Chapter Two

Overhead

The TARDIS landed with a bump and the Doctor turned off the console. He snatched up his coat that hung over the metal rail and pulled it on. Ashley was already at the door, waiting for him.

'This is mental,' she grinned. 'Seriously, this is fairytale land?'

'I wouldn't call it that to any of the locals,' the Doctor told her with a wince. 'They weren't very happy when they found out about the Grimm fairytales. They felt like they were misrepresented. There would have been lawsuits but… well you humans get out of stuff like that pretty easily because you're so new.'

Ashley looked at him incredulously. 'New? Humans have been around for thousands of years!'

The Doctor snorted. 'That's nothing! There are races around that have been around for millions… no billions of years. You're all new and shiny. I'd say you're all going through your terrible twos in the 20th Century. Blowing each other up all the time and destroying your planet. You'll get past that though.' He shot her a broad grin, but she didn't look impressed.

'Well I think we should get going before this turns into an argument.' Ashley warned, pulling open the door.

The Doctor looked bemused as he moved forward to join her side. 'What? Why would it turn into an argument?'

'Because yet again you're off patronising my planet. I might not care much for humans myself; they're bitchy and rude, but we're not all thick.'

'I'm not patronising your planet at all!' the Doctor insisted defensively. 'I'm just stating the fact that its not that old! Well the planet itself is a decent age… but humans! You're just starting out!'

Ashley rolled her eyes. 'So in your eyes we're still rolling around in nappies and slinging spaghetti at each other.'

The Doctor shrugged as they both stepped outside. 'Well… yeah.'

The argument probably would have kicked off there and then if it weren't for the sight that greeted them. A cold breeze whipped around them and Ashley shivered against her will. The Doctor only seemed to stiffen briefly against it.

'I take it this isn't exactly tourist season then?' Ashley asked, scanning the deserted town.

The Doctor looked around with a troubled expression. 'No, quite the opposite.' He walked forward a little, and then stepped onto the cobbled road.

The buildings on either side of the street were irregular and old fashioned. It reminded Ashley of the old narrow streets in the Victorian times, although this street wasn't really all that narrow. The cobbles in the road were various pastel shades and tall elaborate streetlights stood at regular intervals down either side. The Doctor had wandered away a little, his hands in his pockets and looking around curiously. Ashley wandered in the other direction a little, taking in the shop signs. Most of them seemed like tourist shops. In the windows there were various trinkets and objects that fascinated Ashley. She smiled at them, and then glanced around to see where the Doctor had gotten.

'This place should be bustling!' he called to her, scratching his head. 'It's the middle of the day! Middle of tourist season! Where is everyone?'

Ashley made her way towards him, hugging herself against the increasing cold wind. 'I don't see why they have tourist season in the middle of winter. It's bloody freezing!'

The Doctor shook his head. 'It's not winter, that's the thing.' He looked around, frowning. 'Something's not right.'

Ashley rolled her eyes. 'You think?' She sighed. 'Maybe everyone just went on holiday.'

'No, that's not it…'

Ashley sighed again. 'Can I go get my jacket? And then we can have a look around. I can tell you're just itching to start banging on doors.'

A smile flickered over his face. 'You can read me like a book.'

'Yeah. A book in brail.' Ashley muttered, and then headed back to the TARDIS to fetch her jacket. And her hat. And her gloves.

The Doctor smiled after her until she had disappeared inside, and then returned his attention to the deserted street. It didn't make any sense. The people of Fanallasoratia were practically money mad. It was rare they would shut down and leave at the peak of their business. Only something big would leave this place deserted. If only there was someone around for him to ask…

'You there!' a wheezy, high-pitched voice shrieked suddenly, accompanied by the sound of running footsteps. 'You have to get out of here!'

