen.

Summary: To most people, Madame Vastra is as mysterious as the crimes and events she investigates.

Madame Vastra conceals her appearance behind a veil of black lace. It’s an affectation, but perhaps a necessity; little can be accomplished if people run screaming in terror from one’s presence. Apes such as those who currently inhabit earth are all too quick to label anyone a little different a monster.

There are some exceptions, the odd human here and there who doesn’t find her alarming, most notably her darling Jenny, but they’re few and far between. Besides, the veil lends her an air of mystery that seems rather appropriate, considering her chosen line of work involves investigating mysterious events.

The End

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Chapter 281: Saying Hello

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 236: Greetings at dw100.

Summary: It’s always wise to follow the native customs when on other planets.

Every race in the universe has its own kinds of greetings, and the Doctor doesn’t merely mean in terms of different languages.

On some worlds, the proper greeting involves spitting in each other’s face, while on others, rubbing buttocks is the height of good manners.

Delviunx Eight, for instance, has elaborate dances for everything from inviting guests into your home, to saying hello to family members, friends, or strangers on the street. The Doctor does his best not to cause offence, but he’s slightly hampered by only having one pair of arms.

Thankfully the natives make allowances for such deficiencies.

The End

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Chapter 282: Forest

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 237: Hedge at dw100.

Spoilers:: In the Forest of the Night.

Summary: Forests don’t usually grow overnight.

It’s London, but not. Where there should be city streets, traffic jams, and impressive buildings of architectural importance, instead there are mostly trees, bushes, and the occasional massively overgrown hedge.

It’s wrong. Somehow all this vegetation has grown overnight, choking the city, turning all that was once familiar into a wilderness where unseen dangers could lurk behind every tree trunk. Worse, it seems it’s not just London but the whole planet.

It’s a mystery; forests don’t grow in a single night and yet this one has. Clara can think of only one person who might be able to fix it.

The End

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Chapter 283: Pinnacle

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 238: Expunge at dw100.

Summary: The Daleks want to destroy every other living thing.

Daleks have only one purpose in life: to expunge every other life form from existence. Tolerance isn’t something they’re known for. Anything not a Dalek is seen as inferior, an intolerable stain on the fabric of the universe, something that must be removed in order to restore universal purity.

They care nothing for other species’ right to life, have no interest in natural evolution, or the many amazing discoveries that have been made by non-Daleks. Art and music and culture are things they don’t understand. They see themselves as the pinnacle of creation.

The Doctor knows they must be stopped.

The End

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Chapter 284: Not Enough

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 239: Mirror at dw100.

Spoilers: Set sometime after Doomsday.

Summary: Rose loves her family, but they’re not enough to keep her in her father’s World.

Rose loves her mum. Her dad too, now she’s had the chance to get to know him. He’s a good man, and he’s overjoyed at having a daughter.

She’s got a baby brother now, and dotes on him the way any big sister should. This is what it means to be part of a family. It’s good.

But it’s not enough.

When she looks in the mirror she can tell she’s not fooling herself. She wants more than this, wants what she had, to travel the universe with her Doctor. She’ll do whatever it takes to get back to him.

The End

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Chapter 285: All A Game

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 240: Game at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor treats everything like a game.

The Doctor treats every crisis like a game, some grand adventure with mysteries and puzzles to be solved, the main prize being survival. The more perilous the situation, the more he seems to come alive, enthusiastically pitting his wits against his opponents in a battle of intellect. He uses every sneaky, underhanded trick in the book to outwit sometimes vastly superior numbers, and he seldom needs to resort to force.

That’s fortunate, because when the Doctor stops playing games and gets angry… Watch out!

There’s a reason he’s referred to in some parts of the universe as the Oncoming Storm.

The End

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Chapter 286: Rewritten

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 241: Martyr at dw100.

Spoilers: The Wedding Of River Song.

Summary: River is not going to let the Doctor sacrifice himself.

Instead of trying to get away, the Doctor walks towards River, knowing what’s coming. She knows it too, and it terrifies her, and yet he seems completely unafraid, not trying to get away, just standing there ready to sacrifice himself, like a martyr for some cause perhaps nobody can fully understand.

“I can’t stop it.”

“You’re not supposed to. This has to happen.”

She begs him to run, but he refuses; he already tried that. Didn’t work.

“This is inevitable, a fixed point.”

Not on River’s watch, it isn’t. Fixed points can be rewritten. She fires, repeatedly, and…

“Hello, sweetie.”

The End

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Chapter 287: Basic Maths

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 242: Pi / Pie at dw100.

Twelfth Doctor.

Summary: Humans are perhaps a bit more advanced than the Doctor gives them credit for.

“What’s this?” Clara asked, scrutinising a complicated looking formula scrawled in Gallifreyan numbers and symbols on the Doctor’s blackboard.

“That? Oh, I was just doodling.”

“Yeah, but what is it?”

“Basic Gallifreyan mathematics; the Felloraxic Constant. It calculates the ratio of a circle’s circumference to…”

“To its diameter. Yeah, we have that too, but we call it Pi.”

“Humans have mastered the Felloraxic Constant?” the Doctor asked in disbelief.

“You didn’t know?”

“Never thought to ask.”

“A fellow named Archimedes, somewhere around 250 BC in ancient Greece. Maybe you’ve heard of him?”

“Ah, that explains it. Archimedes was an alien.”

The End

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Chapter 288: Surprise

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 242: Pi / Pie at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has a very special surprise for Donna.

“New Cardiff? You’re ‘aving me on!”

“No I’m not! Why would I do that? This is New Cardiff, premier city of New Wales!”

“Doesn’t look much like Wales to me,” Donna noted as she followed the Doctor along bustling streets. “What’s so special about this place then?”

“Ah, if I told you that then it wouldn’t be a surprise!” He pushed open a door to a busy little café. “Here we are!”

“Great! Now what?”

“Now you get to sample the best fruit pies in the entire universe!”

“We came all this way for pie?”

“Yep! I recommend the zurzberry.”

The End

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Chapter 289: Safest Course

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 243: Hide at dw100.

Summary: Sometimes the safest course of action is inaction.

The Doctor would sooner hide than fight. Fighting means violence, and violence all too often leads to injury, destruction, death… Innocent lives lost for reasons that seldom make good sense. Fighting is not his way, or so he repeatedly tells himself, because he’d rather not remember the times he’s turned his hand to violence. The War Doctor is a facet of himself he’d prefer not to acknowledge.

In most cases, hiding gives everyone a better chance of survival, it’s the safest course of action, but when it doesn’t work… That’s when the Oncoming Storm makes the universe tremble in fear.

The End

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Chapter 290: Insincere

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 244: Flummery at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor knows better than to believe anything the Master says.

Every word the Master speaks, when he’s not issuing threats, is mere flummery, and the Doctor knows it. He closes his ears to the meaningless flattery, understanding that it’s just another way for his former friend to manipulate people to his own ends.

It won’t last; if he can’t get what he wants with insincere words of praise and admiration, twisting innocent people to his will, then he’ll do it by force, and not even those who have allied themselves with him will be safe from his wrath.

His civilised veneer will crack, revealing the monster that lurks just beneath.

The End

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Chapter 291: First Meeting

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 245: Flummox at dw100.

Spoilers: Silence In The Library.

Summary: The Doctor has met his match in Professor River Song.

The Doctor has the uncanny ability to flummox everyone he meets. All he needs to do is open his mouth and start talking, rambling away in his usual incomprehensible technobabble. Sometimes, Donna is sure he does it on purpose, just to see the baffled expressions of confusion on everyone’s faces.

This time though, it seems the Doctor has met his match; not only has he completely failed to confuse Professor Song, but he doesn’t quite seem to know what he should do about it, so he just gapes at her, utterly bewildered.

For her part, River simply smiles. “Spoilers, Sweetie.”

The End

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Chapter 292: Fixed Point

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 246: Genesis at dw100.

Spoilers: Genesis of the Daleks.

Summary: The Doctor could not halt or divert the Daleks’ creation.

There’s a beginning for all living things, for good or ill. No creature simply appears; it must evolve gradually, from a single cell into something far more complex. Or, it must be created.

In some cases, its genesis might be a combination of both.

The Doctor was sent to Skaro on a mission; avert the creation of the Daleks, or ensure that they evolved as less aggressive and xenophobic creatures.

He failed in both respects; perhaps their creation was a fixed point, but he had to believe that despite their destructive tendencies, some good might come out of their existence.

The End

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Chapter 293: Not Himself

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 247: Frustration at dw100.

Spoilers: Deep Breath.

Summary: Something is wrong with the Doctor.

It goes beyond mere frustration; Clara feels completely out of her depth. The Doctor she knows and cares for is gone, replaced by this impostor with a Scottish accent.

She knows he’s the Doctor too, the new version, she watched him change, but she’d expected him to still be essentially himself and he’s just… not.

He doesn’t even make sense when he’s talking. It’s obvious something is seriously wrong with him; the disjointed rambling, the loss of memory, the fact he keeps passing out…

If Clara knew how to fix him she would, but she doesn’t know where to start.

The End

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Chapter 294: Getting There

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 247: Bivouac at dw100.

Summary: For once, the Doctor and his companions aren’t in any hurry.

Another alien world, one of many, but for once they’re not running from some kind of danger, and not running to anything either, they’re just stopped, in a peaceful woodland glade by a rushing stream. It’s a welcome change of pace.

“How much further is it,” Amy asks, meaning their destination.

“Another half a day’s walk perhaps.” The Doctor sits at the base of a tree, looking more relaxed than Amy’s ever seen him. “We’ll bivouac here tonight.”

“Why didn’t we just land closer, save ourselves the walk?” Rory wants to know.

“Because half the fun is in getting there.”

The End

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Chapter 295: Puzzling

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 249: Quarantine at dw100.

Spoilers: Under The Lake.

Summary: The Doctor loves mysteries, but this one is really puzzling.

It’s like quarantine in reverse; those not affected lock themselves away in one small section of the Drum while the ‘ghosts’, their former colleagues, roam freely, trying to get to them, turn them into whatever they’ve now become. It’s a desperate situation, because the ‘ghosts’ aren’t giving up.

It’s safe enough to leave their refuge during what passes for day, whatever these ghosts are, they only become active when the Drum is in night mode, but what will happen now they’ve have discovered how to trigger night mode whenever they want?

The Doctor hopes they won’t have to find out.

The End

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Chapter 296: Unimportant

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 250: Salient at dw100.

Spoilers: Army Of Ghosts / Doomsday.

Summary: Yvonne Hartman ignored what was truly important.

Yvonne Hartman was the worst kind of fool, consumed by an unquenchable hunger for more power. The return of the British Empire was her goal, no doubt with her right up there, if not in charge then whispering in the ear of the one who was. The sheer energy being produced by the interdimensional breach would secure Britain’s independence from the rest of the world.

As far as Hartman was concerned, the ghosts that started popping up everywhere weren’t salient, an unimportant side effect to be shrugged off and ignored.

Just like that, she came close to dooming the world.

The End

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Chapter 297: Faith

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 251: Shuttle at dw100.

Spoilers: Set towards the end of Bad Wolf.

Summary: Rose is the Daleks’ prisoner, but she knows the Doctor will come for her.

The Dalek ship is huge; earth’s space shuttle would probably fit in one corner, looking like a tiny ornament. The Daleks were scary enough before, but being on their ship, surrounded by them, all Rose can do is cling to her faith in the Doctor, sure he won’t let her die.

Seeing his face on the viewscreen is immediately reassuring. He doesn’t look scared, or worried, he’s calm and confident, determined.

“I’m going to save Rose Tyler from the middle of the Dalek fleet.”

After that, he’ll save earth and destroy the Daleks.

Rose doesn’t doubt him for a second.


The End

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Chapter 298: One Chance

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 252: Collective at dw100.

Spoilers: The Doctor Dances.

Summary: The earth is doomed unless one young girl admits to being a broken child’s mother.

They move as a collective, like a swarm of ants converging on the small group of people beside the crashed Chula ship. They have no mind or will of their own, they’re merely following the ship’s orders, coming to protect it.

Dozens of people with gasmasks fused to their faces, built to conform to what the nanogenes think a human should look like. They’ll keep on transforming whoever they touch until everyone on the whole planet is the same, and the Doctor can only think of one way to stop it.

Everything rests on a young mother claiming her son.

The End

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Chapter 299: Her Life

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 253: Behind at dw100.

Spoilers: Season One.

Summary: Rose feels like she was born for this.

He’s taken her to alien planets, earth in the past, other worlds in the future, and she’s seen more weird and amazing things than she would have dreamed of before she met him, yet no matter where they go or what they do, one thing is almost always the same.

“Run for your life!” The Doctor grabs Rose by the hand, practically dragging her behind him as he starts to run, glancing back over his shoulder.

It’s as insane as it is ridiculous; she’s breathless, terrified but exhilarated, and she runs because she has no choice. This is her life.

The End

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Chapter 300: Native Cuisine

Author's Notes: Written For Challenge 254: Batter at dw100.

Summary: Nobody makes fish and chips the way they do on earth.

Rose tugs the Doctor’s sleeve and points. “Look! A fish and chip shop! We’re on an alien planet in the future and they have fish and chips! We should get some!”

“Nah.” The Doctor shakes his head. “You don’t want fish and chips when you’re on an alien planet! That’s boring. You should try some of the local dishes. Snooburgers, or Kadlavashi, or Dingles. They’re sort of like Swedish meatballs, only spicier.”

“I thought you liked fish and chips!”

“I do, but the chips here are soggy and they never get the batter right.”

“Ugh! I’ll try the meatballs instead.”

The End

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Chapter 301: Prisoner

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 255: Comfort at dw100.

Spoilers: The Last of the Time Lords

Summary: As the Master’s prisoner, Jack isn’t entitled to even the most basic level of comfort.

There’s no comfort in reality for Jack. Twenty-four hours a day he stands here in the heat and noise and stink of the Valiant’s engine room, the chains around his wrists keeping him upright. He can’t sit down or even kneel, and his shoulders scream from the strain. Sometimes, if he falls asleep from exhaustion or passes out from pain, his arms get pulled from their sockets. They always heal again, but he has to stand on his tiptoes for that to happen.

The only comfort he has is in dreams, and the knowledge that his team is still free.

The End

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Chapter 302: Lost In Translation

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 256: Greek Alphabet at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor takes Rory and Amy to ancient Greece.

Ancient Greece is certainly impressive with its beautiful architecture. Okay, to Rory and Amy it seems primitive compared to their own time, and the atmosphere can best be described as pungent, partly due to all the animals, but it remains one of the greatest civilisations in earth’s history; a time of brilliant minds and amazing scientific discovery.

As they wander the streets, they see letters of the Greek alphabet carved into walls and archways, and after a while Rory draws the Doctor’s attention to them.

“What do they mean?”

The Doctor shrugs. “I don’t know; it’s all Greek to me.”

The End

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Chapter 303: Enthusiastic

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 257: Culture at dw100.

Crossover with Torchwood.

Summary: The Doctor is thoroughly enjoying showing Ianto Jones around the universe.

It made a change for the Doctor to travel with someone who was genuinely interested in the universe’s varied cultures. Someone who was enthusiastic to learn about the traditions and history of the people they encountered, who wanted to taste the native dishes, explore the museums and galleries, learn the local mannerisms and mores to avoid causing offence…

Ianto Jones was lapping it all up and still wanting to learn more, the Doctor had no regrets about bringing him along. In fact he couldn’t imagine why he’d never invited him before.

“This is boring,” Jack grumbled.

Ah, now he remembered.

The End

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Chapter 304: New Earth

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 258: Colony at dw100.

Spoilers: New Earth.

Summary: As beautiful as it is, New Earth doesn’t seem like earth to Rose.

Humans left earth long ago to colonise other planets, but never quite let go of their homeworld. They created earth anew wherever they went, but gave each colony world a different name until they found this one.

The year was five billion and the original earth, humanity’s birthplace, was gone, burnt to a crisp as the sun expanded. But this planet was so like the one they’d just lost that they named it New Earth. Why not?

That was more or less how the Doctor explained it.

But to Rose, it was nothing like earth. It was much too clean.

The End

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Chapter 305: Skipping Out

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 259: Detention at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor picks the worst moments to show up.

The Doctor doesn’t seem to understand the concept of working for a living. It’s alright for him, he lives in a blue box that can go anywhere and anywhen. He doesn’t have to worry about bills; he doesn’t have any. He’s the time and space equivalent of a gypsy with a mobile home, only his doesn’t need petrol.

Clara, on the other hand, needs her job. She can’t just skip out of class whenever the Doctor shows up.

Then again, these kids are in detention; she doubts they’d mind leaving early.

“Okay, that’s long enough, you can all go home.”

The End

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Chapter 306: Headfirst

Author's Notes:
Summary: The Doctor finds trouble everywhere he goes.

This always seemed to happen; the Doctor would be extolling the virtues of wherever they were visiting, they’d set out to see the sights, and the next think Donna knew, they’d be up to their necks in trouble of one kind or another. And it didn’t end there, because the Doctor always had to meddle, although he called it setting things right.

It was admirable in a way, he was dedicated to solving other people’s problems, but he had a habit of diving in headfirst. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Donna sighed. “Here we go again!”

The End

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Chapter 307: In The Moment

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 261: Pot at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith And Jones.

Summary: Martha’s first impression of the Doctor is that he’s not all there.

The first time Martha encountered the Doctor, when he accosted her in the street and took his tie off at her, she wondered if he was high on drugs. The odd behaviour, the manic grin… maybe he’d been smoking pot or something. Or maybe he was an escaped lunatic. Whatever; he definitely wasn’t playing with a full deck.

Later, after the hospital being transported to the moon, the space rhinos, and the bikers in black, she decided she’d been wrong. The Doctor lived more completely in the moment than anyone she’d ever met. She wanted to experience that for herself.

The End

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Chapter 308: Hard Choice

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 262: Epoch at dw100.

Summary: With all of time and space to choose from, where will Donna pick?

“Where to; the far future, distant past, or another world? Take your pick, I can take you anywhere and any time!”

The Doctor’s enthusiasm was infectious, but how could Donna possibly choose? Where do you start when you have all of time and space spread out in front of you? There was so much to see and do…

It popped into her head out of nowhere. Not a distant world; that could wait. Another epoch, back when strange creatures roamed and the earth was still young.

“Dinosaurs! I want to see dinosaurs, like in Jurassic Park.”

The Doctor grinned. “Brilliant!”

The End

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Chapter 309: Handy

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 263: Pocket at dw100.

Summary: Time Lord technology is brilliant.

Time Lord technology is brilliant, which is unsurprising; the scientists of Gallifrey were second to none. Perhaps the Doctor is slightly biased; they were his people after all, even though he is the last survivor. His race may be extinct, but much of their technology remains, scattered across far off worlds.

The Doctor has in his possession the greatest of all Time Lord technologies, a TARDIS, designed to be bigger on the inside. It’s impressive, but what’s even more ingenious is the miniaturised version. Anything he might need he carries with him; his pockets are bigger on the inside too.

The End

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Chapter 310: Three Doctors

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 264: Third Doctor Titles at dw100, using ‘The Three Doctors’.

Summary: Three versions of the Doctor, all in the same place, is a bit confusing.

Two of him was confusing enough, but now there’s three of him, which should be worse and sort of is, but it’s not the first time three of his regenerations have wound up in the same place at the same time. Just, last time it was a different three.

Still, here they are on earth, England, 1562; the Doctor’s Tenth regeneration, Eleventh regeneration, and the other one, the one neither of the other two likes to think about too much.

The War Doctor, their… ancestor, in a manner of speaking.

For some reason he doesn’t seem terribly impressed with them.

The End

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Chapter 311: Hinky

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 265: Dig at dw100.

Spoilers: Partners In Crime.

Summary: Donna is determined to find out what’s going on at Adipose Industries.

The world’s full of diet pills, all promising to help people lose weight. Not that Donna considers herself overweight, although her mother has made a few snide remarks… No, it’s just there’s something hinky about this new pill. Take one a day for three weeks and you’ll be slim? There must be a catch; nothing works that well or that fast.

Claiming she’s from Health and Safety, Donna tricks her way behind the scenes at Adipose Industries to dig around, see what she can find out. It’s like being a private investigator.

If only the Doctor could see her now!

The End

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Chapter 312: On Trial

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 266: Stickle at dw100.

Summary: Not content with getting arrested, the Tenth Doctor is causing chaos in court.

Martha could understand why the magistrate was getting annoyed with the Doctor. Despite being on trial for a supposed crime, the Time Lord was objecting to the questions asked by his own defence council as well as the prosecutor.

The trial had turned into chaos the moment the Doctor had taken the stand. He seemed intent on disagreeing with everyone, correcting everything from the facts of the case to points of law.

“Who do you think you are to make a mockery of this court?” the magistrate demanded angrily.

“I’m the Doctor, and I’m a stickler for getting things right.”

The End

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Chapter 313: Doomsday

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 267: Pandemonium at dw100.

Spoilers: Doomsday.

Summary: The Daleks and Cybermen are slaughtering everyone in the tower.

It’s pandemonium in Torchwood Tower, terrified people frantically trying to escape as Daleks and Cybermen wage war against each other. Many get caught in the crossfire; others are ruthlessly exterminated to deny the Cybermen the opportunity to create more soldiers. It makes no difference; for every one the Daleks kill, the Cybermen convert two.

They’ve given up transplanting brains into purpose-built bodies; now they’re simply implanting Cybertechnology into living humans. It’s faster, and there are plenty of humans available for conversion.

The death toll is rising fast. If the Doctor doesn’t stop this soon there’ll be nobody left to save.

The End

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Chapter 314: Harmony

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 268: Accord at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor hopes to someday bring peace and harmony to the whole universe.

Universal peace and harmony, with every race in accord, is perhaps unlikely but the Doctor sees no harm in hoping it will eventually come to pass. Admittedly some races aren’t genetically wired for peace, Daleks, Cybermen, and humans among them, but it would hardly be any kind of challenge if they were.

The universe is such a vast, varied place, filled with so many sentient races, some peaceful and civilised, and others not. Bringing them all into harmony is a task that could take all of eternity, but it’s a goal worth striving towards.

Even Time Lords need a hobby.

The End

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Chapter 315: Allergic

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 269: Pollen at dw100.

Summary: Flowers are among the most beautiful things in the universe, but even beautiful things have their downsides.

Flowers are amazing, so many bright, eye-catching colours, and so many delicate and delightful fragrances. How could anyone fail to feel happy surrounded by so much natural beauty? Of all things in nature, surely flowers are among the most loved and admired.

The artists of a billion worlds might copy their splendour, capture their images to delight future generations, but the Doctor can’t imagine even the finest artist in the universe ever succeeding in surpassing them. There’s a reason they’re so often given as tokens of love.

The Doctor adores flowers; he just wishes their pollen didn’t make him sneeze.

The End

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Chapter 316: Public Enemy

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 270: Polemic at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor will always help when the people of earth need him, whether they want him to or not.

Considering that Queen Victoria had set up Torchwood to protect earth and the British Empire from aliens, including himself, the Doctor wasn’t surprised that the organisation’s charter was largely a polemic aimed at him. It effectively named him public enemy number one, despite the fact that he was dedicated to protecting the planet from aliens who really were a threat. He couldn’t help thinking Her Majesty had overreacted, just a bit.

Still, that little misunderstanding wasn’t going to deter him from coming to the rescue whenever earth needed him. If Torchwood wanted to capture him, they were welcome to try.

The End

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Chapter 317: Chance Encounter

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 271: Saucy at dw100.

Summary: River always manages to show up just when she’s most needed.

“Hello, Sweetie!”

With a toss of her hair, a saucy wink, and an even saucier smirk, River Song was back in the Doctor’s life. He never knew when or where he’d run unto his wife again, but neither did he ever doubt that at some point he would, usually when he least expected to.

He lived for those surprise encounters as much as he did for setting the universe to rights. More often than not she showed up just when he could really use the help of someone smart, capable, fearless, and utterly devious.

She was that kind of person.

The End

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Chapter 318: Unwelcome Reminder

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 272: Throwback at dw100.

Summary: How could the Master have become such a monster?

Even after all these centuries the Doctor still wonders how his childhood friend became the manipulative monster he is.

Like the Doctor, the Master was born and raised on Gallifrey, a highly advanced and civilised world of scholars and scientists. Millennia ago they set aside prejudice and hate, greed and jealousy, and many other negative character traits, yet the Master has all of them in abundance, along with the insanity that rules his existence.

He’s a throwback, an unwelcome reminder of the past, yet despite his evil, the Doctor cannot wish him gone.

It might be simpler if he could.

The End





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Chapter 319: Quid Pro Quo

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 273: Laundry at dw100.

Summary: The TARDIS is on strike.

“What’s this? My suit’s stained! I can’t go out like this! What will people think?” It’s the worst kind of betrayal; the Doctor's used to his clothes being clean and they’re anything but.

The TARDIS makes no response; silently she waits. She’s sentient, organic technology, and she cares for him to the best of her ability. That includes the laundry; sonics are very effective for cleaning fabric, the dirt just falls away to be sucked up and vented. Just hang clothes in any of her closets and when they’re needed they’ll be clean.

But not until the Doctor cleans her!

The End

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Chapter 320: Muck

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 274: Mat at dw100.

Summary: Bad weather has made Donna and the Doctor decidedly mucky.

“Ick!” Donna pulled a disgusted face as she squelched her way towards the familiar blue box. When she and the Doctor had gone exploring earlier they’d left the TARDIS parked on a hillock, which was fortunate because since then torrential rain had turned the surrounding land into a quagmire.

The mud was ankle deep, thick and sticky; by now Donna was heartily wishing she’d worn boots for this excursion rather than trainers. Maybe her feet would still be dry. She baulked at the doorway, looking from her muddy feet to the TARDIS’s pristine interior.

“Time you got a doormat, Spaceman!”

The End

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Chapter 321: Bound

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 275: Bind at dw100.

Summary: Martha finds herself in a spot of trouble.

Struggling was useless, but still Martha tried; she wasn’t about to simply stand there and let these people bind her hands behind her back. She tried talking to them, even yelling at them, but it made no difference; they held her arms in an unbreakable grip and as soon as her hands were secured, marched her away like a prisoner. As far as they were concerned, she supposed she was.

Well, she wouldn’t be a prisoner for long; the Doctor would find and free her, because that was what he did. All she had to do was wait for rescue.

The End

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Chapter 322: Whirlwind Visit

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 276: Admission at dw100.

Summary: Rose has no idea where the Doctor is taking her, but she wishes he’d slow down.

“You’re going to love this!” the Doctor promised, grabbing Rose by the hand and all but dragging her along the busy street in the heart of an alien city. The place was amazing, the fronts of the buildings covered in colourful mosaic pictures, and Rose would’ve liked the chance to look at them, but the Doctor refused to slow down, intent on showing her something he said was far more interesting than a bunch of pictures.

“We’re here!” he said at last, stopping suddenly outside a nondescript brown building. “Sing!”

“What?”

“We have to sing. That’s the price of admission.”

The End

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Chapter 323: Playing A Part

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 277: Deception at dw100.

Summary: Psychic paper is a useful tool to have.

The Doctor was used to passing himself off as someone else; his psychic paper made it simple, giving him legitimacy in whatever role best suited the situation. It was deception, but of a relatively innocent sort; it got him into and out of the places he needed to be, even if it did sometimes cast him in roles he wasn’t expecting.

Intuitive stuff, psychic paper, often plucking useful identities right out of the minds of the people he showed it to, but it solved more problems than it created so he continued to use it.

Kept him on his toes.

The End

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Chapter 324: Young At Heart

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 278: Child at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor definitely isn’t acting his age.

“You are such a child sometimes!”

“What, me? I’ll have you know I’m far older than you, literally hundreds of years old!”

Donna folded her arms across her chest and glared at the Doctor, tapping her foot. “Then how about you try actin’ like it?”

“I am! You know your problem?”

“Enlighten me.”

“You act too grown up, always wanting to be sensible. Where’s the fun in that? Seems to me it must get boring. I mean look at you, you’re human, you don’t have forever so why not enjoy yourself while you can?”

“Fine, I’ll go on the slide!”

The End

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Chapter 325: Close Shave

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 279: Shave at dw100.

Spoilers: Voyage of the Damned.

Summary: The Doctor saves earth and humanity yet again.

Even for someone used to close shaves, this one was a bit close for comfort; it took all the Doctor’s strength to pull the Titanic’s nose up and send her back into space where she belongs.

A few more seconds and she might have ploughed right into Buckingham Palace, turning the whole of London into a smoking crater and potentially destroying the entire planet. That wouldn’t have been a good thing at all; the Doctor likes earth, and humans, and wiping them out would make a complete mess of the future. Humans are important, or will be.

Still, disaster averted.

The End

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Chapter 326: Exciting Life

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 280: Stir at dw100.

Summary: If it’s adventure you’re looking for, no one is better at finding it than the Doctor.

Everywhere the Doctor goes he stirs up trouble of one kind or another. It doesn’t matter that as often as not his only intention is to do a bit of sightseeing, show his latest companion a few of the wonders of the universe.

His attempts at playing tourist inevitably get sidelined by the discovery of something peculiar going on, and the Doctor, being an intensely curious kind of person, can never pass up on the opportunity to unravel a good mystery.

Nobody could describe travelling with him as a relaxing experience, but for anyone seeking adventure, there’s no better guide.

The End

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Chapter 327: Companions, Plural

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 281: Entourage at dw100.

Summary: Watching over three companions at once isn’t easy.

Having three companions at once isn’t unheard of, but it’s a bit unusual. Sort of makes the Doctor feel like she’s travelling with an entourage, but if she wants to take one with her, she has to take the other two as well. They’re kind of a package deal.

It’s okay though, it’s sort of fun, except when there’s danger and she has to keep an eye on them all at the same time. Three companions, two eyes… It gets complicated. Sometimes she wishes she’d regenerated into a Xantillian instead of a woman; the extra eye would come in handy.

The End

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Chapter 328: Extraordinary

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 282: Predicate at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is very choosy when it comes to companions.

Over his centuries of travel, the Doctor has become an expert at judging someone’s character within moments of meeting them, and he’s seldom been wrong.

In his opinion, the suitability of someone as a companion should be predicated on their ability to adapt quickly to new situations. He’s met many people on his travels who were pleasant to be around but totally unsuited to life aboard the TARDIS; they would have panicked when confronted with Daleks or Cybermen, most people would, and that’s a very unhelpful reaction in dangerous situations.

His companions have one thing in common; they’re all extraordinary!

The End

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Chapter 329: Stubborn

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 283: Capacity at dw100.

Summary: Humans are one of the Doctor’s favourite races.

The Doctor has a great deal of admiration for humans; they’re one of his favourite sentient races. They’re very primitive by galactic standards of course, still in their infancy really, but as a race they’re curious, adventurous, and inventive… They make a lot of mistakes, as the very young are wont to do, but they learn from most of them.

They have a tremendous capacity for stubborn determination too. It they build something and it gets knocked down, they don’t just give up; they build it again, bigger and stronger, until it stays.

Some day, humanity will achieve great things.

The End

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Chapter 330: Not Settling

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 284: Settle at dw100.

Spoilers: Journey’s End.

A/N: 100 words first try.

Summary: The Doctor has left Rose behind again and she’s not happy.

Rose is trapped again, stuck in the other universe with no way back to the one where she was born, the one where the Doctor is. It had hurt badly enough the first time, but with the help of this universe’s version of Torchwood she’d moved heaven and earth to return to his side, where she belonged, and now…

Now he’s just dropped her back here, tossed the half-human, half-Time Lord version of himself at her, and gone back to her universe without her, sealing the breach behind him.

Does he really believe she’ll just settle down with this substitute?

The End

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Chapter 331: Odd Transport

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 285: Public Transport at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is taking Amy and Rory sightseeing – if he can get them on the bus.

“Come along, Ponds!” The Doctor strode ahead of Amy and Rory, making straight for a peculiar creature, like a massive yellow and blue centipede. “Up you get!” He threw a look their way and frowned. “You might need to use the steps.”

Amy stared aghast. “You don't seriously expect us to get on that, do you?”

The question seemed to take the Doctor by surprise. “Why not? Gerdebans are this planet’s public transport. Think of it as a bus.”

“A bus,” Rory echoed. “With hundreds of legs.”

“Not hundreds, only forty-two. Do you want to see the sights or not?”

The End

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Chapter 332: Red Giant

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 286: Scarlet at dw100.

Summary: Some things are harder to get used to than others.

The sun was a huge scarlet ball seeming to hang much lower in the sky than the smaller yellow star that illuminated earth. It made Martha a bit uncomfortable, giving the impression that it might suddenly fall on the planet, crushing everything beneath it.

The light it gave off was peculiar too, tinting everything it touched in shades of red and pink. Even the shadows cast by the low buildings of the small town had a purplish tinge.

Martha kept close to the Doctor, darting nervous glances upwards. Of everything she’d seen, this was proving the hardest to adjust to.

The End

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Chapter 333: Alarming Alien

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 287: Predator at dw100.

Summary: This is one alien Rory wouldn’t want to run into in the dark.

Another alien world, another alien people, and unlike many they’d met, this one looked nothing like a human. Humanoid, yes; two legs, two arms, one head with… Rory wondered if the ropy tentacles hanging to its shoulders could really be described as hair. They came in a multitude of different colours.

“Amy, Rory, meet Makhila Derv.”

“Um… hi.” Rory gave a little wave, not wanting to get any closer to this… person than he absolutely had to. With its tentacle hair, heavy bottom jaw and formidable teeth it bore an uncanny resemblance to the aliens out of the Predator movies.

The End

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Chapter 334: Familiar Object

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 288: Sterling at dw100.

Summary: One alien’s treasure is another person’s utensil.

Donna loved this, there was nothing more fun than poking around alien bazaars, seeing what weird stuff the stallholders might have on sale. Dozens of races frequented places like this, both buying and selling wares from hundreds of worlds. You really never knew what you might come across. At the Doctor’s urging she’d already sampled several different fruits and some sweet, sticky cakes.

She paused at one stall as something caught her eye.

“Very rare,” the stallholder said. “Lucky talisman!”

She turned it over, saw ‘sterling silver’ stamped on the back. “Sorry, mate; not a lucky anything. It’s a tablespoon.”

The End

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Chapter 335: No Substitute

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 289: Substitute at dw100.

100 words first try!

Summary:

Martha had entertained hopes at first. Here she was, travelling with an honest-to-God alien, who was undeniably cute, getting whisked from earth’s past, to an alien planet, to the distant future… It was amazing, and so was the Doctor, and who could blame her for being smitten? If he’d felt the same way about her then everything would’ve been perfect.

But he didn’t. The Doctor only saw her as a friend and travelling companion because his hearts still belonged to the girl he’d travelled with before, the mysterious Rose Tyler.

As far as he was concerned, Martha was no substitute.

The End

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Chapter 336: Amazing

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 290: Surprise at dw100.

Slight crossover with Torchwood.

Summary: When Toshiko Sato enters the TARDIS, her reaction is unlike anyone else’s.

As many times as he’d seen the reaction from the various people he’d brought onboard the TARDIS, their surprise on finding the inside bigger than the outside never failed to amuse him.

Some would just stand there with their mouths open, gaping. Others would dash outside, then in, then out again, as if unable to decide which was real, the small box or the huge room. Still others would babble about it, grabbing his arm, like they somehow thought he’d failed to notice the discrepancy. Humans were just so much fun!

Toshiko Sato simply nodded. “Transdimensional physics.”

She was amazing!

The End

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Chapter 337: No Longer Ordinary

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 291: Ordinary at dw100.

Spoilers: Tiny for Rose.

Summary: Rose reflects on how much her life has changed since she met the Doctor.

Growing up on the Powell Estate, Rose had always considered herself pretty ordinary. She was average height, average intelligence, got average grades at school, dated pretty average guys and got an average sort of job in a department store; better than working in a factory or a typing pool, but nothing particularly thrilling.

Then he’d come along, the Doctor, rescuing her from living store mannequins, dragging her along with him into a life of excitement and adventure like nothing she’d ever imagined in her wildest dreams.

Just like that, she stopped being an ordinary girl and really began to live.

The End

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Chapter 338: Club Badge

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 292: Badge at dw100.

Spoilers: The Stolen Earth / Journey’s End.

Summary: Donna has a brilliant idea.

“You know what?” Donna said, grinning around at Jack, Martha, Rose, Mickey, Sarah-Jane, and Jackie, “There should be a badge.”

“What d’you mean? What sort of badge?” Jackie asked.

“One of those button badges, one that says ‘I survived travelling with the Doctor’; kind of a club thing we could all wear,” Donna explained.

“Yeah!” said Rose. “Maybe with a picture of the TARDIS on it!”

“There’s just one problem,” Martha said, smiling ruefully as everyone turned to look at her. “The Daleks. We haven’t survived yet; we can think about badges if we all get out of this alive.”

The End

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Chapter 339: Innocent Menace

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 293: Menace at dw100.

Spoilers: The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances.

Summary: Menacing monsters come in all shapes and sizes.

The universe is full of monsters of all kinds, both natural and created, and the Doctor has faced down countless dangers throughout his long life; everything from Daleks and Cybermen to Macra and Zygons. This time, however, the menace is of an altogether different nature.

Beneath the gas mask welded to his face, the monster is just a small boy looking for his mother. It isn’t his fault he’s been killed and brought back like this, but he has to be stopped before the nanogenes that ‘fixed’ him spread his accidental mutation to the rest of the world, destroying humanity.

The End

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Chapter 340: A Better Man

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 294: Panjandrum at dw100.

Spoilers: A Christmas Carol.

Summary: The Doctor has a tough job ahead of him, convincing Kazran Sardick to be a better man.

Kazran Sardick, a man of great authority and influence, the textbook definition of a panjandrum. He owns the skies above his world, claims his family tamed them. He holds the power of life or death over anyone who flies in them, and right now he’s the only person who can save the four thousand and three people aboard the spaceship that is currently trapped in the cloud belt.

He intends to do nothing, just let them die, but the Doctor isn’t having that.

Somehow he must convince Mr. Sardick that he’s a better, kinder man than he thinks he is.

The End

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Chapter 341: Always Learning

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 295: Disparate at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor loves humans because they’re always learning.

Gallifreyans and humans, two races so disparate they have little in common on the surface, yet the Doctor, both Gallifreyan and a Time Lord, prefers the company of humans over his own kind.

The Time Lords have become insular, set in their ways, so sure they’re always right. They don’t allow mistakes, or admit to them. Humans make mistakes all the time, but they’re constantly learning, whether they realise it or not. They have such potential.

Being around them is refreshing; they see the universe with new eyes. The Doctor thinks he’s learning as much from them as he’s teaching.

The End

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Chapter 342: Dawn Chorus

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 296: Dawn at dw100.

Summary: Everything is different on alien planets.

