〖 〗

almost as if the four supposed the flimsy, wooden walls would protect them from power that could stop a heart with a touch. William appeared sick, as he had shed his coat and doused water on his face.

"Carrionites disappeared way back, at the dawn of the universe. I wasn't even sure if they were real." The Doctor was perplexed. He tried to wrap his highly intelligent mind around the thought. Such a powerful and fearsome race; why were they on Earth? A early, underdeveloped Earth too?

"Well, I'll go for real." William commented, standing from the biker which he washed his face and grabbing a cloth to dry his hands.

"What do they want?" Valarie asked, her back pressed against the wall next to a window. The Doctor continued to pace back and forth.

"An Empire, on Earth." He sighed, leaning against a table. "A world of bones, blood and witchcraft." He grunted. Martha shook her head.

"But how?" She asked, still not quite grasping the situation fully.

"I'm looking at the man with the words." His gaze darted to William. It made awful sense; they wanted William, because of how renowned he was for using such beautiful words and inventing new ones. And their entire power source came from merely words.

"Me?" William asked, flabbergasted by the proposal. "But I've done nothing."

"Hold on, last night what were you doing when that carrionite came into the room?"

"Finishing the play." William's answer caused any head not looking at him to spin. The Doctor's gaze was strong.

"What happens in the last page?" He asked, voice low and curious.

"The boys get the girls, they dance a bit. Funny and provocative as usual." Williams eyes darted to the floor, before growing wide. "Except those last few lines. Don't remember writing them." He realized as he racked his memory for any idea of what he wrote.

"That's it." The Doctor hissed, pushing off the table and slowly approaching William. "They used you. They gave you a code, a spell! Loves Labour's Won, it's a weapon! The right words spoken in the right place with the shape of the globe; it's an energy converter! Plays the thing!" He shouted, mind now racing as fast as his hearts as he had cracked what exactly was at play.

"And yes you can have that." He told William, as he gave him a sideways smile.

__________

The map was rolled open on William's desk, the Doctor pointed finger running over it as his glasses rested on his nose.

"All Hallows' Street, there it is. Valarie, you and me go track them down. Martha and Will get to the globe, and whatever you do stop that play!" The Doctor commanded, Martha nodding and looking to William who smiled slyly at the Doctor.

"Aye, I'll do it. All these years I've been the cleverest man around; next to you, I know nothing." He shook the Doctors hand, amazed at the Doctor.

"Well don't complain." Martha laughed, as the Doctor took his glasses off.

"I'm not; he's marvelous. Good luck Doctor." William kindly spoke, releasing the Doctor's hand.

"Good luck Shakespeare!" He shouted.

"You make sure she gets back to me in one piece!" He wiggles his finger between Martha and William, eyebrow peaked. He then snagged his coat off the chair.

"I can handle myself!" Martha gasped, folding her arms with a pout.

"Oh we don't have time. Valarie, c'mon on to the breach." He said, shrugging his coat on. William turned next to Martha to face the Doctor and Valarie as they exited his office.

"I like that! Wait, that's one of mine!"

"Oh just get to the shift!"

_______

Night had fallen, and the search for the Carrionites home was more desperate as the fact the play may have already started slowly dawned on them.

"We're here; but which house?" The Doctor silently asked, as four hours closed in on them like corners.

"But, thing is, the world didn't end in fifteen-ninety nine. It just didn't." Valarie asked, now confusing herself on the idea. "I exist. I was born nearly four-hundred years later!"

"Oh, how do I explain the mechanics of the intrusmental-temple flux? Oh, I know!" He pointed a finger at Valarie as he looked down at her.

"Back to the Future! Think Back to the Future!"

"The film?"

"No the novelization. Yes the film!" The Doctor quickly spat, Valarie effectively rolling her eyes at his sarcastic comment.

"Marty McFly goes back and changes history."

"And he starts fading away- oh my god, am I gonna fade away?" Valarie asked, now frightful her entire existence was in jeopardy.

