Here’s part 2. Enjoy!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Amber and Jasper stared up at the screen. It showed the landscape outside the TARDIS. Amber breathed a heavy sigh. There was no sign of the T-Rex mother. Almost like it could hear her, the screen was suddenly filled with a huge reptilian eye staring back at them. Amber screamed, grabbed the Doctor\u2019s arm and huddled behind him. Jasper jumped back, hiding behind both Amber and the Doctor.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s alright, she can\u2019t see us,\u201d the Doctor said, patting Amber\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n
Amber stared at the screen. The giant eye pulled away and was replaced by a huge, scaly nose that breathed heavily, fogging up the screen. The fog gradually faded and the T-Rex took one last look before it turned around and left. Both Gargoyles\u00a0sighed\u00a0this time.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan we go somewhere else?\u201d Amber asked, her voice still trembling slightly. \u201cSomewhere not so scary?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course!\u201d The Doctor said, and moved the monitor back into place. \u201cWhere would you like to go?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre there planets with more than one moon?\u201d Amber asked after a moment of thought.<\/p>\n
The Doctor thought for a moment, and then his expression lit up. \u201cI know just the place,\u201d he said, and started flipping switches on the console. \u201cThe planet Argon V–\u201d<\/p>\n
Ebony burst into the control room, interrupting the Doctor. \u201cAmber?!\u201d she exclaimed, staring down at the trio. She was fine. They both looked fine. Her adrenaline boost spent, Ebony leaned against the door jamb, and did slide down to the floor this time.<\/p>\n
\u201cEbony?!\u201d Amber answered with her own exclamation. She bolted up to her clan sister, but consciousness was already ebbing from the eldest gargoyle.<\/p>\n
—————————————<\/p>\n
Ebony opened her eyes again, something feeling not quite right. She was back in the hospital-looking room, laying on the same bed. She turned her head and saw Amber and Jasper also laying on beds like hers. She started to sit up again.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are only sleeping,\u201d The Doctor said.<\/p>\n
Ebony turned her head in the direction his voice came from. \u201cBut, they\u2019re not stone!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d The Doctor replied, amused. \u201cThat part of your biology is suspended, but not their biological clock. They just feel asleep as if their plugs had been pulled.\u201d<\/p>\n
What magic was this? First they are made to stay in stone sleep for over a century, and now they can not got into it to heal? Ebony collapsed back down again. This man must be a fae to be able to use such powerful magic so casually.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would you do this?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not intentional,\u201d The Doctor assured her. \u201cIt\u2019s just the nature of my ship. If you were to leave it during the day cycle of whatever world it was on, you would revert to your stone form.\u201d<\/p>\n
A magical ship. Of course. What else would a fae have. Ebony felt a little better that it wasn\u2019t deliberate.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should continue to sleep. You\u2019ll heal faster, even without your stone form.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut–\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry. Nothing can harm you here. You and the children are perfectly safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ebony still wasn\u2019t sure if she could trust this strange man, but she didn\u2019t see where she had any choice either. There was at least one thing he was right about. She needed to build up her strength. She might need it.<\/p>\n
———————————–<\/p>\n
With the three gargoyles asleep, the Doctor could finally get to the maintenance he had intended to do before running into the children. He laid on his back, sonic screwdriver sonicing madly. He closed up a panel and got back up, slipping his sonic into his jacket pocket.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere you are old girl,\u201d he said affectionately. \u201cLet\u2019s see how that feels.\u201d He started programming in some coordinates when he felt someone staring at him intensely. He looked up slowly and two large eyes peering at him from over the edge of the console. The Doctor froze, meeting those eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoctor, I\u2019m hungry.\u201d Jasper said in a plaintive voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell of course you are,\u201d the Doctor replied, standing up straight. \u201cWhere are you sisters?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAmber is helping Ebony.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd how is your sister feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMuch better now, thank you.\u201d Jasper smiled brightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. Now, let\u2019s see. Food.\u201d The Doctor paused in thought, something he always seemed to do when they needed to go somewhere in his ship. \u201cCafeteria! Come along Jasper.\u201d He turned quickly on his heels and headed out of the console room, with Jasper right behind him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow big is your ship?\u201d Jasper asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs big as it needs to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy does it look smaller on the outside?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s so it will fit in without taking up a lot of space.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOhhh,\u201d Jasper said as if it all made sense now.<\/p>\n