Dawn on a world many light-years from earth was a sight to behold. Martha watched in awe as twin suns slowly rose above the horizon, infusing the clouds with tints of peach and apricot against the pale green of the sky.

“It’s beautiful,” she sighed.

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” the Doctor assured her. “You just wait for the dawn chorus.”

“There are birds here?”

“Not exactly.”

A few minutes later, the sky was filled with whistling as flocks of flying lizards took to the air, greeting the morning.

“Nothing’s quite as enthusiastic about sunrise as Mimbles,” the Doctor shouted.

The End

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Chapter 343: When It Rains

Author's Notes: Written for: Challenge 297: Flood at dw100.

Summary: On an alien world during a severe storm, it’s best to follow the natives’ example.

“What’s ‘appening?” Donna shouted over the sound of the wind and rain. “Where’s everybody goin’?”

The planet’s natives were rushing past them, all heading in the same direction, up the steeply sloping path.

Casting a look at the sky, the Doctor took in the leaden clouds and the pouring rain. “I don’t know, but I think we should follow!”

Grabbing Donna by the arm, he practically pulled her along in the wake of the settlement’s inhabitants. They’d barely reached the ridge top before water swept through the village, flooding it. Everybody cheered.

“Why’re they cheering?”

“Their houses are still standing.”

The End

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Chapter 344: Swarm

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 298: Fun at dw100.

Summary: They’re running for their lives and the Doctor thinks it’s fun!

“Isn’t this fun?” the Doctor yells, running through deserted streets, a swarm of mutated bugs close behind. “We’ll just lead them back to the laboratory and trap them in the stasis chamber!”

Martha isn’t sure ‘fun’ is the right word; ‘terrifying’ might come closer. She’s seen what the bugs do to anyone unfortunate enough to be in the swarm’s path, flesh stripped down to bare bones in a matter of minutes, but the Doctor swears they’re in no danger because he’s sprayed them with pheromones. They just need to run; the bugs will follow them anywhere.

Martha crosses her fingers.

The End

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Chapter 345: Charmed

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 299: Tremor at dw100.

Summary: You never know what might be lurking beneath the ground.

The ground shifted beneath their feet, like an earth tremor, and Amy stumbled. “What is it? An earthquake?”

“I don’t think so.” The Doctor dropped flat, ear to the ground. “Something’s moving down there. Something big.”

“What d’you think it is?”

“I have no idea! Isn’t that brilliant? We should find out.”

“How do we do that if it’s underground?”

The Doctor stood up and started stamping his feet. “We get its attention of course.”

“I’ve seen this before,” said Rory. “Worm-charming.”

The ground rippled; a massive shape burst through, looming over them. Amy blinked. “Biggest worm I’ve ever seen!”

The End

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Chapter 346: Not A Monster

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 300: Ichor at dw100.

Summary: Just because something looks like a monster doesn’t mean it is.

The creature slumped not far from the Doctor’s feet, leaking yellowish ichor from a deep gash in one leg. What had moments earlier seemed like a terrifying monster bent on destruction, and possibly intent on eating anyone it met, now just looked pitiful and close to helpless, despite its size.

“There now.” The Doctor sank to his knees. “Nobody wants to hurt you, but you don’t belong here. Let me help you.”

Martha stepped forward, suddenly bold. “Maybe I can help too, I can clean and stitch that wound.”

The Doctor nodded. “And then we’ll see about getting her home.”

The End

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Chapter 347: The Coolest Thing

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 301: Cool at dw100.

Summary: Out of everything Rose has ever imagined, this is the coolest.

Travelling with the Doctor was hands down the coolest thing Rose had ever done. If only some of the girls she’d gone to school with could see her now, gallivanting from planet to planet, and travelling back in time to see how people used to live…

Rose had never been interested in history before, but seeing it for herself made it so much more interesting, meeting real people who’d died long before she was born. After all she’d seen, she could tell her teachers a thing or two.

Only she couldn’t, because even if she tried they’d never believe her.

The End

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Chapter 348: Shared Purpose

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 302: Mine at dw100.

Summary: When the Doctor meets the TARDIS, the come together with a shared purpose.

‘Mine,’ thinks the Doctor, looking at the obsolete TARDIS, abandoned in favour of a newer, more advanced model. Its previous owner might have no further use for it, but he most definitely does; it’s his way off Gallifrey, his ticket to wondrous adventures. He can hardly wait to see everything that exists out there beyond the planet of his birth. He’s taken trips before, but this time he’ll be the one choosing the destinations.

‘Mine,’ thinks the TARDIS as she opens her doors to let him aboard. This is a new beginning; together they’ll see all there is to see.

The End

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Chapter 349: The Crash

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 303: Crash at dw100.

Spoilers: The Eleventh Hour.

Summary: The TARDIS has come down to earth with a bit of a bump.

The way the Doctor flew his TARDIS it was a miracle he didn’t crash more often. This occasion wasn’t his fault, or it was; he couldn’t be sure of anything right now. It seemed a good idea to get out before something worse than crashing happened though, if there was anything worse. Slinging his grappling hook to catch the edge of the doorway he clambered up the rope.

Crashing was bad, he didn’t want to do that again, but he didn’t know why he’d crashed anyway.

Early days. Steering must be a bit off. Regeneration could be a rough ride.

The End

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Chapter 350: Destinies

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 304: Fourth Doctor Titles at dw100, using ‘Destiny of the Daleks’.

Summary: The Daleks believe they have a destiny, but they forget the Doctor has one too.

Daleks were evil, wanting only to destroy anything that wasn’t a Dalek and expand their empire. They thought themselves so pure and perfect that everything else in the universe was inferior and therefore could not be tolerated.

The Doctor had been battling them throughout time and space ever since their creation, but no matter how often he defeated them they always came back, stronger and more formidable than ever. Despite their certainty about their own perfection, they were still evolving, adapting, reaching towards their ultimate destiny.

But the Doctor had a destiny too; to stop them any way he could.

The End

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Chapter 351: Indignities

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 305: Steam at dw100.

Summary: Donna has suffered one indignity too many, and she’s not taking it lying down.

Horrified about the latest in a string of indignities, Donna was building up a fine head of steam.

“Look at me! I’m covered in… whatever this stuff is!”

“It’s…” the Doctor started.

“Shut it, Spaceman! I don’t even WANT to know; I just want it off me, pronto! You’re gonna be payin’ for this, let me tell you! My clothes are ruined, and my hair… I look like I’ve taken up mud wrestling!”

“I’ll have you know this stuff is highly sought after for its beautifying properties,” the Doctor protested. “You’ll be thanking me later.”

“Don’t count on it, Sunshine!”

The End

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Chapter 352: Modern Woman

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 306: Sail / Sale at dw100.

Spoilers: Curse of the Black Spot.

Summary: Being aboard a pirate ship could be a great adventure, if they’d show Amy some respect.

Amy’s become accustomed to winding up in some very odd places thanks to travelling with the Doctor, but somehow she never expected to find herself aboard a Seventeenth century pirate ship, fully rigged, although currently not going anywhere thanks to the lack of wind to fill her sails.

She wouldn’t mind too much, except the crew expects her to work in the galley. Cooking. What do they take her for? She’s a modern woman, not some doxy!

Rory isn’t helping, and the Doctor’s being forced to walk the plank; looks like Amy will have to sort this out by herself.

The End

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Chapter 353: Perceptive

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 306: Sail / Sale at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is taken aback by a chance encounter with a very perceptive stranger.

“How much d’ya want for yer old police box, mate?”

The Doctor spun around, startled.

“What?”

Thanks to the TARDIS’ perception filter, very few people ever noticed her; they saw her, enough to detour if she happened to be in their path, but her presence never fully registered in their brains, as if for a brief moment the connection between eyes and mind was disrupted. For someone to actually see her, they must be quite exceptional.

“I’m a collector, vintage police stuff,” the man explained.

“Sorry, not for sale, but…” The Doctor swung the door open. “Fancy a look inside?”

The End

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Chapter 354: What Now?

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 307: Charge at dw100.

Summary: What’s the best course of action when surrounded by hostile aliens?

They’re surrounded by the creatures with no way out; the TARDIS is only a hundred metres or so away, and yet it might as well be on another planet considering the slavering hordes blocking their way.

“Now what?” Rory says, voicing Amy’s thoughts before she can say anything.

“Take my hand.” The Doctor clasps Amy’s right hand in his left, tells Rory to take Amy’s other hand.

Holding hands with her two favourite people is all well and good, but… “That’s it? Just hold hands?”

“Of course not!” The Doctor grins. “Charge!”

Amy almost feels sorry for their attackers.

Almost.

The End

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Chapter 355: Spectacular

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 308: Bloom at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor takes Martha to an arid desert planet.

Martha has no idea why the Doctor’s brought her here; there’s nothing to see, just endless sand dunes in every direction, beneath a scorching sun.

The sand is too hot to walk on, so they stand just inside the TARDIS doors.

“Why’re we here? It’s hardly thrilling.”

“Patience.”

Clouds soon start building on the horizon, rushing towards them; it’s a dramatic sight. The heavens open, rain pours down, but what happens next is worth the wait.

Plants spring up everywhere, flowers blooming as soon as the rain stops. From desert to floral paradise in less than an hour. It’s spectacular!

The End

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Chapter 356: Poor Substitute

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 309: Ersatz at dw100.

Crossover with Torchwood.

Summary: Maybe letting Jack bring Ianto Jones with them was a mistake.

Ianto Jones wrinkled his nose. “I’ve no idea what this is, but I can tell you one thing; it’s not coffee.”

“It’s synthetic,” the Doctor admitted, “but I’m told it’s almost as good as the real thing.”

“You’re told? You’ve never tried it?”

“I’m a tea drinker; never touch coffee.”

“Hmpf.” Ianto glared at the Doctor, who actually flinched; he was already regretting allowing Jack to drag young Mr Jones along on this trip.

“It can’t be that bad!”

“How would you like it if someone served you ersatz tea claiming it was almost as good as the real thing?”

The End

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Chapter 357: Intimidating

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 310: Roar at dw100.

Summary: Just because something sounds intimidating doesn’t mean it is.

A deafening roar split the night. Rose yelped and huddled close to the Doctor, clutching his arm.

“What was that?”

“Native wildlife,” the Doctor said, unconcerned. “Nocturnal. Nothing to worry about.”

There was another roar, this one sounding much closer.

Rose glanced around nervously, seeking the monsters responsible for the noise. “Sure of that, are you?”

“Perfectly sure. They won’t hurt you; they’re more scared of us than we are of them.”

“I wouldn’t count on that,” Rose muttered.

“Look, there’s one!”

Rose followed the Doctor’s pointing finger and giggled; the creature was no bigger than a rabbit.

“Told you.”

The End

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Chapter 358: Humbling Sight

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 311: Edge at dw100.

Summary: Seeing the Milky Way from the outside is humbling.

The view from the edge of the Milky Way was stunning, countless stars scattered across the vacuum of space, the spiral shape familiar from the pictures in her grandfather’s astronomy books. It looked like a Catherine Wheel on bonfire night, but frozen in place, a snapshot capturing the briefest moment in time. Donna couldn’t tear her gaze away.

“It’s magnificent,” she sighed.

“And it’s only one galaxy among many. The universe is so much bigger than you humans can imagine; trillions of galaxies, and more worlds than you would believe.”

It put things in perspective; Donna had never felt smaller

The End

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Chapter 359: Pastime

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 312: Play at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor knows just the thing to while away time on long journeys.

Travelling in time didn’t take very long at all, provided you were already in the right place. Travelling in space, even with Gallifreyan technology at your fingertips, took longer, hours at least, and sometimes days. Not even a TARDIS could jump dozens, or sometimes hundreds, of light years in a single bound, so some way of passing the time was needed to fill the interval between ‘here’ and ‘there’.

“Do you play chess?” the Doctor asked Rose.

“Chess? Uh, no, not really.”

“Pity. Love a good game of chess, me. Played against some of the greats. I could teach you!”

The End

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Chapter 360: Red Tape

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 313: Bureaucracy at dw100.

Summary: Bureaucracy is a universal problem, but it’s something earth really excels at.

One thing the Doctor doesn’t like about earth is humanity’s reliance on bureaucracy. Earth isn’t the only planet in the universe where those in charge seem intent on tying themselves and everyone else up in miles of red tape and impenetrable legal jargon, but humans have an undeniable talent for it.

They’ve created thousands of laws, and generated mountains of paperwork pertaining to them, mostly forms that have to be filled out in triplicate. Worse, every country has its own laws that tourists from other countries often fall foul of through ignorance.

Honestly, it’s a wonder anyone gets anything done.

The End

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Chapter 361: Timeworn

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 314: Fray at dw100.

Fourth Doctor.

Summary: The Doctor outlasts just about everything.

While the Doctor could regenerate in order to heal himself of practically anything, his clothes sadly didn’t have that ability. It really was too bad. Looking at his old friend, his faithful companion on countless adventures throughout time and space, he heaved a sigh of regret. There was no doubt about it; his scarf was on its last legs.

It dangled limply from his hands, timeworn and fraying at the edges, painstakingly patched and darned so often the repairs were all that were holding the rest of it together. It wouldn’t last much longer.

Time to make a new one.

The End

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Chapter 362: Lost Dreams

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 315: Betrayal at dw100.

Spoilers: The Runaway Bride.

Summary: Donna’s dreams for the future have just fallen apart.

Donna had begun to think she’d never find someone to love. She’d watched her friends meet Mister Right, settle down, get married… Some even had kids and here she was, practically an old maid.

Then she’d met Lance and everything had changed; they’d clicked right from the start and it was wonderful. When he’d proposed she’d cried from sheer joy, so much happiness bubbling up inside her that it had to find some way out.

Only now she knew it had all been a lie.

To her surprise, the betrayal hurt less than the loss of her hopes and dreams.

The End

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Chapter 363: On The Moon

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 316: Vacuum at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith And Jones.

Summary: When Martha arrived at the hospital, she had no idea where the day would take her.

Martha’s mind is reeling; space is a vacuum, there’s no air on the moon. By rights, all the air should already have been sucked out of the hospital; few buildings are designed to be completely airtight. Why bother when there’s air all around on earth?

But off earth is another matter.

Nobody’s suffocating, or even having trouble breathing, therefore the air inside the building must be staying put. It’s completely impossible, but so is the fact that the entire hospital just got transported to the moon.

As scary as the situation is, it’s the most amazing thing Martha’s ever experienced.

The End

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Chapter 364: Wrong Place

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 317: Cough at dw100.

Summary: The TARDIS seems to be playing a joke on the Doctor.

The Doctor’s pretty sure this isn’t where he thought he was going. He’s supposed to be on Mirrilees for the coronation of the new king, which is always quite a party; the people elect their new monarch every year and the celebrations last an entire month.

This doesn’t look like Mirrilees though; it looks an awful lot like someone’s bedroom, judging by the woman sitting up in bed, screaming at him.

He gives an apologetic cough. “So sorry to intrude. This isn’t Mirrilees, is it?”

The woman throws her alarm clock at him and he ducks. “That’s what I thought.”

The End

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Chapter 365: Hungry Shadows

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 318: Horde at dw100.

Spoilers: Silence In The Library.

Summary: The library seems empty except for the small band of humans. It’s not.

Aside from the Doctor, Donna, River Song and her party, the Library appears empty; there’s not another living soul on the whole planet. It should be a comforting thought, reassuring, but it isn’t, because although their small band of humans seems to be alone, they aren’t; they’re surrounded by an invisible horde millions, possibly billions strong.

Vashta Nerada. The name means nothing to most of those present, but the Doctor knows. They’re dangerous, lethal; they live in shadows, and they look like shadows, a very effective camouflage.

The Doctor’s never known them to swarm in such numbers. And they’re hungry.

The End

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Chapter 366: Historic Moments

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 319: Witness at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has seen the best and worst of times in his travels.

Travelling the universe throughout time as well as space has allowed the Doctor to witness firsthand some of the greatest moments in the histories of many worlds. He’s lost count of the number of coronations he’s attended, the celebrations marking the end of wars and revolutions, the premiere performances of great symphonies, and the rediscoveries of works of art thought lost forever.

He’s observed, though been unable to prevent, countless tragic events too, because he’s long felt someone should be there to mourn the loss of whole civilisations through war, plague, or natural disaster.

Not all of history is beautiful.

The End

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Chapter 367: Guardian

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 320: Comity at dw100.

Summary: Humans are still considered too primitive to join the Galactic Alliance.

One day the people of earth will take their place in the Galactic Alliance, and fall under the jurisdiction of the Shadow Proclamation, but that is still far in the future. At this point in earth’s history, before mankind makes the acquaintance of the many races who make up the Alliance, they’re sort of on their own, which is why they need him so badly.

Earth is a proscribed planet, off limits to most races, but that doesn’t keep others from trying to invade.

If humans are to survive long enough to join the alliance, someone needs to protect them.

The End

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Chapter 368: Curiosity

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 321: New Things at dw100.

Summary: Their curiosity is what makes humans ideal companions for the Doctor.

One thing the Doctor loved about humans was their curiosity. While some were set in their ways, uninterested in anything beyond what was familiar, others seemed to spend their lives in a constant quest to experience new things, sometimes going to extraordinary lengths to do so.

Because of their adventurous nature, the Doctor favoured humans as companions over most other races. He occasionally had non-human companions, variety was good, but more often than not he’d find an exceptional human on one of his visits to earth and talk them into taking a trip with him.

One trip was seldom enough.

The End

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Chapter 369: Self Service

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 322: Pinch at dw100.

Summary: Donna takes exception to the Doctor’s manner of acquiring equipment.

“Right,” said the Doctor, grabbing things off the shelves. “We’re going to need this, and some of these, and… Oooh, definitely need this, in fact we might need two, and a roll of that wire…”

“Oi!” Donna protested. “Hold it, Spaceman! You can’t just waltz in ‘ere and help yourself! This stuff belongs to someone, you should ask first, or at least leave payment.”

“No time! If we don’t hurry it’ll be the end of the world as these people know it! Now grab some of those connectors!”

“Fine, but this is the last time I help you pinch stuff.”

The End

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Chapter 370: Appendages

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 323: Judgement at dw100.

Summary: Martha isn’t too happy about the strange creature she’s just met.

“Don’t judge a person by the appendages,” the Doctor told Martha firmly. “Not everyone has two arms, two legs, and one head, you know, in fact most races don’t. On some planets this shape,” he gestured from Martha to himself and back again, “would be completely impractical. There’s nothing wrong with having three heads and too many tentacles to count. It’s that kind of prejudgement about others that keeps getting you humans into trouble.”

“It’s not the shape that bothers me,” Martha replied. “It’s the fact that it’s trying to pull my arms off!”

“Oh, that. Just a minor misunderstanding!”

The End

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Chapter 371: Natural Reaction

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 324: Gape at dw100.

Summary: Donna is treated to yet another incredible sight and reacts accordingly.

Donna stared, her jaw dropping, unable to get her head around what she was seeing. In the back of her mind, she could hear her mother’s voice, always critical: “Don’t gape, Donna; it’s unbecoming. Bad as your father, you are.”

Well, if her mother were seeing this, Donna was pretty sure she’d be staring with her mouth open too. Sometimes that was the only suitable response to the things the Doctor showed her.

The city was breathtaking, crystalline spires refracting the light to create magnificent rainbows that arched overhead in every direction. Surely nothing on earth could compare to this.

The End

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Chapter 372: Not An Idiot

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 325: Feckless at dw100.

Summary: Mickey is tired of the way the Doctor dismisses him as useless.

Mickey the idiot, that’s what the Doctor called him, but why? Where had he got the idea that Mickey was useless? And what right did the Doctor have to judge him anyway?

“I could be as good as Rose if he let me, but he just dismisses me like I’m nothin’! He doesn’t know what I’m capable of!”

Mickey didn’t either, he’d never been given the opportunity to find out, but he was sure he could do great things if only he had the chance.

“Next time they come back, I’m goin’ with them, no matter what the Doctor says.”

The End

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Chapter 373: Alien Encounter

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 326: Multi-Legged at dw100. Summary: Rose gets a bit of a shock.

Rose’s initial reaction was one of revulsion.

“Ugh! What the hell IS that thing?”

“She’s not a thing,” the Doctor corrected. “She’s a Novocholian; her name is Errensia. She doesn’t think you look very nice either, but she’s too polite to say so.”

Chastised, Rose apologised. “Sorry, I was taken by surprise, I’m not used to meeting people who’re so… different. Where I’m from, the only things with that many legs are… Well, they’re sort of creepy and not intelligent. Most people don’t like them.”

Travelling with the Doctor, she’d have to learn that having two legs was not universal.

The End

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Chapter 374: Weird Wildlife

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 327: Wildlife at dw100.

Summary: Life forms on other planets can be very strange.

“Oh, don’t worry about them,” the Doctor said airily. “You’ll soon get used to the wildlife here.”

“Wildlife?” Rory stared in disbelief at what looked to be a small avalanche of pebbles somehow rolling uphill. “They’re alive?”

“Silica based life forms. They’re mostly harmless, travel in herds. Try not to tread on them though.”

“Why not? Would it hurt them?” Amy asked, crouching down to get a closer look at the herd of pebble creatures.

“Them? No, but it wouldn’t do your feet much good; they’re not very comfortable to step on, hard and lumpy.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The End

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Chapter 375: Responsibility

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 328: Ignorance Is Bliss at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith and Jones, The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: Martha feels weighted down with responsibility.

Back before she’d first left earth with the Doctor, Martha’s biggest worries had been her father’s mid-life crisis, and whether or not she’d pass her medical exams. Now, those things had paled to insignificance. An insane Time Lord was holding her family, the Doctor, and Jack prisoner aboard a flying aircraft carrier, torturing people for pleasure while he worked on destroying the earth.

On top of that, everyone was depending on her to spread word of the Doctor so he could set things right.

If she succeeded, most people would never remember any of this. They were the lucky ones.

The End

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Chapter 376: Hanging Around

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 329: Pendulum / Pendulous at dw100.

Spoilers: The Empty Child.

Summary: Rose is in a very precarious situation.

One minute Rose was exhilarated, the next she was terrified, her emotions swinging from one extreme to the other like the pendulum of the grandfather clock that had stood in the hall of Mickey’s grandmother’s flat. Or would, fifty years in the future.

Come to think of it, she felt like a pendulum herself, swinging from the rope of a barrage balloon in the middle of the London Blitz. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, but the view was amazing. Up until she lost her grip and started to fall. How was the Doctor going to explain this to her mum?

The End

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Chapter 377: Bizarre

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 329: Pendulum / Pendulous at dw100.

Summary: There are some very strange things in the universe.

Everywhere around them, from the branches of every tree, hung blobby, misshapen, orangey-grey… things. Amy pulled a face, making sure she didn’t get too close to them.

“What’re they, some sort of egg sacs?” She really didn’t want to meet the creatures responsible for them.

“What?” the Doctor asked.

Amy pointed.

“Oh, those are Tangemoles.”

“Tangemoles? What’s a Tangmole?”

“Genetic engineered fruit that went a bit wonky. They taste better than they look, sort of like deep-fried tangerines.”

“Why would anyone create something like that?”

“It was an accident; they were trying to develop fruit trees that would grow underground.”

The End

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Chapter 378: Unwanted

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 330: Happy Place at dw100.

Spoilers/Setting: Utopia.

Summary: Jack has been waiting over a century, only to be rejected.

Whenever Jack thought of the TARDIS, which he frequently did, he remembered her as the place he’d been happiest. Travelling with Rose and the Doctor from world to world, helping people and setting things right, for the first time since he’d left the Time Agency he’d had a place to belong and people who cared about him.

He’d waited over a century to get back to his happy place, but when the TARDIS had finally shown up in Cardiff and he’d raced out to greet her, she and the Doctor had fled from him. Why didn’t they want him anymore?

The End

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Chapter 379: Punctuality

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 331: Prompt at dw100.

Spoilers: Aliens of London.

Summary: You’d think someone who could travel in time would never be late…

Despite being able to travel through time as well as space, the Doctor’s timekeeping often leaves a lot to be desired. Usually it’s not a serious problem; winding up in the right place but a century early is easily fixable, just pop back into the TARDIS and jump forward in time.

But there was that time he took Rose home a year after she’d left, and… For a while there he’d thought Jackie might do something permanent to him for all the worry his little slip-up had put her through. He tried really hard to be on time after that.

The End

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Chapter 380: Lending A Hand

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 332: Space Race at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor winds up in some strange places at times.

“Who the hell are you and how’d you get on my ship?”

The person confronting the Doctor is waving some sort of mechanical tool and doesn’t seem very happy to see him.

“Your ship? It’s very nice.”

“You didn’t answer my question; how’d you get aboard? The last thing I need is a stowaway! I’m in the middle of a race!”

“Oooh, I like races. I’m the Doctor.”

“Doctor, huh? You’d better not turn out to be a saboteur; I’ve got a lot riding on this race, but my engine’s acting up.”

The Doctor beams happily. “Maybe I can help.”

The End

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Chapter 381: Not Happy

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 333: grievance at dw100.

Summary: Donna has no problem airing her grievances.

“Ow! What did you do that for?” The Doctor rubbed his arm where Donna had just punched him.

“That’s for runnin’ off and leavin’ me,” the redhead snapped, glaring daggers at him. If looks could kill he’d be regenerating by now.

“I didn’t run off…” He winced at the expression on Donna’s face. “Alright, I did, but it was only for a day or… well, three. And a half. But I was a little bit busy saving the world. Anyway, I knew you’d be fine, and you are!”

“This isn’t over, Spaceman.”

Oh yes, the Doctor was in big trouble!

The End

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Chapter 382: Confused

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 334: Crook at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith and Jones.

Summary: Martha is struggling to make sense of what’s happening.

Martha still didn’t know exactly what was going on, the Doctor’s explanation was a bit over her head, probably because a large part of her was still trying to get over the fact that the entire hospital had been uprooted and dumped on the moon. That wasn’t something that happened every day.

Still, from what she’d been told, the space-suited rhinoceroses were space police, after some sort of crook hiding in the hospital, but earth was outside their jurisdiction so they’d taken steps to move their quarry to where they could make an arrest.

It had to be a dream.

The End

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Chapter 383: Misdirection

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 335: Dropping The Ball at dw100.

Spoilers: Aliens Of London.

Summary: The Doctor is annoyed with himself for being taken in.

Usually, the Doctor was the first to figure out what was going on and why. After all, he was brilliant; he’d been travelling the universe for centuries, had seen and done most of what there was to see and do.

But he’d dropped the ball this time.

Space pig! Of all the things to be caught out by… Not some unknown sentient alien species, but an artificially created creature designed to distract the humans from whatever was really going on.

What that was, the Doctor didn’t know, but he intended to find out and when he did, he’d stop it.

The End

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Chapter 384: Alternative

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 336: Transfer at dw100.

Spoilers: The Christmas Invasion, Journey’s End.

Summary: When you’re as brilliant as the Doctor, you can find a way around almost anything.

He doesn’t want to regenerate; he likes this body, feels like he’s barely got used to it, but even a Time Lord can’t simply shrug off the effects of a Dalek ray. His body’s damaged too severely not to regenerate, yet he fights it. He needs to heal, but maybe he doesn’t need to go through a full regeneration, not when he’s got a convenient spare part just lying around not doing anything.

As the golden energy fills him to the brim, he absorbs what he needs and transfers the excess to the hand he lost fighting the Sycorax.

Perfect.

The End

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Chapter 385: The Gallery

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 337: Frieze at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor treats Martha to a day of culture.

“What is this place?” Martha’s voice was barely above a whisper, breathless with wonder at what she was seeing.

“It’s… sort of a museum, or a gallery, the collected artworks of a hundred thousand civilisations, snatched away in the last few moments before they would have otherwise been destroyed by war or natural disaster, and preserved here for posterity.” The Doctor gestured towards a bizarre frieze that seemed to have been built into the gallery’s wall. “I remember this! It used to be in the throne room on Verdivex, before a meteor destroyed the entire planet. I never liked it.”

The End

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Chapter 386: Mostly Harmless

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 338: Harmless at dw100.

Summary: This isn’t what Clara would call ‘harmless’.

“Ow! It bit me!” Clara exclaimed, backing away from the fuzzy creature she’d been petting, blood seeping from a couple of puncture wounds in her hand.

“Just a little nip; nothing to worry about.”

Why Cara had expected any concern from this new version of her friend she couldn’t imagine; still, it smarted as much as the bite did. “Easy for you to say! You’re not the one who got bitten.”

“They’re harmless. Mostly.”

“Mostly?”

“Might give you a bit of a rash for a week or two.”

Greenish spots were already spreading up Clara’s arm. “Thanks for the warning.”

The End

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Chapter 387: Elegant

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 339: Fashion at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor introduces Rose to the TARDIS’s wardrobe.

“All the latest fashions and styles!” the Doctor declared, gesturing at the racks and rails of clothing that constituted the TARDIS’s wardrobe. “Something for every occasion.”

Rose stared around her, wide-eyed; it was like the biggest dress-up box ever combined with the most eclectic retro boutique in the universe. “Oh my God, is that a feather boa?”

“Genuine ostrich feathers!” The Doctor beamed. “Not suitable for Victorian London though, unless you want to be mistaken for a floozy.”

“Nope, definitely not. I want to look classy and elegant.”

The Doctor reached for a hanger. “How about this?”

Rose ginned. “Perfect!”

The End

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Chapter 388: TARDIS Knows Best

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 340: Obstreperous at dw100.

Spoilers: Set just before Rose.

Summary: The Doctor isn’t going to win this argument.

“What’s the matter with you?” the Doctor grumbled, scowling at the central console. “Who’s in charge around here?”

He thumped one of the control panels, kicked the base of the console, flicked switches and spun dials, to no avail; the TARDIS refused to budge.

“We’re going to Urphon!” the Doctor insisted, giving the console another kick.

The TARDIS hummed placidly.

Fuming at his sentient ship’s defiance, the Doctor folded his arms over his chest, leather jacket creaking. “I don’t want to go to earth! I say where we go, not you!”

Which was how the Doctor wound up in London…

The End

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Chapter 389: Goodbye

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 341: Hearts at dw100.

Spoilers: Doomsday.

Summary: The Doctor wants what’s best for Rose, no matter how much it hurts him.

His two hearts are broken, shattered. The Doctor knows he had no choice; Rose will be better off in the other universe, with her mother. She’ll get to know her father, or the alternate version of Pete Tyler anyway. He seems like a good man.

There’s no way the Doctor can get Rose back anyway, now the breach between universes is closed. As much as it hurts, he wouldn’t if he could, because whether Rose knows it or not, this is for the best. She deserves a normal life and that’s the one thing she can never have with him.

The End

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Chapter 390: Adjusting

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 342: Teeth at dw100.

Summary: Regeneration brings a lot of changes, but one in particular always seems to catch the Doctor out.

It’s always the same when he regenerates, everything’s new and unfamiliar; arms, legs, body, hair, all longer or shorter than he’s accustomed to. His sense of taste changes, favourite foods taste awful and things he hated before are suddenly delicious. His nose smells differently, his hands don’t work right, his eyesight changes... You’d think regeneration would mean 20-20 vision as standard, but it seldom does.

He has to get used to a new way of walking, a new perspective on everything, but as difficult as all that is, the worst thing is always the teeth. They keep biting his tongue!

The End

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Chapter 391: Military Might

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 343: Unit at dw100.

Spoilers: Nothing specific.

Summary: UNIT isn’t the worst of the Doctor’s problems, but in his opinion they seldom help matters

The soldiers of UNIT are hardly the bane of the Doctor’s life, but they do excel at complicating matters. Then again, in his experience that’s a trait shared by most military organisations. They come up with all these rules and regulations that must be obeyed, then go around brandishing weapons and killing anyone who doesn’t agree with them. They’re like a bunch of naughty children, only a lot more dangerous.

He’s tried to teach them, his Third incarnation even worked with them for several years, but they never learn. One of these days they’ll probably be the death of him.

The End

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Chapter 392: Splendid Occasion

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 344: Splendid at dw100.

Summary: It isn’t every day Donna gets to attend a royal ball.

Donna had never been to a royal ball before. Everywhere she looked were beautiful women in stunning gowns, and dashing men in perfectly cut suits.

The ballroom itself was a study in splendour; wide windows framed by heavy velvet curtains, a stage with a full orchestra, tables covered in snow-white cloths arranged around the dance floor, liveried serving staff gliding about with trays of hors d’ouvres and glasses of champagne…

The Doctor offered her his arm. “Shall we dance?”

“Why not?” Raising her skirts with one hand, Donna glided down the steps. She planned to make the most of tonight.

The End

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Chapter 393: Sad Fate

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 345: Secretion at dw100.

Summary: It’s not just on earth that creatures get killed off for no reason.

“Yuk!” Rose pulled a disgusted face. “What is that stuff?”

The Doctor dipped a finger in the greenish ooze and tasted it, his eyes lighting up. “Murcab slime. Well I never! Haven’t seen a Murcab in… oooh, a long time, hundreds of years. Not many Murcabs left now. They’re protected under the Shadow Proclamation, but that hasn’t stopped certain races from hunting them down for their secretions.”

“Why would anyone want slime?”

“It’s believed to rejuvenate the skin. Does nothing of the sort of course; any moisturiser would work better. Whole species are becoming extinct for the sake of vanity.”

The End

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Chapter 394: Small Problem

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 346: Tack at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has an unexpected problem.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor of the console room, looking like the Tailor of Gloucester, the Doctor worked steadily with needle and thread, tacking up the bottoms of the smallest pair of trousers he could find.

“You know your problem, don’t you? You’re too short.”

“It’s not my fault. I’m only eight.”

“Yes, well, you should grow faster. Are you eating your vegetables?”

“Mostly.”

“Eat more; they’ll make you grow. And milk. Drink lots of milk. Here, put these on. Can’t have you running around the TARDIS in pyjamas.”

He’d only stopped for a moment; now he had a stowaway.

The End

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Chapter 395: Paying A Debt

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 347: Hospital at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith and Jones, Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: The Doctor has a long outstanding debt to pay.

It seemed fitting somehow; they’d met, from the Doctor’s point of view, in a hospital; now here they were, many years later, in another one. Usually he didn’t do this, he moved on, never looking back, but he owed Martha so much.

Her courage all those years ago had allowed him to reverse the Master’s paradox, but he hadn’t done right by her and her family back then, too consumed with tying to save the instigator of all that suffering. He should have paid more attention to the ones who’d suffered.

Perhaps now he could repay the debt he owed.

The End

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Chapter 396: Walking Away

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 348: Party at dw100.

Summary: There’s a reason the Doctor never sticks around for long.

In the aftermath of their deliverance from the ‘demons’, the entire population of the small community were throwing a gigantic celebration, a festival of thanksgiving, but the guest of honour was conspicuous by his absence.

“Aren’t we going to stay for the party?” Rose asked, almost having to run to keep up with the Doctor’s long strides.

“Best not,” the Doctor replied. “Stay for the party, then a bit longer as a guest, then just a few more days to help put everything straight… Before you know it they’re like family and then it hurts too much to say goodbye.”

The End

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Chapter 397: Boom

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 349: Incendiary at dw100.

Summary: Ace has her own way of dealing with problems.

The Doctor threw himself flat, arms over his head, holding his hat in place as an explosion rocked the ground. In the distance, plumes of smoke rose high above the trees; something was on fire.

He sat up cautiously, still holding his hat with one hand, his umbrella with the other. “What in the universe was that?”

“That?” Ace shrugged. “Incendiary bomb, a little something I cooked up to repay our friends for their hospitality.”

“You blew up their ships?”

“Only one of them. They’ll all have to squeeze into the other one. Pretty sure they won’t bother coming back.”

The End

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Chapter 398: Immaculate

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 350: Flamboyant at dw100.

Summary: How does the Doctor always look so immaculate?

He cut a flamboyant figure, striding across the muddy ruts of the ploughed field, that ridiculous cape fluttering in the cold winter wind. Who wore velvet jackets and lace cuffs to investigate something odd going on in the depths of the countryside?

The Brigadier shook his head; the Doctor was unique, you had to give him that, and somehow he never looked less than immaculate, with his ruffled white shirt and ever-present bowtie. Watching the man approach, the Brigadier wished he knew the Doctor’s secret. Standing here he could almost feel the mud leaving dirty smudges on his uniform trousers.

The End

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Chapter 399: Big Bully

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 351: Spike at dw100.

Summary: Some aliens would rather hit first and ask questions later.

The sharp spikes protruding from the alien’s knuckles narrowly missed the Doctor’s head as he ducked the blow.

“Can we at least talk about this first?” the Doctor asked, scrabbling out of the way. “I mean you’re being a bit rude; you haven’t even let me introduce myself yet.”

With a snarl his assailant lumbered around, aiming another blow at the Doctor and getting the spikes on its fist jammed in the trunk of an ironwood tree.

“That’s what you get for being a bully.” Grinning maniacally, the Doctor grabbed Rose by the hand. “That won’t hold him long. Run!”

The End

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Chapter 400: Clear As Mud

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 352: Pedant at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor decides to set one of earth’s greatest scientists straight on a few things…

Clara had thought the headmaster of her school pedantic, nitpicking every little thing, regardless of how unimportant the details seemed to anyone else. Then her Doctor had regenerated into… this.

“Oh, pffff!” The Doctor made a dismissive sound, peering down his nose at one of earth’s most eminent scientists. “You humans think you know everything! I mean look at this!” He waved at a whiteboard filled with complex calculations. “What’s any of this supposed to mean? It’s nonsense! You haven’t got the faintest idea about Genobren Geometry.” He started to explain in excruciating detail.

Even the scientist’s eyes glazed over.

The End

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Chapter 401: Multi-Purpose

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 353: Carrot / Karat at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has many ways of dealing with Daleks.

In all his travels the Doctor has learned that most people, regardless of what they look like, tend to respond better to the carrot than the stick, which is to say they’re more cooperative when coaxed to do what he wants rather than threatened into compliance.

All, that is, except military personnel, who don’t seem to respect anyone who’s not wiling to order them around.

Oh, and Daleks, who can’t be coaxed, only follow orders given by their own kind, but are susceptible to being tricked.

Carrots, it seems, are multi-purpose. Shove one up a Dalek ray gun and…

BOOM!

The End

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Chapter 402: Flawless

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 353: Carrot / Karat at dw100.

Summary: A pretty little gem has caught River’s eye.

A touch over one hundred karats of pure, perfect loveliness… Not huge it’s true, River has seen many far bigger diamonds, not to mention plenty of other equally stunning gemstones, but there are few of this quality in any size, cut with expert precision and without a single flaw.

She thought of stealing it, because if anyone is capable of whisking such a beauty right out of Sotheby’s it’s her, but there’s a definite thrill to walking in through the front doors and simply outbidding everyone else.

The money isn’t hers of course, but nobody else knows that little detail.

