AN: Hello, my loves! I had SO much fun writing this one - it's up there as being one of my favourite episodes so naturally it felt so good to put my own spin on things.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 3: The Fires of Pompeii

Upon stepping out of the Tardis, the three of them were greeted by dazzling sunshine and clear skies. Tucked away in the little curtained-off alcove, they could see all the way down the narrow, bustling street. It was packed with little stalls, each run by a loudmouthed seller. Grinning, the Doctor gestured to the crowds.

"Ancient Rome! Well, not for them, obviously. To all intents and purposes, right now, this is brand new Rome."

Eris raised an eyebrow. "Still not Rio."

"Oi, we'll get there eventually."

Donna ignored the bickering.

"Oh, my God. it's, it's so Roman. This is fantastic. I'm here, in Rome. Donna Noble in Rome. This is just weird. I mean, everyone here's dead."

He sighed. "Well, don't tell them that."

"Hold on a minute." She pointed at one of the stalls, glaring slightly. "That sign over there's in English. Are you having me on? Are we in Epcot?"

He laughed. "No, no, no, no. That's the Tardis translation circuits. Just makes it look like English. Speech as well. You're talking Latin right now."

The look on Donna's face was incredible.

"Seriously?"

Eris linked their arms together. "Yep."

"I just said seriously in Latin."

"Oh, yeah."

She thought for a moment. "What if I said something in actual Latin, like veni, vidi, vici? My dad said that when he came back from football. If I said veni, vidi, vici to that lot, what would it sound like?"

There was a moment of quiet as the two time travellers tried to come up with an answer. Eventually, the Doctor just shrugged.

"I'm not sure. You have to think of difficult questions, don't you?"

"I'm going to try it."

And the two of them watched, bemused, as she approached a fruit seller who looked very glad to see her.

"Afternoon, sweetheart. What can I get you, my love?"

Taking a deep breath, she went for it. "Er, veni, vidi, vici."

His face went blank, and he slowed his speech considerably. "Huh? Sorry? Me no speak Celtic. No can do, missy."

"Yeah." Walking back to the others, she pulled a face. " What did he mean, Celtic?"

Eris snorted. "Welsh. Apparently, you sound Welsh."

As they continued through the crowd, the Doctor grinned.

"There we are. Learned something already. We haven't even been here five minutes."

Weaving between the clusters of people, Donna started to feel self conscious.

"Don't our clothes look a bit odd?"

He shrugged. "Nah. Ancient Rome, anything goes. It's like Soho, but bigger."

"You've been here before then?"

"Mmm. Ages ago. Before you ask, that fire had nothing to do with me."

Eris' eyebrow shot up so high it almost merged with her dark hair.

"That's not true, and you know it!"

"Oi, I swear it wasn't me!"

"That's not what Ian told me."

He sighed, defeated. "I knew you two meeting would come back to bite me one day. Anyway, I haven't had the chance to look around properly. Coliseum, Pantheon, Circus Maximus. You'd expect them to be looming by now. Where is everything?" He spotted a small alley. "Try this way."

This route took them out into a large square, just as packed with people as the rest of the streets. Over the low sound buildings at the opposite end, Donna frowned.

"Not an expert, but there's seven hills of Rome, aren't there? How come they've only got one?"

As they stopped to ponder this, the ground below started to shake. Around them, the vendors rolled their eyes and moved to protect their stock.

"Here we go again."

"Wait a minute. One mountain, with smoke. Which makes this…"

Blanching, the Doctor linked hands with both girls.

"Pompeii. We're in Pompeii. And it's volcano day."

Shoving their way through the throng, the three of them ran back to the alcove they had parked in - only for all four hearts to drop to the floor as Eris pulled back the curtain.

Donna groaned. "You're kidding. You're not telling me the Tardis has gone."

The Doctor nodded. "Okay."

"Where is it then?"

"You told me not to tell you."

"Oi. Don't get clever in Latin."

Ignoring their bickering, Eris spotted the fruit seller Donna had spoken to before. "Hold on. Excuse me. Excuse me. Hi, sorry to bother you. There was a box. Big blue box. Big blue wooden box, just over there. Where's it gone?"

The smug look on his face was infuriating. "Sold it, didn't I?"

Hearing this, the Doctor joined her. "But it wasn't yours to sell!"

"It was on my patch, weren't it? I got fifteen sesterces for it. Lovely jubbly."

"Who'd you sell it to?"

"Old Caecilius. Look, if you want to argue, why don't you take it out with him? He's on Foss Street. Big villa. Can't miss it."

"Thanks."

And the three of them set off again, leaving the bemused stall owner behind.

Caressing the wood lovingly, Caecilius was showing off his new favourite thing.

"Modern art. Isn't it wonderful?" A servant scurried by, and moved to protect the structure. "Out of the way, that's it. Oh, Rombus, I'm a little bit peckish. Get me some ants in honey, there's a good lad. Ooo, maybe a dormouse?" The servant nodded and left.

"What do you think?"

This question was directed at his wife, who wore a robe a very similar shade of blue to the box and a disgruntled expression.

"You call it modern art, I call it a blooming great waste of space. And money."

"We're going up in the world, my love. Lucius Dextrus himself is coming to the house this afternoon. What with that and with our Evelina about to be elevated."

Overhearing this, their daughter sighed.

"Oh, don't go on about it, Dad."

Metella didn't seem swayed by this either.

"If we'd moved to Rome like I said she could've been a Vestal virgin."

With the quirk of an eyebrow, their son stuck his head around the doorframe.

"Did someone mention Vestal Virgins?"

"Quintus, don't be so rude. You apologise to the Household Gods."

"Get off."

"Apologise right now. The Gods are always watching."

She hadn't even finished her sentence when the ground began to shake. Caecilius' eyes widened.

"Positions!"

All four family members and their slaves ran to steady the many precious artefacts dotted around the villa, holding on tightly until the tremors ceased. Turning to their son, Metella glared.

"There, now you've made the heavens angry. Just say sorry. I tell you, Caecilius, that boy will do no good."

