I had expected that if I was to ever wake up again it would be to a blank white canvas of nothing, not the ceiling of the control room in the Tardis. I sit up very suddenly seeing another body copy my movement at the exact same time in my peripheral vision. "Oh! Okay. I escaped, then. Brilliant. I love it when I do that. Legs, yes. Bow tie, cool. I can buy a fez." The Doctor's voice says. "Mackenzie?" He calls out and I crawl around to see the beautiful face of the Doctor.
"We did it!" I shout happily standing up, bursting with energy once again.
"Yes we did." He grins but then a voice fills the air.
"Lyle beach. The beach is the best. Automatic sand." The Doctor's voice says, but not from the Doctor's mouth.
"Automatic sand? What does that mean?" Amy's voice sounds, but no Amy in sight.
"It's automated. Totally." The Doctor's voice replies.
"Oh my god, I read about that place, it sounds awesome, let's go!" I hear my voice yell excitedly. I walk around the upper layer of the Tardis meeting up with the Doctor as we descend the stairs to see the past me, Amy and Doctor planning to go to Space Florida.
"Hang on. That's last week when we went to Space Florida." I tell the Doctor as we watch the three people converse happily.
"We're rewinding. Our time stream's unravelling, erasing. Closing." The Doctor tells as I look up at him.
"We didn't do it?" I ask and he shakes his head as I take his hand.
"Hello universe. Goodbye Doctor and Mackenzie." I say gloomily as we watch one of the cracks disappear. "Amy." I call out when myself and the old Doctor leave and Amy's left alone. She turns and I call again but nothing happens as we fly back in our time stream landing on Aikman Road as we look to see Amy stroking a cat.
"Ah, three weeks ago, when she put the card in the window. Amy! I need to tell you something. She can hear us. But if she can hear us..." We both turn to see another crack in the road and as we do we go further back in the time line.
"Good luck, everyone. Behave. Do not let that girl open her eyes. And keep watching the forest. Stop those Angels advancing. Mackenzie, later. River, going to need your computer!" The Doctor's voice calls as we climb out from a rock and I watch the Doctor leave a younger me behind sat on the log, where the Doctor had first kissed me.
"Stay here." The Doctor tells me, as he approaches the quiet girl who was sat on the log, wringing her hands. I watch him talk to her and then kiss her as I realise that that's the Doctor I had kissed, not the one who'd left with River. When he finally walks back to me I watch him incredulously, before punching him in the shoulder. "What was that for?" He asks.
"For not telling me that you hadn't kissed me on the Byzantium." I tell him angrily. "I must have looked like a dork." I tell him which only makes him laugh as we fly backwards again. And suddenly we're in my house, all the way back at the beginning.
"Your house, when you were five and Amy was seven, the night you waited." The Doctor states looking at his watch. We both head outside to the back door where we see myself and Amy as little five and seven year olds. "The girls who waited. Come here, you." The Doctor says, picking Amelia up whilst I pick up myself. We carry them to my old bedroom and lay them in their beds.
"It's funny. I thought if you could hear me, I could hang on somehow. Silly me. Silly old Doctor. When you wake up, you'll have a mum and dad, and you won't even remember me. Well, you'll remember me a little. I'll be a story in your head. But that's okay. We're all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh? Because it was, you know. It was the best." The Doctor says as he crouches down in front of Amelia, whilst I perch on the side of the bed.
"The daft old man who stole a magic box and ran away with a girl who was head over heels for him." I say stroking my older sister's head as she sleeps. "Oh, that box. Amy, you'll dream about that box. It'll never leave you. Big and little at the same time. Brand new and ancient, and the bluest blue ever. And the times we had, eh? Would have had. Never had. In your dreams, they'll still be there." I say in a whisper.
"The Doctor, Mackenzie and Amy Pond, and the days that never came. The cracks are closing. But they can't close properly until we're on the other side. We don't belong here anymore. I think I'll skip the rest of the rewind. I hate repeats. Live well. Love Rory. Bye bye, Pond." The Doctor says kissing her on the top of the head..
"I'll be there in one second." I tell him as the Doctor disappears into the crack nodding, letting me say my goodbyes. "Just make sure you keep your promise Amy Pond and I'll always be with you, you'll be happy with mum and dad and Rory, so, just smile for me and remember I love you so much," I whisper kissing the little girl on the head and when I turn to look to my younger self I see that she's disappeared and despite the pang in my heart, I left the room smiling and the thing that made me leave that scene smiling was the fact that the corners of her lips perked up as I kissed her head before I disappeared after the Doctor.
