Chapter Eight

The Doctor and Rose stumbled out of the portal and it quickly closed behind them. They looked around and noticed they were in a cave.

"Okay, any clues as to what this cartoon might be?" the Doctor asked.

"I think its Fraggle Rock." Rose replied.

"Really? What makes you think---"

He turned his head and looked at her for the first time. A furry lemon yellow body with bright yellow hair and a rounded snout had replaced her familiar form. Behind her was a long tail with a fuzzy bright yellow tip. She was wearing her tee shirt, but the bottom half was completely naked down to the big oddly shaped feet.

"We're Fraggles." Rose said to him. "I watched this show when I was really little, but I don't remember much of it, but I do know that's what we are now."

"We?"

"Yeah, you've changed too." Rose said.

The Doctor looked down. He had a tan, furry body and his tail had a dark brown tip. He was wearing his trench coat, but that was it. He looked around him.

"So, then where are we?"

"Fraggle Rock. It's the Fraggle's home under the ground." Rose replied.

"Uh-huh, and what do they do? Are they dangerous?" the Doctor asked.

"Oh no, they're just a bunch of furry, cuddly Muppets that love to dance and sing and have fun."

"Hmmm, doesn't sound too bad. Although, given the fact that the Master showed up in the last cartoon I wouldn't rule out another one of my enemies making an appearance here somewhere. Anyway, might as well start walking and see if we can figure out how to get out of this one."

He took Rose's hand and they walked through a hole searching for any signs of life. After a few minutes they heard soft music and singing and laughter somewhere in front of them. As they walked along, the singing and laughing got louder and finally when they turned a corner, they noticed an enormous cave with tons of multi-colored Fraggles talking and singing and dancing. They entered the cave and looked around. Fraggles were everywhere. As they walked along, they waved to them and the Doctor and Rose waved back.

"So, now what do we do?" the Doctor asked.

"Got me, like I said, I watched this when I was like two or three. I don't remember everything about it." Rose replied.

"Hello there!"

The Doctor and Rose turned and saw a little orange Fraggle with lavender hair waving at them.

"I haven't seen you two in Fraggle Rock before." He said to them. "My name's Gobo. It's nice to meet you."

"And you." The Doctor replied. "Yes, we're new here. We've been traveling."

Gobo's mouth dropped open.

"You're explorers?" he asked.

The Doctor and Rose looked at each other.

"Um, yes, we are." The Doctor replied.

"That's great! I'm an explorer too!" he said.

"Oh really?"

"Yes!"

"Oh, well, what have you explored?" the Doctor asked.

"Um, just around Fraggle Rock so far." Gobo said sheepishly. "But I hope someday to become a great explorer like my uncle Travelin' Matt."

The Doctor nodded politely, unsure of what to say to that.

"But, come on and meet my friends." He said beckoning to them.

He led them over to a group of Fraggles.

"These are my friends." He said pointing to them.

He pointed to a tall, pink Fraggle.

"This is Mokey."

He pointed to a yellow Fraggle.

"This is Wembley."

He pointed to a green Fraggle.

"This is Boober."

He pointed to a yellow Fraggle.

"And this is Red." He said.

He pointed to the Doctor and Rose.

"These two are new to Fraggle Rock. They're…"

He paused and laughed.

"I'm sorry, I was so excited about meeting you that I forgot to ask your names." Gobo said.

"I'm the Doctor and this is Rose." The Doctor said.

"Pleased to meet you, Doctor and Rose." Gobo said shaking their hands vigorously. "Come and sit with us. We were just making up silly songs and eating Doozer sticks."

"Um…alright." The Doctor said glancing at Rose.

The two of them sat down and Mokey passed them a couple of Doozer sticks. The Doctor stared down at the long, thin stick and glanced at the others.

"What do you do with this?" he asked them.

"You eat it, silly." Mokey replied.

"Oh, right, sorry I forgot." The Doctor replied.

He sniffed at the stick and gave it an experimental lick.

"How is it?" Rose asked.

"Um, it tastes like radishes." The Doctor muttered examining the stick.

He put it in his mouth and tried to eat it. Tried being the operative word since he soon discovered he had no teeth. He glanced over at Rose and saw she was also trying to eat it without success. They looked at the Fraggles and their eyes widened when they saw they had no trouble biting down on the sticks and eating them.

"Wow, they must have strong jaws." The Doctor whispered to Rose.

"So, where were we?" Gobo asked.