Slouched, rolling his eyes, Quintus moved to the carved plaque on the wall, sprinkling water over the figurines.

"Sorry, Household Gods." He mumbled, before sitting down on a ledge. Unfortunately, his ordeal wasn't quite over. His dad came close, raising his voice.

"So where were you last night? Down the thermopolium, I bet, cavorting with Etruscans and Christians and all sorts. How's your head, sunshine? How's your head!"

He winced, head still pounding. "All right, Dad. Give us a break."

His mother joined in. "You want to smarten yourself up, Quintus, before Lucius Dextrus gets here. Look at your sister. She's giving us status."

He pulled a face. "Oh yeah, because it's all about Evelina."

"She has the gift." Evelina looked awkward as her mother grabbed her hand, showing off the familiar eye marked on the back of it. "Be proud of your sister for once. Have you been consuming?"

She shook her head. "Not this morning."

"Come on sweetheart, practice. It's hot today. The hypocaust is on full blast."

Leaving the men of the house to glare at each other, the two women sat by a raised grille.

"The mountain God must be happy. Breathe deeply. Remember what the sisterhood said."

Taking the deepest breath she could manage, Evelina winced.

"Oh, it hurts."

"Oh, my love, is it too hot?"

She shook her head. "Sometimes in the smoke I see the most terrible things."

"Like what?"

"A face. A face of stone."

Unfazed by this, her mother patted her hand. "It'll make sense one day. Sister Spurrina promised. The veil will be parted and you'll be a seer."

In their mission to find the right house, the three of them had split up. Although neither of the girls had much luck, the Doctor had a wide grin on his face when they bumped into him again.

"Ha. I've got it. Foss Street's this way."

Eris nodded. "Great. Must have taken a wrong turning somewhere, I ended up in the part of town where all the temples are."

Donna shook her head, having something better in mind. "No. Well, I found this big sort of amphitheatre thing. We can start there. We can gather everyone together. Maybe they've got a great big bell or something we could ring. Have they invented bells yet?"

He frowned. "What do you want a bell for?"

"To warn everyone. Start the evacuation. What time does Vesuvius erupt? When's it due?"

Seeing where this was going, Eris shook her head.

"It's 79AD, twenty third of August, which makes volcano day tomorrow."

"Plenty of time. We could get everyone out easy."

He crossed his arms. "Yeah, except we're not going to."

"But that's what you do. You're the Doctor. You save people."

"Not this time. Pompeii is a fixed point in history. What happens, happens. There is no stopping it."

"Says who?"

"Says me."

"What, and you're in charge?"

"Tardis, Time Lord, yeah."

"Donna, human, no. I don't need your permission. I'll tell them myself."

"You stand in the market place announcing the end of the world, they'll just think you're a mad old soothsayer. Now, come on. Tardis. We are getting out of here."

"Well, I might just have something to say about that, Spaceman."

"Oh, I bet you will."

Putting herself between them, Eris shoved them both hard.

"Oi, you two, enough! Now is not the time or place to be arguing like toddlers. Do you understand me? We've got bigger things to worry about."

The look on her face shut them both up, and she continued - barely whispering.

"I helped uncover Pompeii."

Donna's jaw dropped. "What?"

"I lived in Italy in the 1760s, and the city was found about ten years before that. I got chatting with one of the members of the team who were working on it at the time and ended up helping with the excavation. That eruption destroys everything for miles around, I've seen what it did to the people who didn't leave. We can't be here when it blows. Let's get in the Tardis, and get out of here. Now."

And she headed off in the direction her dad had indicated, leaving the others no choice but to follow.

Another tremor hit the villa.

"Positions!"

Caecilius moved to protect the marble bust in the alcove by the door again, but was beaten to it by a skinny visitor in a tight suit.

"Whoa! There you go."

As it subsided, he thanked the man.

"Thank you, kind sir. I'm afraid business is closed for the day. I'm expecting a visitor."

The stranger, flanked by two women, grinned. "But that's me, I'm a visitor. Hello."

"Who are you?"

Thinking for just a second, the Doctor couldn't resist. "I am Spartacus."

Donna joined in. "And so am I."

Shooting the pair of them an eye roll, Eris decided to let them have their fun.

"I am Flavia. The pleasure is all ours."

Hiding his obvious shock at their arrival, he greeted them politely.

"Welcome Flavia, Mr and Mrs Spartacus."

Eris choked on a laugh as the others hurried to correct him.

"Oh no, no, no. We're not, we're not married."

"We're not together."

He hummed thoughtfully. "Oh, then brother and sister? Yes, of course. You look very much alike."

This only made her crack up harder as the two spoke in sync.

"Really?"

Having been courteous enough, Caecilius gestured for the front door.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not open for trade."

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "And that trade would be?"

"Marble. Lobus Caecilius. Mining, polishing and design thereof. If you want marble, I'm your man."

"That's good. That's good, because-" He whipped out the psychic paper. "-I'm the marble inspector.

Metella put a hand to her chest. "By the gods of commerce, an inspection." Setting eyes on Quintus, she poured away the goblet of wine he was holding. "I'm sorry, sir. I do apologise for my son."

Ignoring his son's look of indignation, Caecilius continued with the introductions.

"And this is my good wife, Metella. I must confess, we're not prepared for an inspection."

Brushing him off, the Doctor sauntered towards his ship. "Nothing to worry about. I'm sure you've nothing to hide. Although, frankly, that object looks rather like wood to me."

Metella hissed at her husband. "I told you to get rid of it."

He raised his hands in defence. "I only bought it today."

Shoving her hands in her pockets, Eris tutted.

"Ah, well. Caveat emptor."

He looked impressed, his mind brimming with possibility at the thought of international trade.

"Oh, you're Celtic. There's lovely."

The Doctor continued. "I'm sure it's fine, but I might have to take it off your hands for a proper inspection."

Donna jumped in. "Although while we're here, wouldn't you recommend a holiday, Spartacus?"

Both time travellers shot her a warning look. "Don't know what you mean, Spartacus."

"Oh, this lovely family. Mother and father and son. Don't you think they should get out of town?"

Caecilius stared blankly at them. "Why should we do that?"

