I'm very sorry that this chapter took so long to post. The computer it was on decided to go "kaplooey" and took forever to deal with. Luckily I was just recently able to get access to all the files again. So here it is.

Though Buffy promised herself just one adventure with the Doctor and then she would return to Sunnydale, the promise was quickly broken. It was addicting not having to be in charge anymore. She was the strength to the Doctor's incredible brains and Donna's super-temp. It was almost like when Giles was more in control back in high school, but much, much better because the problems were now solved without her killing something. The general lack of dusty ends around her was rather liberating. And yet she was still helping people, still saving the day… and seeing some of the most amazing things in the universe.

"So Buffy," the Doctor was saying as he stood at the Tardis controls. "You've been to the future, seen all sorts of planets, how do you fancy taking a look at the past on your own planet now?"

"Just as long as it's not another 'Ancient Rome' incident," Donna said.

"Why? What happened?" Buffy asked. She still liked whenever Donna would start talking about what she and the Doctor did before Buffy's arrival. Donna hadn't been with the Doctor long, so there wasn't much to tell, but her story telling was highly entertaining.

"He says it's Ancient Rome and then we see this big mountain. Only it's not a mountain. It's a volcano. It wasn't Rome; it was Pompeii… right before the volcano erupted."

"Yeah, let's not do that," Buffy said to the currently frowning Doctor. He started pulling and punching the controls until they were thrown about by the violent lurches of the travelling Tardis.

When it stopped the Doctor bounded to the door while pulling on his coat, and then he poked his head out the door just to avoid the embarrassment of another Pompeii.

"Ladies, I think you'll need to change your clothes."

"What sort of an outfit will we need?" Buffy asked.

"Well…" he dragged out slowly and added a bit of a sniff at the end. "I think we've just landed in the court of Henry VIII."

An hour later, garbed in Renaissance Italy's finest, the ladies joined the Doctor at the door. He was leaning on the railings, still in his usual suit and coat.

"Aren't you going to change?" Buffy asked.

"I changed my tie," he said while adjusting said tie.

Buffy and Donna rolled their eyes and followed him out of the Tardis. The blue police box was partially concealed by a hedge than ran along a large lawn. Through an opening in the hedge they could see a court party on the other side. Tall hedges encircled the area of fountains and large patches of lawn. Courtiers were coming and going, walking about and greeting others, doing all they could to get an edge over others in the never ending game of political power. Through openings in the hedges there were people playing games or having archery contests.

While Donna and Buffy stood peering round the corner of the large shrubbery to just take in the whole sight, the Doctor walked past and straight into the space with his usual confident yet casual swagger, hands in his pockets, head looking around, and slight smile on his face. Buffy and Donna followed, trying their best to mimic the movements of the other female courtiers.

"So what's out cover story?" Buffy asked. She knew the Doctor would just sort of wing it, but Buffy wanted the security of a plan if this was the court of a man who had a habit of beheading people—she knew that much of history. "If you're going to be flashing the psychic paper then I want to know who we are."

"Italians, I should think," the Doctor replied.

"These people aren't at war with the Italians, are they?" Donna asked.

"No… probably the one country right now that they definitely aren't fighting. Although… depending on the date, they might not be all that friendly with the Pope."

"Because he wants to divorce his wife," Donna said proudly.

Buffy rolled her eyes. Donna loved when she knew more than Buffy. Donna often referred to herself as just a nobody, especially when put against the Doctor's brains and Buffy's super strength. But she had her moments of brilliance when it came to her super-temp abilities, and it wasn't hard for her to know more than Buffy. History and British references were not things Buffy excelled in. Just ask Giles.

"So we're Italians," Buffy said to bring it back to her original point. "The ladies Donna and Buffy from Rome and their cousin…"

"Sir Doctor of Tardis," the Doctor filled in.

"And you ask what kind of a name is Buffy?" the slayer demanded.

"Oi! Queen Victoria herself knighted me."

"No way!" Donna said. "You've met the Queen Victoria? I bet she wasn't amused."

"Anyways…" the Doctor drawled his usual 'can we please change the subject' drawl. "Shall we go mix with the locals?"

HXHXHXHXHXHXHXHXHXHXH

It wasn't long before the King himself noticed the newcomers and was asking his trusted friends to find out who they were. And it was even less time before he decided to meet them for himself. His friend Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, first went to make their acquaintance, and then Henry was able to follow and be introduced to them.

"Charles, you must introduce me to these new courtiers," Henry said as he approached his friend. "I don't think we need all the ceremony of formal introductions."

"Your majesty," Brandon started, "may I introduce Sir Doctor of Tardis and his cousins, the Lady Donna and the Lady Buffy. Sir Doctor, ladies, His Majesty King Henry of England, Ireland and France."

"Tardis?" Henry asked. "I'm not sure I've heard of it."

"It's a very small place, your majesty," the Doctor said. Buffy elbowed him. He added, "In Italy."

"It doesn't sound very Italian. And for a matter of fact, nor do you Sir… Doctor." The last word trailed off and sounded almost like a question.