"We were singing about Doozer sticks!" Wembley replied.

"Oh yes, okay, who wants to go first then?" Gobo asked.

"I will." Mokey replied.

"Go for it, Mokey." Gobo said.

Red sighed.

"Aw, I wanted to go first. Mokey always gets to go first. It's not fair." She whined.

"You can go first next time, Red." Gobo replied. "Mokey spoke up first so she gets to go."

"Yeah, yeah," Red muttered.

"Mokey…" Gobo said looking at her.

Mokey straightened her back and cleared her throat.

"My song is an ode to the joy of eating Doozer sticks." She said importantly.

She held up a Doozer stick and gazed at it with reverence as her friends waited expectantly.

I love to eat Doozer sticks.

They're always such a treat.

Morning, night or noontime

Their flavor can't be beat.

Oh little Doozer stick,

Why do I feel this way?

I want to eat and laugh and sing and dance all night and day!

She finished up and bowed as the others applauded.

"That's great, Mokey. Who wants to go next?" Gobo asked.

"ME, ME, ME!" Red screamed.

Gobo laughed.

"Okay, Red," he said fondly. "You can go next."

Red looked at Mokey.

"You think that's good, you ain't heard nothing yet!" she said to her.

She gave the others a haughty look and held up her Doozer stick and looked at it.

"Doozer sticks are yummy.

I eat them all the time.

That is why I'm sitting here making up this rhyme.

I love to jump and dive and swim and splash in the swimming pool.

After that I want a treat that makes my mouth fill up with drool.

Doozer, Doozer, Doozer stick. You are the very best.

Out of the foods in Fraggle Rock you really pass the test.

She finished up and smiled as everyone applauded.

"That was great, Red." Gobo said.

"Of course it was." Red replied.

"Who's next?" Gobo asked.

"OOOOOO, ME, ME, ME!" Wembley screamed as he waved his arm around in the air.

The Doctor and Rose glanced at each other.

"Wow, they must be hard up for entertainment if they get this excited over eating rock hard sticks." He whispered to her.

Rose nodded.

Wembley held up his stick and stared at it.

Oh little Doozer stick you are the greatest thing

That is why I'm sitting here with a little song to sing.

Moobley, boobley, Wembley wom

Decca Decca dee

Squip, squap, squipidy doo

Dumble, doodle DEEEEEEEEE!

The Doctor and Rose stared at Wembley in shock as everyone applauded.

"That didn't make a bit of sense." The Doctor whispered to Rose.

Rose shrugged.

Gobo looked over at the Doctor.

"Doctor! Why don't you go next?" he asked.

The Doctor stared at him with a deer in the headlights look as Rose giggled.

"Um, I'll pass, thanks." He replied.

"Nonsense, Doctor. Let's hear you sing." Gobo said.

"Come on, Doctor, don't be shy." Mokey said.

"Yeah, just sing out loud!" Red said.

"Sing a loud and silly song!" Wembley said.

"And then afterwards when you completely humiliate yourself, you can run to a corner and curl up into a little ball." Boober said.

The Doctor glanced at Rose.

"Go for it, Doctor!" she yelled pumping her fist in the air.

She giggled when the Doctor gave her a dirty look. He looked at the expectant faces of the Fraggles and sighed as he held up his Doozer stick.

Um…Oh Doozer stick I hold in my hand.

You are the best in all the land.

I don't know what the hell you are.

And I haven't been able to eat you so far.

Um…Bingle, bongle, dingle, dangle, yickidy doo, yickidy da, ping-pong lippy tabby to ta.

He lowered the stick and glanced at Rose when everyone applauded enthusiastically.

"That was great, Doctor!" Gobo said. "I loved it!"

"Um, thanks, I think." The Doctor replied.

He looked around at the smiling faces.

"Listen, I don't want to cut the amateur hour short, but Rose and I are searching for a door. Do you know where there might be one?"

The Fraggles looked at each other.

"Door? What kind of door, Doctor?" Mokey asked.

"Um, well, it's kinda like this huge hole that takes you out of here." The Doctor said.

The Fraggles glanced at each other.

"Sure, there's a door like that." Gobo said. "I was planning to go up to it later today but I can take you now if you want."

"Could you?" Rose asked. "We'd love that!"

"Sure, just follow me." Gobo said standing up.

The Doctor and Rose smiled at each other. Eagerly, they followed Gobo as he led them out of the huge cave towards the door.