"You and the entire human race. It ends right now in fifteen-ninety nine if we don't stop it. But which house?" He asked, looking around. Suddenly, with a groan, the door to a house before them opened. No one stood in the frame that could've opened the door. Valarie leaned towards his ears

"Bet that's our witch house." She purses her lips as she walked forward, the Doctor hot on her heels. He pushed in front, bending down and pushing a curtain back. He held it long enough for Valarie to slip in. The room was what a stereotypical witch room would look like; voodoo dolls, a giant boiling cauldron. But out of place, a beautiful woman stood next to it. Her posture straightened when the Doctor entered the room.

"I take it we are expected." His eyebrows peaked as the woman's gaze was harsh.

"Death has long awaited you." She cryptically told the Doctor. Valarie knocked a hand against the Doctor's chest.

"My turn." She said stepping forward. She pointed a finger at her.

"I name thee, carrionite!" She frantically shouted, the woman only gasping. A smirk grew on her lips. Valarie frowned, looking between the Doctor and finger as if it was a broken object that had worked a second ago.

"The power of the name only works once. Observe." The carrionite teased, before sharply pointing a finger at Valarie.

"I gaze upon thee that shall rot and now I name thee, Valarie Scott!" The air audibly escaped Valarie's lips as her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Her knees buckled and she crumpled; the Doctor rushing to catch her before she struck the ground. He allowed her limp body to ease against the hay covered floor.

"What've you done?!" He shouted as he observed Valarie.

"Only asleep, alas." She sighed, almost pitifully. The witches eyes dragged along the floor.

"Curious. The name wasn't as powerful; she's out of her own time." He eyes dragged to the Doctor, before lunging at him with a pointed finger.

"As for you, sir Doctor!" She was shocked he continued to sit there, eyes shooting daggers into her.

"Fascinating. This is no name. Why would such a man hide his title in such despair?" She cooed, standing up again.

"Oh, but look, there's still one word with the power of a name!" She cooed again, bringing a hand over her heart and giving a teasing pout.

"The power of a name won't work on me." He spat, venom practically dripping from his lips.

"But your heart grows cold. The north winds carry but one word," she leaned towards him, lips turned upwards in a vile smile, "Rose?" She teased, wanting to get the rise out of him. His breath quickened as his blood boiled and dual hearts rapidly beating. He strode towards her, looking down at her.

"Oh. Big mistake! Because that name keeps me fighting! Now the carrionites vanished but where did you go?!" She looked away, before walking back towards the back of the room.

"Oh, the eternals have the right word. The darkness." Her head spun to him.

"And how did you escape?" He asked, tone flat and empty.

"Oh, new words. New. Glittering." She smirked, the wheels turning in the Doctor's head to connect it all.

"Shakespeare."

"His son perished. The grief of a genius. Grief without measure." Within the cauldron, a image bubbled. One of William, hand on his forehead as tears stained his cheeks. It was obviously shortly after his sons death. Grief might as well have been written across his forehead. "Madness enough to allow us entrance."

"How many of you?"

"Just the three of us. But the play tonight shall restore the rest. Then the human race will be purged, as pestilence. And from that we will lead the universe back into the old ways of blood and magic." She boldly stated. The Doctor's lips pursed and he scratched his ear as he approached her.

"Hm, busy schedule. But you'll have to get past me first." He boldly informed, getting close her. The with approached closed, so close she could kiss him. He could feel her breath on his face.

"Oh that should be a pleasure; especially when my enemy had such a handsome shape." She seductively cooed, running fingers over his face. She never directly touched him, as her fingers ghosted.

"Oh, as one with all the magic that won't work on me." He flatly said, not moving a muscle as she giggled and drew her hands back.

"Oh, we'll see." She cooed when the Doctor heard a faint snip. She ran backwards, a piece of hair in between her fingers.

"What did you do?" He raised a hand to touch the side of his head, and ran towards her. The windows flew open behind her. "Give it back!" The witch flew through the windows, levitating outside them with a taunting smirk.