The Doctor smiled. He loved the innocence of youth. The Doctor maneuvered through the corridors with ease, with Jasper galloping on all fours, keeping up just as easily. He finally came to a large room with tables, a large kitchen area, and an industrial refrigerator.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s see if we can\u2019t find you something,\u201d the Doctor said as he opened up the refrigerator. Jasper stood back watching as light flooded out and the Doctor stood staring inside. The Doctor suddenly jumped back, brandishing his sonic screwdriver as several tentacles came out of the refrigerator, reaching for him. The Doctor fought off the tentacles, slowly forcing them back before slamming the door closed. Jasper\u2019s head cocked to one side as the Doctor leaned against the door panting. His hair was more of a mess than usual, and his bow tie was askew. He looked down at Jasper, running his hand through his hair. \u201cHow about if we go out?\u201d He put the sonic screwdriver back into this pocket and then straightened his bow tie neatly.<\/p>\n
————————————-<\/p>\n
Ebony entered the console room, her arm in a sling and Amber at her side. Ever since they woke up, Amber had filled her in about the Doctor and everything that had happened while she had recovered. While it wasn\u2019t her first time in the console room, it was her first time to really look around. She stopped at the doorway, and slowly looked around, taking in everything. The Doctor stood at the console below them, talking with Jasper.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre we going to go to one of those fancy restaurants?\u201d Jasper asked. \u201cIs that why you wear that tie?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wear this because bow ties are cool,\u201d the Doctor replied, tugging at both sides of his tie smartly.<\/p>\n
Jasper said \u201cOhhhh,\u201d again before he noticed Ebony and Amber enter. \u201cEbony!\u201d he exclaimed and bounded up the steps to them. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna get to go out to eat!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJasper, you know we can\u2019t go anywhere we\u2019ll be seen,\u201d Ebony said, trying to let her young brother down gently. \u201cWe\u2019d cause a panic.\u201d She then looked down at the Doctor. \u201cPlease don\u2019t go to any trouble on our account. We\u2019ve already imposed on you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Doctor just waved off Ebony\u2019s protests. \u201cNo trouble at all,\u201d he replied. \u201cI\u2019m feeling a little peckish myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are sure,\u201d Ebony said still feeling uncomfortable with the imposition. She and Amber walked down to the console. Ebony was still wide-eyed as she looked at all the switches, buttons, levers, and screens that covered it. She leaned in occasionally to get a closer look at something, but she was careful not to touch anything. \u201cAre we moving?\u201d She looked up at the Doctor as he danced around the console.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, of course we are!\u201d he replied, flipping some switches and then slowly turning two dials. The column in the middle of the console which had moved up and down started to slow, and a grinding, wheezing sound filled the room. Ebony looked around at the sound. Amber and Jasper were used to it by now. \u201cAnd now we\u2019re here!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is \u2018here\u2019?\u201d Ebony asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe market at Altera Six. They have some the best pastries this side of the galaxy!\u201d He flipped a lever and there was a whirling sound. He waved them toward the door.<\/p>\n
All three gargoyles hesitated. \u201cIs it really okay for us to go outside?\u201d Ebony asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course it is!\u201d the Doctor replied, dismissing her concern. \u201cIt\u2019s early evening, well before the supper rush.\u201d He walked from the control console down the walkway to the door. \u201cPlenty of time to look around.\u201d He opened the door and waited for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut–\u201d Ebony tried again to express her concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one will even blink an eye at you,\u201d the Doctor assured her.<\/p>\n
Ebony remained hesitant, but Jasper had no more such reservations. He bounded down the walkway and out the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cJasper!\u201d Amber shouted and started to run after him, but then stopped and look at Ebony. Ebony looked from the Doctor and then back to Amber. She nodded slowly, giving her consent. Amber took off again. \u201cJasper! Don\u2019t run off!\u201d<\/p>\n
Ebony followed her two charges out the door and came to a sudden halt just outside the TARDIS. Amber and Jasper were just as frozen. Before the trio were countless rows of booths. All sorts of beings walked about. Some had two arms, some had more. Some had tentacles for arms. Some had only one eye while others had multiple eyes. There were some with horns, or scales, or masks on their alien faces. The booths were occupied with both buyers and sellers, and many more just wandering from booth to booth. Above them, the sky was a velvety black covered by a sea of stars that seemed to go on forever. All three stood in awe of sights before them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, off with you then,\u201d the Doctor said from behind them, leaning against the TARDIS door jamb, his arms crossed and a smile on his face.<\/p>\n
