Oh gosh, plot.

Also, it would prooooobably be a good time to mention the pairings in this fic. Romance isn't going to be a really big deal, but still.

Merlin/Morgana; Doctor/River; and, of course, Vastra/Jenny.

Margaret's unconscious form was laid onto a luxurious velvet couch; according to the Doctor, it was actually called a "fainting couch", and such things were common in this era. Jenny came back a few minutes after the heiress had passed out, and, after serving everyone their tea, she half-heartedly began fanning at her. In the meantime, the Doctor, Merlin, and Madame Vastra were having a rather interesting conversation.

"So, Merlin, where did you meet the Doctor?" Madame Vastra smiled her scaly green smile over her teacup.

Merlin had already gotten used to her appearance and smiled back. "He got himself locked up in the dungeons. I just helped him escape." The Doctor flushed with embarrassment, preferring to not think about his time spent in that boring, straw-lined cell.

"It's not the first time he's been captured… Dungeons, you say? What time era are you from?"

"Uhm…" He paused. "According to the Doctor, I'm 1300 years in my future."

She calculated the year difference within seconds. "I don't believe you've ever had a medieval companion before, Doctor."

He coughed. "No. And that makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

"You keep mentioning 'companions'," Merlin remarked. "Does he do that sort of thing often? Invite strangers into his box?"

"Well, usually they have to impress him first. And if it makes any difference, you're the first male I've seen him with alone." Vastra gave the Doctor a smug look, while the Timelord pointedly stared into his cup with a pout.

"You made that sound dirty on purpose…"

Vastra and Merlin laughed at the Doctor's expense. Then, Jenny's quiet voice rose from the background.

"Ma'am, Miss Sheffield is waking up."

Margaret was indeed shifting in her sleep, her blue eyes blinking open. Suddenly she sat up and stared at Madame Vastra.

"Oh god! It wasn't a dream!" The heiress held a hand to her chest, breathing in and out rapidly. The Doctor rushed to her side.

"Now, now, Margaret, calm down! She's not going to hurt you, she's going to help you find your parents, remember?"

"You want me to trust a monster?!" she snapped angrily.

"She's not a monster! She's a Silurian."

"What the hell is that?!"

"I guess…" the Doctor scratched his head, his face scrunching up as he tried to think of a way to explain. "I guess you could say she's an alien? Though, technically, her race is from Earth. Just count yourself lucky she's not from the tribe with the three eyes."

"An alien?" Margaret scowled. "A bloody alien! Just my luck!" She threw up her arms and groaned in frustration.

The Doctor stepped back, giving her some space. Merlin leaned forward and muttered to the Timelord, "She reminds me of Arthur."

"Really? She reminds me of Donna- oh, wait, you don't know her. I had a ginger friend who yelled a lot, like her."

"I can hear you!" Margaret growled.

"Well!" Madame Vastra set down her teacup with a loud clang, silencing everyone in the room; Jenny hid a smug smile from the guests as her mistress cleared her throat.

"Miss Sheffield," she stated calmly, "the Doctor has informed me that you are looking for your missing parents. Now, I am more than willing to assist, provided that you can pay and that you show me proper respect. Are we understood?"

Margaret was silent for a while before nodding.

"Good. Now, tell us what happened."

She took a deep breath, still somewhat agitated, and began. They all listened intently to her story.

"It happened about a week ago; Mother, Father and I were in the dining room having dinner. We were arguing about something, I don't remember what… Then the lights went out. At first, Father just thought it was a blown fuse, so he sent a servant to go fix it, but…" Margaret suddenly shuddered, gripping her arms tight.

Merlin, who had taken a seat next to her on the fainting couch, gingerly placed an arm on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine…" She gulped. "Then we heard the servant scream, and the lights turned on and started to flicker… And… Then a monster was in the dining room."

"A monster?" inquired the Doctor.

"Yes… It was horrible. It growled at us and then it waved its arms around and knocked me unconscious… When I woke up, my parents were gone and the servant was found dead in the hallway."

"What did this monster look like?" the Doctor pressed on.

She bit her lip, trying to remember. "I… It was tall; at least seven feet in height… It looked human, but its fingers were like whips, and- and its head was covered in these strange markings…"

"Hmm…"

"Do you know what it is, Doctor?" Merlin asked.

"Not yet… but I plan to find out. Any chance we can help with the investigation, Madame?"

The lizard woman nodded briskly. "Only if Miss Sheffield permits it."

