𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧
𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐬
𝟐𝟏𝟒𝟓

from the eyes of
— 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒 𝐉𝐀𝐃𝐄 —

And somehow, our double date on Romulus ended up with me stuck as a goddamn unicorn, chasing the alien equivalent of a wizard through the woods and trying to shove my horn up his ass.

At this point, such a thing should not come as a surprise.

Said wizard was shrieking like a banshee, his robes flapping wildly as he sprinted through the undergrowth, arms flailing. Behind me, the Doctor was shouting at the top of his lungs, sonic screwdriver in hand. "Dearest! Stop! I can fix this—no need for impalement! Not up the—oh, that's just uncalled for!"

What a prude. If the opportunity to kill someone via anus impalement presents itself, you take it. That's just common sense.

Amy clearly agreed with me, as she was running behind the Doctor, whooping and cheering me on. "Go on, PJ! Get him good!"

"Amy! Stop encouraging her!" The Doctor cried back.

Meanwhile, Rory was somewhere at the back of our little parade, gasping between breaths. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!"

I finally managed to corner the alien wizard against a steep cliffside, his back against the edge as he spun around, eyes wide and frantic. He dropped to his knees, hands up in surrender, babbling in terror. "Please! I didn't mean to turn you into a unicorn! It was an accident!" His eyes flicked to my shimmering white coat and flowing mane. "But at least your hair looks all shiny—"

I tried to scream an outraged "Fuck you!" but all that came out was an ear-piercing whinny. Furious, I scraped at the ground with one hoof and lowered my head, my horn gleaming dangerously as I prepared to charge.

The wizard's face drained of color. "No—no, wait!"

Too late. I charged, horn aimed right at his throat.

How did our date take such a drastic turn? How did we find ourselves here? How did I find myself as a FUCKING unicorn?

It all started a few hours back, when we were hanging out with those cool-as-fuck nomadic hippie people...

▂ ✶ ▂ ✶ ▂ ✶ ▂ ✶ ▂

They were a peculiar group, dressed in loose, colorful garments that flowed around their bodies, moving with the breeze as if they were part of the forest itself. Their hair was long, tangled, and adorned with beads and feathers. One of them, a man with a scraggly beard, leaned casually on a wooden staff, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. Beside him stood a woman with fiery red hair, similar to Amy's, her face painted with delicate swirling patterns that looked like vines. Another man had a guitar-like instrument slung over his shoulder, his fingers absently strumming the strings as he watched us. The last two were twins, indistinguishable other than one was male and the other female, they both wore the same happy grin.

As the Doctor suggested, the natives of this planet were shorter. The tallest one—the man with the scraggly beard was my height. The shortest one—the woman—could not have been taller than five foot.

I noticed their eyes—the vibrancy in them that nearly nobody who was 100% human would ever be able to adorn naturally. And finally—the points to their ears were only noticeable when you were looking for it.

The Doctor's enthusiasm was infectious as he turned back to us, waving us forward. "Come on, come on—introductions all around!"

I exchanged glances with Amy and Rory before stepping up beside the Doctor. Amy nudged me, leaning in to whisper, "These guys look like they fell out of Woodstock..."

I snickered, whispering back, "Right? All that's missing is the tie-dye."

The Doctor shot us a glare over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing in disapproval. I bit my lip to stifle my laughter.

The bearded man stepped forward, bowing his head with a flourish of his hand. "Greetings, fellow travelers. I am Thorne, and these are my kin—Liora," he gestured to the red-haired woman, who smiled warmly, "Andor," the musician who strummed his instrument and nodded, "and the twins, Sera and Silan." The twins giggled in unison, waving at us before leaning against each other, mirroring each other's every movement.

"Well, I'm the Doctor! This here is PJ," He motioned to me before pointing to Amy, "she's Amelia," He spoke but Amy jumped in.

"Amy," She corrected and the Doctor pretended not to hear her.

He then pointed to Rory. "And that is Rory!" The Doctor's eyes sparkled with fascination as he clapped his hands together. "Nomads, I presume?"

Thorne's smile widened, his eyes crinkling. "Indeed, wanderers of the land, seekers of stories. We follow the winds and the rivers, never lingering too long in one place."