"It's a very small island just next to Italy. And we travel. Pick up different accents along the way. It makes blending in easier. Don't get noticed."

"I can't imagine with two such lovely cousins you wouldn't be noticed." Henry was then called away by another noble. Brandon followed.

"Wow," Buffy said while letting out the breath she had been holding. "He's actually a lot more attractive than I expected."

"Eh," said Donna, her head tilted to one side. "He's no Jonathan Rhys Meyers."

"Who?" Buffy asked.

"Oi, you two," the Doctor said. "We are here to see history… not blog about movie actors."

"Did I ever mention I've never been good at history?" said Buffy. "And that might just be one hell of an understatement."

"Then this is the perfect opportunity to learn," the Doctor answered back. "Nothing like living it! So… allons-y!"

HXHXHXHXHXHXHXHXHXHXH

The three "Italian" travellers, walked around the halls of the court. It had begun to look like rain, so everyone had moved inside. But the rain didn't last long, so the king decided that since it wasn't too muddy they'd take advantage of the damp ground and have a jousting tournament that afternoon. Now it was just a matter of waiting for it all to be set up.

"Doctor," Buffy said suddenly.

"Yeah?"

"Do you see that shadow?"

"What shadow?"

"The one that looks like a tentacle creeping around that dark corner over there?"

"Ah, that shadow. That's not supposed to be here."

"Do you know what it is?" Donna asked.

"Well," he said and sniffed the air. "Between the tentacle and the smell, I'd say it's a Koosbanian shape stealer."

"Shape stealer?" Donna repeated.

"Sucks the essence out of a person and inhabits their body. They feed off of a person's power, usually political power over others, so they target heads of state and military leaders. Then they become some of the worst tyrants in history."

"So you're saying this has happened before?" Donna looked horrified.

"You don't think Hitler was human, do you? Just a vegetarian painter like him, of course he was killed and replaced by a Koosbanian shape stealer. This one must be after King Henry—all that power changing the church, becoming supreme leader in all things temporal and spiritual. It'd be a right feast for him."

"So what do we do?" Donna demanded.

The Doctor looked at Buffy.

"I kill it?" she suggested tentatively.

"For once, yes. But first we have to catch it. Come on!"

HXHXHXHXHXHXHXHXHXHXH

Henry and his intimate entourage strode down the walk to meet the queen at the jousting stands before entering and taking their seats together. As he passed the queen's ladies his eyes lingered on Mistress Anne Boleyn.

She was exquisite. Each time he saw her it only renewed his determination to have her—he would do whatever it took.

He smiled at Catherine and took her hand. Together they entered the royal stand and took their seats. Courtiers, officials, and friends filled in the seats around them. With a nod of his head, Henry signalled for the joust to begin and waited for the first two knights to take their places.

The two knights thundered down the lanes and crashed lanced against shield. The clang of metal and crack of wood could just be heard above the noise of the cheering crowd. Eyes were riveted to the knights in an effort to see which knight gave the harder hit.

No one noticed the tentacles creeping behind the royal stall. Or that one of the squires had misplaced two swords and an axe.

The first two knights finished, and two more took the challenge on the field. Henry pounded his hand on the arm of his seat. He stole a glance at Mistress Anne. Her eyes were fixed on the field. He longed for them to be fixed on him. He tried to think of what types of precious stones would suit her best.

A tentacle flailed behind the royal seats as it was hit by a sword. Another sword swung towards it again. The crowd watched the two knights gallop down the lanes and waited for the collision. It didn't disappoint them; one knight popped out of the saddle and crashed to the ground. They were so focused on the bleeding fallen knight that they didn't see a blonde lady crash to the ground beyond the stalls. Nor did they see her jump back up and run to a tentacle with her sword raised. They were busy watching the knight being taken from the field by two squires.

The joust continued, the king himself taking the field at one point. It was then that a group of three dragged a lifeless, gigantic octopus away from the joust and down to the Thames unnoticed. After the king there was only one more match, and then all the spectators exited the stalls.

The king noticed the three new Italians and approached them. "Ladies, Sir Doctor, how did you enjoy the joust? Was it better than the jousts in your country?"

"Oh, you know," the Doctor said with a huge yet somehow tired grin. "It seems to be the same wherever we go. But this was one of the most exhilarating."

"It certainly took my breath away," Donna said, just barely controlling her panting.

"So you enjoyed it?" Henry looked proud.

"Very much, your majesty," the Doctor said.

The men both smiled, and Henry made his way towards other nobles making sure to pass close to Anne Boleyn. The three slipped away as best they could and walked back to the Tardis.

"Won't this change history?" Buffy asked. "I always thought Henry the Eighth was a tyrant?"

"Nah!" the Doctor said as he opened the Tardis door and waited for the women to enter first. "Didn't you see the way he was looking at Anne Boleyn? He'll do what history says."

"So a human can be a tyrant just as much as an alien," Donna observed.

"Yeah," the Doctor agreed with a tiny bit of reluctance.

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