"Well, the volcano, for starters."

"What?"

"Volcano."

"What-ano?"

"That great big volcano right on your doorstep."

Sensing that things could only go downhill from here, Eris grabbed Donna by the elbow. "Oh, Spartacus, for shame. We haven't even greeted the household gods yet. Come on."

The three of them moved to the shrine, and the Doctor went through the motions of worship as he explained.

"They don't know what it is. Vesuvius is just a mountain to them. The top hasn't blown off yet. The Romans haven't even got a word for volcano. Not until tomorrow."

That didn't exactly make Donna feel any better. "Oh, great, they can learn a new word. As they die."

Eris spoke through gritted teeth. "Donna, stop it."

"Listen, I don't know what sort of kids you've been flying around with in outer space, but you're not telling me to shut up. That boy, how old is he, sixteen? And tomorrow he burns to death."

"And we're to blame for that?"

"Right now, yes."

Their hushed argument was interrupted by the servant.

"Announcing Lucius Petrus Dextrus, Chief Augur of the City Government."

As the family tensed, a diminutive, grey-haired man made his entrance. Despite his stature, there was a threatening aura about him. The entire right side of his body was covered by a long, ornately embroidered cloak.

Caecilius offered a hand. "Lucius. My pleasure, as always. A rare and great honour, sir, for you to come to my house."

Staring at the hand as though it would bite him, Lucius spoke in a monotone.

"The birds are flying north, and the wind is in the west."

"Quite. Absolutely. That's good, is it?"

"Only the grain of wheat knows where it will grow."

Still none the wiser, he just kept going along with it.

"There now, Metella. Have you ever heard such wisdom?"

She nodded. "Never. It's an honour."

"Pardon me, sir. I have guests. This is Spartacus and, er, Spartacus. And the young lady is Flavia."

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "A name is but a cloud upon a summer wind."

The Doctor, unable to resist, spoke back. "But the wind is felt most keenly in the dark."

"Ah. But what is the dark, other than an omen of the sun?"

"I concede that every sun must set."

"Ha."

"And yet the son of the father must also rise."

Clearly perturbed, Lucius managed to stay civil. "Damn. Very clever, sir. Evidently, a man of learning."

"Oh, yes. But don't mind me. Don't want to disturb the status quo. We'll be off in a minute."

As Donna bickered quietly with him while the three of them made for the Tardis, Caecilius moved to reveal his work.

"It's ready, sir. The moment of revelation. And here it is."

With a great flourish, he pulled the cloth covering away to reveal black marble, carved intricately into what could only be described as a circuit. The three travellers stopped dead.

"Exactly as you specified. It pleases you, sir?"

Lucius sounded entirely indifferent. "As the rain pleases the soil."

Eris raised an eyebrow; something about the line placement was making the back of her brain itch.

"Well, that's different. Who designed that, then?"

Caecilius was wringing his hands, clearly still unsure. "My Lord Lucius was very specific."

The Doctor had noticed it too. "Where'd you get the pattern?"

Unhappy with the questioning, Lucius' tone became even colder.

"On the rain and mist and wind."

Even Donna knew what it was. "But that looks like a circuit."

Eris nodded. "Made of stone."

"Do you mean you just dreamt that thing up?"

Lucius glared. "That is my job, as City Augur."

"What's that, then, like the mayor?"

Wincing at her unintentional gaffe, he tried to cover for her. "Oh, ha. You must excuse my friend, she's from Barcelona."

Eris used his apology to hide her whispered explanation.

"No, but this is an age of superstition. Of official superstition. The Augur is paid by the city to tell the future. The wind will blow from the west? That's the equivalent of ten o'clock news."

"They're laughing at us."

All eyes turned to the doorway as Evelina staggered through, pale and shaking. The dark circles under her eyes were almost blue against her chalk-white sweaty face.

"Those three, they use words like tricksters. They're mocking us."

Alarmed by the young girl's condition, Eris spoke gently. "No, no, I'm not. I really meant no offence. I'm sorry."

Her mother seemed less concerned. "I'm sorry. My daughter's been consuming the vapours."

Quintus, understandably, looked horrified at the state she was in.

"Oh for gods, Mother. What have you been doing to her?"

Caecilius hissed. "Not now, Quintus."

"Yeah, but she's sick. Just look at her."

Watching the exchange with casual disinterest, Lucius raised an eyebrow.

"I gather I have a rival in this household. Another with the gift."

Metella looked very proud. "Oh, she's been promised to the Sibylline Sisterhood. They say she has remarkable visions."

"The prophecies of women are limited and dull. Only the menfolk have the capacity for true perception."

Donna scoffed. "I'll tell you where the wind's blowing right now, mate."

There was another slight tremor, and Lucius' lip curled.

"The Mountain God marks your words. I'd be careful, if I were you."

The Doctor was more concerned with the frail state of the young girl in front of them.

"Consuming the vapours, you say?"

She nodded, and even that slight movement looked like it could make her drop.

"They give me strength."

"It doesn't look like it to me."

"Is that your opinion as a doctor?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Doctor. That's your name."

"How did you know that?"

Evelina turned her gaze on Eris and Donna.

"You - born so long ago and yet so far in the future. And you. You call yourself Noble."

Starting to grow worried, her mother looked nervous. "Now then, Evelina. Don't be rude."

The Doctor shook his head. "No, no, no, no. Let her talk."

She continued. "You all come from so far away."

Lucius sneered. "The female soothsayer is inclined to invent all sorts of vagaries."

He shot the other man a look. "Oh, not this time, Lucius. No, I reckon you've been out-soothsayed."

"Is that so, man from Gallifrey?"

"What?"

"The strangest of images. Your home is lost in fire, is it not?"

The look on his face set Donna's teeth on edge. Something was very wrong.

"Doctor, what are they doing?"

"And the child of Everywhere - no home, no family. Created to the unknown design."

Visibly shaken, Eris tried to keep her voice steady.

"How about you tell me something I don't know?"

He kept talking. "And you, daughter of London."

Donna's eyes widened. "How does he know that?"