The Doctor practically buzzed with excitement. "Splendid—me and PJ here are something akin to nomads too!" He motioned to me, a proud look on his face.

I frowned and pursed my lips at being called out.

Amy crossed her arms, her brow arching. "What about me and Rory?"

Rory pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. "Amy, please don't ever call us nomads again..."

The Doctor sniggered, as though the thought itself was hilarious, waving Amy off. "Pond, I'd hardly consider you a nomad—you're just traveling with me for however long you see fit. You have a home to go back to any time you want..."

I shot the Doctor a glare, crossing my arms over my chest. "What the fuck? Are you calling me homeless, old man?"

His eyes danced with amusement, as he turned to me, his mouth curling into a teasing smile. "Eh, kinda. You live in the TARDIS with me, so that's something..."

"What the hell? Do you see me as some sorta stray you picked up off the street? I am not homeless, Doctor, I literally have a place in Chicago—!" I started, stepping closer to him, but he cut me off with a quick wave of his hand.

"Shush, peanut gallery—we're trying to make new friends!" He grinned cheekily before turning his attention back to the nomads.

Andor, the musician, grinned wide as his fingers danced across the strings of his instrument, plucking out a cheerful, lilting melody. "Right on, travelers!" He called out, his voice musical as he began to strum with more vigor. His voice rose in a folksy, melodic chant:

"Through valleys and peaks, where the wild winds blow,
We wander, we ramble, to places we don't know,
With laughter and stories, and songs that we sing,
We follow the sun, chasing the spring!"

The other nomads began to sway to the rhythm, their bodies moving in a carefree, almost hypnotic dance. Liora's red hair flowed like fire as she spun gracefully, her arms reaching to the sky. Thorne tapped his staff on the ground, keeping time with the beat, while Sera and Silas twirled around each other, their laughter echoing through the glade.

My shoulders relaxed, stiff posture fading.

I felt my own feet start to move, my body swaying to the melody. The music was infectious, a tune so joyous that I couldn't help but get lost in it. Beside me, the Doctor had already begun to bob his head, his hands flapping in that delightfully awkward way of his before he burst into an exuberant and exotic dance.

Amy grabbed Rory's hand, pulling him along as she began to hop and spin, her laughter bright and carefree. Rory looked mortified, his cheeks flushing red as he stumbled over his feet, his limbs flailing as he tried to keep up with his fiancé's enthusiasm. "Amy! What—what are you doing?!"

"Dancing!" She shouted over the music, her grin wide. "Come on, Rory, live a little!"

"We took Salsa classes and almost die on a different planet every other day. I'd say that's a good amount of living on the edge..." Rory groaned, his shoulders sagging as he gave in, his movements jerky and awkward. "Is this even a real song?" He whispered the last part so only we three could hear him.

I laughed, spinning around and catching a glimpse of the Doctor who was now fully immersed in his off-kilter jig, his arms flapping wildly, his face lit up with pure joy. "Oh, come on, Rory!" I teased, my hips swaying to the beat. "If the Doctor can look that ridiculous, then you've got nothing to worry about!"

"Oi!" The Doctor shot me a glare, his dance becoming even more exaggerated. "I'll have you know I am a fantastic dancer!"

"Right," I laughed, twirling around him. "Absolutely amazing."

Andor's voice rose above the music as he continued to sing, his words weaving a story of adventure and discovery:

"Oh, the places we'll go, and the things we will see,
With the sky as our roof, and the earth as our pillow,
Through laughter and love, through sorrow and pain,
We wander together, again and again!"

The music swelled, the beat picking up as the nomads danced faster, their bodies moving with wild, joyous abandon. I found myself spinning, my head tilting back as I howled, my heart soaring with the rhythm. The world around me felt lighter, brighter, the air filled with music and happiness.

The music swirled around us, a playful, lively tune that seemed to dance on the breeze itself. I moved with it, my feet quick as I spun around, my hair whipping around me. The Doctor's eyes were locked on mine, his grin wide as he tried to catch me, his hands reaching out only to close on empty air.

I laughed, twirling just out of his reach. He lunged again, his fingers brushing against my arm, but I was too fast. I spun around him, my fingers grazing his jaw as I circled him, my touch fleeting and delicate. His eyes widened, his breath hitching as he turned his head to follow my movement.