"Oh, that's just cheating." He sighed, standing at the widow still. She fished in her robe.

"Behold Doctor. Men to carrionites are nothing but puppets." She pulled a small straw figure from her cloak. She began to place his hair onto the doll, as the Doctor pointed a finger. Across the room, Valarie's limo body finally began to twitch. Her eyes slowly opened, still heavy and sleep driven by the power of a name.

"Now, you call that magic, I call t DNA replication module!" He warned, the witch raising a eyebrow as she held a small pair of scissors in her free hand.

"What use is your science now?" She asked, before slamming the scissors into the doll. The Doctor howled in pain, his body falling to the ground. The witch roared with laughter, before she vanished and the windows slammed shut.

"Doctor!" Valarie cried upon seeing him on the floor, and hearing him cry in pain. She ran towards him, half expecting him to be dead as she watched the carrionite stab the doll where the heart would be. She set a hand upon his chest, only to frown. Her lips then formed as smirk as they rested on his still face.

"Hold on, two hearts." The Doctor's eyes flew open, smiling giddily as he sat up.

"Must you take the joy out of everything?" He laughed, before rolling over and pushing up. He stopped on his knees, suddenly straining. He latched onto Valarie for support. His breath quickened, and face contorted in pain.

"I've only got one heart working." He grunted, his hands forming a death grip on her arm and shoulder. His eyes flickered to Valarie, pain written in them.

"How do you people cope?" He pondered. Valarie would've pointed the obvious fact they didn't have a dual circulatory system like him; but with how strained the Doctor felt and how much he was in pain pushed the thought away. He managed to stand up straight, his head rolling back.

"I've got to get the other one working. Hit me; hit me on the chest!" Valarie balled her hand into a tight fist, striking the right side of his chest. His eyes flew open, and he groaned in pain.

"Other side!"

She struck the opposite side. He bent forward, hands on the floor.

"Now on the back!" She struck his back in the same manner.

"Other side!" He grunted. She did so, him crying out as the other heart began. His rolled his head; neck popping.

"Lovely!" He cried, standing to his feet. He seemed to have a sudden burst of energy, as he cried out, "That's it; Badda-boomba!" His eyes turned to her; wild and crazed as she watched in hopeless wonder.

"What are you standing there for? C'mon!" He cried, making quick to leave the house and get to the theater. Valarie let a stifled laugh escape her lips, and shook her head before jogging to catch him.

Valarie slowed down in the middle of a road, watching as he ran faster then she had seen anyone before.

"Wrong way!" She cried, the Doctor quick to debate. "No we aren't!" He yelled at response. Valarie froze, hands on her knees as she caught her breath. She watched him stop, and make a complete three-sixty before running towards her and the way they came.

"We're going the wrong way!" He called out, as if the fact was obvious to her. She rolled her eyes, and fought to keep up with him.

Valarie cane crashing into his back; a arm quick to stop her from toppling over as screams echoed the streets. From the globe, a spiral of red might came from the middle. People fled their homes and the theater in mass panic.

"Stage door!" He cried, snagging her arm to drag her along. They managed to squeeze in a back door as they all shut; locking the viewers and everyone inside. William sat against a box, hand on his head as Martha nervously peeked the corner at the chaos ensuing.

"Stop the play, I think that was it yeah, stop the play!" He cried in frustration. William squinted at the two.

"I think I hit my head." He murmured. The Doctor clicked his tongue and head spinning side to side as thunder roared outside.

"Think that's my que!" He shouted before darting at the large stage doors, Martha quick to follow and Valarie dragging a dazed William. The doors flew open, a bright red light shining on their faces. Those trapped screamed and cowered, as the Carrionites cackled on a balcony above. Dark shapes that resembled bats flew from some orb one held. However, once one dove towards Martha and Valarie, it more resembled a cartoonish witch. The girls cried in panic as it swooped; barely missing before flying towards the large cloud.

