Before the Doctor knew what hit him, the earth began to shake violently. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it soon faded out into the late morning of this impossible world he found himself on. The people nearby looked slightly startled but unharmed, and soon carried on. The Doctor nearly fell over at the strong tremor, standing back up inside the TARDIS as he made his way out the doors.
"Holy–" the Doctor proclaimed, noticing a large, looming crack that had formed just in front of the TARDIS doors, almost as though an earthquake made its way into town. Confused, the Doctor bent down to examine it, picking up a few particles of soil from inside the crack and rolled it around on his tongue. "How odd…" he mused. "Tastes strange; nothing like Earth metals." He crossed off Earth as the environment's origin.
Mentally he decided to leave the TARDIS where she was to recuperate. There was no need for him to tinker when other damages needed to be fixed on their own over time. After a day or two he would decide to get started renovating. At the moment, however, he knew the TARDIS needed some time to rest and regain her strength.
"There must be a marketplace somewhere around here…" He looked back at his ship, giving her a sad look. "Get well, old girl. I'll bring Rose back... and hopefully very soon." He started walking away, stepping over the crack in the process. "And by the way," he added, "put that DVD back where it's suppose to." He felt a kind hum from his ship, and his hearts warmed at his sentient ship as he sent kind messages back to her.
Before long he managed to find his way around town after asking a few kind gentlemen. Others gave him judgmental sneers and questionable looks based on his attire, but as usual the Doctor ignored their glances and focused on asking where Cinderella's home was located. If anything it was a good place to start. The Doctor wondered if Rose ended up being Cinderella herself, and knew that it was a possibility. The TARDIS did her best in such circumstances, despite the mysterious ways in which the chameleon arch reacted.
He didn't hesitate to absorb himself in the atmosphere of the busy marketplace: smelling the air, noting his surroundings, memorizing people's faces. The hustle and bustle was palpable as he made his way around other people to reach the stands selling goods and articles of clothing. He approached a random booth selling some bread and other pastries and asked cheerfully, "Hello, there, good man! I'm kind of new in town. I'm wondering where I can find the… um… Tremaine residence?" Mentally he kicked himself for not remembering the name of the stepmother at the top of his head. He wasn't paying attention too much if he was honest with himself, simply because he kept focusing on Rose being so close to him, laying her head against his shoulder...
Now is not the time to think about that, Doctor. Focus you old fool.
"Sorry, sir, I'm not familiar with the name," said the man behind the stand. He picked up a loaf of bread, staring at it for a moment and then extended his arm across towards the Doctor. "But I do have bread."
The Doctor could only stare and blink. "So you do." Not the handiest tool in the shed, is he?
Before he could respond further or make a comment regarding the man's intelligence (which he knew would make Rose slap him silly, which he loved seeing since it irritated her), he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned his head to meet a certain someone he recognized almost instantly.
"Hello, sir," said the redheaded woman, giving him a big smile and holding out her hand for him to take. He could only stare bewilderedly for a moment, but soon came to his senses before reluctantly kissing her hand in appeasement. She giggled in response, her cheeks flushing. "I heard you talking about the estate you were searching for. I happen to live there."
"Oh, really? Brilliant!" he said, grinning. He went about her vague biography in his mind: Anastasia, one of the 'evil' ugly stepsisters of Cinderella, and in the Disney version had little to nothing to offer in terms of physical or mental beauty. Even though her character was written to be ugly, he personally never considered the stepsisters to be very grotesque looking at all. Even in the real life impersonation he was greeting, she wasn't as ugly as they were often described. Anastasia, as he could tell, looked like any average woman, though he had the gut feeling that she was more unattractive on the inside than on the outside. "I was curious about the estate, mainly because I've heard so much about it... as well as the people living there."
"Really?" she asked, her eyes widening. "Why would a handsome gent like yourself have any interest in our little house?" Her eyelashes fluttered for good measure, determined to charm him.