"This is the gift of Pompeii. Every single oracle tells the truth."

"That's impossible."

"Doctor, she is returning."

He frowned. "Who is? Who's she?"

"And you, daughter of London. There is something on your back."

"What's that mean?"

Evelina was shaking more violently now.

"Those names, such lies. Discordia reborn, child of blood and night and Eternity. The old name taken anew. But the word Doctor is purely false. Your real name is hidden. It burns in the stars, in the Cascade of Medusa herself. You are a Lord, sir. A Lord of Time."

And with that, she collapsed.

Helping Metella, Donna and Eris got Evelina settled in the cool shade of her bedroom. The cloths drawn across the window softened the rays to a gentle glow that fell across her face where she lay. The others watched from a slight distance as Metella unwrapped the young girl's arm.

"She didn't mean to be rude. She's ever such a good girl. But when the gods speak through her…"

There was noticeable discolouration, and Donna moved to take a closer look.

"What's wrong with her arm?"

"An irritation of the skin. She never complains, bless her. We bathe it in olive oil every night."

"What is it?"

She paused. "Evelina said you'd come from far away. Please, have you ever seen anything like it?"

She leant back to let the pair of them see. Eris trailed a finger along the dark patch, flinching back at the familiar sensation.

"It's stone."

Now that Lucius had been seen out of the property, Caecilius showed the Doctor the source of the vapours they had been discussing.

"Different sort of hypocaust?"

"Oh, yes. We're very advanced in Pompeii. In Rome, they're still using the old wood-burning furnaces, but we've got hot springs, leading from Vesuvius itself."

"Who thought of that?"

"The soothsayers, after the great earthquake, seventeen years ago. An awful lot of damage. But we rebuilt."

"Didn't you think of moving away? Oh no, then again, San Francisco."

Caecilius pulled a face. "That's a new restaurant in Naples, isn't it?"

There was an odd sort of noise from below, a sort of grinding, scraping crunch. The Doctor peered down through the grille.

"What's that noise?"

"Don't know. Happens all the time. They say the gods of the Underworld are stirring."

"But after the earthquake, let me guess. Is that when the soothsayers started making sense?"

He fought a smile. "Oh, yes, very much so. I mean, they'd always been, shall we say, imprecise? But then the soothsayers, the augurs, the haruspices, all of them, they saw the truth again and again. It's quite amazing. They can predict crops and rainfall with absolute precision."

Cautious, he broached the subject. "Haven't they said anything about tomorrow?"

"No. Why, should they? Why do you ask?"

"No, no. No reason. I'm just asking. But the soothsayers, they all consume the vapours, yeah?"

"That's how they see."

"Ipso facto…" He reached through the gaps, and the Roman sighed.

"Look, you-"

"They're all consuming this."

A pile of fine blackish powder sat in the palm of his hand.

"Dust. Tiny particles of rock. They're breathing in Vesuvius."

Quintus had gone back to his drink, enjoying the restored peace that had returned. Unfortunately for him, it didn't last long.

"Quintus, me old son. This Lucius Petrus Dextrus. Where does he live?"

"It's nothing to do with me."

"Let me try again. This Lucius Petrus Dextrus…" And with a flourish, the Doctor produced a coin from behind the boy's ear. "...Where does he live?"

He perked up, a lot more willing to listen now.

Leading the way with a burning torch, Quintus was regretting his decision to help with every step closer to Lucius' villa.

"Don't tell my Dad."

The Doctor opened the shutters of the window he'd indicated and winked down at the boy.

"Only if you don't tell mine." Hopping through, he turned to take the torch. "Come on in."

The only light in the room came from the hot glow of the hypocaust. A large swath of curtain looked promising, and the two of them carefully pulled it back to reveal six panels of black marble, each one carved in the same style as the one Caecilius had made. Quintus swore at the sight of it.

"The liar. He told my father it was the only one."

The Doctor shrugged. "Well, plenty of marble merchants in this town. Tell them all the same thing, get all the components from different places, so no one can see what you're building."

"Which is what?"

Lucius' voice from behind made them jump - thye'd been caught.

"The future, Doctor. We are building the future, as dictated by the gods."

Once Evelina had recovered, Metella had left their guests to cheer her up. Their chosen form of entertainment was going through the girl's wardrobe. Eris was wearing a soft gold robe, and she sat on the end of the bed as Donna showed off the purple garment she'd selected. Both of them were giggling.

"You're not supposed to laugh. Thanks for that. What do you think?" She struck a pose. "The Goddess Venus."

Evelina's laughter mixed with a gasp. "Oh, that's sacrilege."

"Nice to see you laugh, though. What do you do in old Pompeii, then, girls your age? You got mates? Do you go hanging about round the shops? TK Maximus?"

"I am promised to the Sisterhood for the rest of my life."

"Do you get any choice in that?"

"It's not my decision. The Sisters chose for me. I have the gift of sight."

"...Then what can you see happening tomorrow?"

She looked a little confused. "Is tomorrow special?"

"You tell me. What do you see?"

As she raised her hands to cover her eyes, the painted marks taking their place, Eris grabbed Donna's wrist.

"You can't. This isn't fair on her."

Letting her hands fall, the girl shrugged.

"The sun will rise, the sun will set. Nothing special at all."

Sighing, Donna ignored the warning looks.

"Look, don't tell the Doctor I said anything because he'll kill me, but I've got a prophecy too."

Evelina covered her eyes again, visibly distressed.

"Evelina, I'm sorry, but you've got to hear me out. Evelina, can you hear me? Listen."

"There is only one prophecy."

"But everything I'm about to say to you is true, I swear. Just listen to me. Tomorrow, that mountain is going to explode. Evelina, please listen. The air is going to fill with ash and rocks, tons and tons of it, and this whole town is going to get buried."

"That's not true."

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, but everyone's going to die." She was vaguely aware of Eris leaving, and continued.

"Even if you don't believe me, just tell your family to get out of town. Just for one day. Just for tomorrow. But you've got to get out. You've got to leave Pompeii."

Tears tracked down the young woman's cheeks as she shook her head.

"This is false prophecy!"