Watching my sister's wedding from a screen in the Tardis was one of the saddest and happiest moments of my strange life, as I watched my tiny little dad walk my sister down to isle to Rory where my mother was waiting, sat on the first row beaming towards her only daughter. Amy and I had spent months planning the perfect wedding, spending hours a day looking for the perfect flowers, the perfect dress and it all was, everything was perfect I just couldn't be with my sister's, but it was worth it as I saw the perfect grin on her face as she kissed Rory, I'd watched her grow up all at once, it flew by so fast on this small screen and I watched my sister lead a life without me. I was now watching her as she talked to Rory cheerfully before our dad was asked to speak. He stands up and apologises saying that he needs a few more minutes before sitting back down, before I see Amy stand up abruptly as she watches River pass the window outside, a smile gracing my lips as I know she recognises the lady. "Doctor!" I yell as I start to jump up and down, leaning on the console, not taking my eyes off of my now crying sister as she sits back down next to Rory. The Doctor rushes in. "Get dressed, we've got a wedding to crash." I grin as I pull a lever setting the Tardis off as I turn back to the Doctor and to my joy, the engines start and I look to him joy filled in my eyes. You see the Doctor and I have been stuck with the Tardis on the other side of the crack for an unknown period of time not being able to move her, because there was no memory of her, but now as Amy sat at the reception, remembering as she picked up River's notebook that had been left as a gift, the Tardis regained the ability to fly and we set off. I run to my room throwing the wardrobe open to find the gorgeous dress Amy and I had picked out together. I throw it on, doing my makeup in a rush before running back to the control room watching as Amy interrupts our dad during his speech.
"Sorry, but shut up, please. There's someone missing. Someone important. Someone so, so important." Amy says as everyone goes quiet all eyes on her as I watch excitedly.
"Amy, what wrong?" Rory asks from beside her.
"Sorry. Sorry, everyone. But when I was a kid, I had two imaginary friends." Amy says.
"Oh not this again." Our mum sighs as people start to roll their eyes, making my heart flare in anger.
"Mackenzie and the raggedy Doctor. My sister and her raggedy Doctor. But they weren't imaginary, they were real." Amy says, a determined look on her face ignoring her snickers sent at her and as I watch her the Doctor turns up behind me, wrapping his arm around my waist.
"The psychiatrics we sent her-" My mum starts to say, looking embarrassed.
"I remember you. I remember! I brought the others back, I can bring you home, too. Raggedy man and Kenzie, I remember you, and you are both late for my wedding!" Amy shouts and I almost laugh too as I watch the strange scene.
"When are we going to put her out of her misery?" I ask leaning my head on the Doctor's shoulder. "She looks like an idiot."
"The Tardis needs to get there first." He whispers as I continue to watch. Suddenly a hum comes from the Tardis.
"We're here." I say, confirming the Doctor's suspicion as I repeat the Tardis' words. I watch the screen as the glasses all begin to rattle in the reception room.
"I found you. I found you in words, like you knew I would. That's why you told me the story the brand new, ancient blue box. And Kenzie, I kept my promise, didn't I? I kept smiling even when I couldn't!" Amy calls and tears prick in my eyes. A strong wind fills the room, blowing the chandelier and balloons around. "Oh, clever. Very clever." Amy says leaning against the table.
"Amy, what is it?" Rory asks, still not remembering.
"Come on, Rory." I whisper willing him to remember.
"Something old. Something new. Something borrowed. Something blue." She tells them all as the Doctor starts to materialise.
"Shall we?" The Doctor asks me as he lets go offering his hand as the Tardis fully materialises in the middle of the hall.
"We shall." I smile taking it and skipping a step as we go to the Tardis doors. As we reach them there's a knock at the door and I grin even wider, if that's even possible, wanting to bound towards it but remembering something. I run back to the console grabbing the tie and hat as I skip back to the Doctor, tie and top hat in hand and he smiles to me.
"Okay, Doctor. Did I surprise you this time?" I hear Amy ask from the other side of the door. He opens the door as I faff, attempting to do his bow tie and popping his hat on my head as I can't be bothered to reach as he looks to Amy.
