Touch The Sky: Doctor Who/Studio C [Book 3]

No Such Thing as a Flawless Future

No Such Thing as a Flawless Future

(Original Story: Part 4)

Cyndi's estimate was perfect, and they arrived in her village of refuge about half an hour after the last sliver of sunlight disappeared over the horizon. The town was nestled on the edge of a thick treeline of the same spectrum near the palace, but the buildings themselves were made of less luxurious stone and wood compared to the dull red adobe of the castle. Few people wandered at that time of night, but Cyndi handed her horse off to a groom at the stable before leading her exhausted group through the narrow streets.

"This way," she said, taking a lantern from outside the stable. "I'll find you a place for the night. Or longer."

"How long to you expect it'll take?" Donna asked.

"No idea. They've used their distortion field plenty of times but the actually duration of effect varies. The shortest was only a week, the longest was nearly half a year. And our years are about a time and a third those of Earth."

"Lovely," Matt said under his breath.

"Precisely." Cyndi paused at a modest size house that was completely dark on the inside. "This'll do, for tonight at least. Only two bedrooms, I'm afraid." She let out a breath. "I'm gonna be in so much trouble for this."

"Trouble with who?" Mallory asked.

"A story for another day," Cyndi said, pushing open the door. She handed her lantern off to Matt. "I'll see what I can get you in the way of some real clothes."

The house was, as it had appeared from the outside, modest. There was a pot-bellied stove in the corner and a fireplace along one wall, with a door on each side that lead to two bedrooms with double beds and not much else. Across from the stove was a tiny bathroom featuring a toilet and sink but no shower. Despite their lack of electricity, it seemed there was at least running water and indoor plumbing.

Mallory let out a breath. "Well, Donna, if you haven't learned yet, when you travel with the Doctor you often get stuck in far-flung places."

"Unfortunately," Matt said. "On the other hand, it—"

"—beats 1913," Mallory finished.

"Exactly." He glanced over at Donna. "Don't ever get stuck in 1913. It sucks."

"You might get married."

"Accidentally on purpose."

"There was no 'on purpose' about it, Matt."

"I didn't realizing 1913 was the time traveling equivalent of Vegas," Donna said dryly.

"No, it's really not," Mallory said. "1913 is about as far as Vegas as you can get. The TARDIS, though, had other ideas."

Donna smirked. "It does explain why you fight like an old married couple."

"Go to bed, Donna," Matt said with a joking smile, gesturing toward one of the bedroom doors.

She raised a brow in response, then defiantly dropped into one of the chairs flanking the fireplace. "I've been hearing a lot of 'long stories' out of you two, and we've got time."

"In the morning," Matt said, glancing at Mallory swaying on her feet from the corner of his eye, looking as if she might just pass out. "It's been a long enough day without any long stories to add to it." He met Donna's suspicious gaze. "Promise."

The redhead blew out a breath. "Fair enough." With that, she got back to her feet and disappeared into one of the bedrooms.

Neither of the two remaining spoke for a long moment. "Mal," Matt finally said under his breath, turning slightly so he could put a hand to her chin.