Under the watchful eye of Lucius and his servants, the Doctor rearranged the circuit boards so that the patterns aligned.

"Put this one there. This one there. Er, keep that one upside down, and what you got?"

"Enlighten me."

"What, the soothsayer doesn't know?"

"The seed may float on the breeze in any direction."

"Yeah, I knew you were going to say that. But it's an energy converter."

Lucius didn't react. "An energy converter of what?"

"I don't know. Isn't that brilliant? I love not knowing. Keeps me on my toes. It must be awful being a prophet, waking up every morning, is it raining? Yes, it is, I said so. Takes all the fun out of life. But who designed this, Lucius, hmm? Who gave you these instructions?"

"I think you've babbled enough."

"Lucius, really, tell me. Honestly, I'm on your side. I can help."

"You insult the gods. There can be only one sentence. At arms."

The guards drew their swords, and Quintus - who had been keeping his distance anyway - pressed his back against the wall. The Doctor, however, seemed unbothered.

"Oh, morituri te salutant."

"Celtic prayers won't help you now." Lucius spat.

Overflowing with panic, the young man started to babble.

"But it was him, sir. He made me do it. Mister Dextrus, please don't."

"Come on now, Quintus, dignity in death. I respect your victory, Lucius. Shake on it? Come on. Dying man's wish?"

There was a pause, and the Doctor lunged forward, grabbing for Lucius' right arm beneath the cloak and pulling hard. A sharp cracking sound, and the whole arm came away in his grasp.

Quintus' jaw dropped.

"But he's…"

"Show me."

Throwing back the cloak, the man revealed the calcified remains of his right shoulder.

"The work of the gods."

The younger man was still in shock. "He's stone."

Next to him, the Doctor tested the weight of the stone in his hands.

"Armless enough, though. Whoops."

Tossing the arm back to the man he'd pulled it from, he ushered Quintus towards the window, making sure the boy got out first. As one last insult, he turned back and used the sonic, sending the circuit boards clattering to the floor. Lucius roared, enraged, and the duo took their chance to escape.

Three streets away, they stopped, leaning heavily against a wall. The Doctor could have kept up the pace the whole way back to the villa, but he knew Quintus would need a moment to recover.

"No sign of them. Nice little bit of allons-y. I think we're all right."

"But his arm, Doctor. Is that what's happening to Evelina?"

Before he could answer, a rumble caught their attention.

"What was that?"

Another.

"The mountain?"

Another.

"No, it's closer."

Another. There was a rhythm to them, a slow, pounding beat.

"Footsteps."

"It can't be."

"Footsteps underground."

The intensity grew.

"What is it? What is it?"

"Whatever it is, it's getting closer. We need to move, now."

They could feel it inside the house too. Metella moved about, fussing over the valuables.

"What is it? What's that noise?"

Her husband shrugged. "Doesn't sound like Vesuvius."

Bursting through the doors, the Doctor shouted.

"Caecilius? All of you, get out!"

Hearing him, Donna stuck her head around the door frame.

"Doctor, what is it?"

"I think we're being followed."

Eris joined them as the hypocaust grill flew upwards, leaving the hole open.

"Dad?"

"We need to leave. Just get out!"

Instead, the family and their servants stood, mouths wide, as the floor around the hypocaust cracked, revealing the creature below. It clambered upwards, staggering to full height. Jagged hunks of rock held together by a harsh, internal heat, with an angular cruel face - the top of it's head scraped against the decorated ceiling.

Evelina stared up at it in wonder.

"The gods are with us."

The Doctor had an entirely different reaction.

"Water. We need water. Quintus. All of you, get water. Donna!"

As the other moved to fetch buckets, one of the servants stepped forth.

"Blessed are we to see the gods."

His moment of glory was short-lived, however, as a jet of fire streamed from the creature's mouth, burning him to ashes instantly.

Putting himself between the thing and the humans, he tried to hold it's attention.

"Talk to me. That's all I want. Talk to me. Just tell me you are. Don't hurt these people. Talk to me. I'm the Doctor. Just tell me who you are."

Leading the way, Quintus held a bucket in each hand, filling both from the fish pond before taking the first and throwing its contents with all his might. His aim was perfect, and the bolt of water hit the creature right in it's chest. The internal fire faded and went out, leaving the remaining shell to crack and crumble to the floor.

There was a stunned silence for a time, before Caecilius found the ability to speak again.

"What was it?"

"Carapace of stone, held together by internal magma. Not too difficult to stop, but I reckon that's just the foot soldier."

Metella eyed him cautiously. "Doctor, or whatever your name is, you bring bad luck on this house."

"I thought your son was brilliant. Aren't you going to thank him?" Lowering his voice, he moved to speak to his friends. "Still, if there are aliens at work in Pompeii, it's a good thing we stayed. Donna?" He got no response. "Eris? Donna?" Nothing. He looked around, but there was no sign of either of them. "Oh, no no no. Donna!"

While all the commotion in the villa had been occurring, both girls had been snatched. As it turned out, Evelina wasn't the only one who had heard Donna's prophecy - and her sisters seemed to be more angry about it than she had been. Now, Donna was laying across the altar, tied down. Eris had been restrained against one of the pillars, and the sisters were making it very clear that she would be next. Naturally, Donna wasn't too impressed with this arrangement.

"You have got to be kidding me."

One of the red-robed women moved to stand over her with a curved ritual knife.

"The false prophet will surrender both her blood and her breath."

"I'll surrender you in a minute. Don't you dare."

"You will be silent."

"Listen, sister, you might have eyes on the back of your hands, but you'll have eyes in the back of your head by the time I've finished with you. Let me go!"

"This prattling voice will cease forever!"

She rose the blade, but before she could plunge it downwards, a voice interrupted proceedings.

"Oh, that'll be the day."

The sister turned on her heel, a scandalised look on her face.

"No man is allowed to enter the Temple of Sibyl."

"Well, that's all right. Just us girls. Thanks for the directions, Eris."

"Any time."

The woman looked between them, then down at the floor. A long trail of yellowy-gold thread snaked it's way out of the door, and the brunette's dress looked a fair bit shorter than it should have done. Seeing the rage on her face, the Doctor continued.