All three gargoyles turned to look at the Doctor before Jasper grasped Ebony\u2019s uninjured hand. \u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d he said and started to pull her along.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a moment,\u201d Ebony replied, stopping the young boy. \u201cFold your wings in Jasper. You don\u2019t want to hit anyone accidentally.\u201d She fussed over Jasper and then Amber before finally letting Jasper lead the way into the market.<\/p>\n
The Doctor closed the door to the TARDIS before following after the trio.<\/p>\n
Jasper led his sisters through the market, stopping at practically every booth, looking at all the strange and wondrous items displayed. Amber, annoyed at first her clan brother\u2019s start-and-stop pace soon became just as entranced. Ebony kept up, spending more time watching them than looking at the tables. She would glance over her shoulder every once in a while, catching glimpses of the Doctor further behind them, but never quite losing sight of them.<\/p>\n
About half-way down the thoroughfare, Jasper stopped at one booth that had a variety rocks, gems, and stone. Jasper\u2019s eye was caught some containers filled with different stones. He immediately began digging through them. Amber was drawn by the strange gems. Ebony followed Amber, but kept an eye on Jasper through her peripheral vision. She was looking at one green gem that looked like it held a flame when Jasper suddenly cried out.<\/p>\n
\u201cEbony! Look at this!\u201d He held up an oval rock that had an almost iridescent sheen to it.\u201dIsn\u2019t it pretty?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes it is,\u201d Ebony agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I have it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMay I?\u201d Ebony corrected him. \u201cWe don\u2019t have any currency Jasper. We\u2019re just looking, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jasper\u2019s face became crestfallen and he looked down at this pretty rock sadly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to just use money,\u201d the Doctor said appearing behind the trio suddenly. \u201cYou can barter as well. Do you have anything you can barter?\u201d The three gargoyles looked between each other. Amber shrugged no, and Ebony just shook her head sadly. Jasper dug into his pockets and pulled out several small rocks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have these,\u201d he said, holding them up for the Doctor to see. There were a couple of river rocks, some white quartz with mica, and one pure white quartz.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, what have we here?\u201d He snatched the pure white quartz from Jasper\u2019s hand and held it up to examine it. It was oval in shape and slightly flatter on one side. Dirt clung to some of the ridges.<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t that one pretty?\u201d Jasper said with pride. \u201cI found it last night. I already got a bunch like that, but I liked it because of the shape.<\/p>\n
\u2018It is indeed,\u201d the Doctor agreed. As he examined the rock, the woman running the booth took notice of the rock too. Bright red eyes followed the rock\u2019s every movement in the Doctor\u2019s hands from under the dark hood that covered her head and shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cIssss that quartzzzz?\u201d She asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy yes it is,\u201d the Doctor said, flamboyantly passing the rock before her eyes, giving her a slightly more than passing glance. Her eyes continued to dart about, following the white rock. \u201cYou wouldn’t be interested in it, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt appearsss to be a decccent specimen,\u201d the booth woman said. \u201cMay I hold it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course! You need a good look to evaluate the value of our goods.\u201d He plopped the rock into her hand. \u201cIt has a good weight. Pure, unrefined quartz. Look at the way the light reflects off of it. I\u2019ll bet it\u2019s been a while since you\u2019ve seen a piece of this quality.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ssss not bad.\u201d She started to close her hand, but the Doctor snatched the rock from her before she could finish.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, well, if you\u2019re not interested, I\u2019m sure there\u2019s someone else here we could find that would be willing to strike a deal. Come along children,\u201d The Doctor waved to the gargoyles who had been watching him with stunned surprise. They automatically started to obey him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait! I didn\u2019t ssssay I wassssn\u2019t interessssted,\u201d the booth woman said, holding her hand out.<\/p>\n
The Doctor stopped and with his back turned to her, looked at the three gargoyles, a broad smile spreading across his face. He spun around again, the smile gone, replaced with a more serious haggling face.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what do you propose my good woman?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did the young boy want?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis!\u201d Jasper said, rushing back to the precious rock he had placed back in the box when he thought they were leaving.<\/p>\n
\u201cDone!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSurely you can do better,\u201d the Doctor said, this tone implying he knew exactly what the quartz was worth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe–the ladiessss! SSSSurely the ladiessss would like ssssomething! I have many gemssss and jewelry.\u201d She waved her hand over the table Amber and Ebony had been looking at.<\/p>\n