The Doctor whirled around to see a strangely stout person hurrying towards him, seemingly having trouble at keeping a decent speed. The figure waddled closer to him, and he could hear them panting for breath. It seemed to be a female, given they were dressed in a white dress covered in little flowers, but the shape wasn't right. It wasn't until they got within four meters of him that he realised who it was.

'Mrs Pernickety!' the Doctor beamed. 'Oh well fancy bumping into you again! How are you? How are the three little ones?'

Mrs Pernickety snorted through her snout, her pink ears twitching underneath her headscarf. She narrowed her small dark eyes at him for a moment, and then they widened. 'Doctor?' she enquired.

'Yeah, it's me!' he grinned. 'Oh it's been a long time. Last time I saw you the three little 'uns had just moved out! How did they get on?'

'There isn't time to talk, Doctor!' Mrs Pernickety snorted worriedly. 'You have to leave right now, before it's too late!'

The Doctor frowned again. 'Where is everyone?'

Mrs Pernickety glanced over her shoulder and oinked. 'I can't… It's coming!' She turned back to him with wide eyes. 'Get away from here, Doctor! Get away while you still can!'

With her final warning heeded, Mrs Pernickety hurried away down the street, short fat arms working as she rushed off. She wheezed and snorted. The Doctor didn't attempt to follow or stop her. A moment later, Ashley re emerged from the TARDIS, now wrapped up in a dark green body warmer, a black long sleeved shirt, stripy black, pink and purple mittens, and a matching bobble hat and scarf. She joined the Doctor's side and watched the strangely shaped woman waddling away.

'Who was that then?' she asked.

'Mrs Pernickety.' The Doctor replied distractedly. 'Probably better known to you as the mother of the three little pigs.'

Ashley looked at him, unable to just turn her head due to the tightly wound scarf and had to turn her whole upper body. 'You what?'

The Doctor scratched his chin thoughtfully and looked back to the way she had come. 'Wonder what she's got herself in a flap about? It's not like her to run away from things. She normally just whacks it over the head. And I should know.'

Ashley turned around, still with her upper body turning in the direction she wanted to look. 'What did she say?'

'She said that it's coming.'

Ashley sucked the inside of her mouth. 'Well that doesn't sound too good, does it?'

A sudden bellow cut through the air, causing both the Doctor and Ashley to stiffen. It sounded quite far away. It also reminded Ashley of the T-Rex from Jurassic Park, just without the impact tremors. It sounded again, louder.

'That doesn't sound too good either.' Ashley commented.

'No… it doesn't.' the Doctor agreed. He looked upwards. Ashley raised her eyebrows worriedly, and then followed his gaze.

The sky was clear for a moment, and then something raced above them, bellowing loudly. It must have been the length of a regular passenger plane from the 21st Century, only with a long, serpent like neck added on the front and an equally long tail trailing behind. Its four legs were tucked up to its scaly belly, and its wide thick wings beat the air hard. Ashley felt the breeze on her face and blinked. With one last bellow, it passed above them and grew smaller in the sky. The Doctor and Ashley watched it in silence.

Ashley pointed after a moment, leaning back to look after the creature. 'That… That was a dragon.' She said.

The Doctor nodded. 'Yup.'

They stood in silence, watching it disappear over the horizon. Finally, Ashley nodded in appreciation.

'Now that's cool.'

The Doctor glanced at her, and then smiled. 'Well, Ashley Chambers,' he beamed. 'How do you feel about a spot of dragon hunting?'

'Oh yeah, hang on. I'll just get my sword.' Ashley rolled her eyes sarcastically and chuckled, but then she realised the Doctor wasn't joking. Her amused smile abruptly vanished.

'Well come on!' the Doctor told her, already heading away with his hands buried in his pockets. 'We've got to catch up you know!'

Ashley remained where she was. 'No way!' she cried after him. 'You've got to be kidding!'

The Doctor carried on without turning back.

'It'll eat us!' she cried, but he wasn't paying attention. She felt another chill, shivered, and then jogged after him.