The heiress sighed, falling back onto the couch (on the opposite side of where Merlin was sitting) in a heap. "Why not? This day has been too strange for me to bear…"

"I know the feeling," said Merlin reassuringly. Margaret smiled at him, but the warlock was pulled out of her sight by a certain alien time traveler.

"Then let's get going! I know the perfect place to start investigating."

Vastra called in two cabs to take them to the Doctor's prescribed location; namely, the Sheffield Manor on the other side of London. While the Doctor complained that he could easily transport them there with the TARDIS, Vastra simply retorted with, "My investigation, Doctor. My rules."

She and Jenny were in the cab in front of Merlin and the Doctor's. Margaret had insisted that she stay behind, as she still felt weak. The Doctor had his arms crossed and a cross look on his face. Merlin couldn't help but chuckle at the Timelord's immaturity- he was actually like Arthur in that respect. But still, it couldn't hurt to try and cheer him up.

"So, Doctor…" he began. "Exactly how many companions have you had?"

"Hm… Too many to count. This may shock you, but I'm very old, Merlin."

"Actually, that's not too shocking at all. How old?"

The Doctor looked him square in the eye, a mischievous smile dancing on his lips. "Over a thousand years."

Merlin merely blinked. "You look quite good for your age."

"You're very hard to surprise, you know that?"

He shrugged. "After you show me a time machine, a different era, and a lizard woman? It's going to be hard to top all that. Plus, I've seen a lot myself."

"Like?" prompted the Doctor, leaning forward ever so slightly.

"Griffins, wraiths, a Questing Beast… Oh, and there's the giant talking dragon locked beneath the castle."

"You've defeated all those?"

"Well… with the Griffin I had help from a friend of mine, Lancelot." The Doctor almost squeaked at the mention on the legendary knight. "And the wraith, well, I only helped forge Excalibur, the sword. King Uther was the one who killed it."

The Doctor sat back, observing Merlin. "You are definitely going to come in handy."

"I'm glad someone thinks so," the warlock said sullenly. "It's nice having someone not scream bloody murder every time they hear the word 'magic'."

"How many people know? About your magic, I mean."

"My uncle, Gaius, for one. Lancelot knows too, but he's not around. And… that's it. Unless you count the dragon."

The Doctor laid a sympathetic hand on Merlin's shoulder. "It must be tough. What about Arthur? Are you ever going to tell him?"

The warlock was silent long enough for the Doctor to have his answer. "… When he's ready," he said at last.

"You know," Merlin continued, "I thought once that the Lady Morgana found out; turns out she just thought I had a crush on her maidservant, Gwen… I was so excited that someone else knew, too…"

"Morgana? Gwen?" The Doctor immediately perked up.

"Morgana is the King's ward; she and Arthur are practically brother and sister."

'That's what they are in the legends…' thought the Doctor. However, he only replied with, "Are Gwen and Morgana friends?"

"Oh, Gwen is the nicest person you'll ever meet. And the Lady Morgana…" Merlin trailed off, a small red blush tinting his cheeks. A smirk snuck its way onto the Doctor's features.

"Ohoho! More than a friend?"

"No!" squeaked Merlin, his blush intensifying. "No, she's just a friend… She's…"

"Sheeeee's…?"

"Oh shut it." The warlock looked out the window with a pout, the Doctor laughing at the lovely shade of red now covering his face. It was nice when he wasn't the one who was embarrassed. But still, the Doctor had to marvel at the difference from Merlin's Camelot and the one the Doctor knew through legends. Morgana was no longer a witch hell-bent on destroying Arthur, and Queen Guinevere was a servant. The Doctor would have to find out more later…

'Wait! Thank-you trip, there won't be a later! Stupid…' he reminded himself, exasperated already.

"What about you, Doctor?" asked Merlin, still staring out the window. "Have you got anyone special?"

"I'm married," he replied nonchalantly, but Merlin whipped his head around to look incredulously at the alien.

"Married? Really?"

"What? You don't think I'm husband material?" The Doctor adjusted his jacket with an overly dramatic huff. "I'll have you know, my wife is quite the knockout. Brilliant, too."

"Sorry," Merlin said. "I just wasn't expecting that… What her name?"

"River Song. I should introduce you sometime; she'd absolutely love you."

"Just don't build me up so much- I'd hate for her to be disappointed."

The cab jolted to a stop, ceasing any reply the Doctor might have had, as they had reached their destination.