Amber looked up at Ebony, who nodded her approval. \u201cI\u2019d like one of these glowing emeralds,\u201d she said, pointing to the one she liked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYessss, flame gemssss. Very popular with the ladiessss.\u201d She picked up the necklace and handed it to Amber. Amber took it and held it close to her chest. Then all eyes fell on Ebony. \u201cA necklacccce for the lovely lady too?\u201d She waved her hand over the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cI–I don\u2019t know,\u201d Ebony said, feeling put on the spot. She hadn’t been looking with the thoughts of buying. Jasper walked over to join her sisters at the gem table. He peered over the edge at all the different pieces.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about those?\u201d he asked and pointed to some earrings. \u201cI\u2019ll bet those would look pretty on you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSssstar Sssstones, Yesss. They would sssstand out very well againsssst your complexion.\u201d She held up the earrings for Ebony to see better. They are teardrop shaped black stones with specks of white, red and blue, all shining with their own light.<\/p>\n
Ebony gasped. \u201cThey are beautiful! But I couldn’t accept something like that—\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course you can!\u201d The Doctor interrupted. \u201cShe\u2019ll take them!\u201d He took the earrings and dropped them into Ebony\u2019s hand, and closed her hand around them before she could utter another protest. \u201cNow,\u201d he held the quartz out, dangling it over the booth woman\u2019s hand. \u201cAs arbitrator of this transaction, how about\u2026100 galaxy notes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019ssss all?\u201d the booth woman asked, her tone filled with suspicion.<\/p>\n
The Doctor looked over at the three gargoyles, all who seemed quite content with their new acquisitions. \u201cThat\u2019s all.\u201d he replied with a tone of finality and dropped the quartz into her waiting hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cDone issss done.\u201d She took the quartz and slipped it into a pocket inside her robe and handed the Doctor some paper bills.<\/p>\n
\u201cA pleasure doing business with you!\u201d the Doctor replied with a wave of his hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d the three gargoyles said as well as the Doctor led them away.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoctor,\u201d Ebony said as she fell in step next to him. \u201cHow was it that we were able to get so much from that booth? It\u2019s just a quartz rock, hardly worth anything at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot all worlds in the galaxy have them same elements as your home,\u201d the Doctor replied. \u201cOn their world, quartz is as diamonds are on yours. She\u2019ll make 10 times what over what she bartered for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy was she speaking the Queen\u2019s English?\u201d Amber asked from slightly behind them.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wasn’t. That\u2019s the TARDIS working for you. She\u2019s translating everything; what you say, and what everyone is saying to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWow. The TARDIS is really smart!\u201d Jasper said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is truly amazing.\u201d the Doctor agreed with some affection in his voice. \u201cNow, who\u2019s hungry?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe!\u201d Three voices chimed together.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis way then!\u201d The Doctor started to speed up as they moved through the growing crowd.<\/p>\n
The three gargoyles started to move faster as well, to keep up, but they got separated in as a large group passed through. Ebony stood up on her tip toes to try to catch a glimpse of the Doctor again, when a huge arm suddenly grabbed her and dragged her into a side alley. Amber and Jasper were pulled in as well, before they could cry out or protest. All three gargoyles were thrown to the ground. Hovering over them were two brutes, at least seven feet tall and all muscle.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hear youse got some nice rocks,\u201d one of them said, staring menacingly down at the trio. Amber and Jasper scurried to Ebony\u2019s side and she pulled her wings protectively around them.<\/p>\n
To be continued.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Here’s part 2. Enjoy!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[9,6,8,3,4],"class_list":["post-47","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fanfic","tag-50th-anniversary","tag-alternate-gargoyles-universe","tag-doctor-who","tag-fanfic-2","tag-gargoyles"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3PDwD-L","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/manga.jadedragononline.com\/muse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/manga.jadedragononline.com\/muse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/manga.jadedragononline.com\/muse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manga.jadedragononline.com\/muse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manga.jadedragononline.com\/muse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/manga.jadedragononline.com\/muse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82,"href":"https:\/\/manga.jadedragononline.com\/muse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47\/revisions\/82"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/manga.jadedragononline.com\/muse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manga.jadedragononline.com\/muse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manga.jadedragononline.com\/muse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}