The Doctor gave a sly smile, trying to look like a proud and honorable individual, almost as though he were royalty, as he tried ignoring the uncomfortable flirtatious remarks. "I'm known as the Grand Duke of London, and I've been interested in some of the estates located in the center of town. I'm interested in inspecting some of them, yours included."
Anastasia's eyes drifted along the Doctor's body, examining him. "Your clothing certainly is peculiar." She touched the fabric of his pinstriped jacket, making the Doctor stiffen. "Typical of London; the fashion always seems to be changing there, doesn't it?"
"Wellll, you know… We like to keep an open mind."
She giggled some more, as if what he said was the most hilarious joke she'd ever heard. The Doctor tugged at his ear, really hating the attention for once. "Well, then, Grand Duke of London, follow me and I'll show you the way…" Anastasia raked her eyes over him before meeting his gaze again as a sign to follow her, and despite the Doctor trying to be polite she couldn't seem to stray too far from his side.
"So…" said Anastasia, locking her arm into his as she walked with him. "What name do you go by, other than the Grand Duke of London of course?"
"I go by the ever-so-wonderful John Smith."
"What? Certainly a fine gentleman like yourself would have such a more interesting name than that!"
"Nope. Sorry, it's just John Smith." He laughed to himself. This is just too easy! I didn't even have to flash my psychic paper in order to prove myself! Rose Tyler, here I come!
"CINDERELLA!"
The yell of her stepmother made her jump, even if it was the tenth time that she heard her name that day. Immediately she went over the chores she did in her head, and tried to figure out if she missed something. Regardless, she knew no matter what she did there was always something else that she did wrong. If she were honest with herself it was probably because they just enjoyed her suffering. She dropped the broom she was using to sweep the stairs and stood to Lady Tremaine's attention.
"Those dirty dishes are still left in the sink from early this morning! Goodness, child, what is it with you today?"
Cinderella most definitely wanted to fight back with a remark, but held her tongue. Last time she did she was slapped so hard it left bruises. She put on a brave face and a gentle tone of voice. "My apologies. I was trying to get to other small tasks in need of greater attention first." She made sure to avoid her stepmother's eyes.
"Well, next time do the dishes first! We need them for lunch, you know." Lady Tremaine noticed how distracted Cinderella looked, and decided to comment. "Is there something on your mind lately?"
"Oh, no, not really," Cinderella lied, mostly because she wasn't willing to tell her stepmother about any personal information for her own sake. Holding onto the dream she had got her through the day. "I'm just very tired."
Lady Tremaine's eyes were stone cold. "Well, expect it, dear, because it's always going to be that way. Remember that you're the maid in this house and you have responsibilities to attend to. Being tired is no excuse for those chores to be unfinished. This is large house that requires you to be on top of it at every turn."
"Yes, ma'am," Cinderella replied sullenly. "I understand."
"Good. Now, hop to it! I want them done before Anastasia returns from her shopping trip."
Drizella immediately chimed into the conversation upon looking out the window, smiling mischievously. "Talk about a successful shopping trip…"
Lady Tremaine glanced out the same window, and seemed pleased at the sight. "Let's hope this time a meeting with him will be successful."
Cinderella listened quietly at the situation, and knew by the sound of their voices that Anastasia had brought home yet another presumably wealthy suitor for either her or Drizella to marry. She knew she was going to be told to do something else rather than meet a guest, but decided to stay regardless. Honestly she was curious every time they brought home another man. That and she hated having to retreat every time her sisters barked at her. For once she stood her ground.
"You know the rules, Cinderella," snapped Drizella. "Get out of sight!"
Cinderella protested, "Stepmother told me to finish the chores before Anastasia comes home, and that's what I'm bent on doing."
"Ugh, mother! For once can she forget about those daft old chores and get out before Anastasia walks through the door?"