The End

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Chapter 403: No Quitter

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 354: Quit at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor doesn’t know how to give up.

Quitting isn’t in the Doctor’s nature. Time after time he’s faced impossible odds, outnumbered, outgunned, out of resources and out of time, yet on every occasion he’s emerged victorious.

Anyone who’s ever met him knows it isn’t simply luck; nobody in the universe, not even the last of the Time Lords, can be that lucky. It’s a combination of knowledge, experience, dogged determination, trickery, and the Doctor’s own brand of genius bordering on insanity, plus an iron will, and two hearts big enough to encompass all of time and space.

Like his TARDIS, the Doctor is bigger on the inside.

The End

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Chapter 404: Sort Of Nice

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 355: Ward at dw100.

Summary: Twelve does not hug; he may not be sure of much, but he’s sure of that…

“I don’t hug,” the Doctor protested, trying to ward of Clara’s determined efforts.

“You’re sure of that? The other you did.”

“I’m not him, he was a different me; this is the new me and yes, I’m quite certain I do not hug.” He backed up another step.

“That’s too bad because I intend to hug you anyway. Everybody needs a hug now and then, even you.” Then Clara’s arms were somehow around the Doctor, and though he’d never admit it, being hugged felt sort of nice.

Perhaps a little bit of his previous self was still there after all.

The End

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Chapter 405: Sandy And Hot

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 356: Sand at dw100.

Summary: There’s been a slight miscommunication between the Doctor and Donna.

“A desert?” Donna stared out the TARDIS door, aghast. “You brought me to a freakin’ desert?”

The Doctor blinked at her in consternation. “But I thought that was where you wanted to go!”

“Why would I want to be stuck in the middle of the bloody Sahara?”

“How should I know? When I asked, you said you wanted to go somewhere sunny, sandy, and hot! This is all of that.”

“I meant a resort with a beach! Somewhere beside the sea where I could relax, get a tan, maybe a massage!”

“Well, you should have said that,” the Doctor huffed.

The End

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Chapter 406: Unnatural

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 358: Mask at dw100.

Spoilers: The Empty Child.

Summary: The boy isn’t wearing the mask…

The child isn’t wearing the gas mask; it’s somehow become part of him, as though it’s welded to his face, seamlessly blending with his skin. It’s horrific, and yet it isn’t the creepiest thing about him. That would be his voice, lost, alone, hollow-sounding through the mask. All he ever says is, “Are you my mummy?”

Rose is torn. Part of her wants to comfort the boy, promise to help him find his mummy, but mostly she wants to run from him as fast as she can. She doesn’t know what’s made him the way he is, but it’s spreading.

The End

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Chapter 407: Boring

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 358: Curls at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor doesn’t like his new hair.

The Doctor checks his reflection in the mirror, disappointed; straight hair again. This is his third regeneration with mostly straight hair; how long has it been since he had curls? It’s not completely straight this time, there’s a bit of a wave to it, but it’s not curly!

Straight hair is boring, just sits on top of his head, not doing anything interesting, and then flops in his eyes when he’s trying to do stuff. That’s why he kept it short the last couple of times. Curls stay put, and sometimes they bounce. He can’t wait to be curly again.

The End

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Chapter 408: Advanced Science

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 359: Enclose at dw100.

Summary: Humans, while they make excellent companions, are lacking in one respect.

Most humans are baffled when they first enter the TARDIS; they can’t understand how the walls of something no bigger than an old-fashioned telephone kiosk can enclose so much space. The Doctor has known people who’ve simply fainted at the sight, unable to wrap their brains around the fact that a small, unassuming blue box can be bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.

He could explain, in detail, and occasionally he tries, but the science is too advanced for most humans; they’re not ready for transdimensional geometry, which is a shame. It’s such a fascinating subject.

The End

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Chapter 409: Untrustworthy

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 360: Perfidy at dw100.

Summary: Some aliens can’t be trusted, no matter what.

The Doctor cursed under his breath; he should have known better than to believe the word of a Shadhlich, they were a notoriously treacherous race of people who’d cheerfully sell out their own parents, children, siblings, or bosses if they saw some advantage for themselves in doing so.

Really he only had himself to blame, but this Shadhlich had sounded so sincere, requesting assistance in repairing its damaged spaceship, and the Doctor was in the business of helping people in difficulty.

Well now he was in chains to be sold as a slave. Good thing he still had his sonic!

The End

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Chapter 410: Help Needed

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 361: Crack at dw100.

Spoilers: The Eleventh Hour.

Summary: Amelia Pond needs help with the crack in her wall.

The crack in Amelia’s wall had simply appeared one day out of nowhere. It hadn’t been there when she’d left her room, but when she’d returned after school, there it was.

Amelia didn’t like it.

Her Aunt Sharon said it was just a crack, lots of old houses got them, but Amelia knew this wasn’t that kind of crack. This crack came from someplace else. At night, when she was in bed, she could hear something whispering, like a voice. It came from the crack.

Amelia needed someone who knew about cracks.

So like a good girl, she asked Santa.

The End

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Chapter 411: Incomprehension

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 362: Accent at dw100.

Summary: As much as he likes humans, there are some things the Doctor will never understand about them.

Humans are peculiar; they live on one small, nondescript planet, and despite what some of them seem to think they’re all the same species, yet they have hundreds of languages. Which he supposes might explain why they have so much trouble getting along.

Just to make things even more complicated, not content with having different languages, they confuse each other further by speaking the same language in dozens of different accents.

Having the TARDIS translating for him helps the Doctor make sense of what they’re saying, but he sometimes wonders if humans are simply determined not to understand each other.

The End

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Chapter 412: Circles

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 363: Circle at dw100.

Summary: Crop circles have popped up all over earth.

Finished at last. It had taken the Doctor and his TARDIS several nights of hard work, but it had been worth the effort; his heart felt a little lighter.

His people might never see his messages to them, his words of sorrow and grief for what he’d had to do to end the Time War, destroying Gallifrey along with the Daleks, but time travel made almost anything possible so perhaps…

Across earth, people studied the elaborate crop circles, speculating about their origins. Some thought they might have been made by alien spaceships, but they were ridiculed.

They were also right.

The End

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Chapter 413: Measuring

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 364: Touch at dw100.

Summary: Rose isn’t happy with aliens taking liberties.

Dozens of tentacles reached out, brushing across Rose’s face, coiling around her body; she winced, starting to pull away, but the Doctor stopped her.

“Don’t be afraid, just stand still; they won’t hurt you. They just want to look at you.”

“Look at me?”

“They see by touch. Their tentacles gather data so they can create an image of you in their minds. They’re incredibly accurate.”

“That’s all very clever, but do they have to be quite this thorough?” She pulled a face as the tentacles took liberties with her anatomy.

“Do you want this dress to fit or not?”

The End

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Chapter 414: Taking A Break

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 365: Spontaneous at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith and Jones.

Summary: Martha jumps at the chance to take a break from her responsibilities.

Martha has never considered herself particularly spontaneous; she’s the eldest daughter, the problem solver, the mediator. Sometimes she feels more like the parent, trying to sort everyone out and keep the peace.

Maybe that’s why, when the Doctor asks her to go on a trip with him, she hardly hesitates at all. Doesn’t she deserve a break from being responsible and reliable? Doesn’t she deserve a bit of time to do what she wants instead of spending all her time juggling her medical studies and her family?

Besides, he can travel in time; she’ll be back before anyone misses her.

The End

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Chapter 415: All Dressed Up

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 366: Flash at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has got himself all dressed up.

“Oooh, look at you! That’s a bit flash, and no mistake.” Donna took in what the Doctor was wearing, a tux instead of his usual pinstriped suit and long coat, although he still had his sneakers on. “So what’s the occasion?”

“Occasion? Maybe I just felt like a change.”

“Oi, don’t give me that, Spaceman. You can’t fool me. You’re up to something.”

“Oh, fine, I admit it; there’s a ball tonight, I thought you might enjoy it, sort of an apology for the whole desert mix-up.”

“Now that’s more like it, but I don’t have a thing to wear!”

The End

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Chapter 416: Oops

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 367: Befuddled at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor winds up somewhere he’s not supposed to be.

The Doctor looked around himself, befuddled.

“Wait a minute, wasn’t I just on the TARDIS? I’m sure I was, so how am I here?”

“I’d rather like to know that too,” a familiar voice said, sounding a bit peeved.

“Jack? What are you doing here?”

“I live here.”

“Really? It’s very nice.”

“Thank you.”

“Sorry for dropping in unexpectedly.”

“That’s nothing new, but if you’re suddenly here, does that mean Ianto’s now aboard your TARDIS somewhere?”

“Ah. That could well be the case.”

“Any idea how I’m supposed to get him back?”

“Not just yet, but I’m working on it.”

The End

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Chapter 417: Bright Idea

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 368: Colour at dw100.

Summary: Some aliens are hard to fathom.

Martha had never seen such a riot of colour. It took a moment for her to realise it had nothing to do with the clothes these aliens wore, because they weren’t wearing any.

She supposed they didn’t really need to, at least not for protection from the elements, since they were furry all over, but either they were born this way or they must paint or dye their fur somehow.

“Are those their, um, natural colours?” she asked in a whisper.

“No, they start out grey all over,” the Doctor explained. “The colours are so they can identify each other.”

The End

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Chapter 418: Uninvited Guest

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 369: Gremlin at dw100.

Summary: Something is wrong with the TARDIS.

There was something wrong with the TARDIS, it had started making weird noises a few hours ago and the Doctor had been forced to set down on a small, uninhabited asteroid so he could shut down her systems and investigate.

Now he was deep in her circuits, trying to track down the problem, but nothing appeared to be wrong.

“Maybe it’s gremlins,” Amy suggested.

“Can’t be; they leave obvious damage. Aha! I thought so!”

“What is it?”

The Doctor emerged with something grey wriggling in his hand. “It’s a Snock. Must have got aboard when we stopped off at Torchwood.”

The End

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Chapter 419: Going Native

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 370: Beat at dw100.

Summary: Alien behaviour can be hard to figure out.

“What are they doing?” Rose asked, staring in fascination at the aliens.

They were tall, thin, greenish beings with short legs, and long arms that almost reached the ground. They’d been walking around quite sedately, but as the sun had sunk towards the horizon they’d suddenly stopped in their tracks and begun to sway back and forth, waving their arms about above their heads.

“No idea, never been here before! Interesting isn’t it? Maybe they’re dancing!”

The Doctor raised his own arms, waving them about and swaying.

“Doctor!”

“Come on, Rose; it’s fun! If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!”

The End

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Chapter 420: Hazards

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 371: Armor at dw100.

Summary: Donna decides she needs something a bit more hardwearing than the clothes she brought with her.

Donna slowly picked herself up off the ground, dusting off her clothes as best she could. As much as she loved travelling with the Doctor, sometimes the things they ran into were hazardous to her health. She trudged in the direction he’d been going before they’d become separated.

“There you are, Donna. What kept you?”

“That stampeding horde of whatever they were ran right over me.” Donna scowled at the Doctor. “Look at me; another outfit ruined! I’m beginning to think I should borrow a suit of armour from the wardrobe. At this rate I’ll soon ‘ave nothing to wear.”

The End

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Chapter 421: New Look

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 372: Pattern at dw100.

Summary: Tired of his tweed, the Doctor wants a new look.

“How about checks?” the Doctor said, examining a checked jacket in colours so loud it practically screamed. Whether he was talking to himself or to the TARDIS was unclear. “No, maybe not checks, I don’t want to look like a multicoloured chessboard. Stripes then, can’t go wrong with stripes. Look at tigers, and zebras, and loophooes; they do alright being all stripy.”

He held up a striped jacket as loud as the checked one had been.

“Then again, I don’t want to blend into the background. Maybe not a pattern at all… Ah, purple!” He beamed happily. “The very thing!”

The End

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Chapter 422: Impossible

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 373: Itch at dw100.

Spoilers: Human Nature.

Summary: There’s something nagging at the back of John Smith’s mind.

There was something nagging at John Smith, like an itch at the back of his mind; something he needed to remember, but what? He shrugged and pushed the nagging feeling out of his head; he had things to do.

Besides, it was probably just the lingering effects of one of his dreams. He’d been having a lot of those recently, strange and fantastical imaginings. He hadn’t told anyone about them, not yet. He wouldn’t want anyone to think he might be going a bit strange.

He wrote them down though, every morning, keeping a record; a journal of impossible things.

The End

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Chapter 423: Brilliant

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 374: Depth at dw100.

Spoilers: Partners In Crime.

Summary: There’s a whole lot more to Donna Noble than most people seem to realise.

There was so much more to Donna Noble than she gave herself credit for; the Doctor had seen it the first time they met, when she’d just been a strange woman in a wedding dress who’d appeared out of nowhere inside his TARDIS.

Now here she was again, investigating something suspicious all by herself, and the Doctor couldn’t help but admire her determination and the way she’d infiltrated Adipose Industries without even so much as a piece of psychic paper!

Oh yes, Donna Noble had hidden depths! In fact he’d even go so far as to say she was brilliant!

The End

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Chapter 424: Set In His Ways

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 375: Crotchety at dw100.

Summary: This new version of the Doctor is a bit of a problem for Clara.

Clara sighed; sometimes this new version of the Doctor was downright crotchety. He got annoyed at the slightest thing, had no patience, especially with people, no manners, and even less tact. Half the time she felt as though she was just following him around in order to apologise for his behaviour.

Maybe this was what happened when he didn’t regenerate until he got very old. He came back with an older body, and a brain and personality more set in its ways. The Doctor she used to know had been so much more adaptable, not to mention easier to like.

The End

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Chapter 425: Lost Again

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 376: Compass at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor carries everything he might need with him, he just can’t always find it.

“I know it’s here somewhere,” the Doctor muttered, pulling one thing after another from his pockets. Some Rose could identify, a handkerchief, a packet of mints, a banana, and a shoelace among them, but others were beyond her comprehension, weird alien devices, and something like a shrunken head.

It was still hard to accept the Doctor could carry so much junk around with him, even though his pockets were bigger on the inside. She’d have thought he’d be weighed down.

“There you are!” The Doctor grabbed something.

“What is it?”

“My compass. We’ll find the TARDIS in no time now!”

The End

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Chapter 426: The Artist

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 377: Paint at dw100.

Summary: It’s not easy being a starving artist.

Vincent Van Gogh, one of the greatest artists who ever lived, on earth at least. The Doctor would say it’s an honour to meet him, if the man was friendlier, but he supposes being down on his luck and unable to afford a drink is making Vincent cranky.

Even to anyone who doesn’t know it’s obvious the man is an artist. There are paint spatters on his clothes and hands; the painting he’s holding is a dead giveaway too. Not that anyone seems impressed by it, except the Doctor and Amy.

Great artists are seldom appreciated until it’s too late.

The End

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Chapter 427: Thrill Ride

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 378: Adrenaline at dw100.

Summary: Rose has never known this kind of excitement before.

Travelling with the Doctor is an adrenaline rush like no other. Every place they go, everything she sees, sets Rose’s heart beating fast and she knows she could never return to her old life, not after this.

Back in London, excitement was a night down the pub, occasionally a club if she and Mickey could afford it, a chance to let their hair down after another dull day at work. This though, this was an endless thrill ride of new places, new people, new experiences… After only a few short weeks Rose is hopelessly addicted, and praying it’ll never end.

The End

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Chapter 428: Ragged

Author's Notes: Written for challenge 379: Fingernails at dw100.

Spoilers: Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: No one has the time to care about their appearance anymore.

As a medical student, Martha used to keep her fingernails nice, clean and short. Now, sitting by a bonfire, surrounded by ragged, hopeless people, she stares at her hands and sees how ragged and dirty they’ve become, chipped and broken from scrambling over rubble.

Everyone’s hands are the same; manicures are a thing of the past, belonging to the time before, when looking good wasn’t a luxury nobody could afford. Now, everyone’s too busy trying to find enough food and stay alive for one more day.

But that’s why she’s travelling, to restore people’s hope. The Doctor will fix this.

The End





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Chapter 429: Everything's Right

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 380: Trifle at dw100.

Spoilers: The Big Bang.

Summary: Amy’s world felt wrong until the Doctor returned.

In some ways it’s disconcerting, having the Doctor here in such a normal, non-alien setting. In other ways, Amy knows that until he appeared everything felt wrong, even though it was her wedding day and she was marrying the man she loved. There’d been something missing, something of vital importance to her; now she knows what that was.

The Doctor dances over to her, Fez at a rakish angle, grinning happily.

“Oooh, is that trifle? Can’t have a party without trifle!”

He’s ridiculous, her raggedy Doctor, but he’s the most welcome sight imaginable. All’s right with Amy’s world once more.


The End

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Chapter 430: Mistakes

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 381: Rock at dw100.

Summary: No matter how they might look, some alien planets aren’t that different from earth.

They’d been walking for miles and Donna had just about had enough. Maybe it wasn’t entirely the Doctor’s fault, but she was blaming him anyway. Who knew there were ‘No Parking’ zones on alien planets? He should have, that’s who! Now the TARDIS had been towed!

She just needed to sit for a few minutes, rest her aching feet, and the rock looked perfect.

“Oi! You can’t sit there!” The Doctor pulled her up again before she could sit.

“What, are there ‘No Sitting’ zones too?”

The rock opened one eye. “Don’cha know it’s bad manners to sit on people?”

The End

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Chapter 431: New Year Party

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 382: Resolution at dw100.

Summary: It’s not just an earth thing; most planets celebrate the start of the New Year with a party.

There was a massive celebration going on when the Doctor, Rose, and Jack stepped out off the TARDIS.

Rose tugged on the Doctor’s sleeve. “Where are we?”

“Mirrimar,” the Doctor said, beaming. “Just in time for the New Year festivities too; the Mirrimarnians really know how to party!”

“My kind of place,” Jack grinned at a passing alien. “My lips stay open late for kisses!”

“Don’t start that. And be careful when the countdown ends; if you make a New Year’s Resolution you won’t be able to break it.”

“No problem,” Jack winked. “I’ll just resolve to make more friends!”

The End

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Chapter 432: Half The Fun

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 383: Oblique at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has some odd ideas about what constitute fun.

The hill rose before them at a steep angle. Amy and Rory stared up the grassy slope to where it vanished in low clouds then glanced at each other doubtfully.

The Doctor, already twenty feet up, looked back at them. “Well come on, Ponds. Don’t take all day!”

“Why do we have to walk up?” Rory asked. “Couldn’t the TARDIS have dropped us at the top?”

“Where’s the fun in that? Now hurry along. Climbing’s easy in this gravity.”

“What happens when we get to the top?” Amy asked, beginning to climb.

“We slide down the other side of course!”

The End

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Chapter 433: One Of A Kind

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 384: Porter at dw100.

Spoilers: Partners In Crime.

Summary: Donna seems to have brought everything with her!

Why did Donna have to bring so much luggage? None of the Doctor’s other companions have ever brought baggage; with the TARDIS’s wardrobe able to provide them with whatever clothing they might need, it had never been necessary. And if she had to bring all these cases, and shoe boxes, and hat boxes, shouldn’t she be the one carrying them all from her car into the console room? What did she think he was, a hotel porter?

“Oi! Be careful with that! I don’t want anything damaged, thank you very much.”

Donna was definitely unlike any companion he’d ever had!

The End

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Chapter 434: Miscalculation

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 385: Near Miss at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has mucked things up again.

“They’re shooting at us!” Martha yelped, ducking back inside the TARDIS as a fragment of blue-painted wood was chipped from the doorframe by some kind of projectile weapon. That had been a bit too close for comfort! “Why’re they shooting at us? I thought you said the people here were friendly!”

“Ah, well…” the Doctor muttered, “I might have made a slight miscalculation. We’ve arrived about a hundred years too soon.” He fumbled at the controls, checking something. “Right in the middle of a… um… period of civil unrest.”

“They’re at war?”

“Just a little bit. They’ll get over it.”

The End

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Chapter 435: Distraction

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 386: Slash at dw100.

Summary: Sometimes Clara thinks this version of the Doctor has his priorities all wrong.

Clara ducked as the creature slashed at her with a huge, hairy, razor-clawed paw. “Doctor! Do something!”

“I am! Don’t make such a fuss. You humans have no patience.” The Doctor continued fiddling with his sonic sunglasses as Clara darted behind a tree, trying to evade the alien that seemed intent on making her its next meal. “Just… keep distracting it. I’ve almost got this.”

“Distracting it? It wants to eat me!”

“Yes, quite, but I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding. You wouldn’t taste very nice. It only eats plants and you’re not a plant.”

“Try telling the alien that!”

The End

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Chapter 436: Not Weak

Author's Notes:
Summary: He may appear physically weak thanks to the Master, but the Doctor is still strong enough to defeat him.

The Master would call the Doctor’s interest in, and his fondness for humans a weakness. Perhaps from his point of view it is, but then the Master doesn’t let himself grow attached to anyone or anything. That’s the fundamental difference between them: the Master cares only for himself, his needs and desires, while the Doctor cares about all the wonderful and varied forms of life that populate the universe.

While the Master’s busy tearing everything apart with his paradox machine, the Doctor only wants to put everything back the way it was.

He’s not so weak he can’t do it.

The End

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Chapter 437: Unbelievable

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 388: Delusion at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith And Jones.

Summary: Even after everything she’s seen so far, Martha can’t get her head around the TARDIS.

At first Martha’s convinced it has to be some kind of delusion, or optical illusion. Nowhere can be bigger on the inside than on the outside! It makes no logical sense; it has to be a trick of some kind. Maybe it’s done with mirrors.

She doesn’t know why the TARDIS should be so hard to get her head around. The hospital wound up on the moon not long ago, and if she can accept that as real then surely the Doctor’s spaceship shouldn’t be too hard to believe. And yet it is.

When did her life stop making sense?

The End

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Chapter 438: Dressing Up

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 389: Period at dw100.

Spoilers: The Unquiet Dead.

Summary: Rose is trying to get suitably dressed for 1860.

Rose hasn’t played dress-up since she was a kid. She used to love putting on her mum’s clothes, or fancy dress outfits, and pretending to be someone or something else, but this is different, maybe because everything is so authentic. It’s more like getting into costume, like she’s an actress getting ready to go on stage, or film one of those costume dramas she and her mum watch.

Period costume looks amazing, and she’s sure she’ll fit right in when she’s properly attired. It’s just getting into all the different layers that’s causing problems. She could use a ladies’ maid.

The End

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Chapter 439: Hidden

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 390: Strength at dw100.

Spoilers: Human Nature.

Summary: For once, Martha is the one keeping the Doctor safe.

It’s strange, almost like their roles have been reversed. The Doctor doesn’t remember who he is; as far as he’s concerned he’s simply John Smith, the new teacher at a boarding school for boys, while Martha’s nothing more than a housemaid. Right now, she knows more about him, about both of them, than he does, but he explained it was necessary; he had to hide what he is, be someone else for a while.

For now she has to be the strong one, watch over him, keep them both safe, until it’s time for him to resume his real life.

The End

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Chapter 440: Feeling Small

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 391: Haughty / Hottie at dw100.

Summary: Clara doesn’t like being made to feel inferior.

The alien is looking down its very impressive nose at them, like they’re nothing more than bugs to be squished beneath its thumb. If it even has thumbs. Clara doesn’t think she’s ever felt smaller or more insignificant; she can practically feel herself shrinking, shrivelling away beneath the haughty glare.

Not so the Doctor, it’s like water off a duck’s back to him. He just smiles brightly, bouncing on his heels.

“We’re invited, see?” He flashes his psychic paper. “The Doctor plus one. This is my plus one.”

A gravelly sigh escapes the alien. “Very well. Enter.”

“Come along Clara.”

The End

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Chapter 441: Instant Attraction

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 391: Haughty / Hottie at dw100.

Spoilers: The Empty Child.

Summary: Jack is intrigued by his new acquaintances.

She’s not what he would have expected for someone from the Time Agency, but what else can she be? Maybe she’s one of the administrative personnel rather than a field agent, or a new and inexperienced courier. Still, it’s not every day he comes across a hottie dangling from a barrage balloon. This is an opportunity not to be wasted; maybe rescuing her will give him a head start in… negotiations.

The man she’s with is intriguing too, not classically handsome but with an aura of mystery about him. Jack would definitely enjoy getting to know both of them better.

The End

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Chapter 442: What?

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 392: Exclamation at dw100.

Spoilers: The Runaway Bride.

Summary: The Doctor is confounded

“What?” The startled exclamation is all the Doctor can manage. One second he’d been alone in the TARDIS and the next instant there’s a flash of light and some redheaded woman in a wedding dress is standing right there!

How she got aboard the Doctor doesn’t know. It shouldn’t be possible; the TARDIS is in flight! But there she is, large as life, looking even less pleased with the situation that he feels. He’s got a horrible feeling she’s going to blame this on him, even though he’s done nothing. He’s sure of it.

“What?” is the only logical response.

The End

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Chapter 443: Thoughtless

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 393: Hypocrisy at dw100.

Spoilers: Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: Jack’s respect for the Doctor is slipping.

To Jack, the Doctor’s behaviour smacks of hypocrisy; the Time Lord doesn’t approve of violence, or the use of weapons, always thinks there’s a better way to deal with any given situation. He’s always hated Jack carrying a gun.

Now here they are, the paradox undone, earth and all its inhabitants returning to the way they were before, except for those up here on the Valiant, and all the Doctor’s concern is for the madman who instigated the worst reign of terror the planet has ever known.

He doesn’t spare a thought for those around him who suffered through it.

The End

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Chapter 444: Outranked

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 394: Rank at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor outranks everyone.

Generals, monarchs, presidents, emperors, the Doctor out-ranks them all. His lack of an official rank on any of the worlds he visits is immaterial, because if he’s there it stands to reason that his presence is needed, regardless of whether or not it was requested. The TARDIS Always makes sure he shows up wherever he can do the most good; time-lines need to be preserved, at all costs.

So wherever he finds himself, he studies the situation, and then takes over. People may not know how to ask for his help, but they get it anyway. It’s what he does.

The End

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Chapter 445: Bazaar

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 395: Market at dw100.

Summary: Alien marketplaces are full of wonders.

Martha has never seen anything like this. It’s fantastic; exactly how she imagines a Middle-Eastern bazaar must look. Stalls everywhere, selling everything imaginable, from colourful fabrics to spices, livestock to jewellery, technology to foods… The smells are indescribable.

There are fresh fruits, skewers of meat cooking over grills, piles of cakes and confectioneries and what might be cheeses. Martha wants to sample everything, but when she moves towards a stall selling something spicy the Doctor stops her.

“I wouldn’t, not unless you want to turn blue and have all your hair fall out. Some things aren’t meant for human consumption.”

The End

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Chapter 446: Odd Experiences

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 396: Sponge at dw100.

Summary: This is one of Clara’s oddest experiences.

Travelling with the Doctor led to some odd experiences, but this had to be among the oddest. If Clara’s friends could only see her now… She shook her head; no one would ever believe her. She wouldn’t believe it herself except she was right there, sitting on a rock beside the Doctor, taking tea with a cluster of sentient sponges.

It was very good tea, although Clara wasn’t too sure she wanted to know how sponges could make tea, or from what, but the Doctor was sipping happily from his cup and surely he wouldn’t let her drink anything harmful…

The End

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Chapter 447: Manners

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 397: Point at dw100.

Summary: It’s always wise to mind your manners on alien planets.

Another day, another weird alien planet, and by now, Amy would have thought she’d be used to it, but it all still filled her with wonder.

“Look at those!” She pointed towards a group of creatures that looked a lot like mobile, hairy haystacks.

“Don’t point, Amy; that’s considered very rude here,” the Doctor admonished.

“But they’re pointing at us!”

“Yes, well, they’re just children. They haven’t learned manners yet.”

“Children? But they’re huge! What are the smaller ones?”

“Adults. The people here don’t grow up; they grow down. Tread carefully; wouldn’t do to step on someone’s grandparent by mistake.”

The End

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Chapter 448: Rumour Has It

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 398: Rumour at dw100.

Summary: Rumours shouldn’t always be believed.

Rumours are interesting. Almost anything can be dismissed as nothing more than a rumour, until you come face to face with it and can’t deny it anymore. There have been a lot or rumours surrounding the Game Station, such as what happens to losing contestants. It’s generally believed that they’re incinerated; the stakes are high for anyone wanting to play, but if you win, the rewards are worth the risk.

There are other rumours too, about Floor Five Hundred, where all employees hope to be promoted to. They’re not true either; there are no walls of gold, there’s only death.

The End

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Chapter 449: Changes

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 399: Reflection at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor may be used to regeneration, but this is new.

The Doctor studies the face reflected in the mirror; it’s changed, unfamiliar, new, female, which is odd. The craggy face and grey hair are gone; this body is younger, shorter, and the wrong shape.

Being a Time Lord means becoming accustomed to changing face, body, even temperament and personality; that’s what regeneration does. Old body dying? Have a new one.

On one level, the changes aren’t a surprise, only the Doctor had never changed gender before to his… her knowledge. Always knew it was possible, but…

So here she is, new body, new parts, same old Doctor.

Still not ginger.

The End

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Chapter 450: Stormy Weather

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 400: Storm at dw100.

Summary: There’s something energising about a storm.

There’s a storm brewing. The air’s crackling with electricity, making the Doctor’s hair stand on end. It almost feels like the beginning of a regeneration cycle, only he knows it has nothing to do with his body repairing itself. He’s fine, uninjured, perfectly healthy, and barring mishaps, should get to keep this body for some time, which is good. He’s grown attached to it, has even come to like the teeth.

No, this is a purely natural phenomenon. He stretches out his arms, tips his head back, breathes it in. Nothing like a good storm to make you feel alive.

The End

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Chapter 451: Fractured

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 401: Fracture at dw100.

Spoilers: Father’s Day.

Summary: The Doctor can’t blame Rose; this is his fault as much as hers.

The Doctor understands why Rose did it. Because her father had died when she was a baby she’d never had the chance to know him except through the stories her mother told her. She just wanted the chance to connect with him, see for herself the kind of man he was, fill in a tiny part of the gap his death had left in her life.

She wasn’t supposed to save him, and perhaps this is really the Doctor’s fault more than it is Rose’s, but Pete Tyler being alive has changed the past too much, and time has fractured…


The End

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Chapter 452: Left Behind

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 402: Abandon at dw100.

Spoilers: The Parting Of The Ways.

Summary: There’s nothing the Doctor can do for Jack.

The Doctor can feel what Rose has done, it’s as though a massive boulder has been dropped into the timestream, causing everything to divert around it, and even at this distance the sense of wrongness is so disorienting he can hardly bear it.

He was able to draw the energy of the Time Vortex out of Rose and into himself, she’ll be fine, but Jack… What’s done is done, there’s no way of reversing it; the vortex is too much a part of Jack now, and the Doctor is about to regenerate.

So he runs. It’s what he does best.

The End

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Chapter 453: Wrong

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 403: Bête Noire at dw100.

Spoilers: Utopia.

Summary: The Doctor doesn’t want Jack anywhere near him.

He’d liked Jack when they’d first met, disapproved of his ways but still, he’d been a decent enough sort, if a bit over-friendly. A rough diamond perhaps, someone the Doctor could polish into shape given enough time. He’d been a good travelling companion, entertaining with his outrageous stories, and he’d certainly been brave, willing to throw himself into danger to help others, but now…

The Doctor can scarcely bear to be near him, never mind look at him. Jack is wrong, a fixed point, something that shouldn’t exist.

He wants Jack gone, to never have to look upon him again.

The End

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Chapter 454: Relocated

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 404: Confusion at dw100.

Spoilers: The Stolen Earth.

Summary: Something weird has happened to earth.

The entire planet is in a state of confusion bordering on panic. The familiar night sky is gone; now there are twenty-six unfamiliar planets seemingly hanging overhead in place of the constellations that should be visible.

No one knows what’s happening, where the other planets have come from, or what region of space the earth has somehow been moved to. All anyone can say for certain is that something is seriously wrong.

The Torchwood Three team are taking things a little better than most, but they’re used to weirdness.

Jack Harkness is sure of one thing; earth needs a Doctor.

The End

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Chapter 455: Bloody Gorgeous

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 405: Retro at dw100.

Spoilers: The Stolen Earth/Journey’s End.

Summary: Who is this gorgeous stranger? Donna wants to know.

Donna has no idea who this guy is, he just showed up out of nowhere and sort of took charge, getting everyone into the TARDIS, but he’s bloody gorgeous! The outfit he’s got on looks a bit dated, like something out of a Word War II movie, so maybe he’s an actor; he’s got the looks for it. Whatever, he’s rocking the retro look, especially that coat. She wouldn’t turn him down. Shame they’re a bit busy right now, what with the Daleks and everything.

Still, maybe when this is all over and the earth is back where it belongs…

The End

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Chapter 456: Weird

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 406: Storey at dw100.

Spoilers: The Lodger.

Summary: The Doctor can never resist investigating anything weird.

Something’s weird, but the Doctor’s well used to that. A lot of things are weird, which is why he’s always around, travelling through time and space to fix things that shouldn’t be the way they are.

This particular weirdness is especially interesting, a perfectly ordinary building, two storeys tall, in a row of other perfectly ordinary buildings. It’s been divided into two flats, one up, one down, with a small entrance hallway and a flight of stairs leading to the flat on the upper floor. That’s where the sense of wrongness is coming from.

There shouldn’t be a second floor.

The End

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Chapter 457: Eternal

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 407: Forever at dw100.

Spoilers: Utopia.

Summary: After waiting more than a century for answers, Jack’s hopes are dashed.

Jack had hoped when he eventually found his Doctor again the Time Lord would be able to fix him, make him a normal person again, with only one life to live just like everyone else.

His hopes were soon dashed.

The Doctor said he was wrong, an impossible thing, but for all his disgust over what Jack had become, there was nothing he could do. Jack was a fixed point now, doomed to live forever; he’d never get to spend his life with someone, because no one could match his longevity.

The universe would grow cold and he’d live on.

The End

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Chapter 458: Throne For A Loop

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 408: Coronation at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has attended all the best state occasions…

“I was at the coronation you know,” the Doctor told Martha casually as they stood watching Windsor Castle being built.

“Really? Which one?”

“Oh, all of them. Well, when I say ‘all’ I mean most. All the important ones anyway, there were some that didn’t really count. Queen Olivia in 2284 only reigned for three days before the Royal yacht was found in one piece with the entire Royal Family safe and well aboard so I didn’t bother with that one, or King Barry’s.”

“What happened to him?”

“Got drunk and fell off the balcony right after being crowned.”

“Oh.”

The End

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Chapter 459: Alien Identification

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 409: Chicken at dw100.

Summary: There are all kinds of aliens in the universe.

“Aliens come in all shapes and sizes, Rose,” the Doctor explained. “Most of them look nothing like you’d expect.”

“So no little green men from Mars then?”

“Oh, they exist, but they’re not from Mars. There are little red men too, and little orange men, except they’re not really men, not like human men. People don’t have to have two arms and two legs, or hair on their heads. They might have tentacles, or wings, or feathers. Look around you.” He gestured at the alien market place. “Aliens everywhere.”

Rose pointed. “Is that an alien then?”

“No, that’s a chicken.”

The End

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Chapter 460: A Stitch In Time

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 410: Stitches at dw100.

Spoilers: Nada. Set during Utopia.

Summary: Jack is in need of Martha’s skills with a needle.

“Hold still,” Martha muttered as Jack fidgeted. “It’s a good thing we’ve already covered this in medical school or you’d be stuck doing it yourself. Either that or relying on the Doctor, and I don’t think he’s qualified.”

“I’m trying,” Jack said, “but this isn’t exactly comfortable.” He twitched, gritting his teeth; patience wasn’t his strong point; he was a man of action.

“Do you want me to stick the needle somewhere painful, or sew the wrong bits together?”

Jack froze in place. “You wouldn’t!”

“Not intentionally.” Martha inserted another careful stitch. “It’s your own fault for ripping your trousers.”

The End

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Chapter 461: Not Earth

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 411: Hawk at dw100.

Summary: This place might look a lot like earth, but it isn’t.

The planet could have been earth, and to be honest Rory wasn’t completely convinced it wasn’t. There were wide, rolling, grassy plains dotted with distant herds of grazing animals, scattered trees and bushes, patches of longer grass where predators might conceal themselves when hunting their prey, tiny creatures rustling in the undergrowth, and even a hawk of some description hovering high above them in the clear blue sky.

He pointed it out to Amy.

“Oh, that’s no hawk,” said the Doctor. “It’s one of the natives.”

“The people here have wings?”

“That depends on your definition of the word ‘people’.”

The End

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Chapter 462: Fair Warning

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 412: Warning at dw100.

Spoilers: Doomsday.

Summary: The Cybermen and the Daleks are turning earth into their battleground.

He’d given fair warning, even the universe’s most destructive alien races had to be given a chance to surrender or go elsewhere; the Doctor was not given to indiscriminate slaughter of intelligent beings just because they were doing something he didn’t approve of.

He refused to stoop to their level, but neither could he allow the Cybermen and the Daleks to use earth as their battleground, especially since the Cybermen were ‘upgrading’ humans at random to use as foot soldiers in their war.

They didn’t belong here, and neither did the Daleks, so he sent them back into the void.

The End

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Chapter 463: Inconvenient

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 413: Break at dw100.

Fourth Doctor.

Summary: Perhaps the Doctor relies on his sonic screwdriver a bit too much.

The Doctor shook it again, harder this time, but it still didn’t work. He changed the setting and tried it again, to no avail. This could be a bit of a problem; it appeared to be broken. Maybe it had happened when he was thrown in here; his captors hadn’t been very gentle about it.

“How very inconvenient.”

He was locked in a perfectly ordinary cell with metal bars, something he should be able to escape from easily, under normal circumstances.

All he needed was his sonic screwdriver…

“Why do things always have to break at the worst possible times?”

The End

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Chapter 464: Opening Night

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 414: Gilbert and Sullivan at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has a real treat in store for Donna.

“Seriously?” Donna stared up at the marquee in disbelief. “Gilbert and Sullivan? You brought us all this way to see that? I thought you were takin’ me to see something new!”

“The Pirates of Penzance is a classic, and I’ve got tickets for the first night!”

“That’s psychic paper, sunshine.”

“It’ll still get us in. Don’t you want to see the very first performance of one of the most famous operettas in the universe?”

“Well, we’re here now, we might as well.” Donna looped her arm through the Doctor’s. “We should’ve brought Gramps. He’d ‘ave loved it!”

“Maybe next time.”

The End

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Chapter 465: Technical Issues

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 415: Busy at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is busy with repairs; the last thing he needs is to be interrupted.

“Doctor…”

“Bit busy right now.” The Doctor’s voice trailed out from where he was wedged beneath the TARDIS console. “Come back later.”