"Er, yeah. Completely astonished. Never expected that. How lucky I happened to be wearing this old thing." He says stepping out of the Tardis in front of me, so that I'm stood behind him, unseen.
"Kenz?" She whispers to him.
"Yup?" I ask throwing the other door open and beaming at my older sister. She doesn't wait for greetings as she throws her arms around me and I hug her back.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Amy's imaginary friend. But I came anyway." The Doctor says leaving Amy and I embracing each other in the door of the Tardis.
"I knew you could do it." I whisper as I look to see the Doctor go up and shake dad's hand, but he seems preoccupied as both my mother and father are staring at Amy and I.
"You absolutely, definitely may kiss the bride." Amy jokes as she stalks towards the Doctor but he presses his finger to her lips, stopping him, knowing full well she was joking as I follow after her smiling as I spot Rory approaching us.
"Amelia, from now on I shall be leaving the kissing duties to the brand new Mister Pond." The Doctor says, wiping his finger on Rory's suit.
"No, I'm not Mister Pond. That's not how it works." Rory says to the Doctor.
"Yeah it is." I say to him.
"Yeah it is." He agrees as he pulls me into a hug too as the Doctor addresses the crowded room.
"Right then, everyone. I'll move my box. You're going to need the space. I only came for the dancing." The Doctor says as he runs back to the Tardis. Everyone starts to stand as the music starts playing and I find myself just watching everyone as the box disappears, before I feel a tap on my shoulder, I turn around taken by surprise to see my mum and dad. I smile to them not knowing how to react.
"I always felt like something was missing, I'd tried to have children after Amy, but I couldn't, I can't believe we forgot you." My mother says to me and I feel myself tear up as I hug my mum seeing Amy watch us in the background. She lets me go, not releasing my hands as I look to my father hoping he remembered too, he had tears in his eyes, like mine.
"I'm so sorry beautiful." He says as he pulls me into a hug too.
"Don't be, everyone did, it's a long story but it had to happen and it's neither of your fault, it's a choice I made to protect Amy, I may not have grown up with you, but I watched you with Amy, and I promise to make time up with you." I say to them. We talk for a full hour until everyone is really into the music and dancing before the Doctor comes up behind me and breaks into our conversation.
"I really do hate to take Mackenzie from you at a time like this, but would I be allowed to steal her for a dance?" The Doctor asks me.
"Mum, dad, this is the Doctor. I know it's a weird name, you'll get used to it." I tell them and my dad nods.
"Well you shook my hand earlier, but we haven't been introduced, I'm assuming you're the boyfriend?" My dad says shaking the Doctor's hand again.
"That I am." He replies before turning to shake my mum's hand only to get roped into a hug which makes me laugh as I watch the Doctor, unsure of what to do, hug her back awkwardly.
"Off you go, go dance, it was lovely meeting you Doctor, and thank you for bringing my girl back." My mum says, teary eyed once again. I smile looking to the Doctor before we race of into the crowd and dance for ages at some point Amy and Rory join us, and we all dance and joke at the same time, teasing the Doctor for his awful moves the Doctor even showing the kids how to dance at one point. Eventually the dancing becomes slow and the Doctor and I stand together watching Amy and Rory dance together.
"Two thousand years. The boy who waited. Good on you, mate." The Doctor says and I rest my head on his shoulder wrapping my arms around his torso as we watch the two kiss and hug before we walk away back towards the Tardis.
As we reach the Tardis I have the Doctor's jacket wrapped around my shoulders as the Doctor goes to unlock the Tardis. "Did you dance?" A male voice says behind us and the two of us turn to see Ryan and River.
"You two always dance at weddings." River states smiling.
"You tell us, this is our first wedding together, are there going to be more?" I ask leaning against the box as I await my new best friend's answer.
"Spoilers." River replies simply.
"You're a tease." I accuse her, smiling.
"That's what best friends are for though, right?" River questions and I smile nodding.
"Yes." I whisper before hugging her tightly and she hugs me back.
"So you two travel together?" The Doctor asks
"Yup." Ryan replies.
"Are you... together?" I ask, liking the idea of my best friend finding a man.
"No!" River and Ryan reply hastily. "No, we're practically family." Ryan explains. The Doctor approaches the two and returns the book and vortex manipulator to River.