For just a moment, time seemed to stand still. I stood before him, our faces close, his eyes wide and green and impossibly deep. My hand lingered on his cheek, my fingers brushing his skin as his lips parted, his breath warm against my palm. The world around us faded away, the music, the nomads, Amy and Rory—all of it disappeared, leaving just the two of us standing there, lost in each other.

His hand came up, his fingers brushing against mine, his touch warm and gentle. His eyes were soft, vulnerable, and I could see the question in them, the way they searched my face, his guard down just long enough for me to see the man underneath.

But before he could truly catch me, before his fingers could close around my wrist, I twirled away again, my laugh ringing out as I spun across the clearing and danced away.

Too slow... my message to the Doctor was clear; catch me if you can.

The Doctor blinked, his arm still outstretched, his expression stunned and confused before he pivoted around, his eyes wide as he tried to find me. I watched him search, his eyes darting back and forth as he spun in circles, his hair falling messily over his eyes.

I ducked toward Amy and Liora, my laughter bubbling up as I began to dance with them, swaying and spinning to the lively tune. Amy threw her arms around my shoulders, her joy mixing with mine as she pulled me into a wild spin, her red hair flying out behind her. Liora moved gracefully beside us, her hands weaving through the air as her body swayed like the branches of the trees around us.

One might think Amy and Liora are related based on their hair alone—even with them being entirely different species. Liora looked human enough—the species of Romulus must also be Homosapien descended.

The Doctor finally spotted me, his face breaking into a grin as he shook his head. He jogged over, his steps light and his movements as chaotic as his hair. He started to dance again, his limbs flailing in that delightfully awkward way of his, his body moving to its own rhythm.

I laughed, twirling away from him once more and moving toward Rory, who stood off to the side. His shoulders were hunched, his arms folded across his chest as he watched Amy with a soft awestruck gaze.

I grabbed his hands, pulling him into the dance. "Oh no, Rory, you must let the wind take you..." I said dramatically.

Rory's eyes widened in panic, his feet stumbling as I spun him around. "Wait—PJ—!"

I pulled him along. "Just follow my lead!"

To his credit, he tried. His feet moved awkwardly, his body jerking back and forth as he struggled to keep up with my steps. I spun him around, guiding him through random movements as he flailed beside me, his face flushing red.

Amy watched us, her sounds bright and joyous as she cheered him on. "Go on, Rory! Shake those hips!"

Rory shot her a glare, his face turning even redder. "Amy!"

She only laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she spun over to join us, her body moving easily as she danced circles around her fiancé. "Oh, come on, Rory, use the salsa lessons we took!"

Rory groaned, his shoulders slumping as he gave in, his movements still stiff and jerky but more relaxed. I grinned, spinning him around again before twirling back to Amy.

The Doctor watched us, his eyes shining with affection as he moved to join us, his arms flapping and his legs kicking out as he danced alongside Amy and me. We spun around him, our bodies moving perfectly in sync as we danced around our Doctor.

Before I knew it, Eleven's arm was around my waist, pulling me into his grasp. I yelped in surprise, my feet stumbling as he spun me around, his laugh bright and infectious as he held me steady. His hands were firm and confident, his grip strong but gentle as he guided me into the dance.

"Gotcha..." He murmured into my ear.

I looked up at him, my eyes wide as I met his gaze. His face was close. "You know," I said breathlessly, a grin spreading across my face, "this is almost like that dance on Alquoria."

His eyes lit up, his smile widening. "Ah, the Dance of the Stars!" He exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "You've seen that?"

"Of course," I said, my fingers tightening on his shoulder as I leaned in. "In fact, I've done it! Danced during the three moons festival while the sky glowed with constellations that moved to the music."

His face softened, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes. "I was there one of the years—learned that dance as well. It is beautiful, isn't it?"

I nodded, my heart skipping a beat as his expression grew tender, his grip on me firm and steady. "Let's do it," I challenged. "That is if you still remember the steps, old man."

His face broke into a wide, gleeful grin. "Oh, I never forget a dance."

And just like that, we were off.