“But…”

“I don’t have time for interruptions, Clara. Having a spot of bother with the engines; if I don’t get them fixed we’ll be sucked into the black hole, which wouldn’t be a good idea. Now please be quiet so I can concentrate.”

Silence fell. Finally, the Doctor emerged. “That’s got it… Oh!”

“That’s what I was trying to tell you,” Clara said as he hit the ceiling nearby.

“Ah, the gravity generators might need a small adjustment.”

The End

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Chapter 466: Hazardous

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 416: Apogee at dw100.

Summary: This is one of the wonders of the universe few people get to see.

“It’s only possible to land here during a few weeks every century,” the Doctor told Bill, waving up at the star-filled sky overhead, dominated by a magnificent view of a nearby nebula providing a dramatic backdrop to the rugged landscape. “Right now all four moons are at apogee, and also spread out around the far side of the planet, otherwise the gravitational pull they exert would suck us right out into space.”

The ground rocked beneath them and Bill gasped.

“Never mind the earthquakes, these little ones are harmless. Just don’t fall into a crack.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The End

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Chapter 467: Hair Trouble

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 417: Hair at dw100.

Eleventh Doctor.

Summary: Sometimes hair can be so inconvenient.

It’s floppy and uncooperative, keeps falling in his eyes so he can’t see where he’s going, and he’s tempted to take a pair of scissors and just chop the whole lot off, except he’s not sure it’ll grow back right. He doesn’t want to look peculiar. Bad enough he’s still not used to his new face and body without making things worse.

Why does hair have to be so awkward? His Ninth regeneration had it easy, even his Tenth regeneration didn’t have this much trouble.

Maybe he should stop wishing he was ginger and hope to be bald next time.

The End

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Chapter 468: Always Summer

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 418: Perennial at dw100.

Donna Noble, Tenth Doctor.

Summary: Donna just wants to enjoy the beautiful weather.

“Now this is the life!” Donna sighed, stretching out on a beach chair to enjoy the sunshine, blue skies, and golden sands. There could hardly be a more perfect place in the entire universe than a planet where it was always summer and the weather was never less than perfect.

“Oh, I don’t know,” the Doctor said from the chair beside her. “Probably get a bit boring after a while; every day the same, no clouds or rain except at night, no rainbows, no snow, no autumn with the leaves changing colour.”

“Why d’you have to spoil everything?” Donna grumbled.

The End

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Chapter 469: Silence

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 419: Pounce at dw100.

Spoilers: Silence in the Library.

Summary: Not even a library should be this quiet.

There’s an eerie feeling about the place, as if something unnameable might be lurking around every corner, just waiting to pounce on the unwary, and yet the whole place seems deserted, as silent as a tomb.

Okay, so it’s a library, and libraries are meant to be quiet, but there’s quiet and then there’s… nothing.

There’s not a soul about; the whole planet should be teeming with people, everyone loves a good book and there’s no greater collection of them in the universe, yet there are no footsteps and not a page rustles.

Where is everyone? Something’s seriously wrong here.

The End

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Chapter 470: Trash Or Treasure

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 420: Gallery at dw100.

Spoilers: Art is subjective, but as far a Donna is concerned, none of this qualifies.

“So what’s this place then?” Donna asks. “A junkyard?” There are unidentifiable objects everywhere she looks, scatted seemingly at random. Honestly, it’s a mess.

The Doctor splutters a bit. “Junkyard? This is the biggest art gallery in the universe! The collected works of the greatest artists of almost a thousand worlds are displayed here!”

Donna isn’t particularly impressed. “Art? You’re pulling my leg!”

“Why would I do that? You wanted culture, well here it is; every exhibit in this gallery is a work of genius. Most of them are worth a fortune!”

“Sorry, they still look like scrap to me.”

The End

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Chapter 471: Sardines

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 421: Squash at dw100.

Clara, Twelfth Doctor.

Summary: Hiding from aliens can be an uncomfortable experience.

Why was it when a hiding place was needed the only spot to be found was too small for two people? Clara wondered as the Doctor shoved her inside the alien equivalent of a broom cupboard, squeezed in behind her and silently closed the door. Squashed into a corner with what was presumably cleaning equipment digging into her side and the Doctor’s bony body crammed up against the other, she could barely breathe.

Voices came from outside.

“What about the closet?”

“Don’t be daft; they’d never fit in there!”

The Doctor smirked. “Told you they’d never find us in here!

The End

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Chapter 472: Diagnosis

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 422: Prop at dw100.

Summary: Although she’s training to be a Doctor, Martha is a bit out of her depth.

“Doctor? Are you alright?” Martha was understandably worried; the Doctor definitely wasn’t himself, and while she was a medical student well into her residency, she wasn’t studying alien medicine. All she knew about the Doctor’s physiology was that he had two hearts, information that didn’t help in the slightest.

“I’m fine. Better than fine! I’m brilliant!” The Doctor swayed unsteadily and Martha grabbed him before he could fall. He was heavy so she propped him against a convenient wall.

Maybe he had concussion; he’d hit his head pretty hard.

“How many fingers am I holding up?”

“Cabbages.”

“Yep, definitely concussion.”

The End

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Chapter 473: Primitive

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 423: Aviation at dw100.

Summary: Aeroplanes are primitive compared to Time Lord technology.

The Doctor doesn’t particularly care for air travel. It’s all very well for humans; in terms of getting from one place to another very distant one on their home planet aeroplanes are one of their greatest achievements. But for a Time Lord in possession of a TARDIS even the most modern and up-to-date passenger jet is still unbearably primitive.

Air travel is time consuming as well. Even in an emergency it can take hours to get where you’re going, whereas using his TARDIS he can reach his destination in no time at all.

The wonders of aviation aren’t that wonderful.

The End

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Chapter 474: Solving Puzzles

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 424: Puzzle Pieces at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor loves having an interesting puzzle to solve.

Mysteries were like jigsaw puzzles, and the Doctor loved puzzles of all kinds; there was so much satisfaction to be found in figuring out the solution!

Of course, mysteries were much harder to solve than jigsaw puzzles. For a start you never had a picture to show what you were working towards. Not only that, before you could figure out the solution you had to find all the pieces, and almost inevitably during your search you’d find lots of pieces that belonged to other puzzles and had nothing to do with yours, making mysteries even more fun to figure out.

The End

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Chapter 475: Best Man

Author's Notes: Written For Challenge 425: Ceremony at dw100.

Crossover with Torchwood.

Summary: If he’s to be Best Man at Jack’s wedding the Doctor will have to pick up a few essentials…

Being asked to be Best Man at Jack’s wedding was an honour; when they’d first met the Doctor would have never imagined the incorrigible Captain would ever willingly settle down with any one person, committing himself to them for their lifetime, but then Ianto Jones was no ordinary man.

That being the case, the Doctor was determined to play his role to perfection. He wouldn’t let his old friend down. He’d have to take his companions with him, but he was sure Jack wouldn’t mind.

“I must get squinches for the ceremony! Can’t have a wedding without squinches!” he decided.

The End

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Chapter 476: Artistry

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 426: Craft at dw100.

Summary: There are many wonderful cultural events to enjoy on other worlds.

Travelling from world to world, and to any time period he chose, meant the Doctor got to see all the great events in the universe as they happened, and there was certainly no shortage of historic moments, but sometimes it was nice to just enjoy something less dramatic, take in a few cultural events, admire the artistry and craftsmanship of various peoples.

That was why he was travelling to Bindlesneeth for the Sugar Lump Festival, where magnificent sculptures were crafted from sugar cubes.

It only happened every ten years or so, but it was a spectacle not to be missed!

The End

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Chapter 477: Secrecy

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 427: Cover Up at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has stumbled across a cover-up.

Something fishy is going on here and the Doctor senses a cover-up. Humans aren’t the only people who prefer to hide certain things from the general public.

The Doctor doesn’t hold with that kind of secrecy; if something happens or is being done that might affect the lives or livelihoods of the resident population then they should be told about it. That’s the ethical thing to do, allowing everyone to take whatever action they feel is appropriate.

Governments always seem to think they know best though, claiming they didn’t want to cause a panic.

That approach almost never ends well.

The End

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Chapter 478: Cult Following

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 428: Pixilated / Pixelated at dw100.

Summary: Rose wouldn’t have believed it!

“Ever since humans started fiddling about with radio waves earth has been broadcasting everything out into the universe,” the Doctor told Rose. “Loads of planets have picked up the transmissions and tried to make sense of them. They’re considered rather quaint on some planets.”

“So, what, all the TV shows that have ever been broadcast are still floating around out here?”

“Yep!” The Doctor beamed at her. “Want to see?” He switched on a screen.

The image was black and white, badly pixelated, but the theme tune was familiar.

“Coronation Street?”

“Very popular on Loomis. They think it’s a documentary.”

The End

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Chapter 479: No Consolation

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 429: Loss at dw100.

Summary: Amy and Rory are gone and the Doctor is grieving.

This isn’t the first time the Doctor’s been left grieving over the loss of a companion, but somehow it’s one of the worst. He should have tried harder, done more, but now they’re both gone, Amy and Rory, and he can’t follow them.

There should be some consolation in knowing they were together in the past, that they lived long, full, happy lives, and that they rest now in this cemetery side by side, but there isn’t because he failed them and now he can’t even visit them to tell them how sorry he is.

He’s going to miss them.

The End

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Chapter 480: Memento

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 430: Santa Hat at dw100.

Summary: Alone on the TARDIS, the Doctor revisits old memories.

Alone because he has no one travelling with him right now, the Doctor wanders through his TARDIS, room after room, looking in forgotten cupboards, finding mementos left behind by past regenerations and companions long gone.

That’s how he comes across the Santa hat; it’s a bit dusty, but a quick once-over with his sonic screwdriver fixes that.

He likes hats, they’re cool, so he puts in on, but it’s too big and falls straight down over his eyes. He smiles; Father Christmas was a big man all over, big hair needs a big hat.

1952: that was a good year.

The End

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Chapter 481: Campfire Tales

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 431: Fire at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is enjoying an evening of storytelling with some new friends.

There’s something especially companionable about sitting around a blazing campfire, eating hot soup and telling each other stories. The Tallans are excellent storytellers.

Lacking much in the way of a written language and with nothing very suitable to write on anyway except for the occasional flat, carefully smoothed rock, they pass down their traditions and knowledge of past events in the form of sagas detailing heroic quests, brave deeds, triumph over various dangers…

The Doctor’s visit to their world, and the tales he’s telling them, will no doubt be passed down through the generations too, another page in their history.

The End

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Chapter 482: Wrinkled

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 432: Wrinkle at dw100.

Spoilers: Time of the Doctor.

Summary: The Doctor is grumpy about his new body.

He has wrinkles! And grey hair! It’s quite appalling; he hasn’t looked this old since his first regeneration. Even at the end of his previous regeneration, after living such a long, long time in the same body, he hadn’t looked this old. Had he? It was hard to remember, he’d mostly only seen his reflection in Handles’ shiny surface and it was always a bit distorted.

But he doesn’t want to look old, because he’s not old, not for a Time Lord. That’s the trouble with regeneration; it never takes his preferences into account, just gives him any old body!

The End

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Chapter 483: Crystalline

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 433: Crystal at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor takes Martha to a world of crystals.

What passes for plant life on this world is crystalline in nature. Clumps of ‘leaves’ sharp as knives, and equally sharp spikes in scintillating colours, that sprout straight from the ground. ‘Trees’ that are rocky obelisks and towering spires clothed in clusters of tiny prismatic crystals that cause rainbows to appear everywhere whenever the sun’s light catches them just right. Lichen-like crusts cover pebbles and boulders alike, turning them into bejewelled works of art.

It’s dazzling and breathtaking; Martha’s never seen anything so beautiful, but it’s also hazardous, far too easy to cut yourself. She wouldn’t want to live there.

The End

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Chapter 484: Unrequited

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 434: Disappointment at dw100.

Spoilers: The Shakespeare Code.

Summary: Martha is starting to have feelings for the Doctor, but they’re not reciprocated.

Martha does her best to quell her disappointment. Here she is, in the past, sharing a bed with an actual alien who’s kind of cute in a goofy sort of way, and all he’s interested in dong is sleeping, and solving a mystery.

When he’d kissed her back on the moon he’d brushed it off as nothing. He even apologised in advance, and yet… He’d invited her to take a trip with him in his time machine and she’d dared to hope he might be interested in her. Apparently not.

Trouble is, she thinks she’s falling in love with him…

The End

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Chapter 485: Rough Ride

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 435: Plunge / Plunger at dw100.

Summary: Rory finds riding in the TARDIS a bit alarming at times.

Sometimes travelling in the TARDIS felt like going down too fast in a lift, only it never went straight; it bucked all over the place. All anyone could do was hold on tight and hope for the best.

The Doctor excused it by saying TARDISes weren’t designed to be flown by one person; usually they had a crew, but this one had been obsolete, on the scrap heap when he’d taken it. A rough ride was a small price to pay for the ability to visit any place or time whenever he chose.

Rory prayed they’d arrive in one piece.

The End

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Chapter 486: Helpless

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 435: Plunge / Plunger at dw100.

Spoilers: Dalek.

Summary: The first time Rose encounters a Dalek she feels sorry for it.

Rose doesn’t know why anyone would fear this poor thing. Here it is, locked away in chains inside a cage it can’t possibly escape from. Helpless, suffering, repeatedly tortured, and she can’t help feeling sorry for it. Surely nothing deserves such cruel treatment.

It reminds her of the old salt and pepper pots her Gran used to have, with a few bits added on, what appears to be some sort of whisk, and a plunger sticking out. If anything it looks more comical than dangerous. All Rose wants to do is help it; isn’t that what the Doctor would do?

The End

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Chapter 487: Unique

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 436: Materialise at dw100.

Summary: The TARDIS isn’t at all like other spacecraft.

Anyone seeing the TARDIS arrive somewhere probably thinks they’re hallucinating or dreaming. It doesn’t drift gently down from space to land on a planet, instead it simply appears, often inside existing structures.

It materialises gradually before the astonished eyes of witnesses, fading in and out accompanied by a grinding, droning sound until at last it achieves solidity, looking like little more than a tall, blue wooden box with a light on the top.

Even that’s deceptive; the interior of the TARDIS far exceeds its exterior dimensions. Small wonder people looking inside can’t believe their eyes.

The Doctor cherishes their reactions.

The End

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Chapter 488: Weird Weather

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 437: Weather at dw100.

Summary: Every planet has its own weather conditions.

"Is it snowing?" Amy asked, confused as she held out her hand and let the feather-soft, downy white clumps settle on her palm. They felt surprisingly warm to the touch, unlike any snow she'd ever encountered, and they didn't melt.

"Not exactly," the Doctor replied. "It's moulting season. The natives take advantage of the warm temperatures and brisk breezes at this time of year to shed their winter coats. The loose tufts are caught in nets, then sold to other worlds for use as insulation. It's their biggest export."

"People are shedding on us?"

The Doctor beamed. "Isn't it briliant?"

The End

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Chapter 489: The Guest

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 438: Invitation at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor receives an unexpected guest.

“Hello there! Welcome to my TARDIS; won’t you come in?” the Doctor greeted his unexpected guest, holding the door open.

Suki looked at him for a moment, as though gauging whether or not it would be safe for her to enter, then strolled casually past him, sapphire blue eyes taking in her surroundings with avid curiosity. She threw him a questioning look.

“Yes, it’s bigger on the inside. Brilliant, isn’t it?”

Suki didn’t reply, continuing her tour of inspection. Finding the library, she settled into a comfy chair, purring.

The Doctor smiled at the Siamese cat. “Make yourself at home.”

The End

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Chapter 490: Refugees

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 439: Plenty at dw100.

Summary: The TARDIS is on a rescue mission.

One of the greatest advantages a TARDIS had over any other kind of transport vessel was that there was almost unlimited space inside.

"Everybody in!" the Doctor called over the blaring of alarms, directing a steady stream of people through the open door. "No need to push, there's plenty of time to get you all safely aboard."

"But how will we fit?" one woman asked. "Won't we get crushed?" Two small children were clinging to her skirts and they were clearly the source of her concern.

"Not at all." The Doctor smiled reassuringly. "Lots of room; you couldn't be safer."

The End

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Chapter 491: Surrounded

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 440: Convention at dw100.

Summary: Rory has never seen so many species of alien all in one place.

Rory looked uncertainly around the vast room. Everywhere he turned there were aliens, thousands of individuals, and more different kinds than he'd ever imagined existed. Some were more than twice his height; he didn't know whether to be impressed or terrified.

"I feel like I've accidentally walked into a sci-fi convention," he muttered to Amy, then raised his voice to address the Doctor, walking a few feet ahead of them. "What is this place?"

"The biggest spaceport in the universe!" the Doctor explained. "Almost everyone passes through here at one time or another."

"Yeah, all at the same time, apparently."

The End

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Chapter 492: Objection

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 441: Objection at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor doesn't want to be where the TARDIS just brought him.

"No, no, no!" the Doctor exclaimed, sticking his head out the TARDIS door then immediately pulling it back in. "Delbrix IV, not Delbrox IV!" He started pulling levers and pushing buttons, but the TARDIS resolutely refused to respond; she'd begin to power up then just shut off again.

"What's the difference?" Amy asked. "We're here now, so why don't we take a look around? We can go to the other place after, can't we?" She went to the door and looked out at a magnificent city. "It's beautiful!"

"We're not staying," the Doctor insisted. "The emperor thinks we're married!"

The End

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Chapter 493: Justification

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 442: Hiatus at dw100.

Summary: The Third Doctor makes the best of his exile on earth.

This isn't permanent; he's not putting down roots or giving up travelling. He'll be back out there in no time, or sometime, because time's one thing someone with a TARDIS has an almost unlimited supply of. His travels are simply on hiatus, and why not? There's no rule that says he can't stop for a while.

Besides, there's plenty going on here to keep him occupied for years, if he chooses to stay that long. Assisting UNIT is interesting enough and he's met some fascinating people.

Adjusting his cape, the Doctor settles into the driver's seat; the universe can wait.

The End

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Chapter 494: Last Time

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 443: Balance at dw100.

Spoilers: Mummy on the Orient Express.

Summary: Clara makes up her mind to quit travelling with the Doctor.

Achieving some kind of balance in her life was causing Clara no end of problems; this new incarnation of the Doctor seemed unable to understand the concept of her having a personal life, something other than travelling with him whenever he wanted her company.

She had a job, and a boyfriend, but the way the Doctor behaved it was as if he considered such things a personal inconvenience. He’d show up, any time of the day or night, expecting her to drop everything and go with him.

Something had to change; she’d take one last trip then she was done.

The End

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Chapter 495: Handyman

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 444: Torque at dw100.

Eleventh Doctor, Rory.

Summary: The Doctor is attempting to help out with a few home repairs.

“Oi! Hand me that whatsit, will you?”

The Doctor was sprawled on his back on the kitchen floor, half of him crammed into the cupboard beneath the sink.

“What’re you doing?”

“You’ve got a leak so I’m fixing it!”

“You know plumbing now?”

The question drew an indignant noise from the depths of the cupboard.

“Plumbing’s easy peasy! If I can fix the time stabilisers in the TARDIS I can certainly fix a leaky pipe. Now pass me the thingamabob.”

“You mean the torque wrench?”

“That’s the one!” The Doctor took it and with a twist, nearly flooded the kitchen.

The End

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Chapter 496: Companionship

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 445: Peregrination at dw100.

Summary: Everyone needs company, even a Time Lord.

When he’d first absconded with an obsolete TARDIS the Doctor had taken his granddaughter along with him, thinking it would do her good, expand her horizons, complete her education. He’d never intended to pick up anyone else, but sometimes these things just happen and as time passed, Susan and her teachers left, and other people joined him, he became used to having company on his peregrinations. What was the point of travelling if he had no one to share his adventures with?

Now, when one companion leaves for whatever reason he seeks out another, because being alone is too lonely.

The End

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Chapter 497: Legacy

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 446: Legacy at dw100.

Spoilers: The End of Time.

Summary: The Doctor wants to visit his past companions before he dies.

The Doctor was dying, slowly but surely. It wouldn’t be a permanent death, as a Time Lord he still had a few regenerations left, but it would be the death of this particular body, which was a shame. He’d kept it longer than most, and experienced a lot of adventures; it would be hard to let go, not knowing what kind of person he’d be next.

It was comforting to know he wouldn’t be forgotten though; he was leaving behind a legacy in the form of the people who’d travelled with him. Maybe he could visit them one last time.

The End

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Chapter 498: Name Dropping

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 447: Chaucer at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has met everyone worth meeting, or so it seems to Martha.

Martha looked around the village, intrigued; this wasn’t earth but it might as well have been.

“It looks sort of Medieval, like something out of Chaucer.”

The Doctor perked up. “You know Chaucer?”

“Well, not personally.” Martha glanced sidelong at the Time Lord. “English Lit at school; we had a whole term of The Nun’s Priest’s Tale. Most boring thing we ever studied.”

“Boring? Oh nonono, he was a fascinating man! A bit smelly, hygiene wasn’t too good back in the fourteenth century, but he knew how to spin a good yarn.”

“Do you know everybody famous?”

“It’s quite possible.”

The End

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Chapter 499: Dropping In

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 448: Bank at dw100.

Summary: There's an unexpected visitor in the TARDIS.

“Hello, Sweetie!”

The Doctor frowned; how did River always manage to get inside his TARDIS without him knowing? One minute he was by himself, and then there she was, like she’d just popped out of nowhere. He noticed the vortex manipulator fastened round her wrist. Maybe she had; with one of those a person could go just about anywhere.

“Aren’t you happy to see me?”

The air of innocence didn’t fool him a bit.

“What did you do this time; rob a bank?”

“Of course not; what do you take me for?”

“Sorry.”

“I’m an archaeologist. I robbed a museum.”

The End

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Chapter 500: Always Prepared

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 449: Roll at dw100.

Clara Oswald, Twelfth Doctor.

Summary: The Doctor is equipped to deal with just about anything.

“Doctor! You’re on fire!” Clara shouted, running towards him.

“What?”

“Your coat’s burning!”

The Doctor peered over his shoulder at the back of his coat. “So it is.”

Pulling off her jacket, Clara used it to beat ineffectually at the flames, but that only made them leap higher. “You’re supposed to drop and roll,” she urged him. “Suffocate the flames!”

“Oh, there’s no need for all that. Now where did I put it?” Thrusting one hand into his pocket, he rummaged around. “Try this.”

“You keep a fire extinguisher in your pocket?”

“Never know when it might come in handy.”

The End

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Chapter 501: True Story

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 450: Leviathan at dw100.

Spoilers: Small ones for The Beast Below.

Summary: The Doctor is looking for a new companion.

The Doctor gazed up at the skeleton of the blue whale.

“Magnificent, isn’t it?” a woman said from nearby. “A true leviathan, the largest creature on earth.”

“If you think that’s big, you should see a space whale. Out in space they can grow big enough to build entire cities on. I spent some time on one once. Bit of a tragic story really. It was being tortured when there was no need; it would have happily helped if the people aboard it had just asked.”

“Space whales? Don’t be daft; nothing can live in space!”

“Oh, you’d be surprised!”

The End

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Chapter 502: Leaving Home

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 451: Diaspora at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is there to watch humanity leave earth.

The Doctor had a fondness for humans above almost any other race in the universe. They had such passion and determination; when they made up their minds to do something they never gave up. So when the day came for the human race to take their first faltering steps out into the universe, leaving the world of their birth behind, he was there, watching.

He’d nurtured the people of earth, watched them grow and develop, knowing what they would become in time. He’d done all he could to keep them on the right track. He felt so proud of them.

The End

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Chapter 503: Attraction

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 452: Chemistry at dw100.

Summary: Rose has never felt chemistry like this before.

Rose liked Mickey; always had. They’d known each other practically since they were little kids and they’d made the transition from being just friends to dating almost without noticing. Mickey was a good guy and she cared about him, but there’d never been any real chemistry between them, not for her.

Then the Doctor had whisked her off on adventures and her life had become exciting, a non-stop thrill ride. They’d been nothing more than good friends though, until he’d regenerated into… this. With his untamed hair and manic grin he’d effortlessly captured her heart.

This was how chemistry felt!

The End

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Chapter 504: Bad Idea

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 453: Sachet / Sashay at dw100.

Summary: Donna almost makes a purchase she'd live to regret.

Even from this distance the colourful little sachets on the market stall smelled amazing, warm and spicy. They almost made Donna’s mouth water. Irresistibly drawn to them she moved closer, breathing in their fragrance. Maybe she could buy one to take home to her mum… No, she’d have to get two, so she could keep one herself, put it in her top drawer to scent her unmentionables.

She was just trying to decide what colours to get when the Doctor grabbed her arm and pulled her away.

“Oi! I was shopping!”

“You don’t want those; they’re alien aphrodisiacs,” he explained.

The End

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Chapter 505: Paradise Lost

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 453: Sachet / Sashay at dw100.

Summary: Amy's new career isn't as fulfilling as her old life was.

Amy sashayed her way down the catwalk as cameras flashed. Being a model was supposed to be glamorous, exciting, but it wasn’t. What happened to her life?

Not so very long ago she was married to the man she’d adored since they were teenagers, and they’d had all of time and space spread out before them, but not anymore.

It hadn’t all been perfect, it had been scary, dangerous, sometimes heartbreaking, but she’d been with the two people she loved more than anyone, Rory and her raggedy Doctor. Now it was all gone.

She wished she could turn back time.

The End

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Chapter 506: Hobby

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 454: Audacious at dw100.

Summary: No prison can hold River against her will.

The Stormcage is supposedly the most secure prison in the universe, and yet Professor River Song walks in and out of it as though it has a revolving door.

Strictly speaking, once she lets herself out she could simply stay out, only that doesn’t seem very sporting. After all, she is supposed to be their prisoner, and she wouldn’t want her guards thinking she didn’t appreciate their hospitality.

Besides, the peace and quiet of her solitary cell gives her plenty of time to think, and to plan her next audacious crime. It keeps her busy; every girl needs a hobby

The End

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Chapter 507: Paradise Found

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 455: Beach at dw100.

Summary: Where better to unwind than on a beach?

The planet is called Sasheema, but it might as well have been labelled Paradise; Martha has never seen anywhere more beautiful. The beach she and the Doctor are strolling along seems to stretch out before them forever, an endless expanse of soft, pinkish sand bordering a pale violet sea, small wavelets rippling against the shore with a shushing sound, as if the water is exhorting visitors to keep their voices down and breathe in the tranquillity.

The sunshine is pleasantly warm, making her feel relaxed and lazy, and the breeze smells faintly of cinnamon. It’s the perfect place to unwind.

The End

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Chapter 508: Bugged

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 456: Bug Bites at dw100.

Summary: Donna is being tormented by alien insects.

“Ow!” Donna yelped, slapping at her neck yet again. “You never said there’d be bugs! I’m getting eaten alive!”

“Oh, pish.” The Doctor waved his hand as though dismissing her complaint. “What’s a few bug bites compared to that?” He pointed towards the horizon as the second of two ringed planets gradually appeared, like a massive balloon rising ponderously into the heavens. They were so close they dominated the evening sky.

“It’s alright for you, you’re not the one they’re snacking on!” Donna squashed another bug. “If I break out in a mass of itchy spots there’ll be big trouble!”

The End

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Chapter 509: Priorities

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 457: Boondoggle at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor goes to the rescue of a village whose priorities are badly skewed.

“You don’t have flood defences?” The Doctor couldn’t believe his ears; the rain was torrential, and the river on whose shore the village had been built was rising rapidly. Soon it would burst its banks.

“They were recommended.” The official wrung his hands. “But it would’ve meant raising taxes. We voted and everyone decided it would be a waste of public funds that could be better utilised by building a high-speed rail network. Once it’s finished it’ll shorten the journey between here and the capital by almost half-an-hour.”

“Fat lot of good that’ll do when your village is washed away.”

The End

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Chapter 510: Undiscovered

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 458: Discover / Discovery at dw100.

Summary: The TARDIS is bigger than anyone can imagine.

Just saying the TARDIS is bigger on the inside doesn’t come close to describing just how vast her interior really is. Not even the Doctor, in his centuries of travelling the universe in her, has ever managed to map her interior in its entirety.

In some respects it would be pointless to try, since she’s constantly changing, adding new rooms as required, occasionally discarding areas that no longer serve any purpose. She’s still evolving after all. She might be considered obsolete, but she’s a living, growing entity.

The Doctor and his companions still have a lot to discover about her.

The End

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Chapter 511: Not Interfering

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 458: Discover / Discovery at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor isn't interfering, just giving a few humans a glimpse of what's out there.

The people of Earth have barely begun to explore what lies beyond their world. Their space age is in its infancy compared to most of the other races that populate the galaxy.

The Doctor can’t interfere too much, give them a leg up so to speak; that would mean interfering with timelines, which is the one thing he knows he must not do. But the odd human here or there can’t significantly influence humanity’s progress. All he’s doing by taking his companions on their own personal voyage of discovery is igniting a spark.

What happens afterwards is up to destiny.

The End

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Chapter 512: Reminder

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 459: Antique at dw100.

Spoilers: The Doctor Dances.

Summary: There are all kinds of things tucked away in the TARDIS, but some have special significance to the Doctor.

The Doctor is a bit of a hoarder, but as his home is a vast space and time ship with countless rooms, what does a bit of clutter matter? It’s not as if he’ll ever run out of places to put the thing he collects on his travels.

He has technology from hundreds of worlds, interesting bits of sculpture, priceless artefacts, and lots of junk. Then there’s the library, crammed with books, many of which haven’t even been written yet.

Tucked away on a shelf somewhere is an antique gas mask, to remind him of a day when everybody lived.

The End

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Chapter 513: Resurrected

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 460: Vortex at dw100.

Spoilers: The Parting of the Ways.

Summary: Rose commits a terrible act out of love.

Humans aren’t designed to contain the time vortex; it’s too powerful even for a Time Lord to handle, and yet Rose has absorbed it and is using it, disintegrating the Dalek fleet, saving the earth from invasion or destruction.

The Doctor draws it out of her, knowing it will trigger his regeneration, but that’s preferable to letting a naïve, idealistic young human woman burn from the inside out. She wouldn’t be here if not for him; he has to save her.

But she’s already used the vortex to do something terrible, bringing Jack back to life as a fixed point…

The End

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Chapter 514: It's All Relative

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 461: Family at dw100.

Spoilers: General for the Eleventh Doctor / Ponds era.

Summary: Rory muses on his unlikely family.

Family has never been more confusing, and yet Rory is totally okay with it because if he and Amy are only going to be blessed with one kid, the one they have is brave, beautiful, confident, well educated, and brilliant. What’s not to love?

Okay, so aside from being a professor of archaeology she’s also a career criminal, and thanks to time travel is now older than her parents, but she’s their flesh and blood. Anyone would be proud to have River Song for a daughter.

Having a centuries old alien for a son-in-law is where it gets really complicated.

The End

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Chapter 515: Memory Worm

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 462: Forgotten at dw100.

Spoilers: The Snowmen.

Summary: The Doctor needs the memory worm to make Clara forget him.

Memory worms should come with instructions. They probably do, but people keep forgetting. Strax knows better than to handle the worm without gauntlets, or he did, before he touched it with bare hands. Maybe the Doctor shouldn’t have sent him, because now the worm is on the loose somewhere in, or possibly under, the carriage.

Strax is looking for it.

Unfortunately he’s still not wearing the gauntlets, so when he finds it he immediately forgets what he was doing. How did one simple little task get so complicated?

Well, if you want something doing right, do it yourself.

With gauntlets.

The End

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Chapter 516: Impressed

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 463: Cliff at dw100.

Summary: Bill wanted to be shown something really impressive.

The cliff rises in front of them, a wall of rock unimaginably high. It’s impossible to see the top because of the clouds; high as they are overhead, the cliff continues above them. Surely even the tallest skyscraper on earth would seem small by comparison.

“You wanted to see something impressive, so what d’you think? Is this impressive enough for you?”

“It’s… wow!” Bill can’t wrap her head around this, it’s just too huge, too solidly there, a monument to her own insignificance. She’s never felt so small and unimportant.

The Doctor’s still watching her. “Well?”

“Okay, yeah, I’m impressed.”

The End

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Chapter 517: Battleground

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 464: Destruction at dw100.

Spoilers: Army of Ghosts / Doomsday.

Summary: The Doctor is horrified by the devastation and loss of life he's witnessing.

Cybermen and Daleks: One or other by themselves would have been bad enough, but together? Both species consider every other living being inferior, both have their own designs on humanity, one to convert the people of earth into more of their kind, the other to wipe them out completely, and now they’re waging war against each other, winner takes all.

The destruction is horrific, and will only get worse. People are being slaughtered, ripped apart and rebuilt, or exterminated. The death toll is staggering.

The Doctor blames Torchwood’s arrogance and stupidity, but even so they don’t deserve this. Nobody does.

The End

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Chapter 518: Interstellar Life

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 465: Migration at dw100.

Summary: Travelling through space, the Doctor and Martha witness a magnificent spectacle.

“Now there’s something you don’t see every day,” the Doctor said, standing in the open door of the TARDIS and pointing out into the blackness of space towards a moving pink blur. “It must be migration season in these parts.”

“What are they?” Standing just behind his shoulder, Martha peered past him, trying to make out details. The swarm, flock, herd or whatever was heading in their general direction although it looked like the creatures would pass to their left.

“Space turtles.” The Doctor beamed. “Lovely, aren’t they? Very pink.”

A herd of gigantic pink turtles, swimming through space.

“Brilliant!”


The End

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Chapter 519: Victorious

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 466: Alter / Altar at dw100.

Spoilers: The Waters Of Mars.

Summary: The Doctor tries to change history.

One thing all Time Lords know is that messing with timelines is dangerous. It’s one thing fixing events so they happen they way they’re supposed to, but a very different matter trying to alter them to get a different outcome. Changing the past can have disastrous consequences for the future.

But the Doctor is perhaps a little unhinged, he’s been travelling alone for too long, and he doesn’t want this situation to play out the way it’s supposed to. He can save Adelaide. He will save her! He’s unstoppable, the Time Lord Victorious!

The past resists change.

Adelaide dies anyway.


The End

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Chapter 520: Unworthy

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 466: Alter / Altar at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor doesn’t want to be treated like a god.

Hundreds of people bow down before the TARDIS, falling to their knees, like worshipers before an altar.

The Doctor understands, they’re grateful to him for saving them from disaster, but he’s not a god, not some all-seeing, all-knowing all-powerful being. He’s just a person, not so very different from any of them, except that he comes from another, more technologically advanced planet.

He made the mistake of getting too far above himself once before, he’ll not do that again.

“None of that now. I didn’t save you; I just showed you how to save yourselves. Use your freedom wisely. Farewell.”

The End

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Chapter 521: The Doctor's Faces

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 467: Portrait at dw100.

Summary: With each regeneration, the Doctor has his portrait painted again.

With all of time and space to play in, there’s no reason not to indulge the occasional whim, and the Doctor’s indulged this one with each regeneration. It provides a permanent record of every face he’s ever had.

Naturally he picks a different artist each time, he has plenty to choose from.

If he gets bored sitting while the artist works he can take off for a few months, come back the following day for another session.

He pays handsomely for each portrait, hanging them in the TARDIS. It’s almost a shame nobody else will ever get to enjoy them.


The End

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Chapter 522: Lost

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 468: Paper Tiger at dw100.

Summary: Rose feels like a shadow of her former self.

Back in her own universe, Rose had been the Bad Wolf even if she didn’t exactly remember any of it. She’d had power, however briefly, and travelling with the Doctor had made her feel invincible, unstoppable, like she could do or be anything.

Here in Pete’s world, she feels more like a paper tiger, all fierce confidence and bravado to look at, but inside… Everything she had when she was with the Doctor, everything she used to be, is gone, leaving her lost, helpless, and vulnerable.

The Bad Wolf is nothing but a dream; maybe she never existed at all.


The End

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Chapter 523: Foiled Again

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 469: Snookered at dw100.

Spoilers: Boom Town.

Summary: Blon Fel Fotch can't win against the Doctor, no matter what she tries.

Blon Fel Fotch Passameer-Day Slitheen felt frustration well up inside her. The Doctor was too smart, too knowing; every move she made he countered effortlessly, thwarting her again and again until she wanted to scream, but somehow she restrained herself.

She smiled politely, pretended to be enjoying herself as they ate their meal.

It wouldn’t do for the humans in this restaurant to think she and the Doctor were anything other than two perfectly ordinary people having dinner together, even though nothing could be further from the truth.

This was a battle of wills, and the Doctor had her snookered.


The End

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Chapter 524: Breakdown

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 470: Repair at dw100.

Summary: The TARDIS appears to have broken down again.

The Doctor could swear sometimes that his TARDIS does things like this on purpose, developing faults or breaking down completely at the worst possible moments, just to inconvenience him.

She’s organic technology; surely she can figure out how to carry out maintenance and repairs on herself, but no; she grinds and shudders, making feeble, ultimately fruitless attempts to dematerialise before giving up, leaving him to fetch his toolbox and try to locate and fix the problem. It’s such a nuisance!

Maybe it’s her way of telling him she wants his attention. Or maybe she just wants him to feel needed.

The End

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Chapter 525: Released

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 471: Evil Twin at dw100.

Spoilers: Utopia.

Summary: Professor Yana is not what he seems to be.

Kindly old forgetful Professor Yana carries the hopes of all still living at the end of time. One by one the stars are winking out, dying suns around already long-dead worlds, but with the people’s help he’s built this rocket from his own designs, promising to transport everyone to Utopia.

Then they come, the time traveller calling himself the Doctor, and his two travelling companions. Good people. Yana likes them, but they’re the bringers of everyone’s doom.

The Professor’s watch has never worked, but now he opens it, releasing his true self, the Master, like a genie from a bottle.


The End

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Chapter 526: Panic

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 472: Fifth Doctor Titles at dw100, using ‘Earthshock’.

Spoilers: The Stolen Earth.

Summary: Everyone on earth is panicking, for good reason.

Every person on earth, and probably a good proportion of other life forms, is in a numb kind of shock. First there’s some kind of earthquake, felt in every country at the same time, which is terrifying enough. Then, when the shaking subsides and people venture outside, they find the sun has vanished; night reigns supreme over every part of the planet, and in the sky, looming large and far closer than should be possible, hang strange planets, alien worlds never seen before.

Panic is widespread; nobody knows what just happened.

Martha tries to call the Doctor; there’s no answer.



The End

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Chapter 527: Earth's Protector

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 473: Obscure / Obscurity at dw100.

Summary: Earth is a proscribed planet, but that doesn't protect humanity.

To most intelligent races, Earth was an obscure, primitive little planet in the boondocks, with little to recommend it to traders, or the intergalactic scientific community. Besides, according to the laws laid down by the Shadow Proclamation, it was a proscribed planet; going there for any reason could land you in trouble so most folks kept well away.