"The writing's all back, and don't worry, I made sure he didn't peek." I tell her.
"Thank you." She says to both the Doctor and myself.
"River, who are you?" The Doctor asks.
"You're going to find out very soon now. And I'm sorry, but that's when everything changes." River says to the Doctor and I, squeezing my hand one more time before disappearing.
"Thank you." I say to Ryan who was just about to follow after.
"Why?" Ryan asks.
"For fighting, you risked your life when you knew there was no real hope of stopping them from putting us in that box." I say to him, smiling a little.
"Well, I remember the pain you told me you felt in that box, believe or not, we three are very close in the future." He replies and vanishes, without a trace.
"I like him, he seems like a good guy." I tell the Doctor as I turn to the Tardis and walk straight past the Doctor.
"There's something about him, I feel like I know him." The Doctor replies coming back to me and unlocking the door and letting us in.
"Home sweet home." I say as I hang the Doctor's jacket on the railing as the Doctor takes off his hat popping it on the stand by the door before skipping up the steps doing some weird dance as I giggle at the man. I walk up after him as he turns to face me and I wrap my arms around his waist, as he copies and I look up to his face. "It's nice to be back." I say to him and he laughs.
"It certainly is, Pond." He replies kissing me quickly as the door to the Tardis burst open which results in the Doctor and us looking over to see Amy trotting over to us.
"Oi! Where are you off to? We haven't even had a snog in the shrubbery yet." Amy aims at the Doctor and I raise my eyebrow jokingly.
"Amy!" Rory shouts at her as he walks in.
"Shut up. It's my wedding." Amy retorts.
"Our wedding." Rory corrects her.
"I don't care who's wedding it is, you kiss him again Amy you'll have me racing after you with a pitchfork." I warn her humorously.
"Don't worry he's all yours." Amy replies as she reaches us and the Doctor lets go of me to address Amy and Rory.
"Sorry, you two. Shouldn't have slipped away. Bit busy, you know?" The Doctor apologises turning to the console.
"You just saved the whole of space and time? Take the evening off. Maybe a bit of tomorrow." Rory says as he joins us at the top of the steps. I snort unattractively, amused by his comment.
"Oh please, space and time isn't safe yet. The Tardis exploded for a reason. Something drew the Tardis to this particular date, and blew it up. Why? And why now?" I question rhetorically, leading to Amy putting on her thoughtful face. The phone starts ringing but the Doctor and I both ignore it as the Doctor continues to explain as I circle the Tardis pressing a few buttons to start warming up the engines.
"The Silence, whatever it is, is still out there, and I have to. Excuse me a moment." The Doctor stops halfway through his sentence and answers the phone I watch him through the centre tube, wondering who it was. "Hello? Oh, hello. I'm sorry, this is a very bad line. No, no, no, but that's not possible. She was sealed into the seventh Obelisk. I was at the prayer meeting. Well, no, I get that it's important. An Egyptian goddess loose on the Orient Express, in space. Give us a mo." He says to the unknown person on the phone. He turns to Amy and Rory. "Sorry, something's come up. This will have to be goodbye." The Doctor says.
"Yeah, I think it's goodbye. Do you think it's goodbye?" Amy asks Rory as I watch the three converse, a smirk on my face, knowing that I was home and with my family once again.
"Definitely goodbye." Rory replies as they head to the door. Amy opens it and looks out before yelling out at the top of her lungs:
"Goodbye!" She yells and I jump down next to her looking out to our old house and our hometown.
"Goodbye." I say much quieter as we both close the doors turning to the Doctor as he puts the phone back to his ear.
"Don't worry about a thing, your Majesty. We're on our way." He says with a look in his eye as he looks to me, a twinkle in his eye as he grins at me ready for another adventure and I return it offering a wide and toothy smile to him as he puts the phone down and I bound back up the steps to the console and I start to help him fly the Tardis, looking over to him every once in a while as we stand together heading off to yet another adventure.
And CUT! That's it, book one. I left a lengthy note in the last one but I do want to say, writing this book has given me so much joy and I'm glad to be getting feedback from some of you, it has really helped keep this book going. Book 2 will be out as soon as I can get it out, I have a three month holiday coming up so hopefully it'll start coming out then.
Love you my lovelies!
Cyber<3