He winded me around and around his movements fluid as he guided me through the intricate steps. It was like falling into a rhythm we both knew by heart, our bodies moving together as if we'd danced this way a thousand times before. He twirled me out, his fingers brushing against mine before he pulled me back in, his arm wrapping around my waist as he spun us both.

I laughed, my heart pounding as he lifted me off my feet, spinning me around effortlessly before setting me down again, our movements seamless and perfectly in sync. It was wild and exhilarating, my feet barely touching the ground as he guided me through the complex steps, his body moving in perfect harmony with mine.

We danced circles around each other, our eyes locked as we moved together, our steps light and quick as we weaved in and out. I spun around him once, twice, thrice... my body twirling gracefully as I moved just out of his reach, teasing him as I danced around him. His eyes followed my movements, his expression playful and hungry as he tried to catch me, his fingers brushing against my waist before I slipped away once more.

I laughed, my heart racing as I spun back into his arms, his hands catching me and pulling me close. We were chest to chest now, our faces inches apart as he held me steady, his eyes dark and intense as he looked down at me.

Push and pull.

For a moment, we were still, our bodies pressed together as we breathed fire, the world around us fading away as his eyes searched mine. I felt his fingers tighten on my waist, his breath warm against my lips.

And then he was spinning me again, his hands guiding me through the next steps, his movements fast and precise.

It reminded me of the dreams we shared last night, of the way we'd danced through the stars together. It was the same rhythm, the same unspoken connection that tied us together, that made us move as one.

The music swelled, the tempo quickening as the Doctor lifted me off my feet, spinning me high above his head before lowering me down. I threw my head back, laughing as he flipped me, his hands strong and steady as he guided me through the air.

He was grinning, his face bright and open as he lifted me again, his laughter mixing with mine as we danced like wild things. I felt weightless, free as he spun me around, my hair flying out behind me as I laughed, my heart soaring with the music.

Finally, with a triumphant flourish, he hoisted me up, his hands gripping my waist as he lifted me. I threw my arms out, my body arching gracefully as he held me steady, his strength unwavering as he balanced me on his right shoulder.

His ability to lift me so easily wasn't because I was necessarily a small or particularly light woman—it more had to do with the inhuman strength of a TimeLord. The inhuman strength he only displayed during moments like this.

I looked down at him, my breath catching as our eyes met, his face flushed and bright as he looked up at me, his grin wide and boyish. There was pure joy in his eyes, an unguarded happiness that made my heart skip a beat.

Eventually, the music slowed, the melody easing into a soft, lilting tune as we collapsed on the ground, our chests heaving as we tried to catch our breath.

I found myself beside the Doctor, our knees touching as we sat close together. His hair was tousled, his cheeks flushed from dancing as he leaned back on his hands, his body relaxed and open.

Amy came and curled up beside him, her head resting on his lap as she closed her eyes. Rory sat next to her, his hand resting on her leg as he watched her with soft eyes.

I leaned back, my shoulder brushing against the Doctor's as I looked at the nomads. Thorne came and sat cross-legged, his staff resting across his lap as he spoke, his voice low and musical as he began to tell stories of his people.

The rest of his children came and sat with us, creating a circle.

They spoke stories of adventure and love, of heroes and villains and journeys to faraway lands. Legends of great beasts that roamed the mountains, their roars echoing through the valleys, and spirits that danced in the forests under the light of the moons. Tales of magic and wonder, of gods and goddesses who watched over the world from the stars above.

My eyes had flicked to the Doctor at that part, only to see him watching me with a grin. Romulus seemed to be a rather peaceful planet—a rare sort of peaceful that made it so the Doctor did not need to come in as a helping hand.

The stories were like something out of Middle-earth, a world of fantasy and magic that was so familiar yet so beautifully alien. I listened, my eyes wide as I took in every word, my heart aching with the beauty of it. I could see the Doctor beside me, his face soft and thoughtful as he listened, his eyes distant as if he were seeing it all play out before him.

When it was Andor's turn to share, he told his story through song. His fingers strummed lightly over the strings, his touch gentle as the first notes floated into the air, soft and lilting. The firelight flickered, casting golden shadows on his face as his eyes grew distant, his expression thoughtful and almost serene. His voice was smooth, velvety as he began to sing, his words flowing like water, weaving a story so vivid I could almost see it play out before us.