Naturally, there were exceptions, alien outlaws and warlike races intent on conquest. Not everyone could be trusted to uphold the law.

Which was where the Doctor came in. Someone had to protect the human race until they could take care of themselves!


The End

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Chapter 528: Obscurity

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 473: Obscure / Obscurity at dw100.

Summary: Sometimes the Doctor wishes he wasn't so well known.

There were times the Doctor wished he could simply fade away into obscurity, so that no matter what he did or where he went, his reputation wouldn’t get there before him.

The Doctor, or the Oncoming Storm, Last of the Time Lords, names that could strike fear into the hearts of his enemies but were just as likely to inspire rage and a desire for retribution. How much nicer it might be to be anonymous, to live quietly somewhere nobody knew his identity.

He’d even tried a few times, but it never lasted. He was needed; timelines didn’t fix themselves.


The End

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Chapter 529: Mistaken Identity

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 474: Impresario at dw100.

Summary: It was just a simple case of mistaken identity...

The Doctor had met most of earth’s greatest impresarios, just as he’d contrived to meet the majority of the planet’s most famous artists, musicians, composers, and historical figures. Why not when he could travel as easily through time as through space?

It was just that he’d never expected to become one himself.

Then again, he’d never expected to accidentally find himself playing host to one of the most charismatic stars he’d ever met; the least he could do was arrange a tour.

Anyone could make a mistake. Was it his fault John Barrowman was the spitting image of Captain Jack?


The End

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Chapter 530: Tied

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 475: Cord at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor's fascination with humans ties him to earth.

It was as if an invisible cord tied the Doctor to earth; he’d invested so much time and effort in the people and their world, they had such potential, how could he simply sit back and let them get on with business by themselves?

He couldn’t interfere too much, there were things they needed to work out on their own, and some events were fixed points; they couldn’t be altered even if he wanted to, but still…

A gentle nudge here and there, a word in the right ear, just to keep humanity on the right track; no harm there!


The End

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Chapter 531: A New Mystery

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 476: Anticipation at dw100.

Spoilers: Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.

Summary: The Doctor has a new, exciting mystery on his hands.

There’s nothing like having a new, fascinating mystery to unravel to get the blood pumping and brain cells jumping. It’s all the Doctor can do not to rub his hands together with glee, anticipation thrumming through him.

A massive spaceship hurtling towards the earth is well worth his attention, so why not bring some friends along for the ride? The more the merrier. He’s sort of been juggling companions a bit lately, different places, different time periods; variety’s good and for something this big, he might need them all.

Mysterious spaceship, with dinosaurs aboard; this is going to be brilliant!


The End

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Chapter 532: Correction

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 477: Delinquent at dw100.

Twelfth Doctor, OMC.

Summary: The Doctor acquires a new temporary companion.

The TARDIS door swings open and the Doctor stands there, glaring down at the youth on the other side, some local juvenile delinquent trying to pick the lock.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

“Nothin’! I weren’t doin’ nothin’! Whoa!” The boy catches sight of the TARDIS’ interior.

“You weren’t doing anything,” the Doctor corrects automatically, bushy eyebrows drawing together in disapproval. “What are they teaching young people these days?”

He gets no answer; the would-be thief’s eyes are popping out of his head.

“Well, don’t just stand there; come in!” Maybe a little remedial education is in order.


The End

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Chapter 533: Earth's End

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 478: Spectacular at dw100.

Spoilers: The End of the World.

Summary: Earth's sun is about to go nova.

There are few sights more spectacular than a star going nova, and it’s a sight the Doctor has seen more than a few times on his travels, but this time there’s an added poignancy. This isn’t just any old star, it’s Sol, the sun that’s nourished and nurtured earth for billions of years, and it’s about to explode in fiery glory, taking the entire solar system with it.

Earth, the Doctor’s favourite little backwater planet, the birthplace of humanity; its people will continue, scattered throughout the universe, but the planet itself will soon be nothing but cinders.

Nothing lasts forever.


The End

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Chapter 534: Magical

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 479: Door at dw100.

Summary: Beyond the TARDIS door is a world of wonder.

From the outside it’s nothing more than a small, blue wooden box with a light on the roof and a deceptively simple Yale lock. In most places it would appear incongruous, being a replica of something found only on one backward planet, and then only for a relatively short period of time. Even on earth, police phone boxes have long since gone out of fashion, rendered obsolete by progress.

But open the blue-painted door and everything beyond it is out of this world, literally, the interior dipping into other dimensions.

It’s even better than stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia!


The End

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Chapter 535: A Man Of Honour

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 480: Honourable at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor admires Rory for his commitment to protecting Amy.

Rory is an honourable man; the Doctor admires and respects him for that. He knows Amy will be in safe hands, no matter how the situation unfolds.

Trapped inside the Pandorica, time will pass Amy by while Rory stands guard, ceaselessly, tirelessly, because he loves her. It’s a greater sacrifice than the Doctor has ever made for anyone he loves, and it makes him feel small, unworthy, because he suspects in the end it makes Rory the better man.

The Doctor would never stay behind, give up everything, for love, but then he’s never loved anyone with everything he is.


The End

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Chapter 536: Superstition

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 481: Motif at dw100.

Summary: The aliens of this world see to have mistaken Donna for something, or someone, she's not.

Who knew wearing designer labels could cause such a fuss? Honestly, the embroidered motif on Donna’s top was so tiny she was amazed anyone had even noticed it, but someone had, and now…

The Doctor should’ve warned her! He’d been here before; surely he must have known how superstitious these people were, but not one blooming word, not so much as a peep! Well, he’d pay.

The crowd of aliens around her kept growing, holding out their children, their livestock, their tools… Looked like they couldn’t leave until she’d blessed every single one! Talk about a case of mistaken identity!


The End

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Chapter 537: Debutante

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 482: Debut at dw100.

Spoilers: Set in Pete's World.

Summary: Rose is struggling to fit into Pete's World.

Everything on Pete’s world is different, from the gigantic dirigibles filling the sky, to her father being not only alive but wealthy and influential. He’s got a massive mansion, servants, and who knows what else, and it’s all so far from anything she’s experienced before that Rose feels completely out of place.

She’d had an easier time as one of the staff, handing out drinks at the party the Cybermen gate-crashed, but this one’s in her honour, a chance for her father to show her off, introduce her to important people.

She’s a society girl and this is her debut.


The End

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Chapter 538: Fever!

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 483: Chicken at dw100.

Spoilers: Set shortly after The Doctor Dances.

Summary: The three travelling companions are having a night out.

“Chicken!”

It’s an outrageous taunt, but in the few weeks the three of them have been travelling together the Doctor has grown accustomed to Rose and Jack ganging up on him.

“Come on,” Rose begs. “It’s not like you’ve never danced with us before!”

“That,” the Doctor indicates the crowds of people boogieing on the dance floor, “is not ‘dancing’. You can’t call standing in one place waving your arms around ‘dancing’!”

“Didn’t I tell you?” Jack’s talking to Rose. “He’s too chicken.”

“I’ll show you chicken!”

Strutting out onto the dance floor, the Doctor strikes a dramatic disco pose.


The End

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Chapter 539: Polluted

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 484: Industry at dw100.

Spoilers/Setting: Set just before the start of New Who.

Ninth Doctor.


Summary: The Doctor doesn't always succeed in helping those who are in trouble.

The industrial revolution has done more damage to this planet than the advent of factories belching out pollution did on earth. The air is filled with smoke and smog, the rivers that haven’t dried up flow sluggishly, thick with stinking scum, decaying vegetation, and the bloated bodies of water creatures, while the land can no longer sustain crops.

All food has to be manufactured or imported, and fresh water is so expensive to produce that those who can’t afford it are slowly being poisoned, if they don’t die of thirst first.

The Doctor warned these people, but they wouldn’t listen.


The End

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Chapter 540: Cold Comfort

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 485: Fire at dw100.

Summary: Really, you'd think the Doctor could manage something as simple as lighting a fire!

“Hurry up with that fire. I’m bloody freezing!” Donna complained, hunching her shoulders, stamping her feet, and rubbing her bare hands together.

“I’m doing the best I can; it’s a long time since I had to do this.” The Doctor was attempting the whole Boy Scout thing of starting a fire using friction to create a spark, but so far all he’d produced was an occasional wisp of smoke.

“Can’t you just use your sonic screwdriver or something?”

“Doesn’t work on wood.”

Donna shivered. “The rate you’re going that’ll be my epitaph. Next time we visit earth I’m buying matches.”


The End

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Chapter 541: Grand Theft

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 486: Mint at dw100.

Summary: River is up to her usual tricks.

“This isn’t what it looks like,” River said, raising her hands and smiling at the armed guards.

“This is the Royal Mint! You expect us to believe you just took the wrong exit off the motorway and wound up here by accident?” The guard snorted disparagingly; he wasn’t born yesterday. “You were loading your bag with gold!”

“I only wanted to borrow a few bars; you’ve got so many I didn’t think you’d miss them. I would have returned them, honest.”

“Borrow a few gold bars? This isn’t a lending library, lady!”

“Can’t blame a girl for trying!” River vanished.


The End

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Chapter 542: Winter World

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 487: Hibernation at dw100.

Summary: The whole planet is covered in snow. Surely no one lives there.

Pristine white snowfields stretched as far as the eye could see, swept by the wind but otherwise completely unblemished. It was beautiful, in a cold, bleak sort of way, and Martha couldn’t help but be impressed by the sheer grandeur of the landscape. Surely nothing could survive in a place like this; in fact, life had probably never had the chance to evolve.

She said as much to the Doctor.

“Oh no, it’s inhabited, but it’s the middle of winter. Everyone around here hibernates until spring.”

“How long before they wake up?”

“About another five hundred years, give or take.”


The End

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Chapter 543: The Coat

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 488: Coat at dw100.

Summary: Rose is not being respectful of Jack's coat.

Rose couldn’t keep from sniggering as she watched Jack going over his coat inch by careful inch, removing the barbed burrs that clung to it. She’d pushed him into the bushes for a laugh, expecting Jack to respond in kind; he was always up for a bit of horsing around, but not this time.

“Lighten up, Jack; it’s just a coat.”

He glared at her over the garment. “Just a coat? It’s a genuine World War Two RAF officer’s greatcoat and it belonged to a hero who died serving his country. Have some respect. Besides, it makes me look dashing.”


The End

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Chapter 544: In Tune

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 489: Compatible at dw100.

Summary: Compatibility is relative.

She’s a nineteen-year-old shop girl from earth and he’s an alien, a centuries old Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey; they couldn’t have less in common if they tried. If they filled in one of those compatibility questionnaires on some dating app, they probably wouldn’t match on a single thing. Well, except that they both crave adventure, but that wouldn’t be enough for them to even click on each other’s dating profile.

But as they whirl through the universe in a little blue box that’s bigger on the inside, Rose has never felt more in tune with anyone.

That’s compatibility!


The End

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Chapter 545: Visitors

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 490: Greetings at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor receives some unexpected visitors.

You really never knew when you might run into another strange alien race. Even when travelling from planet to planet in the TARDIS, they popped up in the most unlikely places.

Here Donna and the Doctor were, floating in mid-space, when there was a knock on the TARDIS door.

The Doctor answered it, Donna right behind him. Outside were several small aliens, all identical.

“Greetings! We come in peas!”

“Don’t they mean peace?”

“Of course not. See their spaceships?”

Amazingly, the craft resembled pea pods.

Donna rolled her eyes. “You’re ‘avin’ me on!”

“No, really, they’re the original pod people.”


The End

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Chapter 546: Like Magic

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 491: Alchemy at dw100.

Summary: Advanced science is like magic.

“We’ll need some of the local currency,” the Doctor said, digging through his coat pockets and pulling out a handful of coins. Some of them looked like earth currency from various countries, others were plain weird, but the Doctor dumped them all on the table and pulled out his sonic screwdriver, selected a setting, and pointed the business end at the coins.

They shimmered, twisted, contorted, and reformed, but now they shone with an unmistakeable golden lustre.

“Wait, what?” Donna stared, wide-eyed. “You turned them into gold!”

The Doctor shrugged. “Just rearranged their molecules. Alchemy’s easy for a Time Lord.”


The End

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Chapter 547: Unappreciated

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 492: Persnickety at dw100.

Twelfth Doctor.

Summary: Clara rescues the Doctor. Not that she gets a thank you.

“You’re doing it all wrong!” the Doctor complained. “Hold it at a forty-five-degree angle, twist counter-clockwise until the two ends touch, then press down.

Clara sighed, exasperated. “That’s what I’m doing! Now shut up and let me get on with it; there’s no need for you to be so persnickety!”

“Persnick... I am not!” Shaggy eyebrows drew together and the Doctor scowled.

“Yes you are, you’re the dictionary definition.” Clara twisted the lever slowly, lining up the two ends, pressed down, and… CLICK! The lock opened.

“See? Now you’re free.”

“Yes, fine, but that wasn’t forty-five degrees.”

“It still worked.”


The End

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Chapter 548: Metal Army

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 493: March at dw100.

Spoilers: Army of Ghosts.

Summary: The Cybermen march through London.

They moved as one, row upon row of gleaming silver metal monsters, marching in perfect unison, each one identical to every other. Soulless, emotionless, but not mindless, they strode through the streets, more of them appearing from houses and blocks of flats to join the army, swelling its ranks.

Yesterday, even a few hours ago, they’d been ghosts, barely seen figures believed to be the souls of the dearly departed, returned to their families in some inexplicable way. Now everyone knew that was a lie.

Countless lives had already been taken, converted into more metal monsters.

This was an invasion.


The End

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Chapter 549: Cosy

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 494: Winter at dw100.

Summary: Rose and the Doctor visit a world in the midst of an ice age.

The people call their planet Winter because it always is here, a world in the midst of an ice age that will last for many thousands of years yet.

Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful place, a lot like the kinds of scenes that grace Christmas cards back on earth. Thick snow, towering evergreen trees, hoarfrost making feathery patterns on window glass, and roaring log fires for warmth.

Wrapped in the softest furs, Rose and the Doctor sit before one of the fires, sipping the alien equivalent of hot spiced cider from tall earthenware mugs. Rose feels like a kid at Christmas.


The End

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Chapter 550: Home From Home

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 495: William at dw100.

Summary: A lot of things are different in the future.

“He looks familiar,” Martha said, studying a portrait of an elderly man with a receding hairline.

“He should; that’s His Royal Highness King William of England.”

“King? He’s only a prince in my time. But what’s his portrait doing here of all places?” Martha and the Doctor were on an alien world, far from earth.

“Holiday home,” the Doctor said. “Like Balmoral, but a bit further away. The Royal Family comes here every summer. It was William’s idea. The whole moon was gifted to him and his descendents after he helped an alien princess regain her birthright.”

“That’s some gift!”


The End

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Chapter 551: Beach Life

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 496: Dune at dw100.

Summary: You never know what you'll find on an alien beach.

The sea sparkled turquoise in the sunlight, the white sand beach seemed to stretch forever in both directions, and a row of immense dunes created a barrier between the coast and the farmlands beyond. If this had been earth, the beach would’ve been packed with sunbathers, and kids building sandcastles, yet there wasn’t a soul to be seen.

“Where is everyone?” Amy asked.

“Working the fields. When you have to grow your own food there’s little time for leisure. Besides, this stretch belongs to the Hewgins.”

“Who’re they?”

The nearest dune opened one eye. “That would be us,” it rumbled.


The End

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Chapter 552: Mind-boggling

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 497: Fish at dw100.

Summary: Aliens come in many varieties.

“How can they be fish?” Martha asked. “I mean, they’re walking around on land and breathing air!” They were also wearing clothes but somehow that seemed less extraordinary than seeing the fish-like beings wandering around the marketplace as if they were perfectly at home on the land.

“Evolution. You know, there are fish on earth that can breathe out of water for a while; these people have just had a few million years longer to master the art.”

“So they’re literal fish out of water.”

“You might say that, just not to their faces. They can be a bit touchy.”


The End

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Chapter 553: Hot Stuff

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 498: Spurn at dw100.

Summary: Rose it trying to fend off some unwanted alien attention.

“What should I do?” Rose hissed at the Doctor as the aliens crowded around her, stroking her hair and… other places.

“Just… back away slowly, and keep smiling.” The Doctor was fiddling with his sonic screwdriver. “I’ll see it I can deter them. They’re in heat and they might not take it too well if you spurn their advances.”

“Just hurry up!”

Rescue came from an unexpected direction.

“Well, boys and girls, are we gonna party or not?”

Everyone turned to find Jack standing there stark naked and smiling his biggest, brightest smile.

The aliens lost all interest in Rose.


The End

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Chapter 554: Shocking News

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 499: Faint / Feint at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor reacts badly to some unexpected news.

The Doctor blinked his eyes open and found himself lying on the floor of the TARDIS.

“What happened?” he asked muzzily.

“You fainted,” Rory informed him, checking the Doctor’s pulse, even though he wasn’t entirely sure what was normal for someone with two hearts.

“Fainted? I’m a Time Lord; I don’t faint!”

“You passed out then, or you swooned, or lost consciousness. Pick whichever term you prefer; they all amount to the same thing.”

Amy came in carrying a pillow. “How is he?”

“Complaining that Time Lords don’t faint,” Rory grumbled.

“Men! All this fuss because the TARDIS is expecting.”


The End

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Chapter 555: Outwitted

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 499: Faint / Feint at dw100.

Summary: It doesn't pay to be overconfident when you're up against the Doctor!

The Doctor feinted left, but his opponents weren’t fooled, blocking him easily.

“YOU ARE PUNY. WE ARE DALEKS. WE CANNOT BE DECEIVED!”

“It was worth a try.” The Doctor lunged right, only to be blocked again.

“YOU CANNOT ESCAPE.”

“So I’ve been told, many times, and yet somehow I always manage to.”

“YOU WILL BE DEFEATED.”

“Many have tried, no one’s ever succeeded.”

“WE ARE DALEKS. WE WILL PREVAIL!”

“You keep telling yourselves that.”

Moments later the Daleks found themselves sliding inexorably backwards, slamming into an enormous magnet with a reverberating clang.

The Doctor shrugged. “I was only the decoy.”


The End

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Chapter 556: Uncomfortably Familiar

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 500: Severe at dw100.

Summary: The Twelfth Doctor reminds Clara of someone from her childhood.

This new Doctor struck Clara as being strict and uncompromising. He reminded her uncomfortably of her old headmaster, back when she’d been a student.

She’d always been afraid of him, almost shaking in her shoes every time he’d appeared, looming over her which he always seemed to do whenever she was late for class or running an errand for a teacher. He had a reputation for handing out harsh punishments even for minor infractions of the rules. She’d come to dread his bushy-eyebrowed glare.

Now here were those eyebrows again; she wondered if she could ever warm to this man.


The End

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Chapter 557: Parting Gift

Author's Notes: Written for: Challenge 501: Costume at dw100.

Summary: Jack finds something interesting in the TARDIS wardrobe.

“What’s this?” Jack was poking around in the TARDIS’s wardrobe, looking for something to wear since Rose had insisted his World War Two garb, although cool, was too outdated for day-to-day wear.

“Hm?” The Doctor turned to see Jack holding up a white jumpsuit, covered in coloured rhinestones and with a very impressive belt buckle. “Oh, that was one of Elvis’s stage costumes. He gave it to me, well, a former version of me, as a thank you gift after I took him on a trip.”

Jack frowned. “Who’s Elvis?”

“Big rock and roll star, very famous. Before your time.”


The End









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Chapter 558: Circuit Breaker

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 502: Array at dw100.

Summary: There's a problem with the TARDIS sensors.

The Doctor tapped the screen, then thumped it, removed it from its bracket and gave it a good shake, but it didn’t make any difference; the data readout still came up exactly the same.

“The TARDIS sensor array must be malfunctioning,” he muttered. “I’ll have to take a look, see if there’s a problem with the circuits.” He pulled up a grating and disappeared beneath the floor, emerging ten minutes later with something disgusting held at arm’s length. “Found the problem.”

“Ugh, what on earth is that?” Rose pulled a face.

“I think it used to be a cheese sandwich.”


The End

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Chapter 559: Too Many Doctors

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 503: Clash at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor's various incarnations don't always get along.

It was never a good idea to have several versions of the Doctor together in one place; they had a tendency to clash. Right now, Ten and Eleven were arguing while the War Doctor stood off to one side, barely keeping from rolling his eyes.

His more recent selves were like children, trying to get one up on each other, even though technically they were both older than him, in years lived if not in appearance. It was difficult to believe that they were what he would become. For two pins he’d knock their silly heads together.

“Oh shut up!”


The End

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Chapter 560: Career Change

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 504: Graduation at dw100.

Summary: This isn't the life Martha had planned.

Martha’s a qualified doctor now, freshly graduated from medical school. She’d expected to take up residency at a hospital, preferably in London to be close to her parents, but instead here she is, head-hunted by UNIT, all because of her connection to the Time Lord known as the Doctor.

They haven’t said anything, but she can’t help wondering if he might have pulled a few strings. He knows people in UNIT, after all.

The thing is, she’s not sure how she feels about any of this. She’d only ever wanted to heal people; she’d never expected to become a soldier.


The End

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Chapter 561: Royal Welcome

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 505: August at dw100.

Summary: Royalty isn't always what you might expect.

“All hail his august magnificence the Grand Emperor Boofeldt!”

Donna almost jumped out of her skin when the voice boomed out of a nearby speaker grille set in the wall. She hadn’t noticed it until that moment, but now she looked around she could see similar speakers everywhere. She turned to the Doctor.

“What’s that about?”

“Grand Emperor.” The Doctor shrugged. “You know royalty, they like to be shown respect.”

Everywhere they looked, people were bowing and cheering.

A spotty kid nearby sighed. “I really hate when they do that, but they won’t stop. Hi, I’m Boofeldt. Welcome to Carraxia.”


The End

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Chapter 562: Regrets

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 506: Regret at dw100.

Summary: Long life means more time for regrets.

The Doctor, in various incarnations, has been around for centuries, travelling from world to world and throughout time, fixing things that have gone wrong. Gallifreyans are naturally longer-lived than many of the universe’s sentient races, and as a Time Lord he also has the ability to cheat death by regenerating.

But the thing about living so long is that the regrets pile up. Things he’s done that he wishes he hadn’t. Things he didn’t do that he now realises he should have. People he’s let down or failed…

Worst of all are his companions; so many people he left behind.


The End

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Chapter 563: Shady Business

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 507: Seedy at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor knows exactly where to go when he needs something a bit unusual.

Even by the standards of this backwater outpost on the edge of the known universe, the bar could only be described as seedy. The establishment itself was rundown and badly in need of repairs. That it was still standing at all seemed more out of habit than any conscious effort on the part of the proprietor, and as for the interior…

It was dank and gloomy inside, full of smoke and shadows, the ideal place to conduct business transactions that were on the wrong side of legal, which was exactly why the Doctor was here.

“I need a memory worm.”

The End

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Chapter 564: Temporary Guest

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 508: Pest at dw100.

Eleventh Doctor.

Summary: The Doctor's temporary guest is causing problems.

The new temporary guest aboard the TARDIS was being an absolute pest. The Doctor had put it in the gardens where it had churned up the grass with its big feet, made a muddy wallow of the pond, uprooted trees and bushes, and eaten all the roses, and it had only been there three days!

It was a relief to know his destination was only a day or two away now and then his guest would be back home. Dinosaurs were cool, but they didn’t belong in the TARDIS any more than they belonged on any other kind of spaceship.

The End

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Chapter 565: Not Required

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 509: Assist at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor's habit of getting involved with local problems backfires.

“Perhaps I can be of assistance.”

That was how a lot of the Doctor’s adventures seemed to begin; he’d find himself on a planet, or a space station, sometimes a spaceship, there’d be a problem of some kind, and unable to resist meddling in other people’s business, he’d find himself offering to help. Well, what was the point of being able to travel through space and time if he didn’t lend a hand where it was needed?

Usually it worked out better than this though.

“Thrown in jail for interfering!” Martha was understandably upset.

“I only wanted to help them!”


The End

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Chapter 566: For Freedom

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 510: Trench at dw100.

Summary: As much as he hates war, the Doctor can't ignore it.

France, in World War I, although the soldiers at that time didn’t know there would be a second global war to follow just a few short decades later. Huddled in their muddy, freezing cold trenches, they believed they were fighting the war to end all wars. Many of them wouldn’t survive to see home again.

The Doctor hated war, there were far better ways of settling differences than by killing each other, but events like these should not be overlooked or ignored; someone needed to bear witness, to remember, to honour those who fell in battle, fighting for their freedom.

The End

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Chapter 567: Inventive

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 511: Cricket at dw100.

Summary: The people of earth are so inventive.

There was a lot to love about earth, that unassuming planet inhabited by the primitive apes known as humans. The people themselves were quite charming in their way; they had a lot of good qualities, including curiosity, determination, and inventiveness.

What other race would have invented Jelly Babies, Jammie Dodgers, Jaffa Cakes, chips, and teabags? Admittedly the tea in the bags wasn’t always the best, but it was the idea that counted.

Best of all their ideas though had to be cricket, such a wonderful game! Bat, ball, stumps, a game for gentlemen. Oh yes, the Doctor simply loved cricket!


The End

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Chapter 568: Royal Visit

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 512: Irregular at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor needs to avert a disaster.

“This is most irregular!” Her Majesty the Queen exclaimed when the TARDIS materialised beside the dining table where she was having breakfast.

“So sorry, Ma’am,” the Doctor said, helping himself to a warm croissant. “I tried to get an appointment, but you’d be amazed how difficult that is and I didn’t have time to wait around, or I have the time, but you don’t. It’s complicated. Anyway, you need to come with me to talk to your younger self and make sure she marries Philip, otherwise all this,” he gestured to their surroundings, “will cease to exist.”
“Very well, Doctor.”


The End

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Chapter 569: Insulted

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 513: Spindle at dw100.

Summary: Some people are just plain ungrateful.

Opening the envelope that had been poked under the TARDIS door, the Doctor scowled at the contents.

“Well, isn’t that charming!”

“What is it?” Amy tried to peer over the Doctor’s shoulder; he thrust the papers at her.

“They want to charge me rent for parking here!”

Amy quickly read through the document. “Can they do that?”

“Perhaps, but I’m not paying. That’s the thanks I get for saving them from the Gnorfs!” Snatching the papers back he went to tear them.

“Uh, it said ‘do not fold, spindle, or mutilate’,” Amy pointed out.

“Right. Have you got a match?”


The End

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Chapter 570: Exasperating

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 514: Hacking at dw100.

Summary: Clara isn't happy about doing all the work.

“It wouldn’t kill you to help!” Clara grumbled as she hacked away at the vines tangled around the TARDIS.

The Doctor waved his sonic screwdriver aimlessly. “Doesn’t work on wood.”

Clara paused to brush her hair out of her eyes. “So pick up a machete and use that!”

“I don’t have another one.”

“Fine!” Clara thrust the blade at the Doctor. “You do the hacking and I’ll stand around like a useless lump watching.”

“I don’t think you’re useless; you’re doing an excellent job there. Very effective.”

“That’s not what I… Forget it.” Sighing, Clara went back to hacking vines.


The End

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Chapter 571: London Adventure

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 515: Islington at dw100.

Summary: This adventure is closer to home than Donna would have liked.

“Islington?” Donna could hardly believe her eyes. “All of space and time to travel in and you bring me to Islington? Might as well have dropped me off back home.”

“Where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Mine? I come from these parts, sunshine; there’s no adventure ‘ere. I’ve seen it all before. Where are we goin’ anyway?”

“Freightliner Farm; the TARDIS picked up a distress call.”

“What kind of distress call? Something alien?”

The Doctor beamed. “I have no idea, that’s what we’re here to find out.”

“So there could be aliens right here in London?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time!”


The End

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Chapter 572: Baggage

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 516: Cargo at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor's perfectly willing to help, but this is a bit much!

“This is a TARDIS, not a cargo ship!” the Doctor grumbled.

Donna crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “So what? Are you sayin’ you just want to leave these poor people stranded?”

“Of course not, but do they have to bring all this stuff with them?”

“They’re colonists! You should know what that means better than I do. How d’you expect them to survive when we get them where they’re going?”

“But there’s so much!”

“It’s not like you don’t have enough room; your spaceship’s bigger on the inside!”

“And the animals…”

“You’ll figure something out.”


The End

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Chapter 573: Magic

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 517: Prestidigitation at dw100.

Summary: A little bit of magic goes a long way.

It’s not magic, really nothing more than sleight of hand, but it’s impressing the locals and right now that’s what matters. They’d been borderline hostile when the TARDIS showed up, suspicious, convinced the new arrival must be up to no good, but put on a little show for them and suddenly they’re all smiles, applauding his tricks by politely stamping all four feet in a complicated rhythm.

“And now, for the finale of my show, I will make my magical box vanish before your very eyes! Abracadabra, thingamabob!”

If this doesn’t get him taken to their leader then nothing will!


The End

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Chapter 574: Tough Love

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 518: Care at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor cares enough to let the people he helps stand on their own feet.

The way the Doctor helps people, sometimes whole planets, then just leaves, often without saying goodbye, it would be easy to assume he doesn’t care, that he’s only there for the adventure, the challenge, and when it’s over he loses interest.

It’s not true, because he does care, so very much, and it would be so easy to stay, to help the people rebuild their lives, their homes, their society, but he can’t afford to. If he stayed he might never leave, and the people would expect him to solve all their problems instead of learning to rely on themselves.

The End

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Chapter 575: Creepy

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 519: Pause / Paws at dw100.

Spoilers: Rise Of The Cybermen.


Summary: Everyone in sight has paused what they were doing.

It’s as if someone just pressed the pause button on some giant remote control tied into every human on the planet; they just stop whatever they’re doing, freeze in place, completely unresponsive. It’s seriously creepy!

Every single person is wearing some kind of Bluetooth earpiece, the devices all flashing in unison as they receive their daily download. All the news, weather, sport… Does everyone get the same, regardless of whether or not they’re interested?

It’s downloading to Rose’s phone too, ending with the daily joke; she almost jumps as everyone around her laughs before going on with their day.

Weird!


The End

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Chapter 576: Awe Inspiring

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 519: Pause / Paws at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor takes Rory and Amy to a truly beautiful alien world.

Unlike most of the planets they’ve visited with the Doctor, although undoubtedly intelligent, with a civilisation more advanced than earth, the people of this world aren’t humanoid.

They creep soundlessly around on velvet paws, sometimes upright but more often on all fours. Their clothing is simple, close-fitting tunics and trousers covering their lithe, short-furred bodies, their feet left bare. Upright, their forepaws unfurl into astonishingly dextrous six-fingered hands.

They are artists, musicians, creators of all things beautiful, and their gracefully spired cities take Amy and Rory’s breath away. Travelling with the Doctor they’ve seen many wonders, but this beats all.

The End

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Chapter 577: Discordant

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 520: Architecture at dw100.

Summary: Some alien planets are less than appealing to humans.

What passes for architecture on some alien worlds can be rather jarring to human senses, and never more so than here. The buildings look like mounds of dry mud stacked one atop another, roughly dome-shaped and in varying shades of greyish or greenish brown.

The windows and doorways are circular and apparently placed at random. A lot of them seem to serve double duty. There are no glass panes or actual doors, just the holes, open to the elements, and when the wind blows it plays the buildings like an out of tune musical instrument.

Donna wishes she had earplugs.

The End

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Chapter 578: Did You Know?

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 521: Trivia at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor astounds Donna with some amazing facts.

“Did you know the dogs on the planet Barcelona smell with their ears?” the Doctor said to Donna one day.

“Their ears? Come on, you’re ‘aving me on.”

“No, it’s true; they don’t have noses so they have to use their ears instead. And on Feltscham Prime, the people have their eyes in their knees. The cloud cover’s so low they wouldn’t be able to see where they were going otherwise.” The Doctor beamed at Donna. “Isn’t that brilliant? Oooh, and the natives of Beeglesnurf drink with their noses! Imagine that!”

The Doctor was a mine of completely useless trivia.


The End

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Chapter 579: Off Course

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 522: Wilderness at dw100.

Thirteenth Doctor, OFC.

Summary: The Doctor's new companion isn't impressed with where she's been taken.

“You mean to say we’re lost in this… wilderness?” The Doctor had promised her adventure, the chance to see things, people, and places no other twenty-first century human ever had, but this wasn’t what Sara had signed up for. She was a city girl, she’d expected civilisation, culture, alien fashions, planet-sized shopping malls, not this tangled forest in the middle of nowhere.

“Not lost,” the Doctor insisted. “Just not quite where we’re supposed to be. It’ll be fine though. Smell that fresh air. And the trees! Wonderful things, trees. Every planet should have them.”

“I’m really not dressed for this.”


The End

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Chapter 580: Bubbleworld

Author's Notes:
Summary: This is one of the most beautiful planets Martha has been to.

Everywhere Martha looked were shimmering rainbow bubbles. Drifting through the pink-tinged air on a fragrant breeze, resting on the ground, the rocks, and the plants, floating on the purple water of the stream that wound through a lavender coloured meadow… It was like being inside a bottle of pink champagne.

“This is fantastic! Where do they come from?”

“Oh, out of the ground mostly, especially after a heavy rain. The native creatures live most of their lives beneath the surface. Just be careful not to burst any of the bubbles.”

“Why?”

“They’re pretty to look at but they smell awful.”


The End

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Chapter 581: Sitting In

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 524: Proctor at dw100.

SSpoilers: The Pilot.

Summary: Bill isn't a student, but she still wants to learn.

Bill was on the university payroll as canteen staff; technically she had no right to be sitting in on lectures, but she wanted to learn. If anyone told on her she might get into serious trouble, even lose her job, so she kept her head down, tried not to draw undue attention to herself.

But this was her favourite class; the lecturer, the man everyone knew as the Doctor, was just so amazing. She didn’t understand half of what he said, but she didn’t care.

Only now he wanted to see her. In his office… Would he call the authorities?


The End

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Chapter 582: Baffling

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 525: Garden at dw100.

Summary: Rose can't get her head around the TARDIS.

“How can you have a garden in a spaceship?” Rose had seen a lot of weirdness since meeting the Doctor, but this beat everything. She’d managed to adjust to the TARDIS being bigger on the inside, couldn’t get her head around it but she could accept it. This though…

“Same way I can have a library, and a swimming pool, and everything else; it’s in another dimension.”

“But it has sky, and clouds, and rain!”

“That’s because it’s outside.”

“But how can it be inside and outside at the same time?”

The Doctor grinned. “Time Lord technology. Brilliant, isn’t it?”


The End

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Chapter 583: Basement Encounter

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 526: After Hours at dw100.

Spoilers: Rose.

Summary: Something is going on down in the basement...

The store is closed, and Rose should be leaving, but she just needs to drop the lottery money off with Wilson in the basement. Normally the place doesn’t bother her, but it was late closing tonight, everyone else has probably already left, and for some reason the place seems way creepier than usual. There’s no sign of Wilson.

There’s movement where there shouldn’t be any. The store mannequins… Is someone trying to freak her out? Because if they are, it’s working. She wants out of there. Now.

A hand grabs her wrist, and she turns to see a stranger.

“Run!”


The End

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Chapter 584: Emergency Repair

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 527: Tape at dw100.

Summary: Martha and the Doctor are in serious trouble.

“Sticky tape!” The Doctor grins as he pulls a reel of what looks like some sort of duct tape from his coat pocket. “Never leave home without it; you never know when it’ll come in handy.”

“So what d’you plan on doing with it?” Martha can’t see how much good it’s going to do them when they’re in danger of suffocating as the air escapes from this little tin can in space.

“I’m going to patch the hole of course.”

It’s insane, it shouldn’t work, yet somehow it does. Only the Doctor could get away with sticking a spaceship together.


The End

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Chapter 585: Clogged

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 528: Filter at dw100.

Summary: There's a problem with the TARDIS' engines.

There’s a problem with the TARDIS, even Rory can tell. It always shudders and shakes and makes grinding noises, but not like this, and the whining sound coming from the time rotor is setting his teeth on edge.

“What’s wrong with her?” he shouts at the Doctor, who’s under the console, poking around.

“The filters are clogged.”

“The TARDIS has filters?”

“Of course. Something has to keep timey-whimey gunk from getting into the engine. Can’t have the past and the future contaminating the now. Bits of time from all over stuck in here.”

Apparently, time looks a lot like spaghetti.


The End

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Chapter 586: Makeover

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 529: Android at dw100.

Spoilers: Bad Wolf.

Summary: All good things have to come to an end.

In Jack’s not inconsiderable experience, androids aren’t usually quite so… homicidal. This pair started out okay, giving him a makeover, a whole new outfit, and he was fine with that. Who’s going to complain about free clothes? But now they want to mess with perfection.

Not that he has anything against cosmetic surgery, wanting to look your best is never a bad thing, but chainsaws don’t make good surgical tools; he’d prefer to keep his face and body in one piece.

It was fun while it lasted, but now it’s time to go.

Good thing he still has his blaster!


The End

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Chapter 587: Birthing Partner

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 530: Birth / Berth at dw100.

Summary: Rory's professional services are required.

“I’m a nurse, not a midwife!” Rory protested. “Different skillset, not to mention… alien! I don’t know the first thing about her physiology! I don’t even know if the baby comes out the same way!”

“Oh don’t fuss! You probably won’t need to do anything, Lagonians almost never have problems during birth, but it’s traditional for someone to be in attendance.”

“So why don’t you do it?”

“I’m the Doctor, not a nurse. You’ll do fine; just keep out of the way. You don’t want her accidentally rolling on you.”

Eying the massive alien, Rory nodded. “I can do that.”


The End

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Chapter 588: Insistent

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 530: Birth / Berth at dw100.

Summary: Bureaucracy and red tape get everywhere.

“All space vessels must dock in an appropriate berth,” the space station’s officious port master insisted, “and must pay the appropriate docking fees.”

“That won’t be necessary; my ship doesn’t take up much room. No point tying up a whole berth another ship can use. She’ll be fine tucked away in the corner, she’s not in anyone’s way.”

The port master frowned. “This is most irregular. The rules say all ships must be docked.”

“Excellent rule, but my ship isn’t the regular sort.”

The port master scratched his head with one flipper. “You’ll still have to pay the docking fees.”


The End

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Chapter 589: Another Earth

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 531: Alternate at dw100.

Spoilers: Rise of the Cybermen.

Summary: This isn't Rose's earth.

This is earth but not the earth of Rose’s universe; that’s immediately obvious if you look up. Rose’s earth has planes, not zeppelins. Somehow the TARDIS has catapulted them into an alternate universe. That’s a pretty big problem, because the leap across the void hasn’t done the Doctor’s space and time ship any good. She’s dead.

Judging by the advertising billboard Rose is staring at, the same can’t be said of her father. In this universe he’s alive and well.