"C'mon Will, history needs you!" The Doctor cried, bringing William close to him.

"What can I do?" He cried, voice full of grief and fear of the situation flying around them. The crimson light was becoming brighter, as more carrionites escaped.

"Reverse it! You worked the globe; words power! Your the wordsmith, a genius, the only man clever enough to do it!" The Doctor told him.

"But I don't have any!" He responded, flabbergasted by the Doctor's words.

"You're William Shakespeare!"

"But these Carrionite phrases, they need such precision!" William shouted, fully believing he wasn't capable of stopping the monstrous force he let into the world.

"Trust yourself. When you're locked away in your room, the words just come, don't they, like magic. Words of the right sound, the right shape, the right rhythm. Words that last forever. That's what you do, Will. You choose perfect words. Do it. Improvise. " The Doctor silently told him, stepping back from him to tower before Martha and Valarie; almost hiding the smaller girls behind him. William took a brace step forward, and he opened his mouth to let everything in that clever head of his out.

"Close up this din of hateful, dire decay, decomposition of your witches' plot. You thieve my brains, consider me your toy. My doting Doctor tells me I am not!" The worse seemed so natural in Williams desperation and anger; his arms open as the Carrionites began to look panicked.

"Foul Carrionite specters, cease your show! Between the points," his head spun to the Doctor, who spat them out to him. ", seven six nine one three oh! Banished like a tinkers cuss, I say to thee-" He shouted over the chaos, hand extended as his hand spun to the Doctor. The Doctor drew a blank, head spinning to Valarie and Martha, the two struggled for a word; before one formed on their lips.

"Expelliarmus!" They cried in unison, the Doctor shouting it also and looking to William who thrust a hand in the air; the word that wouldn't exist until centuries after him flying from his lips. The carrionites cried out, as the ones that dove at the audience where sucked back into the vertex they sprung from. The stage doors behind the four flew open; scripts to Loves Labour's Won being sucked into the vortex also.

"Loves Labour's Won; there it goes." The Doctor mumbled, the mystery of the lost play finally being solved yet equally being created in one quick moment. The vortex imploded on itself; seemingly collapsing as it all vanished. Few audience members gasped; until clapping began. As the cries of joy began, the Doctor vanished from the stage. William and the actors bowed.

"They think it was special effects?" Martha asked, brushing hair from her face. Valarie straightened her shirt, which had become twisted in the chaos.

"You have a special effect on me." William flirted, Martha effectively rolling her eyes. Valarie smiled, rocking back on her heels and leaving the stage to find where the Doctor had wandered.

"Not your best line." Martha snorted.

Valarie wandered up towards the balcony; having seen the Doctor ridiculously long coat vanish behind its wall. She watched him vanish behind each curtain; hurrying to follow. The Doctor took no notice in the light footsteps behind him once his eyes rested upon the orb the carrionites had held. He bent down, picking it up.

Valarie lifted the curtain behind him; freezing to see his back. She heard faint scratching from the orb he held. She cleared her throat; his head spinning to her and eyes wide. The softened seeing it was only her.

"What is it?" She asked, slowly approaching. Within, the reflection of three Carrionites was shown.

"The darkness, as they called it. Where they are all locked up, and far away from harming anyone." He explained, eyes turning to watch her as she leaned closer, almost teasing watching the former 'witches' try to claw their way out and scream. He smiled softly.

________

"And I say, a heart for a hart a dear for a deer." William sighed, sitting rather close to Martha. Martha shook her head, not understanding the attempted comedic statement.

"I don't get it."

"Then tell me a joke from Freedonia."

"Okay, Shakespeare walks into a pub and the landlord says, Oi mate, your Bard." William laughed, not quite getting the joke but wanting Martha's attention enough to laugh.

"That's brilliant. Doesn't make sense, mind you, but never mind that. Now come here." He hooked an arm around her waist and pulling her close.

"I've just meet you." Martha was quick to say.