"There once was a boy with hair of gold,
Eyes sharp and cold as winter's hold,
He longed for power, he thirsted for might,
So he sought the dark, embraced the night..."

His fingers danced over the strings, his melody gentle, hypnotic as his words spun a tale of innocence lost, of a boy who craved power above all else. I leaned forward, my chin resting on my knees as I listened.

Amy sighed next to me, her eyes dreamy as she listened, her head resting against Rory's shoulder. The Doctor was leaning back, his legs crossed, his fingers tapping lightly against his knee to the rhythm of the music. His face was soft, his eyes half-lidded as he watched Andor, his expression content.

And then Andor's voice changed.

His tone grew darker, his strumming rougher as his fingers moved faster, the melody growing sharp, discordant. His voice dropped, gravelly and low, his words harsh and jagged as his tale took a sinister turn.

What the fuck?

"With magic learned and power gained,
His heart grew twisted, dark, profane,
He hunted beauty, pure and bright,
To twist and break beneath his might..."

I tilted my head as the story shifted out of nowhere, and Andor's words painted a picture of horror and cruelty.

"The boy became a man,
a wizard whose heart was black as coal,
whose magic was cruel and corrupt.
He hunted women, seeking out the purest souls,
the most beautiful hearts and he turned them into unicorns,
creatures of light and innocence
trapped in twisted, tortured bodies."

My mouth fell open as Andor's voice grew louder, his strumming aggressive as he sang of the wizard's atrocities, his words brutal, unflinching. He described the wizard's lust, his cruelty as he broke their spirits before drinking their blood to absorb their purity, to feed his own darkness.

The Doctor's face was pale, his jaw clenched as his eyes darkened, his expression rigid as he listened, his hands curling into fists. Amy looked like she was going to be sick, her face twisted in horror as she stared at Andor, her mouth open in shock. Rory's eyes were wide, his face ashen as he gripped Amy's hand, his fingers tight around hers.

I felt bile rise in my throat as Andor sang on, his tone haunting as he described the wizard's conquests, the way he hunted his prey, the way he laughed as they screamed.

"And to this day, in shadows deep,
He hunts the pure, the young, the sweet,
A curse upon the land he roams,
His evil festers, breeds, and grows..."

The last chord hung in the air, a mournful note that echoed through the clearing, lingering like a ghost. Andor's head bowed, his fingers still on the strings as his voice dropped to a whisper.

"He drinks their light, their souls he keeps,
His hunger never ends... it never sleeps..."

Silence followed, heavy and suffocating. He looked up, his eyes gleaming with an emotion I couldn't quite place, his expression distant and strange.

Amy broke the silence, disbelief painting her tone. "Oh my god... what kind of story was that? It's not true, right?"

Andor shrugged, his expression casual as he leaned back, his fingers still idly strumming the strings. "I don't know, friends, I only know song... but you can ask the wizard yourself—he lives just right over yonder..." He waved his hand toward the misty woods behind us, his voice light and unconcerned. "In fact, I think he just turned Lady DeNorum into a unicorn the other day... wonder if she's good?"

What the fuck?! That was a real story?!

My jaw dropped. "Holy shit!"

The Doctor was on his feet in an instant, his face like thunder as his eyes blazed, his voice sharp and commanding. "Where? Where did this happen? Where can we find this wizard?"

Trust the Doctor, the man of good, to always set things right.

Thorne chuckled, his voice humorous as he shook his head. "Ah, be wary, travelers... not all is as it seems. The forest is strange, and the path twists—sometimes toward light, sometimes toward shadow..."

The Doctor waved him off, his expression impatient as he pulled out his sonic screwdriver, his fingers moving swiftly as he adjusted the settings. "Yeah, yeah—come along, Ponds and dearest! We have a witch hunt to go on!" He flicked the sonic on, its green light glowing as it buzzed, the sound growing louder as he pointed it toward the misty woods. "Voila! This way!"

And just like that, he was off, his sonic buzzing louder as he moved, his footsteps quick and determined.

Hesitance ate away at me—that didn't seem like it was a real story at all. Was it even worth investigating? All accounts of this place pointed to it being an incredibly peaceful planet. Not to mention, the nomads did not seem very concerned as they claimed this apparent villain basically lived right down the street.