Lady Tremaine noticed the insecurity radiating from her daughter's tone, and thought it would be best to get Cinderella away from another suitor who would distract him from what she wanted him to notice. She obliged Drizella with a nod, making the black-haired woman smile triumphantly at Cinderella. At this, Cinderella knew she was defeated.
"You heard her, Cinderella," said her stepmother. "Best be getting to the sewing upstairs and leave the sweeping to be dealt with at another time."
Sighing, Cinderella put the broom away and grumbled to herself as she made her way up the stairs. "If you hate me so much, then just kill me already you materialistic old bi–"
"Did you say something, dear?" asked Lady Tremaine.
"Not a word, ma'am," said Cinderella, showing the best smile she could muster and hurried herself away from the situation. However, she didn't stray too far. She let herself peek across the hall in order to get a glimpse at the door. Small little rebellions like this kept her sane.
Soon enough, Anastasia was bounding in, the Doctor in arm, who was looking quite tired and irritated at the clingy redhead beside him. "Mother! Mother, I met this lovely man out in town today! John Smith here says he's the Grand Duke of London, and he was interested in viewing our property!"
"Well…" Lady Tremaine said, her voice like velvet. "What a pleasant surprise. Please come in, Your Grace. Though, I've never heard of a Duke of London coming around here before."
The Doctor couldn't find himself concentrating on the conversation. His mind kept trying to scan the house for any sign of Rose. He almost did a double take when he spotted her past the stairs towards the upstairs bedrooms, but he couldn't get to her with the antagonists right in front of him, questioning his every move. He was right! She was Cinderella all this time. The TARDIS did her job.
Thank god it wasn't a stepsister.
He recovered quickly, and as always was quick to think of a few lies. "Oh! Well, um, London was personally… um… interested in a few of the properties around France, mainly because of its exquisite architecture and use of decoration. I mean, look at these marble floors!" He walked towards the base of a pillar, pretending to observe the marble and admire it. He glanced upward, seeing his companion peeking behind the corner. He couldn't help but smile at her, relieved that she was safe and hopefully not harmed by the other women in the household.
Cinderella noticed that the Doctor saw her, feeling his eyes bare her down, and almost instantly she backed away slightly down the hall. Why does he keep looking at me?
"Mother, he said that he was searching for this house in particular," said Anastasia.
"Is that so?" said Lady Tremaine.
The Doctor felt his shoulders fall at how Rose—Cinderella—responded to him. He couldn't think much longer, for the other women were asking him questions like mad and he disliked it greatly. Nothing came easy to him, and he knew that by now.
"Yes, it is indeed, Miss!" he responded, walking back over to the women, much to his disdain. "I heard a lot of lovely things about it back in London. There have been several other visitors to this town and they really enjoyed what it had to offer."
"Is this for any particular purpose?" asked Anastasia, her eyes star-struck.
"Well… London, uh, wants to plan on using a few of the building plans for these houses to build back in London. We need permission from the architects and court, of course, but before I would pop in there I was going to check out a few things around town." He looked about the estate, mostly back at the upstairs bedroom where Cinderella had hidden, and he found her still peeking behind the corner again. Like before, she disappeared once he met her eyes.
Suddenly, from out of the blue, another large earth tremor erupted, causing the house to shake. Upstairs, Cinderella tried desperately to keep picture frames from falling off the wall. Everyone had trouble keeping their balance before the stepsisters fell to the ground, their dresses making it hard for them to get back up. Near the pillar, a large crack at the base formed, making the Doctor stare at its sudden appearance, noticing a sudden pattern.
There is definitely something strange going on in this universe…
Shortly after the tremor ended, the crack that had formed at the base of the pillar continued on its way up, making the crack even more noticeable.
"My goodness!" said Lady Tremaine. "What is it with all of these earthquakes?"
"I'm just as clueless as you are," said the Doctor, getting himself off the ground.
"Cinderella!" barked Drizella, not caring about her being seen anymore. "You'd better clean up the rubble in here or the Grand Duke of London will end up leaving!"
