The TARDIS landed with a thump.
"Here we are, 1955, the Opening of Disneyland, The Happiest Place on Earth! You're going to love it Amy! The clothes, the food, the incessant playing of 'It's a small world!' A place where dreams come true, and children are children, and well adults are children too!"
The Doctor was bouncing with excitement as he headed for the TARDIS door.
"Of all of the places you've been, I'd never imagine you so excited about a cheesy little amusement park."
"It's not just any amusement park Amy, this is the beginning of an era. They just opened up Disney World Saturn. Yes it's a cheesy little amusement park, as you say, but here and now, we can witness the genius first hand. Now, I think we should head straight to Fantasyland and make our way out from there. Ready?"
"Ready!"
They opened the door together, to greet the sights and sounds of tourists and characters, and the smells of popcorn and baked goods, to where they should have seen Main Street USA, and Sleeping Beauty's castle. But all they saw were trees.
"Ah, yes. Well, I hope we're not too early for the celebrations," quipped the Doctor.
They stepped out of the TARDIS and into woods. The trees were as tall as skyscrapers and all around them was a vibrant hush.
"Doctor," Amy said uneasily, "where are we and when are we leaving?"
The last time she had been in a forest was on a spaceship on another planet, and she had faced one of the scariest things she'd ever seen, and not seen. She instinctively rubbed at her eye.
"Well these trees look like they could be from earth." The Doctor started scanning the area with his Sonic Screwdriver. "Oh yes of course! Well that would make sense."
"What? What makes sense?"
"These trees are enchanted and they can only be found in one place. Amy Pond, we are in the Infinite Forest on the planet of Grimderbru.
Also known as the Enchanted Forest.
Also known as Fairytale Land."
"Fairytale land? Like the Fairytale land?"
"Yes The Fairytale Land. It seems the TARDIS was trying to make a pun. Well it isn't very funny!"
"But Fairytale Land? Like the home of Snow White and Cinderella and Peter Pan? But those are just stories!"
"All stories have an origin. It just so happens that the stories you know all come from one place, well one planet. And Peter Pan lives in Neverland, that's a completely different place. Second star to the right and all.
"Well, I guess while we're here we might as well see the sights. Maybe meet the real Snow White instead of some poor girl dressed in a yellow dress. And I guess I could pop in on an old friend for tea."
"Okay, but can we take the TARDIS. I don't think we'll be able to just walk out of the Infinite Forest."
"Quite right Pond. Let's find a more hospitable place to park."
They stepped back into the TARDIS where the Doctor fiddled with the console.
Happy to be back out of the woods, Amy allowed herself to relax.
"I can't believe we're in the real live Fairytale Land! I knew Fairy Tales were real! Take that Dr. Murphy!"
The Doctor looked at her puzzled, "Doctor Murphy?"
"One of the psychiatrists I bit. Well if I saw a strange man come out of a little blue box, why wouldn't the other stories be real? Dr. Murphy told me it was impossible so I bit him."
"Oh Amy, you didn't."
"Of course I did. First he tells me you weren't real and I had dreamed it up. Then he said fairy tales are just stories and couldn't possibly be real, and they are and we're here living it!"
"Yes we are. Now, Amelia the first thing you must understand is that your stories are happening as we speak here in Fairytale land." He walked over to where Amy was sitting. She prepared herself for his typical speech." So you mustn't talk about what you know because it could potentially mess with their future timeline. That and a lot of the information is just plain wrong and embarrassing so don't even bring it up. Do you understand?"
"No Fairytale talk. No talking about the ball to Cinderella, no apples for Snow White, no spoilers. Got it!" Amy was so excited she could hardly contain herself.
"So who's this old friend of yours, huh? Oh no wait let me guess! Is it Merlin?"
"Merlin? No Merlin hasn't lived here in years. He mostly spends his time on earth with Arthur. Practically inseparable those two."
"Okay then, the Wizard of Oz."
"He's called 'the Wizard of Oz' not 'the Wizard of Grimderbru'. Really Amy."
"Fairy godmother"
"Yes there are many here but none I'd bother seeing just now."
"Blue fairy"
"But, that's the same thing"
"Oh well then, Genie?"
"Oh the facts they left out a lot of that story. But no, it's not Genie."
Amy continued to rack her brain of all of the fairy tale characters she knew that may have an affinity for travel, relying heavily on her knowledge of Disney movies.
"Okay Doctor I give up."
"We are going to see my friend Jefferson of course."
"Jefferson? I don't remember anyone named Jefferson."
"Well that's the point isn't it? Good now come on or we're going to be late for tea."
"Is that a clue? It's a clue isn't it! I know it's the white hare! Does he talk? Do animals talk here in Fairytale land? Oh Doctor tell me they talk!"
"Yes some of them to talk, but it's rare still. Okay New rule, no fansquealing or whatever it's called. It's not becoming."
"Okay fine. I'll be perfectly boring and pretend it's just like any old planet and not fairy tales come to life.
"But it's FAIRY TALES COME TO LIFE!"
"Are you done now?"
"Yes I'm done. Let's go meet Mr. Jefferson." She went to open the TARDIS door. "Oh do you know him because he has a Starship?"
"No that's a silly idea what would he do with a starship?"
"It's because, I don't know, I just thought maybe, oh never mind."