"Wait, Doctor! Are you sure—?" I started, my voice trailing off as he disappeared into the mist, his figure already alarmingly far away. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me..." I cursed under my breath, pushing myself to my feet as I took off after him. "Stupid, Space Lord..."

Amy and Rory were right behind me. Rory spun around as he ran, his face flushed as he waved frantically at the nomads. "It was great to meet you all!" He called, his voice breathless as he stumbled after us.

The nomads waved back, their faces bright and cheerful as they called out their farewells, their voices echoing through the clearing. "Good luck, travelers!" Thorne sang, his voice lilting and musical. "Have fun on your quest!"

What the fuck is this? A damn video game?

I could hear Amy laughing as she ran beside me, her hair streaming behind her and her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh, I can't believe we're doing this! An evil wizard with real proper magic?!"

I rolled my eyes, my legs burning as I sprinted after the Doctor, my heart racing as the mist grew thicker, the trees looming ahead of us like shadowy giants. "Amy, I highly doubt this guy has real magic—magic can almost always be explained by universal science...!" I breathed. "Take the Doctor for example, some might take him for a crackpot old wizard, but is he? A crackpot old guy, maybe, but certainly not a damn wizard..."

Amy laughed again, her voice loud as we plunged into the mist, the shadows swallowing us whole as we raced to follow the Doctor.

"I hardly see this as a laughing matter, you two!" The Doctor scolded as we caught up to him, the TimeLord having frozen in the middle of the brush—eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the readings on his scanner.

Amy had the decency to look ashamed, the woman looking at her feet awkwardly while I rolled my eyes and shoved the Doctor out of the way. He yelped, forced to lose his edge as he fumbled. I stole the sonic from him in the next instant, sliding my goggles down over my eyes and seeing what he was tracking.

He'd set it to pick up on sulphonic waves AKA, the force that drives what most people deem as 'magic'. And there was a rather large amount of it coming from the direction of the East, and yet—I was still not sold.

Turning women into unicorns and then defiling them whilst they were said unicorns and drinking their blood? That seems like a stretch.

I glanced back at the Doctor, waving the sonic in front of his face as his scowl deepened, his eyes narrowing at me with that look he always got when he was about to deliver a lecture. His arms were crossed over his chest, his stance rigid, feet planted firmly in the damp earth as he looked at me like I'd just told him bow ties were out of fashion.

"Be real—there isn't any evil wizard turning women into unicorns..." I scoffed, the absurdity of it making me roll my eyes as I tapped the side of the sonic, watching the readings continue to spike with traces of sulphonic waves. "Honestly, people will believe anything—next, they'll be telling us that unicorns poop rainbows and fart glitter. Which, I guess would be kinda cool..." I trailed off thoughtfully at the end, humming. "Fine, very cool..."

The Doctor's scowl deepened, his lips pressing into a thin line as his eyes bore into me. I arched an eyebrow at him, daring him to argue, and for a moment, he just stood there, staring at me, his mouth opening and closing as if he was struggling to find the words.

Struggling and pondering on his next movement.

Then, in a sudden burst of movement, he snatched the sonic back, his fingers brushing against mine, his touch lingering just a second too long. He was close, close enough that I could see the faint freckles scattered across his nose, the way his eyes glinted with an emotion I couldn't quite place.

His voice was low, his tone sharp as he spoke, his words laced with a disappointment that made my chest tighten. "Stop treating this so casually, PJ..."

My eyes widened, the teasing retort dying on my lips as I saw the look on his face, the intensity in his eyes as he glared at me, his expression hard and unyielding.

The Doctor could take a lot, brush many things aside, and be incredibly understanding and more compassionate than I knew. But there are just some things you don't do with him, and apparently, my insensitive attitude had struck a nerve.

His shoulders were tense, his jaw clenched as his hands tightened around the sonic, his knuckles turning white. "You think this is all just a fairy tale? A silly little story told around a campfire to scare children?" His voice rose, his words biting, accusatory. "Yes, it's absurd—yes, it sounds ridiculous, I know that. And maybe it is fake. But there's nearly always some truth in every tale, no matter how far-fetched or nonsensical it seems."