"God… That's Margaret's home?" Merlin asked, eyes wide.

The Sheffield Manor was a large, imposing structure, more castle than house. They sky was beginning to darken, as it was late afternoon, but no lights were on in the windows.

"Befitting of an heiress, don't you think? Her father owns an electrical company, apparently."

"What exactly does that mean?"

The men got out of their cab and spotted Madame Vastra and Jenny waving to them from the front door.

"Basically, they generate electricity for whatever businesses will pay them to. They're not too big on electric lights now, but just wait; they're gonna be huge."

Merlin hummed in acquiescence, not entirely clear on what the Doctor meant, and they reached the lizard-woman and her maid at the top of the steps leading to a rather large door.

"Alright Doctor," said Vastra, "where do we start?"

"We should go to the dining room first, and the area surrounding that. If we don't find anything, we'll search the rest of the house."

"Um, Doctor?" mumbled Merlin.

"Yes?"

"Where are all the servants?"

Vastra looked at the house and frowned. "He's right; the place looks completely abandoned."

"It's like no one's lived here in weeks," commented Jenny, noting the dust that settled on the windows inside.

The Doctor smiled gleefully. "The plot thickens!" He pulled the creaking door open and courteously let the women in first, followed by Merlin, and then finally himself.

The interior was as dark as it seemed from the outside, with specks of dust visible in what little light there was.

"Does anyone see any lanterns?" the Doctor asked, squinting his eyes to adjust to the dark.

"There are some over there," Madame Vastra pointed to a table farther into the room, (though that itself wasn't very clear at all) where two rusted lanterns lay. "Honestly, humans have such poor eyesight."

"Yes, yes, lizard-people have night vision. No need to rub it in," said the Doctor crossly. He made his way over to the table, almost tripping over a rug, and gathered the lanterns in his arms.

"One for Jenny," he said, passing a lantern to the maid, "and one for me and Merlin."

"Doctor, these aren't lit…" Jenny said quietly, not wanting to criticize the alien.

He smiled suggestively and grinned at his companion, who, up until then, had been observing the house. "Merlin? If you don't mind?"

"What?" The warlock appeared surprised. "Doctor, are you sure?"

"Oh, we can trust them! Come on, it's cool!" The Doctor bounced in place like a giddy child. Vastra and Jenny shared a confused look. After a few moments of deliberating, Merlin raised his hand towards the lanterns and spoke.

"Forbearnan!" With a flash of gold in his eyes, two flames sprung to life in the lanterns. Jenny jumped back reflexively, but Vastra only looked at Merlin with wide eyes. Then the Silurian turned her gaze onto the Doctor, who raised an eyebrow as if to say, "I know, right?" But instead, the Timelord clapped Merlin on the shoulder with his free hand.

"Nicely done, Merlin."

"Thank you," he replied, looking much happier.

"Very interesting…" muttered Vastra. "Shall we get going then?"

"Ah, yes! Merlin and I will take the west side of the manor; you and Jenny take the east. Sound good?"

"Actually Doctor, I think it would be best if I went with you. Jenny and Merlin can go together."

The three of them stared at the Madam, confused.

"Ma'am?" asked Jenny.

"You don't mind, do you dear? It's just that the Doctor and I have so much catching up to do, we might as well do it now."

The maid nodded, suddenly understanding Vastra's intent. Jenny turned to Merlin. "Is it alright with you?"

"I suppose." Merlin looked at the Doctor and shrugged. "See you later, Doctor."

"Yes, be careful, alright? Jenny can take care of herself, but still… watch out."

"Will do." Jenny held the lantern in front of them as they disappeared into the east hallway.

As soon as he knew they were out of earshot, the Doctor faced Vastra. "What was that about?" he asked.

She shook her head like a scolding mother. "I knew you were an idiot, but this is too much."

"What?"

"I thought perhaps it was just coincidence for you to have a medieval companion named Merlin, but that little magic trick sealed the deal. That's the wizard from Arthurian legend, isn't he?"

Nervously, the Doctor scratched the back of his head. "Well… Technically, yes. Though his Camelot is far different from anything you may have read about." He started walking towards the west hallway, causing Vastra to follow him, asking him what he meant.

He spent their walk telling her all the details of he and Merlin's meeting, from the accidental landing to the dungeons, and finally, to their escape. Vastra listened patiently, though she did show signs of surprise as the Doctor explained Merlin's servant status and Arthur's princehood.

"That… is quite different from the stories," she exclaimed once he was finished.