It’s a shock, seeing his face, hearing his voice, but this isn’t her world. This Pete Tyler isn’t her dad.


The End

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Chapter 590: Family

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 532: Grandfather at dw100.

Summary: Donna loves her grandfather more than anyone.

Donna loves her mum, really she does, even though there are times she doesn’t much like her. Sylvia criticises her daughter endlessly, puts her down, acts as though Donna is a huge disappointment to her, and that hurts, but it’s just the way her mum is so Donna tries not to take it to heart. Some people don’t know how to be happy.

Her grandfather is completely different, always supportive, caring, encouraging, telling her she can do and be anything she chooses, and Donna believes him. She loves him more than anyone. Maybe her mother is jealous of their closeness.


The End

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Chapter 591: Disregard

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 533: Cavalier at dw100.

Summary: Travelling with the Doctor can be hazardous.

If there was a downside to travelling with the Doctor, it was his cavalier disregard for his own and his companions’ safety. He had a bad habit of plunging headlong into dangerous situations without a second thought, dragging whoever happened to be travelling with him along in his wake.

It made for an exciting life, that was beyond doubt, but unlike a Time Lord, humans couldn’t simply regenerate a new body if theirs got damaged beyond repair.

It wasn’t that the Doctor didn’t care about his companions, Martha was sure of that, he just got caught up in the moment.


The End

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Chapter 592: Going Up

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 534: Climb at dw100.

Summary: Donna puts her foot down.

“Oi! Space man!”

The Doctor looked back at Donna. “What?”

“How the flippin’ heck do you expect me to get up there?”

“Climb! It’s the quickest way to get to the top.”

“I’m not a mountain goat, sunshine!”

“It’s not that steep, it’s just a hill.”

“It’s a mountain; hills don’t go straight up.”

The Doctor huffed impatiently. “Are you coming or not?”

“You got any ropes or climbing gear in your pockets? No? In that case, think I’ll just stay right here until you get back.”

“Fine, I suppose that means we’ll have to take the long way round.”


The End

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Chapter 593: Wayward

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 535: Incorrigible at dw100.

Summary: In the Doctor's opinion, Captain Jack needs a keeper.

The Doctor had never met anyone quite like Captain Jack Harkness, perhaps because there wasn’t anyone else like him in the entire universe. If there were… it didn’t bear thinking about. Nobody would be safe!

The man was an incorrigible flirt, completely indiscriminate. He considered every intelligent being he met to be fair game, and if his flirting was favourably received, so much the better. If not, he either tried harder or went looking elsewhere, meaning the Doctor either had to go in search of his wayward companion or leave him behind.

Better to keep a close eye on him.


The End

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Chapter 594: No Way!

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 536: Kibosh at dw100.

Spoilers: Partners In Crime.

Summary: Donna's as open-minded as the next girl, but there's just no way...

It was his idea, he was the one who’d invited her to go with him, so why was he getting cold feet now? If he didn’t want a travelling companion, he shouldn’t have asked. Donna wished he’d make up his mind. Then…

“I just want a mate.”

Had she heard that right?

“You want to mate? No way!” Okay, that did it, there was not going to be any kind of mating. Donna wasn’t that kind of girl. They weren’t even the same species!

“No, I want a friend!”

Thank heavens for that, but if he started any mating nonsense…


The End

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Chapter 595: Captivated

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 537: Flair / Flare at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith And Jones.

Summary: Martha is captivated by the Doctor.

One thing that had to be said about this Doctor person; he had flair! From the moment Martha had encountered him on the street, when he’d grinned at her and whipped his tie off, she’d been drawn in.

Now, she was following him around the hospital, watching in wonder as he dealt with their impossible situation with the kind of panache you just didn’t see in the modern day, sort of like James Bond if he was an alien, battling the bad guys and winning the girl, doing it all with a devil-may-care smile and a quip.

She was hooked.


The End

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Chapter 596: Signal

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 537: Flair / Flare at dw100.

Summary: What was that bright flash of light?

The flash of light bursting in the dark sky was so bright it was dazzling. Clara blinked and rubbed her eyes, trying to get rid of the afterimages, not that it helped.

“What was that? Fireworks?”

“Can’t be, this is an uninhabited world. Nobody’s discovered it yet.”

“We have.”

“We don’t count; we’re just passing through.” The Doctor was still staring in the direction of the flash. “Might have been a signal flare. You know, a distress beacon, someone in trouble.”

“Shouldn’t we check it out then?”

The Doctor beamed at her. “I was hoping you’d say that! Let’s go!”


The End

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Chapter 597: Daring All

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 538: Daredevil at dw100.

Spoilers: Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: Martha is risking everything for the sake of the world.

Martha’s no daredevil; she’s always been the sensible, cautious one in her family, the eldest daughter, the one with her head firmly screwed on. It’s just as well considering how scatter-brained her siblings and even her father can be. Her mum shouldn’t have to keep them in line all by herself, especially since her dad got involved with a younger woman. Mid-life crises are such a cliché.

But here she is, travelling the world on her own, risking her life to help the Doctor set right what the Master is intent on tearing apart. The whole world’s counting on her.


The End

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Chapter 598: Undisputed

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 539: Hegemony at dw100.

Summary: The word of the Shadow Proclamation is law.

The Shadow Proclamation had taken charge of law and order in the Galactic Federation aeons ago, and despite the heavy-handedness of their Judoon troops, it was rare for any race to complain about their tactics. As for any planet even considering contesting their authority… Suffice to say nobody tried a second time. The consequences of defying them weren’t worth it when measured against the slim chance of succeeding.

In that way, the Proclamation had assured themselves of dominance over all races in the Federation, and many outside it. They kept the peace and protected the vulnerable by any means necessary.


The End

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Chapter 599: Don't Panic

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 540: Panic at dw100.

Summary: Amy is in danger; all she can do is wait for the Doctor to save her.

“Don’t panic,” Amy told herself firmly. Panicking was the worst possible thing she could do. This wasn’t the first scary situation she’d been in since she started travelling with the Doctor, and as long as she stayed calm it wouldn’t be the last. Probably. The Doctor would save her; he always had, so far, and if she was patient she was sure he’d come through for her again.

She had to believe in him because who else was there? She had no idea how far she was from earth and all that was familiar. Her life was in his hands.


The End

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Chapter 600: Letting Go

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 541: Fling at dw100.

Summary: Whatever Rose feels for the Doctor, it’s serious.

Mickey wished he could believe whatever was going on between Rose and the Doctor was just a fling, but seeing how she lit up whenever the Time Lord was around, he was pretty sure it wasn’t.

The Doctor had the same kind of look in Rose’s presence; everything he did seemed geared towards impressing her. It cut like a knife to Mickey’s heart. He wasn’t needed anymore, if he ever had been; he doubted they’d notice if he left.

He’d loved Rose for as long as he could remember, thought they’d grow old together. Instead, he was letting her go.


The End

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Chapter 601: All Fall Down

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 542: Palaver at dw100.

Spoilers: The Runaway Bride.

Summary: Donna's future just collapsed around her.

Donna felt cheated by more than her erstwhile fiancé. All the palaver of planning her wedding and it had been for nothing, some kind of alien trick she’d been set up for, and she still wasn’t entirely sure why. What she did know was that it had been cruel and unfair, and who was going to wind up footing the bill for the whole fiasco? It better not be her mum and gramps.

She’d enjoyed making plans, had thought the wedding was the foundation for her future, until it all came tumbling down.

If she ever married again, she’d elope.


The End

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Chapter 602: Decisions

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 543: Specialise at dw100.

Summary: Martha's life has changed in ways she never would have imagined.

Not so long ago, the biggest decision Martha had to deal with was which field of medicine she should specialise in. Paediatrics? She did love kids, but it seemed the sort of thing a woman would be expected to choose. How about surgery? She had good, steady hands and the work would certainly be varied.

That question was the last thing on her mind these days. Her life had taken a turn she would have never imagined, not in her wildest dreams.

Now, the universe and all of time were hers to explore. Where did she want to go next?


The End

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Chapter 603: Communication

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 544: Shrug at dw100.

Summary: Asking for directions from aliens can be tricky.

“We’re lost, aren’t we?” Donna gave the Doctor a withering look; for a member of a supposedly advanced race, he was hopeless at getting where he wanted to go.

“Not lost as such,” the Doctor insisted. “Just temporarily misplaced. I’ll ask one of the locals.” He stopped something that looked like a gigantic caterpillar as it approached. “Excuse me, you wouldn’t happen to know the way to Felquinor, would you?”

The caterpillar’s body rippled from one end to the other.

Donna tugged the Doctor’s sleeve. “What’s it doing?”

“Shrugging. It’s a bit difficult to do if you don’t have shoulders.”


The End

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Chapter 604: Deal Breaker

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 545: Giant at dw100.

Spoilers: Runaway Bride.

Summary: Donna's all for meeting new people, but she can do without aliens like these.

Donna took several hurried steps backwards, suddenly wishing the TARDIS wasn’t so far away.

“Hold on a mo, mister, nobody ever said anything about giant spider aliens! Been there, done that, had the wrecked wedding! Not going through all that again, thank you very much!”

The Doctor gave an exasperated sigh. “Honestly, you humans! The Sisterhood of the Web are nothing like the Racnoss. They’re peaceful people, the finest weavers in the galaxy.”

“That’s all very well, but they’ve got a few too many legs for my tastes.”

“Ah, but that’s what makes them so good at what they do!”


The End

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Chapter 605: Switched

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 546: Switch at dw100.

Spoilers: The Doctor Dances

Summary: In Jack's opinion, blasters are better than bananas.

Jack likes his sonic blaster; it’s one of the best, from the weapons factories of Villengard, and it’s served him well for years. It’s especially useful for situations like the one he and his new acquaintances are in now, thanks to its ability to create nice, square holes in solid walls, just right for people to escape through.

Only trouble is, the second time he needs to use it he finds the Doctor has somehow switched it for a banana, which is a lot less useful. Fruit isn’t going to save them. Whatever the Doctor says, bananas aren’t THAT good!


The End

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Chapter 606: Undone

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 547: Clasp at dw100.

Summary: River's dress is hampering their escape.

“Hurry up, won’t you?” The Doctor was getting impatient.

“I’d love to, Sweetie, but I’m caught on something, and my clasp seems to be stuck.” River smiled sweetly. “Could you give me a hand?”

“Oh, for…” The Doctor reached for the ornate jewelled clasp on the shoulder of River’s dress, used his sonic screwdriver to get it unjammed, and suddenly the whole dress was on the floor, leaving River in skimpy undergarments.

“Thank you, that’s so much better.” River scooped up her dress. “Shall we go?”

The Doctor swallowed hard, unsure where to look. “I think you’d better follow me.”


The End

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Chapter 607: Famous Last Words

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 548: Premature at dw100.

Summary: Just when Martha and the Doctor thought they were safe...

The Doctor slows down and Martha skids to a halt behind him, breathing hard. Why is it everywhere they go they end up getting chased by someone of something? Travelling through space and time is exhilarating, but exhausting.

“Looks like we’ve lost them.” The Doctor beams, smug and self-congratulatory. “I told you there was nothing to worry about.”

Martha’s relief turns out to be premature. At the very next intersection their pursuers are suddenly right there ahead of them. They must have taken a shortcut.

“What was that you said about losing them?”

“Oh, they’re clever!” The Doctor grins. “Run!”


The End

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Chapter 608: The Bright Side

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 549: Inconvenient at dw100.

Spoilers: The Return Of Doctor Mysterio.

Summary: The Doctor finds himself in a rather precarious position.

It’s confoundedly inconvenient, but then so many things are when you’ve lived as long as the Doctor has. All he’d been doing was building a trap. Well, something to calm down the time distortions he accidentally caused, which isn’t quite the same thing, but explanations can be tricky.

Anyway, he’d been up on a roof, constructing his ingenious contraption, when he’d accidentally set it off, and now he’s hanging upside down from a fraying cable a very long way above the ground. That’s not terribly good.

On the other hand, at least now he knows for sure his device works.


The End

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Chapter 609: Stranded

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 550: Abscond at dw100.

Spoilers: Utopia.

Summary: The Master has taken the TARDIS.

The Doctor can scarcely believe this is happening. It’s impossible, but he can’t deny the truth. After all this time, the Master is back; it’s a terrifying prospect, and yet it means that he’s not the last of his kind anymore. Two Time Lords have to be better than one, even if one of them is a mentally unstable, scheming monster.

Pleading with the Master has never worked, but the Doctor tries anyway, because he doesn’t have any other options. It doesn’t stop the Master from absconding with the Doctor’s TARDIS though.

Now they’re stranded at the end of time.


The End

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Chapter 610: The Fence

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 551: Fence at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor can't find where he left the TARDIS, but he's found a fence.

It’s a nice fence, very sturdy, and the Doctor leans against it gratefully. Fences are very useful. They mark boundaries, keep things out, and they keep things in. He’s not sure of this one’s purpose but he likes it anyway. What’s not to like about a good fence? Excellent craftmanship.

Maybe if he climbs to the top of it he’ll be able to get his bearings. The TARDIS can’t be far away. He remembers landing her near some trees. He can’t see any trees, but maybe that’s because there’s a fence in the way.

Stupid place to put a fence.

The End

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Chapter 611: Homeward Bound

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 552: Bound at dw100.

Spoilers: Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: As thrilling as travelling with the Doctor has been, Martha is more than ready to go home.

Homeward bound at last. For a time, Martha had thought she might like to travel with the Doctor for the rest of her life, but he didn’t feel about her the way she felt about him, and even if he had, after the last year all she wants is to go home, take care of her family, and live the quiet life for a while.

She’s had adventures, both good and bad, that she’d never imagined, done things she would never have believed herself capable of, but she’s had enough.

The rain-wet streets of London have never looked more beautiful.


The End

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Chapter 612: All Change

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 553: Makeover at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor's old clothes don't suit her new body.

The Doctor looked down at herself and sighed. Regeneration was always the same in some respects; the new body never looked right in the old clothes, the sleeves and trouser legs too long or too short, seams stretched to splitting point or everything hanging from a slimmer frame, and that was without taking random changes of gender into account.

She supposed she should be thankful she always came out humanoid; no tentacles or other additional limbs to complicate matters, just the basic two up and two down. Nevertheless, what she was wearing wouldn’t do at all. Time for another makeover.


The End

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Chapter 613: Not Old

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 554: Prime at dw100.

Summary: Twelve takes exception to being called old.

“Aren’t you a bit old to be running around like this?”

The Doctor supposes that’s what comes of taking a mere child on a trip. He’s not sure how old this one is, but he can’t be more than twenty or thirty. He’s still in school, probably doesn’t know any better. Not that the Doctor feels any less insulted.

“Old? I’ll have you know I’m barely a thousand, still in my prime! Don’t let the hair fool you, regeneration’s always a lottery, never know what I’ll end up with. What about you? Aren’t you a bit young?”

“I’m sixteen!”

“Exactly!”


The End

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Chapter 614: Friendly Chat

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 555: Conversation at dw100.

Summary: There's nothing like having a friendly chat.

It’s always a pleasure to chat with interesting people, you can learn so much about where you are from a simple conversation, which is incredibly useful if you happen to find yourself some place you never intended to go. The TARDIS sometimes seems to have her own agenda, one she seldom bothers sharing with the Doctor.

Some races, unfortunately, aren’t terribly good conversationalists.

“YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED!”

“Oh, come on, don’t you think you’re being a bit hasty? I only just got here; you didn’t even offer me refreshments.”

“DALEKS DO NOT REQUIRE REFRESHMENTS.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing.”


The End

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Chapter 615: Misplaced

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 556: Cellar at dw100.

Summary: Once again, the Doctor isn't where he intended to go.

The Doctor flung the TARDIS door open. “Here we… Oh.”

“What now?” Even after a few short weeks, Donna could tell when something wasn’t quite right.

“This isn’t Ventulix. Or at least I don’t think it is.”

Squeezing alongside the Doctor, Donna stared out at a gloomy stone room, cluttered with old furniture and boxes of junk.

“Are we in someone’s cellar? What the heck are we doing here?”

“No idea.” The Doctor perked up. “But when I figure it out, you’ll be the first to know. Well, the second. Third, if you count the TARDIS.”

“Gee, thanks a lot.”


The End

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Chapter 616: Destination Unknown

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 557: Random at dw100.

Summary: How much fun would it be to not know where they're going until they get there?

“So, where to now?” The Doctor bounced on his toes, his grin so wide he looked a bit mad.

“I don’t know.” Martha was at a loss. She’d been to the past, the future, and a few worlds the Doctor had suggested, but being asked to pick a destination when there was a whole universe and all of time to choose from… “Have you ever just picked somewhere at random? Closed your eyes and just pointed to some place on a map?”

If anything, the Doctor’s grin got even wider. “Brilliant, let’s do that!”

Martha hoped she wouldn’t regret this.


The End

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Chapter 617: High Altitude

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 558: Vertigo at dw100.

Summary: The ground is a very long way below, but the view is amazing.

Rose clutched the parapet in front of her, feeling suddenly giddy. She’d grown up in a block of flats, was used to high places, had even been on the London Eye without any problems, but now she was higher than she’d ever been. This place dwarfed the tallest skyscraper on earth, according to the Doctor. Probably no human had ever been higher unless they were in some kind of aircraft.

She gritted her teeth and ignored the giddiness; the Doctor wouldn’t let her fall, and anyway, the view was too spectacular to miss, a whole world spread out before her.


The End

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Chapter 618: Deceptive

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 559: Bumble at dw100.

Summary: If the Doctor doesn’t do something fast, he and Amy are about to get squished.

Watching the Doctor bumble about as if he has no idea what he’s doing would be funny, if not for the fact that Amy can’t tell whether or not he’s just pretending.

He does that sometimes, letting people think he’s not as smart as he really is, biding his time and learning as much as he can before pulling off a daring escape, or miraculously fixing a problem. But if he genuinely doesn’t know how to stop this machinery, they’re in serious trouble.

“Doctor?” She’s really getting worried now.

“That should do it!” The crusher grinds to a halt. “See?”


The End

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Chapter 619: Stolen Property

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 560: Account at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has something that doesn't belong to him.

“If you didn’t steal the sacred seal of Mirrabeau, then how do you account for it being in your possession?” The official glared at the Doctor from beneath bushy black brows. “It’s kept in the most secure vault in the kingdom!”

The Doctor glared back from beneath his own, rather greyer, eyebrows. “If the vault’s that secure, then how d’you think I could have stolen it in the first place? Anyway, I didn’t know what it was. I found it in a little shop in Vervax. Thought it made a nice key fob. Are you sure it’s not a replica?”


The End

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Chapter 620: Home

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 561: Compress at dw100.

Setting: Post 'Last of the Time Lords'.

Summary: Martha is home, but not out of danger.

“I don’t believe it!” Martha slumped on the sofa in her parents’ living room, feeling like a complete idiot. “I just spent a whole year travelling the earth by myself, crossing every kind of terrain imaginable. Twelve months, in all weathers, with only a handful of minor injuries. I’m home less than a day, and I sprain my ankle tripping on the stairs!” She adjusted the cold compress on her ankle, frowning at the puffy joint.

Her mum handed her a cup of tea and sat down beside her.

“Perhaps it’s the universe’s way of telling you to slow down.”


The End

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Chapter 621: Grey

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 562: Salt And Pepper at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor isn't happy with his new appearance.

He had grey in his hair. Grey! After getting increasingly younger bodies for the past several regenerations, he was suddenly beginning to look old!

Alright, so before this regeneration he already looked old, but that was because his body WAS old. He’d had that body longer than any of his previous ones, and it had aged accordingly with the passing years. This one, however, was new; it should look young! He should feel rejuvenated, not like a crotchety old man.

Clara said the salt-and-pepper look was distinguished, that it suited him, but what did she know? She wasn’t going grey!


The End

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Chapter 622: Going Home

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 563: Tow at dw100.

Spoilers: Journey's End.


Summary: The earth is going home.

All the stolen planets, pop, pop, pop, one after the other, sent back where they belong. It’s very satisfying, watching them disappear from the sky, knowing that the universe is being set to rights.

The Daleks lose, again. Their schemes come to nothing with one Doctor involved; with three, they don’t stand a chance. Doctor, metacrisis Doctor, and Doctor Donna; what a team they make! Three brilliant minds, there’s nothing they can’t deal with.

The only stray planet left is earth, but the Doctor’s on it. All he needs is for Torchwood to throw him a towrope, and they’re away!


The End

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Chapter 623: Twisted

Author's Notes: Written For: Challenge 564 Restoration at dw100.

Spoilers: Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: The TARDIS needs to be restored to her former self.

The TARDIS is a mere shell of her former self, wiring torn out, spliced, reconnected in unnatural ways. She’s been twisted and warped into an abomination, and she claws at the Doctor’s mind with her freakishness worse than Jack ever did.

But it’s not her fault, it’s the Master’s; he’s the one who did this to her, and the Doctor can feel her suffering. She hates what she is, what she’s been forced to do, maintaining a paradox. She’s crying out to him for help.

It’s not in vain.

Restoring her will take time, but he’ll do whatever it takes.

The End

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Chapter 624: Indecipherable

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 565 Symbols/Cymbals at dw100.

Summary: Bill finds the Gallifreyan language baffling.

Bill stares at the ornate symbols. They’re writing, but not as she knows it, and she finds it impossible to imagine anyone reading such elaborate designs the way she can sit down and read a book. Come to that, it’s impossible to imagine anyone WRITING a book using nothing but these complexities. They remind her of crop circles.

“How do you read these?”

The Doctor gives her that look again, the one that says he can’t believe she asked him such a basic question. “It’s simple. Gallifreyan is the most eloquent language in the universe.”

“Not to me it isn’t.”


The End

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Chapter 625: Deafening

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 565 Symbols/Cymbals at dw100.

Summary: Being a guest of honour is proving a bit of a pain for Donna.

Every time a new dignitary enters the great hall to be presented to the planet’s rulers and their honoured guests, the two loinclothed palace greeters clash gigantic cymbals together, once, twice, three times, before announcing the new arrival at the tops of their voices. It’s giving Donna a headache.

She’d love to cover her ears to block out the sound, but she doesn’t want to cause any offence. Everyone’s been so nice to her and the Doctor; they’ve been bathed, dressed in gorgeous robes, and this feast is in their honour.

It would be lovely if it wasn’t so loud.


The End

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Chapter 626: Dalek Nature

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 566 Quiddity at dw100.

Summary: What makes a Dalek a Dalek?

What is it that makes a Dalek what it is? How much is nature and how much programming?

Is a Dalek’s loathing of all other lifeforms an intrinsic part of it from the moment of creation or a matter of meticulous indoctrination? Would a Dalek that had never had any contact with another of its kind still be the lethal xenophobic killing machine that its brethren were, or could it be peaceful, open-minded, even friendly?

That’s a question unlikely to ever be answered.

Daleks are hatred personified; it’s all they know. Purification of the entire universe is their only goal.


The End

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Chapter 627: Sweet Treats

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 567 Obsession at dw100.

Fourth Doctor.

Summary: They may not be the healthiest snack, but the Doctor doesn't care.

It’s like an obsession, and it’s probably unhealthy, all that sugar. Bad for the teeth, not to mention the waistline. On the other hand, he’s not fat, no one can say that about him. Must be all the running around keeping him from putting on weight.

And sugar isn’t just fattening, it provides an energy boost when needed. If anyone needs plenty of energy, it’s him. All of space and time to keep an eye on, and only one of him to do it.

The Doctor plucks another jelly baby out of the bag and pops it in his mouth.


The End

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Chapter 628: Incarcerated

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 568: Mushroom at dw100.

Summary: Rose and the Doctor have run into a spot of trouble.

As planets went, this was far from the most civilised they’d visited, but Rose was fine with that. It was just one more in a never-ending series of brilliant adventures. Right up until the moment she accidentally offended the locals and got both herself and the Doctor locked up in one of the gigantic hollowed-out toadstool things that served as buildings.

“There’s not mushroom in here!”

Rose groaned, elbowing the Doctor in the ribs. “You just had to say it, didn’t you?”

“I love a good corny joke, me!”

“That wasn’t good; it was awful!”

“But it made you laugh!”


The End

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Chapter 629: Pirates

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 569: Veneer at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor to the rescue!

The Doctor had only arrived a short while ago, but the veneer of respectability these people cultivated was already beginning to wear thin. They dressed the part of captain and crew, but he highly doubted this smart little spaceship belonged to them. In fact, he rather suspected they were the reason for the distress signal the TARDIS had picked up.

Space pirates, disreputable brigands who hijacked vessels like this one and either sold them or ransomed them along with their legitimate owners.

Well, that was why he was here, wasn’t it? To deal with the brigands and free the hostages.


The End

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Chapter 630: Lunch Doubts

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 570: Muffin at dw100.

Summary: Clara's lunch is subjected to the Doctor's scrutiny.

“What’s that?” The Doctor peered at what Clara was eating. He’d shown up, as usual, at a very inconvenient time. Teachers didn’t get much in the way of a lunchbreak.

“It’s a muffin. Don’t tell me you’ve never seen one before.”

“Of course I have, just not one quite like that.”

“What’s wrong with it?”

Clara frowned at her muffin; it looked perfectly fine to her, and tasted even better.

“Well, it’s not brown, and it’s got little dark bits in it. You shouldn’t eat it. It might’ve gone off.”

“It’s a blueberry muffin! It’s supposed to look like this.”


The End

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Chapter 631: Escape Plans

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 571: Locksmith at dw100.

Summary: Locked in a cell, Martha's worried about how they'll get out.

“Thrown in jail!” Martha couldn’t help feeling indignant; they’d only been trying to help, and this was the thanks they got!

So much for the wonderful, exciting adventures through space and time the Doctor had promised her. This wasn’t anything like she’d expected.

The Doctor was unconcerned.

“Anyone would think you’d never been in a dungeon before.”

“I haven’t, and it wasn’t on my list of things I wanted to experience either. Now what?”

“Don’t fuss; I’ll have us out of here in no time!”

“How? D’you know a locksmith?”

“Don’t need one. I’ve got a sonic screwdriver. Unlocks anything.”


The End

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Chapter 632: Top Of The World

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 572: Bridge at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor takes her companions to visit one of the wonders of the universe.

“Highest bridge in the universe!” The Doctor beamed at her companions. “What d’you think?”

The massive rock structure spanned a yawning chasm between two mountain peaks so tall they dwarfed Everest. Thanks to the denser atmosphere on this world, even so high up the air was still breathable.

Yaz leaned over the weathered, lichen-covered stone wall and peered down through roiling clouds.

“How high up are we?”

“Oh, about nine-thousand feet.”

“Wow! Ryan, you’ve got to see this! The view’s incredible!”

“I’m fine,” Ryan insisted. “I can see enough.”

“You okay?”

“Y’know I said heights don’t bother me? I lied.”


The End

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Chapter 633: Weighed Down

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 573: Survive at dw100.#

Spoilers: Flatline.

Summary: Clara is the Doctor's only hope.

For the first time since she’d started travelling with the Doctor, Clara genuinely wasn’t sure she was going to survive the experience.

She trusted him, knew he could handle just about anything that was thrown at him, but this was different; even though they were still in contact she was on her own, the Doctor trapped inside a steadily shrinking TARDIS, already so small she could carry it with her.

Whatever was happening, she would have to fix it herself because all the Doctor could do was offer her advice.

The weight of so much responsibility was slowly crushing her.


The End

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Chapter 634: Ailing Amy

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 574: Recover at dw100.

Summary: Amy has caught a nasty alien virus.

“Nothing to worry about,” the Doctor assured her. “You’ll recover in a day or two. A week at most. Well, maybe ten days, but certainly no more than twelve. Two weeks at the absolute outside, or possibly three. Hard to be sure with human biology.”

If Amy hadn’t been worried before, she was by the time the Doctor finished speaking.

“Three weeks? I have to put up with this for another three weeks?”

“Oh, probably not that long.”

“But you just said…”

“Ignore what I said. What do I know?”

Amy huddled on the bed and tried not to scratch.


The End

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Chapter 635: Slow Getaway

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 575: Pedal at dw100.

Summary: When you need to escape, you'll take any kind of transport available.

Everything had been going so well when the Doctor and Donna had first arrived on Schmooshnip, but that had been then; right now, things had taken a turn for the worse.

“Faster!” Donna yelled back over her shoulder. “They’re gaining on us! Are you trying to get us captured again?”

“I’m going as fast as I can,” the Doctor protested, panting. “It’s not my fault; it’s these stupid contraptions!”

As getaway vehicles, even Donna had to admit they left a lot to be desired. Nevertheless…

“Thought you said you could ride a bike!”

“Motorbikes, yes, not the kind with pedals!”


The End

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Chapter 636: Earth's Last Hope

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 576: Fate at dw100.

Spoilers: Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: The Doctor can't do anything to help earth right now, but there's one person who can.

The fate of the earth and all of humanity was in the balance, and under normal circumstances the Doctor would have been there to fix whatever was wrong, ensure the future would happen exactly as it was meant to. It was a task he’d set himself long ago, when his fascination with the planet and its people had first begun.

But this time he was trapped, a wizened creature locked in a cage, every year of his centuries-long existence visited upon a body that should still be young. The Master’s doing.

All his hopes now rested on Martha Jones’ shoulders.


The End

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Chapter 637: Double Trouble

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 577: Duplicate at dw100.

Summary: On a distant world, the Doctor runs into himself.

A pair of TARDISes and two Doctors, side-by-side and face-to-face. It’s like looking in a mirror, or it would be if both Doctors looked alike, but they don’t. This is him now, his current face and body, while the other Doctor is a version of him that used to be. Which one is it, the sixth? No, the seventh; that hat’s a dead giveaway. Fezzes are way cooler.

So not exact duplicates, not identical, more like fraternal twins.

He looks at the other Doctor, who looks back at him.

They speak in unison. “We have to stop meeting like this.”


The End

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Chapter 638: Discovery

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 578: Yarn at dw100.

Summary: The TARDIS is so big it's not unusual for the Doctor to stumble across something long forgotten.

There’s always something new to be found in the TARDIS, tucked away in some forgotten room, or more likely something old that’s been there for centuries. After so many lifetimes and so many regenerations it’s only to be expected. Live in one place for long enough, even in a time and spaceship, and stuff accumulates. Happens to everybody.

One wrong turn was all it took to rediscover something long since lost, pile upon pile of balls and skeins of yarn in every colour imaginable.

The Doctor smiles. Maybe it’s time she took up knitting again; she could use a scarf.


The End

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Chapter 639: Tastes

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 579: Fancy at dw100.

Spoilers: The Eleventh Hour.

Summary: The Doctor finally finds something he fancies, even if it might not be to human tastes.

He’s not human, he’s a Time Lord. Just because he looks sort of humanlike from the outside doesn’t mean he’s like a human on the inside. He has things humans don’t, like two hearts, and his senses are only superficially similar. Eyesight, hearing, smell, touch, taste, all so much more sensitive than a human’s, and regeneration just exacerbates everything.

It’s not his fault everything he asks for tastes so… bleurgh! He’s trying to work out what his new body needs, he just keeps getting it wrong.

Fish fingers and custard though… A little of what you fancy does you good.


The End

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Chapter 640: Overindulgence

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 580: Gluttony at dw100.

Summary: Following a feast, the Doctor is feeling overstuffed.

“Ooooh,” the Doctor groaned, sinking gratefully onto the sofa in the TARDIS’s library. “I think I ate a bit too much.”

“Think?” Donna looked down at him, arms folded, tapping her foot. “You refilled your plate at least a dozen times, I don’t think there was anything you didn’t have second helpings of.”

“It was a feast! Wouldn’t have looked good for the guests of honour to just nibble like mice. You filled your plate more than once.”

“The difference being, I know my limits, so I didn’t overindulge. It’s your own fault you’re suffering. Gluttony is its own punishment.”


The End

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Chapter 641: Baby Face

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 581: Beard at dw100.

Summary: The Fifth Doctor is unsure about his new face.

Frowning at his reflection in the mirror, the Doctor stroked his chin thoughtfully. His new face was so young! Was anyone ever going to take him seriously looking like this?

“Maybe I could grow a beard,” he murmured. A beard might give him an air of authority this smooth-cheeked baby face didn’t have. A beard would be… distinguished. How long would it take to grow one? Did it matter? He was a Time Lord. Time was hardly a problem.

The itching was, however. How did people stand it? One week and he shaved it off; beards were too much trouble.


The End

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Chapter 642: Different Priorities

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 582: Priority at dw100.

Summary: Jack and the Doctor have very different ideas about what's important.

“Jaaaack,” the Doctor drawled, exasperated with his travelling companion. “Priorities! We’re not here for leisure, or whatever you’re planning!”

“I wasn’t planning anything!” Jack turned a look of injured innocence on the Doctor. “I was being friendly. You’d be surprised how much you can learn just by making friends with people. You should try it sometime.”

“I can imagine what you were learning just then, and this isn’t the time.”

“That’s your problem; you never have time for fun. Loosen up a bit!”

“I have plenty of fun, just not your sort of fun.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing!”


The End

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Chapter 643: A Tiny Problem

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 583: Glitter / Sparkle at dw100.

Eleventh Doctor, Clara Oswald.

Summary: The latest visitors aboard the TARDIS have left a bit if a mess behind.

“I told you it was a bad idea!” The Doctor muttered, rooting around under the central console.

“We couldn’t just leave them there!” Clara insisted. “You said yourself, their ship would’ve been out of air in a matter of hours! Rescuing them was the only thing to do. It wasn’t like we didn’t have enough room. Now they’re safe and their ship can be repaired. I don’t know what you’re complaining about.”

“We had forty intergalactic drag queens in the TARDIS!”

“Still not seeing the problem.”

“How can you not see it? There’s glitter everywhere, even in the flux capacitor!”


The End

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Chapter 644: Distant Worlds

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 583: Glitter / Sparkle at dw100.

Summary: Wilf watches the night sky, waiting for Donna to come home.

The diamond sparkle of stars in the night sky had always captivated Wilf, right from when he was a small boy, but never had they drawn his attention as strongly as they did now.

Out there in the black of space were trillions of stars, many of them so far off and so faint that they weren’t visible from earth even with the most high-powered telescope available. But alien worlds orbited many of those stars, home to all manner of strange and wonderful creatures.

His granddaughter was somewhere out there, travelling with the Doctor. Wilf prayed she’d come home safe.

The End

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Chapter 645: Celebrity

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 584: Passel at dw100.

Summary: Surrounded by too many aliens to count, Amy feels completely out of her depth.

There were so many alien beings crowded around them it was rather overwhelming. If that wasn’t bad enough, every one of them was a journalist from one planet or another. Amy had never imagined becoming an intergalactic celebrity, and yet somehow she was. If only she knew why.

“What do they want with me?”

The Doctor shrugged. “How should I know?”

“But I’m not famous!”

“Perhaps not on earth, but here…”

“How does it feel to be the Chosen One?” someone shouted from the back as cameras flashed.

“I wouldn’t know. Sorry, I think you’re mistaking me for someone else.”


The End

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Chapter 646: Cycle Of Life

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 585: Cycle at dw100.

Summary: Some aliens have very short lives.

“It’s dying!” Martha cried, holding the tiny alien tenderly in her cupped hands. “Doctor, do something!”

“I can’t. They only live a very short time, a matter of days; that’s the way it is with their kind.”

“But they’re so beautiful!” Everywhere Martha looked, there were more of the colourful, jewel-bright creatures, a cross between butterflies, hummingbirds, and fireflies, and every last one of them appeared to be dying.

“But if they all die out…”

“They’re already carrying their young inside themselves. Soon they’ll hatch. It’s the cycle of life, Martha. They must die for the next generation to live.”


The End

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Chapter 647: Alone

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 586: Debt at dw100.

Summary: Gallifrey and all its people are gone.

“You owe us.” There was no voice on the still air, no living person to speak the words, but they filled the Doctor’s mind all the same. “You took us to war, and you doomed us all.”

It was true. To rid the universe of Daleks once and for all he’d set in motion events that destroyed his own people. Gallifrey was gone, and he was the last of the Time Lords.

“Yes,” he whispered. “I owe you, and it’s a debt I can never repay.”

Shoulders bowed beneath the weight of what he’d done, the War Doctor walked away.


The End

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Chapter 648: Blizzard

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 587: Fumble at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor could have told them to wrap up warm...

Frozen fingers fumble at the door lock, finally slotting the key in. A twist of the wrist and the door swings open, three people stumbling inside, the last one shoving it closed behind them, shutting out the swirling snow. What followed them in is already melting, leaving puddles on the TARDIS floor.

“That was bracing!” The Doctor turns his familiar manic grin on his companions.

Rose is shivering, lips almost blue with cold, and Jack doesn’t look much better.

“Bracing? We almost froze to death! You said we were going to the beach!”

“I never said it would be warm.”


The End

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Chapter 649: Too Friendly

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 588: Personal at dw100.

Summary: Jack is one of a kind, much to the Doctor's relief.

The concept of personal space seems to elude Jack. It’s beginning to seem like wherever the Doctor goes, Jack’s there too, standing far too close for the Doctor’s comfort.

It’s not that he doesn’t like his newest companion, the Captain’s a bit full of himself but he’s likeable enough. It’s just that he’s a little too friendly. With everyone. Jack can’t even say ‘Hello’ without it sounding more like an invitation than a greeting.

In all his centuries of travelling with various companions, the Doctor’s never met anyone like Jack, which is probably a good thing. One Jack is plenty.


The End

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Chapter 650: Turning The Tables

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 589: Trap at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor knows how to handle traps.

“Doctor, don’t! It could be a trap!” Martha tried to pull him back, but the Doctor shook her off.

“Course it’s a trap; I already knew that.”

“So don’t go!”

“Whyever not?”

“Because you’ll be captured!”

“Will I? Funny thing about traps; when you know they’re there, when you know what they are, sometimes, if you’re very clever…” The Doctor aimed his sonic screwdriver at a few key points. “All it takes are some minor alterations and you can turn a trap against whoever set it.”

Before the Sontarans knew what was happening, they were caught in their own trap.


The End

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Chapter 651: To The Rescue

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 590: Signal at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor and Donna respond to a call for help.

Distress signals are irresistible. They mean someone is in trouble, and where there’s trouble is exactly where the Doctor wants to be.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Donna’s being the voice of caution again; someone has to.

“Distress signal!”

“I know, but… shouldn’t we go in the back way or something, sneak around a bit, try to find out what’s going on first?”

“We could, but if we do that, by the time we get there we might be too late. This way we’ll have the element of surprise. Allons y!”

“You’d better be right about this!”


The End

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Chapter 652: Alone Again

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 591: Waves at dw100.

Spoilers: Doomsday.

Summary: With Rose gone where he can't reach her, the Doctor is alone.