"Do you know, I met the Sibyl once. Yeah, hell of a woman. Blimey, she could dance the Tarantella. Nice teeth. Truth be told, I think she had a bit of a thing for me. I said it would never last. She said, I know. Well, she would."

As he freed Eris, she snorted.

"Come on, we both know it was me that the Sibyl fancied. It was obvious. I always was a better flirt than you."

"Oh, whatever. You all right there?"

Donna looked up at him, grinning. "Oh, never better."

"I like the toga."

"Thank you. And the ropes?"

"Yeah, not so much."

He used the sonic to cut them, helping Donna back to her feet. Turning on the sisters again, his face hardened.

"Let me tell you about the Sibyl, the founder of this religion. She would be ashamed of you. All her wisdom and insight turned sour. Is that how you spread the word, hey? On the blade of a knife?"

She raised the knife above her head again. "Yes, a knife that now welcomes you."

"Show me this man."

The harsh, rasping voice made the robed women freeze. The one with the knife turned to look towards a section of the room hidden by thin red curtains.

"High Priestess, the stranger would defile us."

"Let me see. This one is different. He carries starlight in his wake."

With the others, the Doctor approached. "Oh, very perceptive. Where do these words of wisdom come from?"

"The gods whisper to me."

Her silhouette was just visible through the fabric, and Eris felt something turn inside her. There was something different about this woman, obviously.

"Oh, I'm afraid they've done far more than that. Might we beg audience? Look upon the High Priestess?"

There was some silent deliberation between the sisters, before two of them drew the veil aside and revealed what was within.

Draped in similar robes to the girls outside was a living statue. Every movement scraped, and her lips barely moved as she spoke. Her eyelids didn't even flicker. Every inch of what much have once been soft, tanned flesh was now rough stone. Donna gasped.

"Oh, my God. What's happened to you?"

"The heavens have blessed me."

The Doctor held out a hand. "If I might?"

She reached out, painfully slow, and let him stroke her palm and fingers.

"Does it hurt?"

"It is necessary."

"Who told you that?"

"The voices."

Eris turned back to the girls. "Is that what's going to happen to Evelina? To all of you? What do you think it is, a reward for your abilities?"

Each of them undid the arm wrappings, revealing grey patches of varying sizes.

"The blessings are manifold."

Donna reached out to touch one, confirming the theory. "They're stone."

He nodded. "Exactly. The people of Pompeii are turning to stone before the volcano erupts. But why?"

The high priestess' facial expression couldn't change, but the frown was audible.

"This word, this image in your mind. This volcano. What is that?"

"More to the point, why don't you know about it? Who are you?"

"High Priestess of the Sibylline."

"No, no, no, no. I'm talking to the creature inside you. The thing that's seeding itself into a human body, in the dust, in the lungs, taking over the flesh and turning it into, what?"

"Your knowledge is impossible."

"Oh, but you can read my mind. You know it's not. I demand you tell me who you are."

Now, two voices overlaid each other. The light rasp they had heard originally, and one far deeper, harsher, stronger. Every intonation was alien.

"We are awakening."

Eyes wide, the sisters dropped to their knees, settling into a familiar prayer position and rocking ever so slightly as they chanted.

"The voice of the gods."

"Words of wisdom, words of power. Words of wisdom, words of power. Words of wisdom..."

Tuning it out, the Doctor continued the interrogation.

"Name yourself. Planet of origin. Galactic coordinates. Species designation according to the universal ratification of the Shadow Proclamation."

The alien voice grew even stronger. "We are rising."

"Tell me your name!"

"Pyrovile."

The chant changed. "Pyrovile. Pyrovile. Pyrovile."

Donna grabbed his arm. "What's a Pyrovile?"

"Well, that's a Pyrovile, growing inside her. She's a halfway stage."

"What, and that turns into?"

Eris nodded. "That thing that came to the villa. That must have been an adult Pyrovile."

The high priestess cackled.

"And the breath of a Pyrovile will incinerate you all, Doctor."

He whipped a plastic yellow gun from a pocket.

"I warn you, I'm armed. Donna, get that grill open."

"What for?"

As Eris pulled her towards the indicated frill and started to work at the latches securing it, he kept talking.

"What are the Pyrovile doing here?"

Hardly any of the priestess' voice remained now.

"We fell from the heavens. We fell so far and so fast, we were rendered into dust."

"Right, creatures of stone shattered on impact. When was that, seventeen years ago?"

"We have slept beneath for thousands of years."

"Okay, so seventeen years ago woke you up, and now you're using human bodies to reconstitute yourselves. But why the psychic powers?"

"We opened their minds and found such gifts."

"Okay, that's fine. So you force yourself inside a human brain, use the latent psychic talent to bond. I get that, I get that, yeah. But seeing the future? That is way beyond psychic. You can see through time. Where does the gift of prophecy come from?"

He was faintly aware of Donna arguing with Eris in the background.

"What, you want me to get down there?"

"Yes, down there. Now shift it!"

Refocusing, he continued. "Why can't this lot predict a volcano? Why is it being hidden?"

One of the girls got to her feet. "Sisters, I see into his mind. The weapon is harmless!"

He shrugged. "Yeah, but it's got to sting."

He pumped the trigger a few times, spraying water at the stone woman. As she flinched back, he made for the open grating.

The girls had waited there for him, and Donna was quick to show her approval.

"You fought her off with a water pistol. I bloody love you."

He grinned, then pointed down one of the tunnels. "This way."

"Where are we going now?"

"Into the volcano."

"No way."

"Yes, way. Appian way."

He flinched as Eris smacked him around the shoulder.

"You're so not funny. Come on."

Outside, the sky was brightening once again. In the villa, things had settled back into a shaky kind of quiet - the kind that could fracture at any moment. Blowing out the candles, Caecilius pressed a kiss to his wife's forehead.

"Sunrise, my love. A new day. Even the longest night must end."

Quintus, looking out of the window, sighed. "The mountain's worse than ever."

