Chapter 4 - The Inn of the Dancing Dalek

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who, but that doesn't make it any less fabulous.


As the smallest of the teams piled into One's TARDIS, there was amiable, if little conversation.

"So you're the latest me?" One asked Eleven, smiling as he opened the door to his TARDIS.

"If you like. I could say you're the youngest me," Eleven replied.

"True, true," One chuckled. "And you're number Seven?" he asked turning to his other incarnation present.

"Last I checked," Seven nodded.

The companions filed in slowly, One graciously extending his arm to the ladies as they stepped inside. Amy smiled back at him - there were miles between her flighty, boyish Doctor and this grandfatherly one. Speaking of which...

"Did you call the Doctor 'Grandfather'?" she asked, turning to Susan.

The girl smiled a bit shyly. "That's right," she said.

"I see," Amy said, though the expression on her face didn't quite convey the same nonchalance. She looked at Eleven, then One, then back at this girl (who, it occurred to her, was probably older than she looked..). She then shrugged, not hoping to make sense of it - the Doctor was old enough to have secrets of his own, she supposed. But it was still a bit jarring to think he'd ever had a remotely normal life. "Bet he makes for an interesting one!" she added.

Susan leaned in towards her, hand cupped over her mouth. "He's my favorite," she whispered playfully. "That's why I ran away with him."

Amy smiled back. "I ran away with the Doctor too," she said. "But my life found me again. Sort of."

"Oh I hope mine doesn't!" said Susan. "It'd be terribly dull."

"That's what I said too," Amy shrugged. "Funny how that worked."

There was a familiar whirring as One started the TARDIS in flight, causing everyone to gather around the console in curiosity.

"So where're we headed, Professor?" Ace asked, grinning.

"Would you believe me, dear girl, if I said I haven't the faintest idea?" said One.

Seven took a more logical approach. "Surely we'll end up somewhere that should help us crack this case," he said. "The TARDIS is rarely one for a wild moose chase."

"Except for that one time in Yellowstone," Eleven said brightly. He noted everyone else's blank looks, then continued. "Oh, wait, that's not happened yet, has it? Never mind. Just hope to avoid large, angry quadrupeds and you should be fine," he said. "Particularly ones with antlers," he added, stopping and putting his hands on his head, as if to demonstrate what exactly antlers were for anyone less knowledgable in his audience. Ian and Barbara exchanged confused glances - was it really possible for this man to be their Doctor? No matter how many years had passed, there was a lot of change to account for.

Eleven looked back at them, noting their confused expression. He dropped his hands from his head and clapped them together.

"Speaking of time -" he said " where am I right now? Wait wait wait, a friend of mine taught me how to do this. Erm... have you done the one with the French Revolution yet?"

The four earliest travelers shook their heads.

"Daleks?" he said. This time they nodded.

"Some time ago," Barbara said.

"Erm... Sensorites?"

They shook their heads again.

"Aztecs?" Seven offered.

"Yes, we just finished that one," said Ian proudly, seeming glad to know what they were talking about.

"And I suppose you've been equally busy?" One asked.

It was everyone else's turn to nod.

"Well, I shan't ask about it then - can't go knowing these things ahead of time."

Eleven looked as if he was about to refute this statement, but Seven shot him a look that silenced him rather quickly. The TARDIS descended into an uncomfortable quiet. It was broken only shortly after by the sounds of materialization.

"Still makes the same noises," Rory commented as all three Doctors gathered around the console to see what was happening.

"Still the same TARDIS!" Eleven shouted back gleefully.

As soon as the machine had well and truly landed (as indicated by the ceasing of the vworping), Ace was the first out the doors. She stepped outside, then punched the air.

"Oh, ace, Professor!" she shouted back, motioning for the others to follow.

"Where have we landed?" Ian asked.

"Come and see!" she replied.

The others obliges, filing out if the police box in relative order. Outside was a scene out of a fantasy novel, or perhaps an old tapestry that graced the walls of a castle. But it was significantly less moth-eaten than the latter, and noticeably more existent than the first.

Colorful banners with crests of assorted pompous and likely notably important individuals hung from the tents and poles that surrounded where they stood. All around them, people bustled about busily in period-appropriate dress.