The Doctor sat on the shore, bare toes digging into damp sand, staring out across the gently rolling waves towards the distant horizon. There was no one else here on this remote, desolate stretch of beach, not another living soul within miles, but even if he’d been surrounded by people he still would have felt just as alone.

Rose was gone, safe and well in a parallel universe but trapped there, permanently. There’d be no way back; he’d never see her again. Perhaps it was better that way. She was with her family, but he was alone.

He missed her.


The End

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Chapter 653: The Stranger

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 592: Convocation at dw100.

Summary: Their world is in peril, but maybe this stranger can help them.

The Headwomen and the Elders of every single tribe on the peninsula were gathered tonight to hear the words of the stranger, who’d come in his curious blue box to offer them aid in the current crisis. Mignolette had never seen so many people gathered in one place before. They fairly filled the marketplace in front of the meeting hall; there simply wasn’t room for them all inside.

Mignolette went from one to another, pouring water for this one and that, listening intently as the man called the Doctor spoke, and praying to the Goddess that he could save them.

The End

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Chapter 654: Dropping By

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 593: Window at dw100.

Summary: He didn't mean to drop in unexpectedly, but it was a bit of an emergency.

Isabelle screamed, clutching her bedcovers to her chest and staring in mingled terror and outrage at the strange man who’d just appeared in her bedroom.

“Who are you? And how did you get in here?”

“Me? I’m an intruder. I came in tru der window.” He grinned at her like he’d just made a hilarious joke. “Get it?”

She ignored the lame attempt at humour. “The window? That’s impossible, I’m on the thirty-fifth floor!”

“I fell off the roof.”

“But this building has eight-five storeys!”

“I know. Good thing your window was open, or things might’ve got a bit messy.”


The End

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Chapter 655: Chance Meeting

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 594: Shaken, Not Stirred at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor receives a very unexpected visitor.

“The name’s Bond. James Bond.” The man offered his hand.

“Nice to meet you. I’m the Doctor. What brings you here?”

“Some rather unpleasant people were chasing me, so I ducked into the first doorway I came to. It seemed unlikely they’d follow me into something labelled ‘Police’.” Bond looked around. “I must say, this isn’t what I expected.”

“It’s my spaceship. Can I drop you somewhere?”

“The British Embassy if you’d be so kind. Perhaps we could stop at a bar along the way? I could use a Martini.”

“Let me guess; shaken, not stirred?”

“Have we met before?”


The End

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Chapter 656: Scientific Term

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 595: Zoom at dw100.

Summary: Another day, another new temporary companion.

“So you zoom around space in this?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say ‘zoom’ exactly.” The Doctor considered that for a moment. “Or maybe I would. Zoom. Has a nice ring to it. Zooooooom! Yes, I do that.”

“But how? I mean, aren’t spaceships supposed to be… I don’t know, metal and stuff? This is a wooden box. Wouldn’t all the air leak out?”

“Oh no, there’s a forcefield around it, sort of an atmospheric bubble. The air can’t escape; there’s nowhere for it to go.”

“A forcefield? That is so cool!”

“Isn’t it?” The Doctor bounced. “So, fancy taking a trip?”


The End

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Chapter 657: Final Release

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 596: Release at dw100.

Spoilers: Mummy on the Orient Express.

Summary: The Doctor cracks the mystery of the mummy.

The mummy stalking the train has struck fear into the hearts of everyone aboard, and for good reason. There’s nowhere anyone can hide from it, and if it gets you, if you see it, then you die. Fear is a natural response to such a threat.

But the mummy is to be pitied. So old, so tired, but it can’t rest; its mission isn’t over yet.

The Doctor can’t help but feel for a soldier from a forgotten war, compelled to keep fighting until the battle is won.

“We surrender.” Two words, to release a trapped soul and grant rest.


The End

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Chapter 658: Don't

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 597: Wink at dw100.

Summary: Jack's starting to feel like he's not allowed to do anything.

“Don’t do that!” the Doctor snapped.

“Do what?” Jack’s expression of injured innocence wouldn’t fool anyone who’d spent more than five minutes in his company. It certainly didn’t fool the Doctor.

“Don’t give me that; you know what I’m talking about! You winked at them. I saw you!”

“First you won’t let me say hello to people, and now I’m not allowed to wink?” Jack pouted.

“Not the way you do it.”

“I supposed I’m not permitted to smile either.”

“Now you mention it…”

Jack’s shoulders slumped. “Fine, but don’t be surprised if I wither away from lack of attention.”


The End

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Chapter 659: Horsing Around

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 598: Steward at dw100.

Summary: There's danger at a racecourse.

“We need to find someone in authority!” The Doctor turned in a full circle. “An event like this has to have a steward running things; that’s who we want.”

Rory was scanning the crowds too. “And when we find the steward, what’re we supposed to tell him? Sorry, but you’ll have to shut this race meeting down because we think some of the horses have been replaced by shapeshifting carnivorous aliens?”

“A parasite,” Amy said. “Deadly. Some of the horses may be infected. It could kill them if left untreated.”

“That should work.” Rory grinned at his wife. “You’re brilliant!”


The End

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Chapter 660: Brooding

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 599: Kitchen at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is brooding over a rescue that wasn't completely successful.

Donna tracked the Doctor down to a small kitchen tucked away near the TARDIS’s library. He was sitting at the table, nursing a cup of tea.

“Is there enough for two? I could murder a cuppa.”

There was no response.

“Oi, spaceman!”

Finally, he lifted his head, blinking sadly at Donna through the steam rising from his cup.

Pulling up a chair, Donna sat down. “There’s no use sitting here brooding; you did what you had to. Can’t save everyone all the time, right?”

“If I’d got there sooner…”

“You saved a lot of people.”

“Three died.”

“And ninety-five didn’t.”


The End

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Chapter 661: Irresistible

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 600: Magnet at dw100.

Summary: What is it that draws people to Jack?

Jack draws people to him like a magnet, and he does so effortlessly. His smile is wide and white, completely unforced, oozing charm and charisma, and people of all kinds simply gravitate towards him. The only people so far who haven’t fallen under his spell are the Daleks, and the Doctor himself. Even Rose isn’t immune.

The Doctor isn’t jealous, or envious, or resentful, merely puzzled, because he can’t for the life of him understand why Jack has such a profound effect on almost everyone he meets.

“Face it, Doc, I’m just that irresistible. Everybody loves me!”

“I don’t.”

“Liar.”


The End

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Chapter 662: Bad Wolf

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 601: Primal at dw100.

Spoilers: The Parting of the Ways.

Summary: Rose isn't Rose anymore.

She isn’t Rose Tyler anymore, she’s the Bad Wolf, and she exists throughout space and time. She’s everywhere and everywhen at once, less barely civilised human being and more primal entity, beyond flesh and blood, mind and body. She’s energy, and she can do anything.

Defeating the Daleks is nothing to her. It’s like unravelling a piece of knitting; find a loose end and pull. The Dalek fleet dissolves from existence.

Giving life proves as simple as taking it. She breathes on the dust, all that remains of Jack Harkness, knitting him together again. Body, mind, spirit, soul.

Job done.


The End

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Chapter 663: Leap Of Faith

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 602: Jump at dw100.

Summary: Amy isn't sure she can do this....

“JUMP!” the Doctor shouts. It’s an order, but Amy can’t follow it. She’s frozen to the spot, even though the building she’s standing on is collapsing beneath her.

“It’s too far, I’ll never make it!”

“Yes you will!” The Doctor is standing on the edge on the next building’s roof, a few metres lower but a good three metres away. The gap between them is a yawning chasm that might as well be bottomless. “I’ll catch you!”

“What if I pull you over with me?”

“You won’t. Just jump; trust me.”

She jumps… and is caught.

“See? Nothing to it.”


The End

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Chapter 664: Different But Good

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 603: Spectacles at dw100.

Summary: Rose likes the way this new version of the Doctor looks.

This new Doctor is different. He doesn’t anything like the man Rose met running from living mannequins. He’s shorter, younger, with longer, lighter hair, a different face, ears that don’t stick out. His voice is different too, no trace of a northern accent.

He’s cute though. Rose decides she can get used to this new version of her old friend, and when he pulls black-rimmed spectacles from somewhere and puts them on… Sexy!

“Hang on though, since when did you need glasses? And where’d they come from?”

The Doctor shrugs. “No idea. They must have come with the new body.”


The End

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Chapter 665: Short Hop

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 604: Locale at dw100.

Summary: Clara and the Doctor are in peril.

Hordes of angry natives are converging on the TARDIS, bearing flaming torches. The outside of the TARDIS is wood, or looks like it is. Clara would rather not find out whether or not it burns like wood.

“Doctor, do something!”

“I’m trying!” What a time to break down. “Aha! Got it!”

The TARDIS dematerialises, then fades back in. Clara cautiously peeps out the door to discover a scene that looks a lot like the one they just left, minus the mob.

“Where are we?”

“Same planet, different locale. The natives this side of the divide are more civilised. I hope.”


The End

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Chapter 666: Go With The Flow

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 605: Flow at dw100.

Summary: Alien behaviour can be hard to figure out.

Donna felt a little disconcerted. As alien planets went, this one seemed friendly enough, but why did the people keep coming up to them, patting and stroking them? It sounded as though they were murmuring “Good, good”.

“Why are they doing that?” she hissed at the Doctor when, for a few moments, she wasn’t being pawed at.

“No idea yet. Just go with the flow for now; I’m sure everything will become clear. They’ve probably never seen people like us before.”

The aliens looked like squat blue beakless penguins.

“Fine, but if they want to mate with us, we’re leaving.”


The End

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Chapter 667: Feeling Tall

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 606: Dwarf at dw100.

Summary: For once, Clara is taller than most of the people around her.

Clara had always thought of herself as a bit on the short side. She’d have liked to be taller, but that hadn’t been in her genes. Here, however, she felt like a giant. Despite her lack of stature, she dwarfed the inhabitants of this world; the tops of their heads barely reached her knees.

“See?” The Doctor beamed down at her from his own impressive height. “There are tons of people in the universe closer to the ground than you, and they don’t mind. Formidable warriors, this lot.”

“They’re all wearing pink.”

“Just don’t tell them it’s a girly colour.”


The End

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Chapter 668: One Wrong Step

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 607: Crust at dw100.

Summary: Donna's a city girl, she doesn't belong around livestock.

“Nothing to worry about,” the Doctor assured Donna. “They’re harmless herbivores, they won’t hurt you.”

Donna wasn’t so sure. The creatures were massive, twice the size of cows, and she didn’t want to get trampled beneath their enormous feet.

“They’re coming this way!”

“Stand still, they’ll go around… I wouldn’t go that way if I were you!”

Donna wasn’t listening. Scrambling up and over the tall gate, intent on reaching safety, she started across a stretch of what looked like concrete, only to break through the crust and end up knee-deep in muck.

“Crap!”

“I did try to warn you.”


The End

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Chapter 669: Traffic Jam

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 608: Delay at dw100.

Summary: Alien planets have traffic problems too.

“I thought you were in a hurry to get back to the TARDIS!” Amy tried to peer over the Doctor’s shoulder from her perch on the back of the motorcycle. “What’s the hold-up?”

“Traffic jam,” he replied cheerfully.

“What d’you mean? We haven’t seen a single vehicle besides this bike.”

“Not that kind of traffic.” The Doctor shifted so his passenger could see the road ahead; it was a seething mass of greyish, warty creatures.

“What are they?”

“Beezles. I was hoping we could reach the TARDIS before they began swarming, but it looks like we’re going to be delayed.


The End

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Chapter 670: Free Food

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 609: Low Hanging Fruit at dw100.

Summary: Rose isn't impressed by the local fruit.

Rose’s stomach grumbled hungrily, and she turned to her two friends. “Don’t suppose either of you thought to bring food, did you?”

Jack shook his head. “No, sorry. Wasn’t expecting to be wandering around this long.”

“Why would we need to bring food?” The Doctor gestured around him. “There’s plenty to eat right here.”

“Like what?” Rose couldn’t see anything that looked even remotely edible.

The Doctor plucked a low-hanging, fuzzy greyish blob off a nearby tree and tossed it to her.

“You expect me to eat this?”

“Pookri fruit taste much better than they look.”

“That wouldn’t be difficult.”


The End

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Chapter 671: Puzzled

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 610: Complex at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor's intellect may just have met its match.

There was nothing like a complex puzzle to get the old brain cells stirring, and the Doctor had never met a puzzle he couldn’t solve, because he happened to be exceptionally clever. He’d got to the bottom of unsolvable mysteries on more worlds than he could remember, could beat every chess master who ever lived, had never lost at poker, and when it came to breaking codes, there was no one better.

This, however, was a puzzle even his brilliant brain might not be able to find the solution to.

“The clues make no sense!”

Cryptic crosswords had him beat.


The End

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Chapter 672: Dangerous Creature

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 611: Incident at dw100.

Summary: There's an intruder in the TARDIS, who's going to deal with it?

“Catch it!” the Doctor yelled. “Just grab it before it starts chewing something important!”

Jack stood his ground. “Why should I have to catch it? You’re the one who let it in!”

“I didn’t let it do anything! I didn’t know it was there, it came in all by itself!”

“That doesn’t mean you can’t throw it out!”

“You’re closer!”

“And this is as close as I’m getting. Those teeth look sharp.”

“You’re scared of its teeth? You were a Time Agent!”

“Oh, honestly!” Rose snapped, tossing her jacket over the creature.

She’d never let them forget the squirrel incident.


The End

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Chapter 673: Picky Eater

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 612: Peckish at dw100.

Summary: Alien delicacies smell better than they sound.

After several hours of wandering around the alien market, Clara was beginning to feel a bit peckish. There were so many wonderful aromas coming from the stalls they were passing, so many delicious-looking alien delicacies waiting to be sampled.

She caught hold of the Doctor’s sleeve before he could wander off. “Can we get something to eat?”

“You’re hungry?”

“Just a bit. Is there anything here safe for a human consumption?”

“Oh, lots of things. Here, how about some groosh?”

“What’re they?”

“Sort of like deep fried land slugs.”

Clara pulled a face. “No thanks, I just lost my appetite.


The End

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Chapter 674: Other Worlds

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 613: Vicarious at dw100.

Summary: Wilf has always been fascinated by space.

For as long as he could remember, Wilf had been fascinated by the stars. As a boy, he’d spent many evenings lying on his back, staring up at them, imagining what might be out there in space, the strange people and animals that might exist on other worlds.

He would have liked to be an astronomer, or an astronaut, but his life had taken a different direction. Still, he’d bought a telescope so he could feel closer to those distant stars.

Now Donna was out there somewhere, having wonderful adventures, and he was vicariously living his dream through her stories.


The End

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Chapter 675: Fair Exchange

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 614: Exchange at dw100.

Summary: When the Doctor needs transport, he borrows it. Sort of.

The Doctor flashed his psychic paper at the young man.

“What’s your name?”

“David Desmond.”

“Right, David, we need to borrow your vehicle. It’s a matter of life or death.”

“Okay, sure, Detective Inspector.” David held out the keys. “I’ll get it back though, right? I mean it’s my first car, I’ve only had it a week.”

“Yes, of course. Well, probably, and hopefully in one piece. Mostly. Look, why don’t you take this in exchange?” Digging in his pocket, the Doctor handed over a gold medallion.

David never got his car back. He bought himself a new Mercedes instead.


The End

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Chapter 676: Invasive

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 615: Indigenous at dw100.

Summary: Introduced species can become a bigger problem than the one they were meant to combat.

Martha gazed in wonder at the brightly coloured furry creatures gambolling about the meadow.

“They’re so beautiful! What are they?”

“The people here call them Bikra. They’re not indigenous to this world; centuries ago, several pairs were imported to deal with a vermin infestation, but they bred so fast they wiped out most of the native wildlife so now they’ve become the main source of income for the entire planet. Their fur is in demand for its bright colours, and they’re just about the only source or meat available. It’s a bad idea to introduce non-native species to existing ecosystems.”


The End

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Chapter 677: Unimpressive

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 616: Marvel at dw100.

Summary: The wonders of the universe don't always live up to the hype surrounding them.

“This,” the Doctor announced, “is one of the biggest tourist attractions in this sector of the universe! People travel from the farthest reaches of the galaxy just to marvel at it.”

“It’s… big.” That was the best Rory could come up with, since the object itself wasn’t particularly impressive in any other respect.

Amy glanced at her husband. “I was going to say that.” She turned to study the enormous greenish-grey rock squatting lumpily on the top of a hill. “What is it, exactly?”

“It’s a singing stone!” The Doctor’s smile faded. “Unfortunately, it only sings when the wind’s blowing.”

The End

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Chapter 678: Shocked

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 617: Bare / Bear at dw100.

Summary: Donna isn't prepared for the shock that awaits her when she steps out of the TARDIS.

“Oh my God!” Donna slapped her hand over her eyes and turned away. “You never told me you were bringing me to a nudist colony!”

The Doctor huffed something under his breath about silly human prejudices. “It’s their planet. If they prefer not to wear clothes that’s up to them. You wouldn’t like it if strangers told you what to wear in your own home.”

“They’re not wearing anything though! They’re just a bunch of bare bodies!”

The Doctor looked at the natives going about their everyday lives.

“That’s not exactly true. They’re wearing shoes.”

“Like that makes any difference!”


The End

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Chapter 679: Goldilocks

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 617: Bare / Bear at dw100.

Summary: Some aliens look oddly familiar...

Rose gasped as a huge, hairy creature lumbered towards her, walking upright on two thick, furry legs.

“’Scuse me,” it rumbled politely.

If the Doctor hadn’t pulled her out of the way, she might well have stood there staring all day.

“Thank you.” The imposing figure continued down the street.

“Did you see that?” Rose turned wide eyes on the Doctor. “It was a bear! A walking, talking bear!”

“What did you expect? This planet is in the constellation you humans call Ursa Major, the Great Bear.”

“So what do the natives of Ursa Minor look like?”

“Really little bears.”


The End

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Chapter 680: Supply Run

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 618: Hinge at dw100.

Summary: Even the TARDIS isn't immune to wear and tear.

“Cardiff again? What’s with you and Cardiff?” Donna complained. “It’s not that different from London!”

“’Course it is! You wait until you smell that sea air; you don’t get that in London! Anyway, can’t refuel the TARDIS where there’s no Rift.”

“So this is just a pit-stop to refuel?”

“That and I need to pick up a few things.”

“What sort of things?”

“Oh, tea, biscuits, those kinds of things. Jaffa Cakes, Jammie Dodgers…” As he spoke, the Doctor swung the TARDIS door open. It made a horrible creaking sound and tilted alarmingly. “And a new hinge for the door.”


The End

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Chapter 681: Healthy Appetites

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 619: Whet at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor frequently confounds Clara.

“I fancy some chips. How about you?”

“You’re thinking about food now?”

“Why not? There’s nothing like a bit of healthy exercise to whet the appetite!” the Doctor said cheerfully as he shut the TARDIS door behind him and bounded over to the central console, flicking switches and turning dials.

Clara stared at him in disbelief. “Healthy exercise? We were running for our lives! Those things back there wanted to make a meal of us!”

“I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding. So, chips? I know a place on Rathnum where they’re almost as good as you’d get on earth.”


The End

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Chapter 682: Revolution

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 620: Anger / Angry at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor isn't about to let this injustice stand!

Anger flared inside the Doctor’s hearts. If there was one thing guaranteed to infuriate him, it was deliberate cruelty, whether inflicted on another sentient being or an innocent creature.

This supposedly advanced and enlightened civilisation had enslaved another less advanced race, torturing and half starving the poor beings into compliance, forcing them to live their lives below ground in hazardous mines, digging for wealth they would never share. It stopped now.

“If you need the precious metals and gemstones from these mines, I suggest you start digging for them yourselves. The age of slavery is over, the revolution starts here!”


The End

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Chapter 683: Bureaucracy

Author's Notes: Written For Challenge 620: Anger / Angry at dw100.

Summary: Even the most officious bureaucrat is no match for the Doctor.

Officious bureaucrats were the same the universe over, apparently. This one was refusing entrance to what was supposed to be a public building where a meeting was being held to iron out a trade agreement with another race of aliens.

The Doctor had important information about these aliens; they weren’t the peaceful traders they seemed, this was merely the first step towards a full-scale invasion, but how could he warn anyone if they wouldn’t let him in? He was getting angry.

“If you don’t let me in, you’re all doomed!”

“You can’t threaten me!”

“I think you’ll find I can!”


The End

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Chapter 684: Access Denied

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 620: Anger / Angry at dw100.

Summary: UNIT needs to update their files.

Attempting to defuse the tense situation, Clara stepped between the Doctor, and the guard trying to prevent them from entering UNIT HQ.

“You must be new, so I’ll tell you now; you really shouldn’t make him angry. Trust me when I say you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.”

The guard looked unimpressed. “Thinks he’s the Incredible Hulk, does he?”

“No, I’m the Doctor, and that’s something far worse.”

“The Doctor?” Now the guard looked impressed, stepping aside. “Sorry, Sir; didn’t recognise you.”

“New face.” The Doctor ushered Clara inside. “Who’s this Incredible Hulk?” he whispered.

“I’ll tell you later.”


The End

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Chapter 685: Far Away

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 621: Mote at dw100.

Summary: Martha sees earth from space.

From this distance, earth is hardly more than a tiny mote of dust against the black, star-spangled backdrop of space. Looking at it, Martha has never felt smaller or less significant.

That’s her world, the place her parents and countless generations of her ancestors were born, lived their lives, and died, but here she is, an unimaginable distance away from all that’s familiar, and a lot that isn’t, further than anyone she knows has ever gone.

She’s not the first to travel with the Doctor, and she won’t be the last, but she’s the one here, now, and it’s fantastic!


The End

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Chapter 686: Acceptance

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 622: Canny at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor's new incarnation is growing on Clara.

It makes an odd sort of sense to Clara that the Doctor now talks with what sounds a lot like a Scottish accent. Scots are known to be shrewd people, careful with their money, cautious in their business dealings, good at negotiating, and this new version of her old friend is certainly all of that.

He’s also blunt, tactless, and arrogant, but nobody’s perfect.

She still misses the clumsily endearing exuberance of the Doctor’s previous incarnation, but this one is growing on her. He’s not quite as reckless, more likely to think before acting, and maybe that’s a good thing.


The End

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Chapter 687: Space Police

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 623: Force at dw100.

Spoilers: Smith & Jones.

Summary: Maybe the Judoon weren't the best choice when the Shadow Proclamation was establishing their police force.

As a sort of interplanetary police force, the Judoon leave a lot to be desired. Oh, they get things done, and they’re certainly intimidating to look at, but they’re not among the universe’s great thinkers. They can follow orders to the letter, but initiative isn’t their strong point. Let them make decisions on how to handle a situation, and you’ll regret it.

Earth is a proscribed planet, so to capture a plasmavore who’s taken refuge there, the Judoon have simply uprooted a hospital and dumped it in neutral territory, namely earth’s moon.

That could cause more problems than it solves.


The End

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Chapter 688: Dear Sarah Jane

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 624: Correspondence at dw100.

Summary: After leaving her behind, the Doctor writes a letter to Sarah Jane.

Dear Sarah Jane,

I miss you. I miss your company, your insight, your friendship. I miss hearing your voice and seeing your smile.

I’m sorry for leaving you behind, but at the same time, I still think it was the right thing to do. You deserve a normal life among your own people, a home and perhaps a family, things you would never have travelling with me. I hope you’ll find them now, and that someday you’ll forgive me. I’ve never been good at goodbyes.

The Doctor knew he’d never send the letter, but he’d needed to write it anyway.


The End

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Chapter 689: Mysterious Planet

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 625: Sixth Doctor Titles at dw100, using The Mysterious Planet.

Summary: There are a lot of mysteries in the universe that the Doctor has yet to solve.

It’s a vast universe, even the Doctor can’t claim to have been everywhere despite his centuries of travel. There are whole galaxies he’s never had occasion to visit, and many solar systems that have never drawn his attention, so it’s hardly a surprise when he stumbles across a mysterious planet at the edge of a very uninspiring star cluster.

The thing is, planets always orbit stars, only this one isn’t. Without the warmth of a sun, life can’t exist, and yet the TARDIS is picking up life signs. That’s impossible!

The Doctor grins: he has a new mystery to solve.


The End

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Chapter 690: Duplicate

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 625: Sixth Doctor Titles at dw100, using The Twin Dilemma.

Spoilers: Journey's End.

Summary: What can the Doctor do with his metacrisis duplicate?

The person standing in front of him looks exactly like the Doctor, right down to the last hair on his head, except that he only has one heart while the Doctor had two. His almost identical twin, created when he siphoned excess regeneration energy into his handy spare hand.

Only the universe isn’t big enough for two Doctors, especially when one is half human, so what can the Doctor do with him? It’s a bit of a dilemma.

The only logical course of action is to send his other self somewhere else, the alternate universe, his parting gift to Rose.


The End

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Chapter 691: Breaking Free

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 625: Sixth Doctor Titles at dw100, using Mindwarp.

Spoilers: Planet of the Ood.

Summary: Peaceful Ood are becoming killers as they try to break free from slavery.

The Ood are peaceful beings, under usual circumstances. They’re trained to serve humans, and they do so most efficiently. It’s their reason to exist.

Except now the Ood are turning against their masters. Something is warping their minds and turning harmless beings into killers.

It isn’t their fault, this is what humans have turned them into by enslaving them, cutting them off from the song they share with all their kind.

They’re starting to break free, but they need some help; the Doctor and Donna know just what to do.

The circle must be broken so the Ood can sing.


The End

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Chapter 692: Wrong Impression

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 625: Sixth Doctor Titles at dw100, using The Twin Dilemma.

Summary: Perhaps the Doctor should have listened to Jack.

“Jack, help!”

“Sorry, Doc, no can do. You got yourself into this, you’ll have to get yourself out. I did warn you not to talk about your favourite fruit. These two lovely beings quite naturally took it to mean you were propositioning them. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have plans of my own. I spotted a lonely-looking Lixxian who’s just crying out for my company. Have fun, you’re in for a real treat with your new friends there.”

Jack spun on his heel and strode away towards a tall, blue, tentacled person, leaving the Doctor to fend for himself.


The End

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Chapter 693: Similarities

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 626: Field at dw100.

Summary: It might look a lot like earth, but it's not.

Sticking her head out of the TARDIS, Amy frowned. Far from the alien world she’d expected to see, they could have been in a farmer’s field back on earth. Luxuriant green grass spread out around them, dotted with small yellow flowers, and the sky overhead was blue with a few fleecy white clouds drifting slowly across it.

“Are you sure this isn’t earth?”

The Doctor’s head popped out beside Amy’s.

“Nope, definitely Rinchahan. See?” He pointed. “You don’t get those on earth.”

Several creatures trundled into view, looking a bit like walking bagpipes, busily cropping the grass.

“Right, alien cows.”


The End

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Chapter 694: Advanced Civilisation

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 627: Camp at dw100.

Summary: Even nomadic aliens are more advanced than humans.

The inhabitants of this planet were mostly nomads, following their herds from place to place, seeking out fresh grazing, making camp for a few days or a few weeks before moving on again. There were a few permanent settlements, where essential equipment was manufactured, but most people preferred not to be tied down.

Unlike similar nomadic tribes back on earth, however, they didn’t have riding beasts or live in tents; their homes were solidly constructed buildings that were transported on anti-gravity sleds.

Martha strolled with the Doctor along the paved streets. Technologically speaking, these people were centuries ahead of earth.


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Chapter 695: Impressive

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 628: Figure at dw100.

Summary: No matter what, somehow the Doctor still manages to look impressive.

With his impressive height, smart attire, bushy eyebrows, and intense, hawklike stare, the Doctor cut an imposing figure, especially since none of the inhabitants of this planet were more than three and a half feet tall, meaning that for once Clara wasn’t the shortest person in the room.

The Doctor looked a lot less imposing, however, once they were inside the village elder’s home and he was squatting awkwardly on one of the small chairs in the low-ceilinged room. He reminded her absurdly of a grasshopper, his knees practically up around his ears, and yet he still commanded everyone’s attention.


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Chapter 696: Airy Cakes

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 629: Recipe at dw100.

Summary: The food on alien planets is out of this world.

Sitting at a table in a small restaurant on a planet whose name she couldn’t even spell, never mind pronounce, Donna practically swooned with delight as she bit into one of the small cakes she and the Doctor had been served with their tea. It was as light and fluffy as a cloud, sweet as spun sugar with a hint of something fruity, and melted in her mouth.

“Oh my God, these are heavenly, I could eat them all day! D’you think they’d let me have the recipe?”

“Wouldn’t do you any good, you’d never get the ingredients on earth.”


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Chapter 697: Setting Free

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 630: Reject at dw100.

Spoilers: Journey’s End.

Summary: The Doctor knows he has to let Rose go, no matter what she wants.

The Doctor loved Rose, more than he’d ever loved one of his human companions. She was so young, vibrantly alive, enthusiastic about meeting the universe head-on, but he’d known from the start it couldn’t last. He could never be what she needed.

When she’d been pulled into Pete’s World he’d thought that was it, but she’d found a way across the void between universes, returning to his side. Now he was sending her back.

He knew she’d see it as rejection, but he was setting her free with his other self, the only part of himself he could give her.


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Chapter 698: Appalling Insult

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 631: Reward at dw100.

Summary: Aliens up to no good should know better than to insult the Doctor!

“Doctor!” Clara tugged at the Doctor’s sleeve and thrust a flyer into his hand. “The Adnamites are offering a reward for your capture, dead or alive!”

“They must be getting desperate. They know it’s only a matter of time before I defeat them, and then their foothold in this universe will be lost.” The Doctor took the flyer and straightened it out, studying the picture. “It doesn’t even look like me, and the reward’s a joke. They’re offering a measly five-thousand Galactic Credits; I should be worth ten times that, at least! Right, that’s it, I’m done with playing nice!”


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Chapter 699: Ding!

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 632: Cobble at dw100.

Spoilers: Blink.

Summary: The Doctor can make just about any kind of device he needs.

When the Doctor needs a piece of tech that’s never actually been invented, he simply cobbles something together, because he’s brilliant like that. Need to track down someone who’s been zapped into the past? Well then, what he needs is a timey whimey detector, so he builds one.

It’s brilliant, naturally, does exactly what it should. Well, okay, it has a few unintended side-effects, like boiling eggs whether he wants it to or not, but thankfully there aren’t any hens around here so it’s okay. Maybe he’ll fix that when he has time. Right now, he needs to find Billy.


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Chapter 700: Bad Landing

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 633: Peacock at dw100.

Summary: Maybe this will teach the Doctor not to be in such a rush.

It’s not one of the Doctor’s best landings, but he’s in a bit of a rush. There are weird goings-on in London, which isn’t unusual around Christmastime, and someone needs to deal with the problem, whatever it happens to be. As self-appointed protector of the earth and all humanity, more often than not the task falls to him.

So yes, bit of a precipitous landing in Kew Gardens, should have been a bit more careful.

The Peacock glares at him accusingly. Half its tail feathers are missing, the ends poking out beneath the bulk of the TARDIS.

“Oh dear. Sorry.”


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Chapter 701: Fruitful

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 634: Plum / Plumb at dw100.

Summary: All the Doctor wanted was a bunch of bananas...

“Sorry, mate, we’re all out of bananas. Won’t have more in until next week’s delivery.” The greengrocer offers up an apologetic smile. “Got some lovely pears here.”

“Ugh, no thanks, can’t stand pears. They’re…” The Doctor shudders dramatically.

“Takes all kinds I suppose. Me, I love a nice pear. How about some apples? Just got some russets in, very crisp and sweet. Or oranges; packed with vitamin C, they are.”

The shopkeeper continues extolling the virtues of his wares, and despite only wanting some bananas, somehow the doctor ends up buying two pounds of plums.

They are very tasty though.


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Chapter 702: Doc Of All Trades

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 634: Plum / Plumb at dw100.

Summary: Even the Doctor can make mistakes.

“Oooh, did they send you to plumb in my new washing machine? You look a bit smart; aren’t you worried about making a mess of your clothes?”

The Doctor was so taken aback that for a moment he couldn’t find his voice.

“Um, actually I’m…”

The woman wasn’t listening. “Well, never mind, it’s through here.” She led him into the scullery. “There you go. Let me know if you need anything.” With that she was gone.

“What kept you?” Amy asked, when the Doctor arrived at her and Rory’s new home, looking damp and mucky.

“Went to the wrong house.”


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Chapter 703: Impostor

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 635: Candidate at dw100.

Summary: Someone isn't who they claim to be.

“What’re we doin’ here?” Donna hissed at the Doctor.

“One of the candidates for Governor is a Zygon,” he replied.

“What’s one of those?”

“Shapeshifter, sort of. The last thing these people need is to wind up under the rule of an alien who has its own agenda. Anyway, we need to find out which one is the Zygon, then track down the real candidate and free them before the election takes place.”

“How hard can that be?”

“Very,” the Doctor said, looking more serious than Donna could ever remember.

“Why?”

“The election takes place in less than eight hours.”


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Chapter 704: Timely Arrival

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 636: Auspicious at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor arrives in the nick of time.

“Well?” Minister Vorba demanded of the shaman Zoosh. “What do the auguries say? Can we defeat these metal monstrosities or not?”

“Alas, alone we are doomed,” Zoosh replied, jowls wobbling with distress.

“The mighty Ziffan Empire will be destroyed?”

“Without assistance our armies cannot prevail. But…”

“What?”

“The one with the blue box will be our salvation.”

“Blue box? What are you on about?”

Just then, there was a wheezing, groaning sound and a blue box materialised before them. A strange being stepped out.

“This is a most auspicious moment,” Zoosh intoned.

“Hello, I’m the Doctor. Now, about these Daleks…”


The End

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Chapter 705: Introductions

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 637: Behemoth at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor makes a new, and rather unusual, friend.

The creature was immense, rising from the sea to tower over the Doctor. It had three long necks, two ending in beaked heads like a snapping turtle’s and the third topped by a steadily pulsing silvery blue orb. Below that, encircling the neck, a fringe of tentacles waved about as if sampling the air.

The behemoth peered down at him from small, reddish eyes.

“Hello. I’m the Doctor.”

“Hello. I am…” It made a deep, roaring sound, nothing the Doctor could reproduce.

“A pleasure to meet you. Would you mind if I called you Norman?”

“Norman would be quite acceptable.”


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Chapter 706: Emergency

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 638: Rogue at dw100.

Summary: Donna and the Doctor have a disaster to prevent.

They were flying along, minding their own business, heading for the Flishpin Nebula, when the TARDIS suddenly lurched, turned upside down, flipped right-side up, changed direction, spun around several times, and finally settled into more or less stable flight again.

Donna clung to a coral strut, unwilling to let go.

“What the bleedin’ heck was that?”

Picking himself up off the floor, the Doctor approached the console.

“Rogue comet,” he explained. “Almost hit us. Oh, not good! It’s headed for an inhabited planet!”

“What can we do?”

The Doctor grinned. “Lasso it and change its course!”

“Lasso a comet. Right.”


The End

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Chapter 707: The Visit

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 639: Icy at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor takes Amy to visit and old friend.

“Why’s it so cold?” Amy blew on her icy fingers, trying to warm them, but it didn’t help. Her feet were beginning to freeze as well.

“We’re inside a glacier,” the Doctor explained. “All that ice around us, it’s bound to be chilly.”

“You could’ve at least told me to put a coat on.” Tucking bare hands under her armpits, Amy shivered.

“You won’t need one; it’s much warmer further in.” The Doctor led the way down a passage, the temperature rising.

“Amy Pond, welcome to the North Pole. Say hello to Santa!”

Amy gaped. This couldn’t possibly be real!


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Chapter 708: Balancing Act

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 640: Apex at dw100.

Summary: This feels a bit precarious to Clara.

Clara peered uncertainly through the TARDIS door.

“Are you sure this is safe? Won’t we fall off?”

“Safe as houses,” the Doctor assured her. “The TARDIS could balance on the head of a pin, if the pin was strong enough.”

They were parked on the apex of a sharply sloping roof. Around them, similar roofs stretched away as far as the eye could see, which was quite a long way thanks to the three bright moons in the sky.

“Come along.” The Doctor was already standing on the ridge tiles. Taking his hand, Clara followed.

“I feel like Mary Poppins!”


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Chapter 709: Flooded

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 641: Submerged at dw100.

Summary: If humans don't act, earth could share this distant planet's fate.

“This world was a lot like earth a few millennia ago,” the Doctor told Bill as they stood atop a high ridge dotted with stunted trees, looking out across a vast expanse of water. “Now all the cities and the rich farmland are gone. The survivors live in scattered settlements, trying to farm the uplands. It’s a hard life.”

“What happened?”

“It’s a familiar story. Pollution and carelessness altered the planet’s climate, the icecaps melted, and the lowlands flooded. The cities still exist, beneath the water; an entire civilisation is now home to fish. The same could happen on earth.”


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Chapter 710: Temporary Parenthood

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 642: Foster at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is left literally holding the baby.

“What am I going to do with you?”

It was a rhetorical question, since the being the Doctor was referring to was at present far too young to reply. It simply gazed up at him with a big, innocent blue eye, and sucked on a tentacle.

Martha frowned at the Doctor. “You’d better not be considering just leaving… it.” Alien it might be, but it was only a baby, unable to care for itself. “We have to find the family, or someone who can raise it.”

“And we will. I just never expected to be foster parent to a squidlet.”


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Chapter 711: Clever Idea

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 643: Innovate at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor and Rose visit a world where nothing is wasted.

The architecture of the city was unlike anything Rose had ever seen; not exactly ugly, but certainly bizarre. The buildings were made of multicoloured blocks that fitted together a bit like Lego, and the streets appeared to be made from slabs of similar stuff.

“I’ve never seen bricks like that. What are they made of?”

“Trash. This planet doesn’t have much in the way of stone or metal ores, so the people had to learn to innovate. Other planets send their rubbish here. It’s treated, compressed into blocks, and used to make buildings and furniture. It’s very clever. Nothing’s wasted.”


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Chapter 712: Farewell Gift

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 644: Confetti at dw100.

Spoilers: The End of Time Part 2.

Summary: The Doctor wants to do something special for Donna.

Of all his companions, Donna was the one the Doctor felt worst about leaving behind. All the others had at least been able to look back on their adventures and benefit from everything they’d learned, but Donna had blossomed so much only to have it all snatched away to save her life.

Now, knowing he would soon regenerate, the Doctor wanted to see her again.

He’d already visited his other recent companions, checking on them and lending a hand, but for Donna he wanted to do more than throw confetti at her wedding.

He hoped she’d like his farewell gift.


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Chapter 713: Impractical

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 645: Curve at dw100.

Summary: The universe is full of eccentricities.

“Do they have something against straight lines here?” Clara asked.