Metella shook her head. "We killed a messenger of the gods in our own house. Sweetheart, can you see? Tell us. What's going to happen?"

"Just leave her alone."

Raising her hands into the familiar position, Evelina took a moment to answer. "I can see."

"What is it?"

"A choice. Someone must make a choice. The most terrible choice."

Still working their way through the tunnels of the hypocaust, Donna was once again trying to understand the Doctor's stance on things.

"But if it's aliens setting off the volcano, doesn't that make it all right for you to stop it?"

"Still part of history."

"But I'm history to you. You saved me in 2008. You saved us all. Why is that different?"

"Some things are fixed, some things are in flux. Pompeii is fixed."

"How do you know which is which?"

He stopped, the weight of what had to happen almost crushing him. "Because that's how I see the universe. Every waking second, I can see what is, what was, what could be, what must not. That's the burden of a Time Lord, Donna. And I'm the only one left."

"How many people died?"

Eris sighed. "Donna, stop it. Please."

"Doctor, how many people died?"

"Twenty thousand."

She grabbed his hand. "Is that what you can see, Doctor? All twenty thousand? And you think that's all right, do you?"

Before Eris could step in, a deep rumble from the direction they had come put them on high alert. The Doctor shook his head.

"They know we're here. Come on."

Quickly, they came out upon a large open cavern. Thin snaking trails of lava worked their way down the walls, illuminating the colossal Pyroviles inhabiting the space. Eris looked up at the dizzyingly high rock roof.

"This the heart of Vesuvius. We're right inside the mountain."

Donna was more concerned by the sheer number of aliens around them.

"There's tons of them."

Spotting something a little distance away, the Doctor pointed. "What's that thing?"

Digging a tiny pair of binoculars out of a pocket, he spent several moments staring at it.

"Oi, you better hurry up and think of something. Rocky four's on its way."

"That's how they arrived. Or what's left of it. Escape pod? Prison ship? Gene bank?"

"But why do they need a volcano? Maybe it erupts, and they launch themselves back into space or something?"

"Oh, it's worse than that."

"How could it be worse? Doctor, it's getting closer."

From a ridge at the other side of the cavern, Lucius saw them. His shoulder stump was now fully, proudly on display.

"Heathens defile us. They would desecrate your temple, my lord gods. Crush them! Burn them!"

A Pyrovile reared up in front of them: Eris took the lead and directed Donna towards the pod while the Doctor used his trusty water pistol once again.

They stopped just short of safety so he could catch up, and Lucius took another attempt to gloat.

"There is nowhere to run, Doctor, and daughter of London."

"Now then, Lucius. My lords Pyrovillian, don't get yourselves in a lather. In a lava? No?" The unamused glare from his daughter was answer enough. "No. But if I might beg the wisdom of the gods before we perish. Once this new race of creatures is complete, then what?"

"My masters will follow the example of Rome itself. An almighty empire, bestriding the whole of civilisation."

Donna shrugged. "But if you've crashed, and you've got all this technology, why don't you just go home?"

Lucius' face grew cold. "The Heaven of Pyrovillia is gone."

The Doctor frowned. "What do you mean, gone? Where's it gone?"

"It was taken. Pyrovillia is lost."

Eris raised an eyebrow. "How do you lost a planet?"

"It idoes not matter! Here, there is heat enough in this world for a new species to rise."

The Doctor scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I should warn you, it's seventy percent water out there."

"Water can boil. And everything will burn, Doctor."

"Then the whole planet is at stake. Thank you. That's all I needed to know."

And with that, the three of them ducked inside the pod, squeezing themselves into the tiny space and trying not to knock any of the circuitry. With a flourish of the sonic screwdriver, the door closed behind them.

Pressed against her friends, Donna tried to bring a bit of levity to the situation.

"Could we be any more trapped?"

Neither responded as the heat increased, fussing over the panels to ensure they knew exactly what they were about to do. He nodded.

"See? The energy converter takes the lava, uses the power to create a fusion matrix, which welds Pyrovile to human. Now it's complete, they can convert millions."

"But can't you change it with these controls?"

"Of course I can, but don't you see? That's why the soothsayers can't see the volcano. There is no volcano. Vesuvius is never going to erupt. The Pyrovile are stealing all its power. They're going to use it to take over the world."

"But you can change it back?"

He slumped forward, eyes scrunched tight. Rubbing his back, Eris shook her head.

"Inverting the system is easy. It's perfectly manageable from here. But that's it. We invert it, and the volcano erupts. We have to make that choice, Donna. Pompeii, or the world?"

Finally, she realised the enormity of it all. "Oh, my God."

He was shaking a little now, the weight of another destruction falling heavy on his shoulders.

"If Pompeii is destroyed then it's not just history, it's me. I make it happen."

Linking their hands, his daughter rested them on the stone lever.

"We. Not you, we. I'm not letting you take this on by yourself."

Donna had a horrible thought. "Doctor, the Pyrovile are made of rocks. Maybe they can't be blown up."

"Vesuvius explodes with the force of twenty four nuclear bombs. Nothing can survive it. Certainly not us."

She made up her mind. There was no way she could let them do this by themselves.

"Never mind us."

"Push this lever and it's over. Twenty thousand people."

Adding her hands to the pile, the three of them made eye contact for the briefest of moments, before pushing down.

As the seers through the city stiffened, convulsed, feeling the heat of the timeline being changed flooding through them, the volcano erupted. Plumes of ash billowed upwards as the contents of the volcano overflowed, spilling down the sides of the mountain and spreading their way across the land like hot ink.

The pod had also been ejected, and the Doctor stumbled out of the opening before helping the others.

"It was an escape pod. Handy, that."

"Yeah, we can celebrate our luck later." Eris was looking over their shoulders, focused on the impending trouble. "Run!"

The others turned to see the dense pyroclastic flow heading their way, and broke into a sprint.

With every second, the sky darkened. The high clouds of ash and smoke were thick enough to block out the sun.