I opened my mouth to argue, to tell him that he was overreacting, that there was no way any of this could be real, but the words wouldn't come out. I just stood there, staring at him as his expression softened, his eyes flickering with something like pain as his shoulders sagged, his anger giving way to exhaustion.

His voice was quiet now, barely more than a whisper as he looked away, his gaze fixed on the misty woods in front of us, his face shadowed and distant. "There's always some truth... and that means there's nearly always a very real and very dangerous threat, even if it isn't exactly what the tale says it is." He paused, his chest rising and falling with a heavy breath as his hands dropped to his sides, the sonic dangling loosely from his fingers. "And what kind of person would I be—what kind of people would we all be—if we didn't at least check? If we heard that kind of a story about this being who apparently lives nearby and just walked away?"

His words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating as I felt a knot form in my stomach, guilt churning in my chest as I looked away, my gaze dropping to my feet. I felt heat rise to my cheeks, embarrassment flooding me as I realized how callous I'd been, how quick I was to dismiss the story as nothing more than a silly little legend.

The Doctor was right. There was nearly always some truth in every tale. And if there was even the slightest chance that someone was hurting people—innocent people—then we couldn't just walk away. We had to do something. We had to help.

I looked up, my eyes meeting his as I swallowed hard, forcing myself to nod, my voice low and hoarse as I whispered, "Yeah... you're right... sorry..."

People will try to argue this all the time, but the thing is, that sometimes the hardest thing to do is admit when you're wrong. Especially for someone as stupidly prideful as me.

The Doctor's face softened, his eyes warm and gentle as his lips curved into a small, sad smile. He took a step closer, his hand reaching up to brush a strand of hair out of my face, his touch light and tender as his fingers lingered on my temple. He leaned in, his lips pressing against my forehead, his touch warm and comforting as his breath fanned across my skin.

"And I'm sorry for snapping," He whispered, his voice soft and affectionate as he pulled back, his eyes searching mine, his gaze lingering as he looked at me, really looked at me, as if he could see right through me. "I overreacted, I'll calm down..."

His words echoed in my head, his touch lingering on my skin as he stepped away, his fingers brushing mine as he took the sonic back, his hands warm and solid against my trembling ones. I stared at him, my chest tightening as a strange, unfamiliar sensation settled in my stomach, a feeling of warmth, of safety... of love.

But not all good things could last—my mind whirled.

"Stop! Stop, stop, stop! I'm sorry—I'm so sorry—please, stop! I won't do it again, I promise, please, just stop!"

The words tore from my lips, my voice cracking as I heard the echoes of my past, the screams that haunted my nightmares, the pleas that went unheard, unheeded. I could feel it, the pain, the terror, the way my body was burned, my skin searing.

I could feel the tears streaming down my face, hot and wet as I sobbed, my chest heaving as I begged, as I pleaded for mercy, for forgiveness, for him to just stop, to just let me go, to just... to just stop... it's not fair.

I can't fight anymore. I CAN'T fight ANYMORE!

It's not fair!

"PJ?"

The Doctor's voice was gentle, his eyes wide and concerned as he looked at me, his face pale as his hands hovered uncertainly, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to reach out, to touch me, to comfort me, but didn't know how. "Are you... are you alright?"

I blinked, the world snapping back into focus as the misty woods reappeared, the sound of Amy and Rory's concerned voices breaking through the haze, their faces concerned as they looked at me.

I had zoned out for a few moments, it seemed.

I opened my mouth, my throat tight as I forced myself to smile, to laugh, to pretend that nothing was wrong, that everything was fine, that it was all good. "Yeah... yeah, I'm fine. Just... just spaced out for a minute, sorry. I'm good."

The Doctor's eyes were dark, his gaze piercing as he looked at me, his face solemn, serious as his mouth tightened, his lips pressing together as if he was holding back words, words he wanted to say but couldn't for some reason.

He took a deep breath, his shoulders rising and falling as he nodded, his face softening as he smiled, his expression warm and understanding as he gently placed his hand on my shoulder, his touch light and reassuring. "Alright, then. Come along, Ponds... dearest. It shouldn't be too far now."

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening as I nodded, forcing myself to smile as I followed him, my legs heavy, my heart aching.

It's not fair.