"Medieval?" Barbara said, glancing around.

Eleven licked his finger and held it up in the breeze. "France, 1150," he proclaimed.

"He just does that to look cool," Rory whispered to Ian, who nodded.

"I am cool," Eleven responded, straightening his bow-tie in a "need it even be said?" sort of gesture.

"But why would the TARDIS even take us here?" Barbara asked, looking around, "What does it have to do with the other TARDISes and Doctors and everything?"

"Whatever the case, I think it encourages further investigation," Seven said, taking a step forward. "Shall we?"

Their party began to make their way through the bustling streets, glancing around them at the assorted sights - and smells - of the tournament village. Everywhere was a flurry of activity. Somewhere in the distance, Susan could have sworn she heard music.

"Well," Ian was saying, "where would be the best place to start?"

"Are there any tournament officials around?" Rory asked. "Seems like they'd know something, that is, if anything suspicious is going on. Which I'm sure it is, all things considering."

"Never trust the authorities, Pond!" Eleven said, somewhat loudly, as he dodged a loose chicken. He brushed a feather off his jacket sleeve. "They're the first ones to realize something's wrong and the last ones to admit it! Not the other way 'round, right?" he asked Seven.

"Probably better off asking someone on to the sidelines, if you will," Seven added, nodding. "No hesitation."

"Yes, but would they have the information?" Barbara asked.

"Information? Of course, people like - oof!" Eleven began, but collided into a hurried man heading in the other direction.

"Sorry, sorry!" the man said quickly, gathering up a bundle he'd dropped.

Eleven merely smiled "Like this man!" he said. "Hello, sir, have you seen any information as of late? Terribly important."

"Information?" the man asked, running his had thoughtfully through his hair. He seemed remarkable recovered for the collision.

"You know, strange happenings, mysterious strangers, disturbances in the universe, misplaced chickens, maybe something impossible?"

The man looked thoughtful - a little too thoughtful, in Ace's opinion - then leaned over.

"Perhaps."

"Could you elaborate?"

The man put a finger to his lips, then motioned towards a nearby building. It appeared to be a tavern of some sorts. The time-traveling party exchanged quick glances, then moved to follow him.

Inside the building, the atmosphere was significantly dulled. The light was dim, and conversation was somewhat hushed. Groups sat at oaken tables, leaning towards each other as they discussed matters over pints of ale and other stereotypically-present-at-taverns foods.

"Very Middle Earth," Eleven whispered to Amy as they walked in.

"Good place for you, Space Gandalf," Amy replied, causing Ace to snort, immediately burying her face in the crook of her elbow to muffle it. She also muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "...Merlin".

Their new acquaintance motioned for them to have a seat at one of the empty tables in a corner, though there was hardly room for them all. Seven, Ian, Rory, and Eleven remained standing, leaning in instead to hear the stranger's words.

The man cleared his throat, looked around cautiously, and said carefully "I've seen all o' those things,"

"All what?"

"All those things this boy said," he elaborated, pointing to Eleven, who looked somewhat amused at being considered younger - he was the oldest person in the room!

"Impossible'n whatnot," the man added "I don't want you to think me mad, so I won't share them yet. But you're right to worry."

"Won't share them yet?" Ace said "That's no way to get us to trust you."

"You'd do well to keep her a bit quieter," the man said gruffly. Seven sighed and put a hand on Ace's shoulder. She sat there looking offended.

"She was just asking!" Amy added.

The man eyed her curiously now, but remained quiet. The Doctors exchanged slightly concerned glances - they had a few too many feisty females in the group to conform to any typical medieval standard. Then again, might be better to let the townsfolk figure that out for themselves. No pushovers here.

"Now," the man said, continuing, "that's not to say I won't share anything later. But I've got to trust you first. Think perhaps you could prove that to me?"

The group nodded, playing along for the time being. The man smiled at them.

"In that case, I have a proposition to make."


A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who's been reviewing, favoriting, and following this story! I really appreciate it, more than I think you know. :3

47 days to the 50th... looks like there are some odd rumors floating around today. I'm all excited/confused at once and we still have weeks to go!