Town had descended into pure chaos. Ash was falling like snow, settling thick on the shoulders and heads of the fleeing residents even as they ran - at times, it fell so fast that it was almost impossible to see through. Already, some smaller structures had collapsed, destabilised by the force of the eruption. People were running in every direction, taking in deep lungfuls of the noxious air as they struggled to keep moving. Donna felt her throat growing hoarse as she tried to help them.

"Don't. Don't go to the beach. Don't go to the beach, go to the hills. Listen to me. Don't go to the beach, it's not safe. Listen to me."

The ash fall thickened once again, and she could just about see Eris' hand through the gloom. Holding tight, she allowed the shorter girl to lead her towards safety, able to see as they ducked beneath a structured parapet and the onslaught lightened for a moment that, at the front of their little chain, the Doctor was doing the same.

They reached the villa, picking their way through the rubble and scattered fires to the Tardis doors. Movement from a corner made Donna look, and her heart broke at the sight of Caecilius and his family, huddled together, the man and his wife doing their best to shelter their children. Seeing them, Caecilius reached out.

"Gods save us, Doctor."

He faltered for a moment, then continued to the door, opening it and stepping in. Eris hovered in the doorway for the slightest of moments, tears streaking through the dirt across her cheeks, before getting in. Donna gaped at them both, still standing in the destruction.

"No! Doctor, you can't. Doctor! Eris!"

The engines started to groan and she darted inside.

"You can't just leave them!"

There was a bitter note to the Doctor's tone. "Don't you think I've done enough? History's back in place and everyone dies."

"You've got to go back. Doctor, I am telling you, take this thing back. It's not fair."

"No, it's not."

Her voice was cracking so much that she very nearly couldn't get the words out.

"But your own planet. It burned."

"That's just it. Don't you see, Donna? Can't you understand? If I could go back and save them, then I would. But I can't. I can never go back. I can't. I just can't, I can't."

"Just someone. Please. Not the whole town. Just save someone."

"I can't."

The noise shifted as Eris slammed a lever down.

"We can."

"What are you doing?"

"Keeping us in the area. We've got time. And I remember from the dig, we excavated Foss Street. I saw what was left of Caecilius' villa. The ruins - and no bodies. The last door got blocked behind us by rubble. So how else did they get out?"

Both women could see the thoughts ticking over in his head as his daughter's hand hovered over the button. With a sharp nod, he slammed his hand down on it, the beautiful noise of the engines echoing around them.

Settling his chin against the top of his daughter's head, Caecilius closed his eyes and prayed. He prayed that the ending, however it may come, would be swift and kind. But then, like a pinprick of light through storm clouds, came a sound. An odd wheezing, like something sickened. But part of his heart sang with it, telling him it was safe, a chance, a ray of hope. He opened his eyes, looked up. The blue box was directly in front of them, edges fuzzy among the ashes. The door opened, and silhouetted against the light was the Doctor. He held out a hand.

"Come with me."

They landed again on a hillside overlooking the city, watching the darkness bubble through the streets and fill every crevice. The family was in shock, naturally, and Eris moved to rest a hand on Caecilius' arm.

"I promise you, Caecilius, there will come a day when everyone knows the name Pompeii. Stories will be told over and over, and everyone who lived here will be remembered. Nothing is ever truly forgotten. In some ways, everything can live forever."

He laid a hand over hers, appreciating the effort she was making. Donna moved to stand by the grief-stricken teenagers.

"What about you, Evelina? Can you see anything?"

"The visions have gone."

The Doctor nodded. "The explosion was so powerful it cracked open a rift in time, just for a second. That's what gave you the gift of prophecy. It echoed back into the Pyrovillian alternative. But not any more. You're free."

Looking over her shoulder, Metella eyed him cautiously. "But tell me. Who are you, Doctor? With your words, and your temple containing such size within?"

"Oh, we were never here. We don't matter. Don't tell anyone."

Caecilius stepped forwards, looking down at the place he called home.

"The great god Vulcan must be enraged. It's so volcanic. It's like some sort of volcano. All those people…"

He trailed off into tears as his wife took him into her arms, Quintus and Evelina moving to wrap their arms around their parents.

Knowing that their presence was no longer needed, that the family were safe and had each other, the three of them slipped quietly back into the Tardis and took off again.

The three stood together at the console, and Donna put a hand on the Doctor's shoulder.

"Thank you. Both of you."

He nodded. "Yeah. You were right. Sometimes we need someone."

"Well, Eris-"

"No." The girl shook her head vehemently. "The only reason I remembered it was worth trying was because you were so adamant we shouldn't leave them behind. Without you, we would both have stepped inside, walked away, and regretted that choice. Thank you.

Welcome aboard."

Six months after Pompeii's ashy demise, Caecilius bustled through the open space of their new villa in Rome like a whirlwind.

"Metella, my love, have you seen that clasp? The beetle one. The Egyptians do love a scarab."

Rolling her eyes, his wife moved to fasten it onto his clothes. "Here we are. I was giving it a polish. Now calm down."

"If I get that contract for the marble granaries of Alexandria, we'll be rich. You'll see."

As their daughter walked past, his eyes widened.

"Hold on there, Evelina. You are not going out wearing that."

She gestured down at the knee-length dress with a groan.

"Don't start, Dad. It's what all the girls in Rome are wearing. See you later."

"Are you seeing that boy again?"

She didn't answer, and Metella focused her attention on their son.

"Oh, look at Quintus. My son, the doctor."

He blushed, the colour obvious against his pale blue robes. "Mum, I've told you. I'm not a doctor. Not yet. I'm just a student of the physical sciences."

"Well, that's a doctor to me. Give thanks to the household gods before you go, there's a good boy." Setting her eyes on her husband, she tutted. "Come here, let me fix it. You've got that folded all wrong."

As she fussed over him, Quintus knelt before the shrine, resting his fingers against the new carving.

"Thank you, household gods. Thank you for everything."

Delicately worked in the finest of marble was the Doctor, Donna and Eris standing by the Tardis. Every detail of their clothes was picked out, right down to the slightest wrinkles. All three of them wore serene smiles, as if all was right in the world.

Quintus often thought that with them around, that would always be the case.

See you soon, and happy reading!

Much love,

Azzie xx