"Told you."

"Does he know? I mean, have you told him about the legends?"

"… Not really… He just thinks I'm a bit weird. A good weird… I hope." The Doctor shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Anyway, could you keep this from him? I don't want to risk anything by telling him about the legends."

The lizard woman bowed her head. "Of course, Doctor. I just hope you're not changing anything already with this… as you called it, 'thank-you trip'."

"Yeah… Back to the matter at hand…"

The manor was especially spacious, appearing, ironically to the Doctor, bigger on the inside. The dim light from the lantern casted an eerie glow on whatever furniture was nearby. Even in his remarkably long life, the Doctor felt a shiver of fear run up his spine.

"Do you feel that?" he asked Vastra.

She nodded with narrowed eyes. "It's as if the air is electrically charged."

"As I suspected…" The Doctor stopped.

"Suspected?"

"According to Margaret's description, I had a suspicion as to what the mystery creature was… And this electrical discharge is more evidence."

A loud beeping sound caused them both to jump. Madame Vastra immediately looked to her wrist, where a black bracelet showed a flickering blue light.

"A wireless communication device in Victorian London?" The Doctor gave a low whistle. "Cool."

"You're just easy to impress, Doctor," Vastra smirked. She pushed the light on the bracelet, holding her wrist closer to her face. "Hello, Jenny?"

The maid's voice came in its gentle tone. "Yes, Ma'am. I think you and the Doctor should come here… Merlin and I found something."

The two of them looked at each other in surprise.

"Already?" pouted the Doctor. "We hadn't even opened any doors."

"You picked the wrong hallway," called Merlin's voice from the bracelet. Despite himself, the Doctor smiled.

"So it seems. Right, we're on our way." Vastra pushed another button, stopping the call. She looked up at the Doctor with a sort of smug smirk. "Shall we?"

They backtracked to the east side of the house to meet up with Jenny and Merlin. They found the pair standing outside a set of double doors, Merlin leaning casually against the wall. He stood up straight when he saw them approach.

The Doctor waved a friendly hand. "Hey! That was rather fast."

"We got the side where the dining room was," said Jenny. "This might've gone better if Miss Sheffield would have accompanied us."

"Can't force a lady to do anything," the Doctor shrugged. "So, what did you find?"

Merlin looked at Jenny, who nodded, and pushed the doors open. Vastra let out a quiet gasp of shock while the Doctor only raised a surprised eyebrow.

The dining room, which was covered in a layer of dust, was in a state of disrepair, with dishes and glass pieces strewn all over the floor. The table was just waiting to break under the pressure of the large crystal chandelier that had fallen on top of it. But, observing the state of the rest of the manor, the dining room's appearance was hardly shocking; no, the shocking thing in the room was the glowing blue door on the other side. It was as if someone merely stamped the door over the wall, as it covered the corner of a window, and it definitely looked out of place with the strange designs on its metal cover.

The Doctor was the first to enter the scene, stopping to observe the door. "These markings…" he murmured.

"Do you recognize them?" asked Merlin from behind him.

"Yes; and I gather these are the same markings Margaret saw on the creature…" He tapped his finger on the door, drawing everyone's attention to a particular symbol, which covered a large part of the door. It resembled lightning bolts surrounding a circle.

"What is it?"

"The Mark of the Kubori," he answered. "A very old, but primitive, race from the outer reaches of the Eighth Sector." He turned and saw Merlin's blank face. "That's quite a ways away. So far, in fact, it doesn't make sense to see their mark here…"

"Is that the reason the air is so strange?" asked Madame Vastra.

"Yes; the Kubori have a natural electric force field about them. Luckily, though, we know there's not a lot of them- otherwise we'd have been electrified the moment we stepped inside… I'd say five, at the very most."

Merlin stepped closer to observe the mark. "What are they doing here? Are they evil?"

The Doctor made a face at that. "I wouldn't put it so black-and-white. The Kubori, as far as I can remember, only engaged in fighting when the situation called for it. I just wonder what the situation could be…"

"Maybe their ship crashed here," commented Jenny by the window.

Vastra gave her maid an amused look. "What makes you think that, Jenny?"

She pointed out the window, prompting everyone to look outside.

The garden, or what remained of it, was now the temporary home of a large, metal ship that resembled a long tube with engines stuck on it.

"Yeah," muttered the Doctor, "that could be it."

Okay, really want to know what you guys think! I'm personally quite proud of my made-up aliens.