Dragons Rise in the Brave Tangled Tardis

PART 4
*The group are standing outside the Tardis doors (still open behind them), staring at their surroundings with a mixture of wonder and puzzlement*

Merida: So where are we?

Doctor: *eyebrows draw together as he tries to make sense of where they are* Well that’s odd. I wonder... *turns and runs back into the Tardis*

Rapunzel: *confused* What does he mean? *looks towards Jack, as though expecting him to answer*

Jack: *mumbles, not looking at Rapunzel and continuing to gaze at his surroundings*This looks kind of familiar...

Doctor: *yells from inside the Tardis* Incredible! What a coincidence! No, it can’t be a coincidence! She must have known all along! Well done Sexy!

*Jack, Rapunzel, Merida, Hiccup, Pascal, and Toothless exchange awkward glances*

Doctor: *runs back out to them, looking excited, but his face falls into a looks of confusion and then slight embarrassment when he sees the others staring at him* Oh, right, sorry. I was just...*smiles sheepishly and pats the Tardis door twice as though to explain himself before getting back to being excited. He claps his hands together* Earth! 1842!

Jack: What about it?

Doctor: *walks to stand in front of them* This! Here! *raises his arms and twirls quickly in a circle, coming to a stop so he’s facing them* Because the randomizer was turned on I had no control over the Tardis. But the Tardis did! Well, obviously, because she’s the Tardis...

Hiccup: *interrupts* “She”?

Doctor: The Tardis. “She” is the Tardis and she had control of it, even...

Jack: *confused* Who had control of the Tardis?

Doctor: *starting to get exasperated* The Tardis! The Tardis had control of the Tardis! And she knew where we needed to go, so she brought us here. To Earth! 1842!

Jack: But...I’ve already been in 1842. I need to go to 2008.

Doctor: *his face falls* Oh. *smiles again, though much of his previous excitement has evaporated* Well what about everyone else?

Hiccup: *shakes his head* This doesn’t look familiar at all. I didn’t even know there was an 1842.

Toothless: *grunts in agreement*

Rapunzel and Merida: *both nod their heads*

Doctor: Of course there’s an 1842! Everywhere has an 1842! *pauses, thinking* Well, except Pluto. The Plutonian 1842 was accidently erased.

Merida: How can yeh “accidently” erase a year?

Doctor: *looks offended* Don’t ask me! I didn’t do it.

Jack: But Pluto isn’t a planet.

Doctor: *exasperated* Of course it’s a planet! People live on it! Anyway, we’re going off on tangents when the real question is; why are we here?

Rapunzel: *shyly* Because we landed here?

Doctor: *points at her* Exactly! *clasps his hands together* Now why would the Tardis bring us here, if not to take you home?

Merida: *crosses her arms over her chest* I don’t know. I just want to go home.

Doctor: *turns away from them – ignoring Merida’s last comment – and takes his sonic screwdriver out of his pocket* I don’t know either, but I would very much like to find out. *turns on sonic screwdriver and mutters* She must have a reason. The Tardis always... *stops talking and raises his sonic screwdriver to get a better look at the readings* Gotcha. *starts running* Come along, you four! There’s stuff to be discovered!

Jack: *turns to Rapunzel and offers her a hand* Ready to fly again?

Rapunzel: *laughs nervously* Well I don’t suppose it can get any scarier than the first time.

Jack: *grins at her and takes off, taking Rapunzel with him*

Hiccup: *turns and shuts the Tardis doors*

Merida: *looks at him oddly* What are yeh doing?

Hiccup: Well someone has to be cautious. *climbs onto Toothless’ back and turns to Merida* You coming?

Merida: Only because I’m not gonna stay here by myself. *allows Hiccup to help her up and they take off in the same direction as the others*

                                         ***

Doctor: Well, here we are. *points his sonic screwdriver into the darkness*

Merida: Why are we here? *takes a step forward and cautiously peers through the doorway*

Doctor: *replies absentmindedly* Because this is where the signal is coming from.

Jack: What signal?

Doctor: The one the sonic screwdriver is picking up. *walks through the doorway* Bit dark in here.

Jack: Allow me. *points his staff into the darkness and lets off a stream of clear bright ice that casts a lightning fast glow through the room*

Merida: *sarcastically* Wow. That was amazing. But I think we might need something brighter.

Toothless: *steps forward and opens his mouth wide*

Hiccup: *leaps forward* No, Toothless! We don’t want to break anything!

Toothless: *reluctantly closes his mouth and steps back*

Rapunzel: *steps forward and timidly raises her hand* Um, excuse me? I can...well, that is to say...*runs her fingers nervously through her hair* If there’s no other way for us to see in there...

Jack: *peers curiously through the doorway* Isn’t there a light switch?

Doctor: Nope! *comes back through the doorway and looks at Rapunzel* Did you say you know how to make it brighter in there?

Rapunzel: I’ll show you. *walks into the room and is silent except for a few deep breaths*

Jack:  *peers into the darkness with evident concern* Rapunzel? Are you okay in there?

Merida: *grins provokingly and speaks to him quietly* Aww, you seem a wee bit worried about the wee lamb.

Jack: *doesn’t look at her as he responds* Oh yeah? Well what about you and dragonboy over there?

Merida: *gasps and blushes furiously* Yeh can’t...how dare you suggest...there’s nothing...

Rapunzel: *starts to sing and everyone else falls silent* Flower gleam and glow...let your powers shine...*her hair starts to glow, illuminating the room in a soft golden light*

Hiccup: Well that’s...something I haven’t seen before.

Jack: Wow.

Merida: Is her hair...glowing?

Doctor: *pushes gently past them into the room* Come on then! These adventures won’t have themselves you know. *pauses when he reaches Rapunzel and looks at her in wonder* Do you mind if I have a look? *doesn’t wait for an answer and whips out his sonic screwdriver and starts to scan her hair* Amazing! You know, I think I’ve figured out how this works...

*the others have cautiously walked into the room. Jack is gripping his staff, Hiccup has a hand on Toothless’ back as though to keep them both calm, and Merida has her arms folded across her chest.*

Merida: *looking around* Well this is a wee bit boring.

*there’s a sudden creaking noise and everyone turns to look, startled*

Pascal: *pats Rapunzel urgently on the shoulder to get her attention*

Rapunzel: *stops singing and opens her eyes* What’s wrong, Pascal?

Doctor: *holds up a hand and speaks quietly* Sh, sh. There’s something there. *starts to walk towards the source of the noise* I’ll see what it is. The rest of you stay back. *keeps walking until he’s just a few steps away from where the noise is coming from (behind a bookshelf)* Alright, you can come out now. Whatever you are.

*nothing comes out but the creaking continues*

Doctor: *leans forward* We’re not going to hurt you. You can trust me. I’m the Doctor.

Unknown: Doc-tor.

Doctor: *steps back quickly* Oh no.

Rapunzel: What is it? What’s wrong?

Doctor: We’re in trouble.