The Doctor rolled his eyes at the annoying harlots, but suddenly became more attentive, wanting to get a good look at his companion and hoping that she wasn't going to run away again. Cinderella, despite not wanting to come out, walked down the stairs and stared at the crack, shocked and surprised.
Like the classic fairytale always described, the Doctor could see Rose's beauty in the rags she wore (though if he was honest with himself she would look beautiful in a paper bag). She wore a simple, pastel blue apron with a long brown and white dress, her blonde hair tied loosely in a bun as a few strands dangled in front of her face and behind her ears. She was nearly devoid of any makeup, and the Doctor wished she wore a smile. Even then, he could feel his hearts flutter at the knowledge that she was in front of him, alive, though unfortunately unhappy and looking flighty at the sound of her sisters.
Lady Tremaine immediately butted in. "Girls, why don't you go into the kitchen with the Duke and make him a cup of tea? I'm sure he's very tired from his trip from London."
The Doctor tried to get his way out of it, but the sisters excitedly led him to the kitchen where he was forced to remain until they would finish. The sisters knew what would go down, and didn't want guests to view their mother's wrath when it came to disciplining Cinderella. The Doctor could only look back as his companion stood there, looking fearful and acting so little like the Rose he knew. It tore him to pieces as feelings of anger came over him.
Drizella walked past and followed Anastasia into the kitchen, eyeing the Doctor with a coy gaze, brushing her hand close to his bum and thigh. Jumpy at the sudden contact, the Doctor tried his best not to blow his cover by screaming out as many insults in every language he knew at the idea of being touched so intimately. He struggled to keep his mouth shut, mainly because he felt very violated.
These girls are worse than horny teenagers.
Despite having to remain in the kitchen and seethe, he was able to peek and hear around the corner. What he saw and heard made his blood boil in anger.
"Cinderella, I order you to fix this gigantic crack immediately! I cannot let other guests come into the house and see how atrocious this looks in a home like ours! It is simply not allowed!"
Cinderella looked dumbstruck. "But… I don't have the tools to fix this crack! We might have to get a professional in here to replace the pillar. And besides, I don't know how to–"
"Do not give me excuses like that, you lazy chav. You and I both know you're just saying that so you don't have to fix something that is required of you. I don't know what caused this earthquake, but no matter the case I want it covered up! You will do as I say, is that clear?"
"But–"
Lady Tremaine slapped her, the sound echoing in the enormous entranceway, making the Doctor look away in shock. He instantly felt nauseated, resisting the urge to interfere.
"Do not talk back to me!"
He glanced back to see that Cinderella was now cowering near the staircase railing, a bit stunned but otherwise not looking surprised. The Doctor wished he could just fix everything up right away and stop the abuse, but he knew that he could risk danger upon both Rose and himself. He had a bad feeling about the people there… and the sensation that they weren't really human at all. Their behavior was strange, the fellow at the marketplace that was selling bread a particular example of his suspicions. The women in the house seemed cruel yet human, but he had to be careful. He had to dupe them accordingly or else he could be up against something he wouldn't be prepared for.
He couldn't interpret the rest of what the stepmother said to Cinderella, since their voices got quieter, but he watched helplessly as Cinderella went back upstairs with tentative steps, almost as if she was afraid that Lady Tremaine would stab her from behind.
"Your Grace? Your Grace?"
The Doctor looked back at the stepsisters and tried not to glare at them, noticing that they finished making his tea. "Yes?" he voiced through gritted teeth.
"Um… your tea is ready," replied Anastasia, "and why are your knuckles white?"
The Doctor looked at his hands to see that they were aggressively gripping the table. He let himself cool down and let go, coming back with, "Oh, no reason. Thank you." He took a sip of his tea, eyeing their cups and wishing he spiked it with rat poison, though he admitted that it was too charitable of a death for a group who dared to harm Rose Tyler. He took one last look behind him as Cinderella faded from the other room and up the stairs.