Everything about this planet, the roads, buildings, furniture, even the vehicles, was shaped in smooth, graceful curves. It gave the place elegance and style, made it beautiful to look at, and drew the eye irresistibly to follow the shapes and patterns of the architecture, but it didn’t seem very practical. Even the floors and tables were curved, furnishings and dishes set into dips.

“You could say that. A long-ago Emperor decided curves were more aesthetically pleasing. Everyone decided to copy him to show their loyalty. Now straight lines are illegal.”


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Chapter 714: Adventurous

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 646: Zeal at dw100.

Summary: Unlike many races, humans share the Doctor's enthusiasm for adventure.

One thing the Doctor loved about his human companions was that they were always so full of enthusiasm for whatever adventures he propelled them into.

His own people, Time Lords somewhat excepted, weren’t all that keen on adventuring. They were sticklers for rules and regulations but getting out into the universe exploring and, on occasion, interfering tended be looked down on.

A lot of the other races preferred to stick with what they already knew, but not humans. The people of earth were blessed with an insatiable curiosity almost equal to his own. They wanted to see and do everything!


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Chapter 715: Capital Offence

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 647: Jest at dw100.

Summary: In the Doctor's opinion, Medieval courts are inefficient and wasteful.

“’Twas but a jest, noble Sir; no offence was intended.” The court jester bowed low. “Pray forgive this fool.”

“Off with his head!” a commanding voice demanded.

“As jokes go it certainly wasn’t the best, but I hardly think decapitation is warranted.” The Doctor stepped out of the shadows. “You people are far too quick with the axe. It’s a wonder you’ve got any entertainers left, never mind servants, if you execute them willy-nilly over the slightest thing.”

“What’s the point of being king if I can’t execute people?”

“Well, you’d have a lot more loyal subjects for a start.”


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Chapter 716: Disaster

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 648: Desert/Dessert at dw100.

Summary: Some civilisations just don't stand a chance.

“So where’s this then?” Rose asked, wandering across the sand.

“This,” the Doctor waved his arm to encompass their surroundings, “is the great Vallaxian desert!”

“It’s a bit small, isn’t it? I’ve seen more sand at Blackpool.”

“Ah, well, the Vallaxians were only half an inch tall. When an expedition set out to explore, it took them almost three months to cross it. They were lauded as heroes when they finally made it home again, but that was centuries ago. The Vallaxians are gone.”

“What happened to them?”

“When visitors arrived from another world, their spacecraft flattened the whole civilisation.”


The End

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Chapter 717: Ingenuity

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 648: Desert/Dessert at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor always finds a way to defeat the baddies.

It wasn’t the first time the Doctor and Amy had wound up running for their lives, and it probably wouldn’t be the last; the Doctor had a habit of running headlong into trouble.

“What will they do if they catch us?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t particularly want to find out. In here!” The Doctor dragged Amy into a building and along a catwalk above huge bubbling vats. “That gives me an idea!”

As their pursuers advanced, brandishing their weapons, the Doctor pulled a lever and doused them in something yellow and sticky.

“Custard. Call it their just desserts.”


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Chapter 718: Eating Machine

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 649: Omnivorous at dw100.

Summary: Martha and the Doctor encounter a very dangerous alien.

Martha nervously peered past the Doctor at the creature rummaging about in what looked like a rubbish tip. “What’s that?”

“Hoix,” the Doctor replied, keeping his voice low, not wanting to attract the being’s attention. “It’s a long way from home. They’re sentient, but rather single-minded. Most of the time all they think about is eating, and they’ll eat anything.”

“Including us?”

“Oh yes, and most of our clothing too. They’re the universe’s most perfect omnivore. They can digest literally anything organic, and they’re always hungry.”

“Shouldn’t we do something before it eats someone?”

“Like what? I’m open to suggestions.”


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Chapter 719: Offering Advice

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 650: Audacity at dw100.

Summary: Some people just refuse to listen to the voice of experience.

“Who is this man with the audacity to tell me what I should do about this situation?” the General demanded of his aide, incensed that anyone would presume to tell him how to do his job.

“I’m the Doctor, and if you want your men to survive then you’ll listen to me. I know far more about these creatures than you do; I’ve fought them before, many times. I know their weaknesses and I know how to defeat them. If you don’t want my help, go ahead, do things your own way, but you’ll be sentencing your people to death.”


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Chapter 720: Hiding The Truth

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 651: Censor at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor really hates people trying to hide the truth.

“Censorship, that’s what this is!” The Doctor snorted disparagingly. “Keeping information from people, telling them only what the government thinks they should know, hiding the truth because it’s awkward, or embarrassing, or doesn’t suit the government’s agenda! Next thing you know they’ll be burning books or making reading a crime!”

“Aren’t you overreacting a bit?” Clara asked. “So they don’t want their people knowing we’re aliens, what’s so terrible about that? They’ve never had visitors from other worlds before, and we don’t want to cause a panic.”

“Half the Royal court are aliens; they just don’t want anyone else knowing!”


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Chapter 721: Refusal

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 652: Court at dw100.

Summary: This is an offer the Doctor has to refuse.

The impostor king was dead, but as he’d killed the genuine king, who’d had no heir, the Royal court was in a bit of an uproar. Who would rule the planet now? They needed to crown a new monarch.

“What? No! Nonono!” The Doctor backed away with his hands raised. “I’m not king material. Really, you need to pick someone else.”

“But you saved us! You showed us the truth about that terrible creature. You helped us defeat it!”

“That doesn’t mean I should take his place. I’d be a terrible ruler! Maybe you should try electing a Governor instead.”


The End

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Chapter 722: Hero Worship

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 653: Shoo at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor earns himself an unwanted admirer.

“Shoo! Scat! Go away!” The Doctor flapped his hands uselessly; the creature merely gazed at him with something akin to adoration and butted him in the chest so hard he staggered backwards.

“HONK!”

“I know, I pulled that nasty thorn from your snout, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow me everywhere!”

“HONK!”

“No, you can’t come with me! You belong here, with the others of your kind. You wouldn’t be happy with me. You’d get lonely. Being the only one of your kind is horrible. I should know.”

“Honk.” The creature drooped dejectedly.

“It’s better this way. Honest.”


The End

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Chapter 723: Misread

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 654: Mechanic at dw100.

Summary: Psychic paper is supposed to get the Doctor out of difficulties, not into them.

Sometimes psychic paper caused more problems than it solved. Needing to get aboard a spaceship to search for a dangerous shapeshifter, the Doctor flashed the slip of paper at the ship’s captain.

It was supposed to show the man what the Doctor wanted him to see, that he was a customs inspector, but the captain must have had other things on his mind.

“You’re a qualified mechanic? Well why didn’t you say so? The port engine’s been running rough for weeks and my engineer has no idea what’s wrong.”

The Doctor sighed. “I suppose I’d better take a look then.”


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Chapter 724: Too Alien

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 655: Vegetable at dw100.

Summary: Donna has never encountered anything quite so alien.

Donna already knew that aliens came in all shapes, sizes, and colours, but until this moment she’d never met one that was so totally alien she couldn’t even figure out what she was looking at: animal, vegetable, or mineral.

It had a shell, of sorts, or possibly the lump on its back was a beetle-like carapace. It had legs, or tentacles, on the underside of what passed for its body, but more than anything else, it resembled a turnip, complete with feathery foliage at the top.

“They evolved from a genetic experiment that went a bit wrong,” the Doctor explained.


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Chapter 725: Out Of Place

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 656: Appropriate at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is concerned about Jack giving people the wrong idea. Jack disagrees.

“If you can’t behave appropriately, you’ll have to wait for us in the TARDIS,” the Doctor said, frowning at Jack.

“Hey, it’s not my fault the people here are so friendly! Maybe you’re the one who needs to behave more appropriately; did you ever think of that? Snixxit is a pleasure planet, after all. I fit right in here while you…”

“You stick out like a sore thumb,” Rose finished for Jack.

“Smile, flirt a bit, let your hair down. Metaphorically speaking. Yours is a bit short.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my hair!”

“No, but your attitude needs some work.”


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Chapter 726: Accidental Insult

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 657: Faux Pas at dw100.

Fifth Doctor.

Summary: The Doctor's choice of buttonhole isn't going down well with the natives.

The Doctor likes celery, it’s very decorative, and it’s not bad as a snack in an emergency either. Unfortunately, on this particular world, it’s a bit of a fashion faux pas, mostly because the aliens rather resemble stalks of celery themselves. Of course, if he’d know that in advance this unpleasantness could probably have been avoided, but as humans say, it’s easy to be wise by hindsight.

“I apologise most sincerely, it’s not meant to represent your illustrious leader at all, much less mock her. Just an unfortunate coincidence.”

He really hopes they don’t go in for capital punishment here.


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Chapter 727: Familiar Face

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 658: Mistaken Identity at dw100.

Summary: The Eleventh Doctor gets mistaken for a local celebrity.

“Oh my goodness! You’re him!” The woman was practically bouncing up and down with excitement, much to the Doctor’s confusion.

“I am?”

“Max Emitty! I watch your Tri-Vid show all the time, I’m a huge fan! It would mean the universe to me if I could have your autograph!”

Although still baffled, it seemed the best thing to do was to give the woman what she wanted, then make himself scarce, so when she thrust a Tri-Vid guide at him the Doctor signed it. The man on the cover looked exactly like him.

‘Always wondered where I got this face.’


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Chapter 728: Tactical Error

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 659: Ransom at dw100.

Summary: The TARDIS is taken hostage.

Heavy chains were now coiled around the TARDIS where the Doctor had parked her in what he’d thought was an abandoned building. A gang of young toughs stood around her, armed with baseball bats and knives. One was swinging a bicycle chain.

“What’s this?”

“You’re on our territory.” The leader grinned. “You want your box back, you gotta pay. Don’t even think of goin’ to the coppers.”

“What do you want?”

“A thousand quid. For rent, see?”

“That’s too much.”

“Everything’s expensive in London.”

“My money’s inside.”

“Fine, go get it.”

Moments later, the TARDIS dematerialised, leaving the chains behind.


The End

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Chapter 729: Champion

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 660: Fight/Flight at dw100.

Spoilers: The Christmas Invasion.

Summary: If the Sycorax intend to take earth, they’ll have to get past the Doctor.

Whatever the situation, the Doctor always preferred to find a peaceful solution. Sometimes, however, that wasn’t possible. Daleks didn’t understand peace, or tolerance, and neither did Cybermen. Sad to say, they weren’t the only hostile races in the universe.

The Sycorax probably had their good points, but right at that moment the Doctor couldn’t think what they might be. All he knew was that one way or another, they intended to take earth. He couldn’t have that. The planet was under his protection; if that meant he had to fight for it, he would.

Arming himself, he challenged their leader.


The End

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Chapter 730: Taking Flight

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 660: Fight/Flight at dw100.

Summary: Travelling in the TARDIS might not always be the smoothest ride, but there’s no more thrilling way to see the universe.

The TARDIS might not fly in the generally accepted manner, but that didn’t make her any less of a spacecraft. She traversed the vacuum of space just as effectively as any more streamlined ship, and got from one planet to another considerably faster than most could manage. She also had the advantage of being easier to land. The Doctor could set her down practically anywhere.

“Hold on tight! Off we go!”

As the TARDIS spun and whirled her way through the vortex, the Doctor leaped around the console, working her controls.

He couldn’t imagine a more exciting way to travel.


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Chapter 731: Treasure Hunter

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 661: Treasure at dw100.

Summary: River doesn't see why she shouldn't get to keep a few treasures.

River Song is an archaeologist by profession, and a thief by inclination. In her mind, they amount to the same thing since they both involve seeking out treasure: on the one hand, things long buried that belonged to vanished civilisations, and on the other, valuables that have been deliberately hidden away by their owners. Such things deserve to be seen and appreciated, not locked away in vaults, so she… liberates them.

Many people call her a criminal, but all she’s doing is redistributing wealth. Why should the rich and powerful have all the prettiest things? Doesn’t she deserve a share?


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Chapter 732: Urgent Business

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 662: Alert at dw100.

Summary: Sometimes a direct approach is best.

An intruder alert is blaring, but the Doctor pays little attention to it. After all, technically his arrival is the reason it’s been triggered. The security system must be very sensitive, but all he needs to do is…

A few moments’ work with his sonic screwdriver and the noise cuts off. That’s better; now he can hear himself think.

Soon armed soldiers will be swarming through this office, and he’ll be waiting for them, because he’s here on a matter of some urgency. Since he can’t get hold of the Brigadier on the phone, he’ll have to visit in person.


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Chapter 733: The Monster Within

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 663: Contain at dw100.

Summary: Daleks aren't merely robots.

Many people have the wrong idea about Daleks, seeing them as some kind of manufactured, malevolent robot army. They’re not. What people see and term a Dalek is merely an outer, protective shell, a technologically enhanced suit of armour, designed to contain and protect the otherwise vulnerable, even fragile biological entity that is a Dalek’s true form.

Without their battle armour, they’d be far less of a threat and far easier to kill, but with it, and the added advantage of their powerful fleet of spaceships, they’re almost unstoppable. Proof that technological superiority is ultimately more important than physical capabilities.


The End

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Chapter 734: Fractured Reality

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 664: Flashback at dw100.

Spoilers: The Sound of Drums / Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: Jack can no longer tell what's real.

Jack’s sense of passing time can no longer be relied on. He has no idea how long he’s been hanging here in chains, in the Valliant’s dirty, hot, stinking engine room, waiting for the Master to remember his Freak’s existence and come to torture him again.

Reality has fragmented. Is the Master really present or is Jack having flashbacks to an earlier time, an earlier death? Does it even matter? It’s beginning to seem that this is all he’s ever known.

Sometimes it’s not the Master he sees, but Alice and Emily, his long-ago tormentors. Perhaps he never left Torchwood…


The End

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Chapter 735: Purebred

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 665: Pedigree at dw100.

Summary: Alien pets aren't to Rose's tastes.

“Ugh! What IS that?” Rose kept her distance from the creature, which looked like a cross between an armadillo, a frog, and a toy poodle with mange. Tufts of ginger fur sprouted from between its scales, and its wide, froggy mouth seemed to leer at her.

“It’s a Glebulon Snerd,” the Doctor said cheerfully. “Pedigree, if I’m not mistaken. They make excellent pets. The finest specimens change hands for thousands of credits.”

“Why would anyone want something so ugly as a pet?”

“There you go, talking like a human again. On their home planet they’re considered beautiful.”

“I prefer dogs.”


The End

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Chapter 736: Faithful Friend

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 666: Unravel at dw100.

Fourth Doctor.

Summary: The Doctor makes a great sacrifice.

The Doctor hates to do this, but he can’t see any other option. The tunnels are a veritable labyrinth, and brilliant though he undoubtedly is, keeping track of the route he takes is going to be impossible. He can’t afford to get lost down here; he may never find his way out again!

“Sorry about this,” he mutters as he firmly ties the yarn end to a protruding rock. “Your sacrifice is appreciated.”

He and his scarf have been through a lot together, but as he sets off, unravelling it behind him, he knows it’s never been a greater asset.


The End

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Chapter 737: Birthday Plans

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 667: Celebrate at dw100.

Summary: Rose's birthday gets her thinking.

“So when’s your birthday?” Rose asks, between bites of the birthday cake her mum has provided. “I could get you a cake, and maybe we could have a party. You know, celebrate in style.”

The Doctor shrugs. “I don’t do birthdays. Not much point when you get to my age. Anyway, the Gallifreyan calendar and the earth calendar don’t match up, and with all the travelling through time, who can keep track? It might have been yesterday, or last month, or a week from next Thursday.”

“That’ll do.” Rose grins. “Should be just enough time to get you a present.”


The End

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Chapter 738: Options

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 668: Coward at dw100.

Twelfth Doctor.

Summary: There are more ways to deal with trouble than by fighting.

“You are a coward!”

The Doctor looked around. “Me? No I’m not! I’ve faced danger more times than you’ve had hot dinners.”

“Then why will you not fight alongside us to save our homes and families?”

“Because fighting should be a last resort. When there’s fighting, too many people get hurt, or even killed.”

“We are willing to sacrifice our lives to save our people!”

“But wouldn’t your people be a whole lot happier if they didn’t have to lose their fathers, their husbands, their sons? Let’s try this my way first. If it doesn’t work, then we can fight.”


The End

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Chapter 739: Freedom

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 669: Maverick at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor prefers to do things his own way.

By Time Lord standards, the Doctor is something of a maverick. He goes his own way, does his own thing, doesn’t adhere to the time-honoured traditions… He helped himself to an obsolete TARDIS and set out by himself, without even the usual crew, which might account for the erratic manner in which he flies his time and spaceship. This TARDIS, like all the others, was never designed to be flown by one person.

Going solo freed him of all constraints though, he doesn’t have to answer to anyone, can go wherever and whenever he chooses. Nobody can tie him down.


The End

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Chapter 740: Unconstrained

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 670: Renegade at dw100.

Summary: The Master will never follow his people’s rules.

Time Lords, as a rule, have always worked for the benefit of the Gallifreyan people and the universe at large. They can be overwhelmingly conservative, preserving the status quo, never rocking the boat.

Not the Master! No one is going to tell him what to think, or what to do! He won’t be constrained by their rules or their morality, he rejects everything they stand for!

If he wants power, he’ll take it, if he wants war, destruction, devastation, then he’ll create it! If he chooses to make the universe bow down before him, why not? Nobody can stop him!


The End

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Chapter 741: Evolved

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 671: Feathered at dw100.

Summary: Donna can’t help feeling a little sad for these people.

The people of this world didn’t have hair on their heads, and probably not anywhere on their bodies either, although Donna could only guess at that since they wore clothes. But their heads were feathered, short and downy along the sides and around the backs of their necks, and crests from brow to just past the crown.

Bird-people, graceful, slender, agile, and light-footed, yet flightless, at least under their own power.

Evolution had brought them intelligence, civilisation, and the ability to use tools, but it had taken away a large part of their freedom. Now they needed machines to soar.


The End

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Chapter 742: Bargain

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 672: Quality at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor’s been had.

“Look at these!” The Doctor pointed to the array of watches and clocks on the market stall. “Chronosian. See the tiny jewel there? That’s the mark of quality. Best timepieces in the entire universe. They’re guaranteed to keep perfect time.”

“Better than Swiss watches?” Rory asked. His grandfather had owned a Swiss-made watch; now his uncle had it.

“A gazillion times better, and a bargain price!” The Doctor selected a wristwatch, paid for it, and strapped it on.

“What time is it?” he asked later. “My new watch has stopped.”

Rory laughed. “Looks like you were sold a cheap replica.”


The End

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Chapter 743: Salvaged

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 673: Salvage at dw100.

Summary: This rescue mission is a bit out of the ordinary.

The spaceship is just drifting on the slow tides of space, a ravaged hulk, victim of some unknown disaster.

“What happened to the crew?” Martha asks.

“Who knows? Maybe they were rescued or escaped in the lifepods. Maybe they died, or unscrupulous salvage hunters killed them instead of offering assistance. There’d be a lot of money to be made from selling off the undamaged parts, although most legitimate salvage crews would tow an abandoned craft like this to the nearest space station.”

“Why are we here?”

“For this.” The Doctor unearths a small fragment of coral. “It’s been calling me.”


The End

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Chapter 744: Cobbled Together

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 674: Wheel at dw100.

Summary: There’s a certain amount of improvisation involved in keeping an obsolete TARDIS in working condition.

From a distance, it looks impressive, technologically advanced, but when examined more closely, the TARDIS’ control console gives the impression of having been cobbled together from mismatched spare parts.

Surely that screen is from an old television, and there’s a thing around the other side Rose could almost swear is a bicycle pump. The lever to her left could have come off a slot machine, and there’s a sort of wheel that reminds her of the one on her gran’s ancient sewing machine.

The Doctor shrugs. “When parts break down, I just replace them with whatever will do the job.”


The End

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Chapter 745: Impossible Choice

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 675: Select at dw100.

Summary: How is anyone supposed to choose one destination out of all time and space?

“Where do you want to go?”

The Doctor is all eager enthusiasm, smiling like a kid at Christmas, waiting for his temporary companion to make up his mind, but George is stumped. This isn’t like looking at a takeaway menu, where all the possible selections are right there in front of him. When the choices are infinite, how is anyone supposed to pick just one?

Come to that, how is he supposed to decide when he has no real idea of what his options are? He’s never left earth, has no idea what’s out there.

“The far future, somewhere amazing.”


The End

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Chapter 746: Fugitive

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 676: Chase at dw100.

Summary: Aliens have a bad habit of complicating everything.

Travelling with the Doctor often seems like playing an endless game of tag. Most of the time the aliens are the ones doing the chasing, but this time it’s the other way around.

“Stop, wait, please!” The Doctor is running short of breath, stumbling along after the retreating alien, while Amy tries her best to keep up. “We’re not going to hurt you!”

“I don’t think it understands you.” Amy sags against the Doctor, panting.

“But it’s got to! The TARDIS translates everything!”

“Maybe its species doesn’t have a verbal language.”

“It HAS to stop! It’s got my sonic screwdriver!”


The End

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Chapter 747: Persuasion

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 677: Cajole at dw100.

Summary: Saying ‘no’ to the Doctor almost never works.

Next time the Doctor shows up unexpectedly, Clara decides, she’s not going with him, no matter how much he pleads and cajoles. It was fun while it lasted, but she’s got a job, and a boyfriend, and a life. Her existence doesn’t revolve around a time-travelling alien in a blue box.

It’s the early hours of the morning when he turns up again.

“But you’ve got to come! You don’t want to miss this; it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity!”

So here Clara is, on another alien world. Despite her best intentions, the Doctor always wins in the end.


The End

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Chapter 748: Good Excuse

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 678: Fiddle-Faddle at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor has a good excuse for everything he does.

“But…” Martha grabbed the Doctor by the arm as he went to open the door. “Didn’t they tell us outsiders aren’t allowed in there? It’s where they keep their most sacred religious objects. Even their priests are only allowed in twice a year!”

The Doctor waved his hand. “Religion, superstition, I never bother with all that fiddle-faddle. Something in here isn’t what they think it is, and if we don’t do something about it, soon there won’t be anyone left to get annoyed with me for trespassing on sacred ground.”

“Why?”

“There’ll be a gigantic crater instead of a village.”


The End

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Chapter 749: Local Hazards

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 679: Sting at dw100.

Summary: Rose narrowly avoids a nasty fate.

“Did it sting you?” The Doctor sounded concerned. “Wouldn’t be good to get stung by one of those.”

“I don’t think so.” Rose tried to look at the back of her arm. She still wasn’t sure what just happened; she’d been walking along a bit behind the Doctor when a swarm of something had surrounded her, but it was too dark beneath the trees to make them out.

“If you’d been stung, you’d know about it. You’d swell up like a balloon.”

“No, I’m good. What were those things?”

“Jellyfish. They’re usually nocturnal.”

“But jellyfish don’t fly!”

“They do here.”


The End

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Chapter 750: Winter Wildlife

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 680: Polar at dw100.

Summary: The snow doesn’t appeal as much to Donna as it does to the Doctor.

What is this, some sort of ice age?” Donna pulled her thick fur coat more tightly around her.

“Of course not, just winter. Lovely, isn’t it? All the snow and the trees.”

“Cold is what it is. There aren’t any dangerous animals around here, are there? I wouldn’t want to run into a polar bear. In this coat I might be mistaken for its mate.”

“Don’t worry, nothing with a backbone evolved on this planet.”

“So why are we here?”

“To see the migration of the polar slugs! One of the wonders of the universe.”

“Slugs? Here?”

“They’re very fluffy.”


The End

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Chapter 751: The Tree

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 681: Hollow at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor’s companions don’t always react the way he’d like them to.

Amy frowned. “It’s a tree.”

The Doctor resisted the temptation to roll his eyes. “This is the biggest, not to mention the oldest, tree in the universe. It could even be the first tree, the ancestor of every tree that ever was or will be! What does it take to impress you?”

“It’s hollow.”

“So would you be if you were this old.” The Doctor stuck his head inside the tree. “Hollow in there!” He shouted, his voice echoing in a vast, empty cavern, big enough to use as a ballroom. He grinned at Amy. “Always wanted to do that.”


The End

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Chapter 752: Incognito

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 682: Secret Identity at dw100.

Summary: Strax is trying to be unobtrusive.

“Pretend you don’t recognise me,” a voice said at the Doctor’s elbow. He turned to see Strax, wearing a top hat, and a cape over his suit.

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I’m in disguise, Sir.”

“Oh. Right. Why?”

“To protect my secret identity, Sir.”

“Ah, of course. And what is your secret identity?”

Strax turned, shocked by the question. “If I told you that, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore and then I’d have to kill you. Sir. Please try to keep up.”

“Right. Sorry.”

“So you don’t recognise me?”

“Never seen you before in my life, Strax.”


The End

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Chapter 753: A Better Life

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 683: Noble at dw100.

Summary: Donna’s life has changed, and maybe that’s a good thing.

Donna Noble had never wanted much from life, just a decent job and hopefully a husband. She quite liked being a temp because it was varied, and she got to meet a lot of people. She’d met her fiancé Lance through work, and that should have been that, her simple ambitions achieved.

But then she’d discovered Lance had been using her, and everything she thought she’d known got turned upside down and inside out. Right on her wedding day if you can believe that! Talk about shattered dreams.

But she’s over that. Maybe she was always meant for bigger things.


The End

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Chapter 754: Thorny Problem

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 684: Sharp at dw100.

Eleventh Doctor, Clara Oswald.

Summary: The undergrowth on this planet is decidedly unfriendly.

“Watch out for the thorns,” the Doctor warns. “They’re sharp.”

“I noticed.” Clara tugs her shirt free of a cluster of the sharp spines protruding from something that might have been a tree, wincing at the tear in the fabric. “If you’d told me everything here was spiky, I’d have dressed more suitably.”

It’s annoying the way the Doctor can somehow slip between the thorny plants without getting his clothes snagged once, while Clara’s own clothes are in danger of being shredded. That is SO not fair.

“You just have to avoid them.”

“I’m trying! It’s easier said than done.”


The End

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Chapter 755: Objectors

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 686: Ragtag at dw100.

Eleventh Doctor.

Summary: The Doctor doesn’t approve of fighting.

The ragtag little band of aliens stood outside the TARDIS, looking up at the Doctor, who’d just opened the door in response to their knock.

“Hello there. What can I do for you?”

One stepped forward. “We seek asylum. We are being persecuted by the rest of our tribe.”

“Oh. Why is that?”

“We would not fight in their war. Our tribe is at war with a neighbouring tribe over the right to farm a piece of land. Both tribes are killing each other and ruining the land. They say we are cowards.”

“Do they now? We’ll see about that!”


The End

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Chapter 756: Remembering Bessie

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 687: Rally at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor is reminded of his old car.

“I used to have a car like that,” the Doctor told Donna cheerfully, pointing out a particular model as they wandered around a vintage car rally. “Back in the sixties, I think it was. Called her Bessie. She took me everywhere I needed to go.”

“You drove a car out in space?”

“No, it was while I was on earth, working with UNIT.”

“What happened to her?”

The Doctor stopped. “You know, I have no idea, or maybe I’ve just forgotten. It was a long time ago. Probably got left behind. Not much use for a car in the TARDIS.”


The End

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Chapter 757: The Pirate

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 688: Pirate at dw100.

Summary: Chance encounters are a common occurrence for the Doctor.

Why he was here, the Doctor had no idea. It wasn’t where he’d thought he was going so the TARDIS must be responsible. He didn’t know who the masked man in front of him was either, but he had a sword.

“Who are you?” the man demanded.

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

“I’m the Dread Pirate Roberts.”

“No you’re not. I’ve met him before; he’s shorter, with brown hair and a beard.”

The masked man huffed. “Then I’m the new Dread Pirate Roberts.”

“Oh, well I’m the Doctor. Pleased to meet you. Where exactly am I?”


The End

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Chapter 758: Parting

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 689: Street at dw100.

Spoilers/Setting : Last of the Time Lords.

Summary: Martha is sure she’ll see the Doctor again someday.

Martha stood in the street outside her parents’ house, saying her goodbyes to the Doctor. Walking away from a life of amazing adventures in time and space was easier to do than she’d thought it would be.

It had been fun, terrifying, wonderful, and sometimes heart-breaking, but she wasn’t the same person she’d been on that long-ago day when she’d first encountered the Doctor outside the Royal Hope Hospital. She’d done and seen far too much to be that innocent young woman ever again.

Besides, it wasn’t like she’d never see him again. He’d be there if she needed him.


The End

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Chapter 759: Stocking Up

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 690: Biscuit at dw100.

Summary: Some essential supplies can only be acquired on earth…

Cardiff, Tesco, in the early hours of the morning; the supermarket was closed, the whole place empty. The people who stocked the shelves were gone, and the morning staff wouldn’t be in for a while yet.

The Doctor poked his head out of the TARDIS and smiled, satisfied there was nobody about. He wouldn’t be here long; he just needed to pick up a couple of things, and the new self-service tills made shopping so simple.

He found the biscuit aisle and searched along it until he found the Jammie Dodgers, snagging a dozen packets.

Automated till, sonic screwdriver… Done.


The End

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Chapter 760: In Disguise

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 691: Sprout at dw100.

Summary: Not everything is quite what it seems.

It was like stepping out into a rainforest. Lush greenery surrounded the TARDIS while the air was hot and humid. Unseen creatures warbled and hooted somewhere in the dense canopy overhead and the light that filtered through to the forest floor had a greenish hue.

“Are you sure we’re not on earth?” Martha asked.

“Absolutely; this is Fernoof.”

“It looks a lot like an earth jungle. Some of the plants resemble orchids, and why are there Brussels sprouts?”

“They’re not sprouts, they’re Fernoofian predators. Disguise themselves as vegetation to lure herbivores. Not very successful though; the natives don’t like sprouts.”


The End

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Chapter 761: Fearsome

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 692: Warrior at dw100.

Summary: Never judge an alien by its appearance.

The Doctor had warned Clara in advance that the people of this world were fearsome warriors, and easily offended.

“Don’t laugh at them,” he’d said. “You don’t want to upset them. They get very nasty when they’re upset.”

Well, keeping a straight face was easier said than done; the fearsome warriors were less than two feet tall, pale yellow, round, and fluffy. They looked as threatening as the average dust bunny, and just about as insubstantial.

They carried barbed spears though, and as they spoke with the Doctor they bared their viciously sharp teeth.

Outward appearances could be very deceptive.


The End

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Chapter 762: Fooled You

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 693: Bulbous at dw100.

Summary: Where did the Doctor disappear to?

The Doctor had been right beside Rose when she’d stopped at one of the market stalls, then she’d turned around and he was gone. She scanned the crowd, trying not to worry; he couldn’t have gone far, she’d only been distracted for a minute.

“Alright, little lady?” a voice beside her asked, and she turned to see a lumpy creature beside her, with big, bulbous eyes.

“Fine. Just looking for my friend; he was here a minute ago.”

The alien laughed, shimmered, and there was the Doctor, holding an odd device.

“Fooled you! Isn’t this great? Think I’ll buy it.”


The End

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Chapter 763: Ageism

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 694: Spry at dw100.

First Doctor.

Summary: The Doctor dislikes being thought of as old.

Just because the Doctor looks like an old man, with his lined face and white hair, doesn’t mean he is one. Well, he is and he isn’t, he’s certainly old enough to qualify, but he’s a Time Lord so the same rules don’t entirely apply to him. He could live for centuries and wind up looking younger than his granddaughter’s teachers.

Age is just a number, and appearances can be deceptive. The Doctor is as spry now as he’s ever been, not the doddering old fool these young whippersnappers take him for. Give him a chance and he’ll prove it.


The End

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Chapter 764: Careful Selection

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 695: Decision at dw100.

Summary: Some decisions shouldn’t be rushed.

The Doctor takes a deep breath of air rich with a veritable symphony of aromas. Earthy, spicy, dark, warm, pungent, fruity… his sensitive Time Lord nose is able to separate and categorise them all at a sniff, and he basks in them, relishing every inhalation.

This is an important decision, and he has no intention of rushing it. There’s so much to choose from; nowhere else in the universe has such a comprehensive selection.

“We’ll be here all week at this rate.” Donna sounds impatient. “I mean, tea’s tea.”

The Doctor huffs. “You take all the fun out of choosing.”


The End

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Chapter 765: Being Inventive

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 696: Compound at dw100.

Clara Oswald, Eleventh Doctor.

Summary: The Doctor is busy in his laboratory.

“You have a laboratory in the TARDIS?” To the Doctor’s puzzlement, Clara actually sounded surprised.

“Of course I do! This is where I create stuff.”

“What sort of stuff?”

“Oh, all kinds. My sonic screwdrivers, things that detect other things… All kinds of clever stuff. You name it, I’ve probably made it here.” The Doctor continued grinding something using a mortar and pestle. Some things, it seemed, were universal.

“So what’s that? Some new chemical compound that does something amazing?”

The Doctor beamed happily. “You never know, it could be the cure for everything! It’s my new blend of tea!”


The End

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Chapter 766: Wild Ride

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 697: Careen at dw100.

Summary: The TARDIS gets caught by a shockwave.

The shockwave from the explosion caught the TARDIS, sending her careening through space, tumbling end over end, throwing her occupants about like they were in a tumble-dryer. All they could do was clutch at anything they could reach that might offer some stability.

Rose was screaming, the Doctor was muttering to himself as he tried to regain control, and Jack…

“Whoohooo! What a ride! Even the Vegas Galaxy doesn’t have anything like this!”

“Seriously?” Rose gasped, clinging like a limpet to a coral strut, her eyes shut tight. “You’re enjoying this?”

“What can I say? I live for the thrill.”


The End

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Chapter 767: Solid Ground

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 698: Island at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor needs to find somewhere he can land the TARDIS.

“Nothing to worry about,” the Doctor said airily. “Just a minor glitch.”

“You call this minor?” Donna asked incredulously; the TARDIS console room was rapidly filling with smoke.

“We just need to set down somewhere for repairs. This planet will do fine, all we need is an island and… There.” The TARDIS settled with a jarring thud and the door swung open, admitting clean, fresh air.

Donna stumbled outside, half blinded by the smoke, and almost fell in the ocean. “Oi, spaceman! You call this an island? It’s the size of a postage stamp!”

“It’s better than nothing.”

“Good point.”


The End

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Chapter 768: Science Fiction

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 699: Reverse The Polarity at dw100.

Summary: In a desperate situation, anything’s worth a try.

“We’re being sucked in!” The Doctor shouted over the whining engines. “I can’t stop it!”

He and Amy could have escaped the doomed spacecraft by jumping in the TARDIS and flying away, but there wasn’t time to get the ship’s crew and passengers aboard, and the Doctor couldn’t bring himself to abandon over a thousand innocent souls.

“Can’t you… I don’t know, reverse the polarity or something?”

The Doctor huffed. “You humans and your science fiction. That stuff never actually works!”

“You got a better idea?”

“Not right now.” The Doctor fumbled at the controls. “Well I never. It worked!”


The End

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Chapter 769: Future In The Past

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 700: Highlight at dw100.

Spoilers: The Angels Take Manhattan.

Summary: Amy and Rory can never get back to their own time, but that’s okay.

“Stuck in New York in the past.” Rory smiled apologetically. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. At least we’re alive and we’re together. The rest doesn’t matter.”

“But…”

“But nothing. Will I miss travelling with the Doctor? Of course. We both will. But we’ve been there and done that, and as much fun as it was, it was never going to be forever.”

“We had it all though. The whole of space and time.”

“We did, for a while, and it was amazing. I’ll never forget any of it, but it wasn’t the highlight of my life. That will always be marrying you.”


The End

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Chapter 770: Spare Parts

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 701: Mangle at dw100.

Summary: The Doctor can’t just nip to the local TARDIS dealership for repairs.

Junkyards were excellent places to look for spare parts. For a Time Lord, repurposing everyday objects was child’s play. An old radio could serve as a detection device, with the right modifications to its wiring and circuits. Bicycle pumps were always handy things to have, and you could never have too many TV screens and vacuum tubes.

The ancient mangle was a particularly exciting find and the Doctor proudly dragged it into the TARDIS.

“What d’you think of this then? Look at that handle! Good, solid craftmanship, that; bound to be useful.”

Repairing an obsolete TARDIS required ingenuity and improvisation.


The End

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Chapter 771: Hungry For Adventure

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 702: Appetite at dw100.

Summary: Martha didn’t know how much she wanted adventure until she met the Doctor.

Martha had long considered herself the most grounded and stable member of her family. She knew what she wanted from life, to be a doctor and heal people, and she’d set about achieving her goals with focus and determination.

Then the Doctor had burst into her ordered, predictable life, and awakened in her a previously unimagined appetite for adventure. Almost before she knew what was happening, she was out in the universe, travelling through space and time, seeing places and people she’d never dreamed of.

Her old life seemed insignificant, even boring, in comparison. She’d never felt quite so alive.


The End

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Chapter 772: Improper

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 703: Prim at dw100.

Summary: River loves to shock the Doctor.

“Do you like it?” River’s outfit left very little to the imagination.

“I… you… I…” The Doctor covered his eyes.

River smirked at her husband, enjoying how flustered she could make him. For someone who travelled through space and time, he could be such a prude. He’d visited planets where nudity was the norm, yet here she was, showing a bit of leg, a lot of cleavage, and most of the rest of her, and he was shocked into incoherency.

“It’s alright for you to look, Sweetie. We’re married; you’ve seen it all before.”

“You can’t wear that in public!”


The End

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Chapter 773: Stolen Worlds

Author's Notes: Written for Challenge 704: Rescue at dw100

Spoilers: The Stolen Earth.

Not particularly happy with this one.

Summary: When the earth is stolen the Doctor has no choice but to save it.

Earth has just been snatched out from under the TARDIS, and even for the Doctor that’s a bizarre and unexpected development.

Turns out, someone’s been taking whole planets, a lot of them, ripping them right out of their orbits and transporting them to another area of space and another time, so what can the Doctor do but ride to the rescue?

The Daleks never give up, determined to destroy everything that isn’t a Dalek, but the Doctor never gives up either. He’s going to stop their latest scheme, restore the universe to its proper balance, no matter what it takes.


The End

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Chapter 774: Hidden In Plain Sight

Author's Notes: Written For Challenge 705: Junkyard at dw100.

First Doctor.

Summary: A junkyard is a good place to be inconspicuous.

The Doctor found the TARDIS in a junkyard, old, outdated, obsolete, but still operational. He didn’t steal her exactly, it was more liberation than theft, for both of them.

Now they’re in a junkyard again, a different planet, a different time. The chameleon circuit has jammed, but this is earth, and an outdated police telephone box isn’t particularly conspicuous, especially amid all the piles of discarded junk waiting to be dismantled.

It suits the Doctor’s purposes for now, a base of operations where he can remain while Susan attends a local school and learns about the planet and its people.


The End

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