CHAPTER 1
The wheezing of the TARDIS faded and Clara threw open to the door to find… a brick wall.
"Well, that's a bit of a let-down," she sighed.
The Doctor leaned around the door and looked down the deserted alley before agreeing, "Yes, well. This is not at all what I expected."/p
"I thought we were going to the great crystal falls of Veena."
"Right. Well, I must have miscalculated," puzzled the Doctor. He shrugged his shoulders, sighed, then said, "Well let's not just stand here. Let's take a look around!"
He swung around the door into the alley while Clara followed right behind him, shutting the door to the TARDIS with a snap of her fingers. They both walked down the alley toward what looked like the main street with a spring in their steps. At least, they assumed that was the direction of the main street because it was where they saw light.
As the exited the alley, they found themselves in a bustling street filled with the strangest shops and the oddest people. The shops were filled with books, owls, and brooms. There were robe shops and even one store that appeared to sell wands. Since 382 BC!
Men, women, and children strode down the street wearing brightly colored robes and strange hats. Some wore normal clothes, but not quite normal. One man was wearing a pair of green trout-fishing waders, a black fur coat, and a bright red top hat!
"Now that's something you don't see every day," Clara observed, wide-eyed, as the man sauntered past. "Where are we?"
The Doctor simply looked around him, concentrating hard, and muttered, "I honestly have no idea, but something about it seems familiar." The Doctor broke out of his momentary daze. "So which way do we go?"
Clara shrugged and pointed to the left, "Let's go that way."
"One way's as good as another. Why not?"
They set off in the direction Clara pointed, looking for any clues that might tell them where they were. The Doctor was not used to not knowing where he was, so he was a bit put off.
They passed a crooked sign pointing down a dark alley that read "Knockturn Alley." It didn't seem like the kind of place they wanted to explore, so they kept walking.
"Doctor," Clara began. "Why would the TARDIS have brought us here?"
The Doctor gazed intently at his surroundings as he explained," The TARDIS sometimes has a mind of its own. She usually takes me where I want to go. Sometimes, though, she takes me where I need to go."
"So there must be some reason you are needed here."
"Indeed there must," murmured the Doctor as he continued slowly walking down the street. "And I think that is where we need to go to find out."
The Doctor pointed down to the end of the street where there was a gleaming white building that was three stories tall and, strangely, crooked. It had enormous white pillars and beautiful bronze doors. Standing in front of the door was a short, twisted creature wearing a brightly colored uniform of scarlet and gold.
"What is that?" Clara asked.
"Well, unless I'm wrong, that, Clara, is a goblin," the Doctor explained.
Clara guffawed. "There's no such thing as goblins."
The Doctor stopped and looked at Clara. "Obviously, there are."
"Could this be some type of hallucination or animatronics?"
"It could be," the Doctor responded as he took out his sonic screwdriver and took some readings, "but I don't think it is. The sonic says it is all real. Interesting…"
"So why do you think that is where we need to go?" Clara asked.
"Because it's the biggest building on the street," the Doctor explained. "When all else fails, find the biggest building. Besides, I want to get off this street."
"Why's that?"
"Because," said the Doctor as he looked up at the roofs around him. "We're being followed."
