Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who- if I did I wouldn't be writing fanfiction, I'd be writing episodes!

A/N: Hey! This idea popped into my head a while before. It'll be a long chapter fic- those are what I do best. I hope you enjoy this! This chapter is sort of short, but it's really only an intro. After you read it, feel free to review and tell me what you thought!

Sold Into Ruin

~Chapter 1: Slight Detour~

River and the Doctor fell out of the Tardis, breathless from too much laughing. Their faces were red as they looked around their new surroundings. They had been on their way to 18th Century France; this was no London. River wandered forward a few steps, amazed at what she was seeing. It was so beautiful that she considered not even teasing the Doctor for getting messed up on the coordinates again.

Purple grass covered the landscape across the brilliant, rolling hills. Long, curvy trees were littered here and there, the trunks sparkly and yellow, and the leaves fluffy and hot pink. Far in the distance River could see a sparkling blue line of ocean, the waves gently breaking against the shore.

The Doctor sidled up beside her. "Welcome to 18th century Fra- Well, that's not right..." The Doctor scratched his head as he stared around in bewilderment.

River laughed. "This... is wonderful! You planned it this way, didn't you?" River smirked mentally as she gave the Doctor an opening to make up for his mistake.

The Doctor paused. "I did?" He grinned proudly. "Of course I did! We're obviously in the Majestic Rolling Hills of... uhm..."

River laughed, her voice light and the happiest it's been in a long, long time. "Let's go find some civilization, Sweetie." River skipped ahead, pulling the Doctor along. As they walked toward where they assumed people resided, River allowed her thoughts to wander. The Doctor was still too young, not her Doctor by far. Soon, though; his time was coming. She missed her Doctor, but she was certain she'd never see him again. She smiled to herself, glad that she could spend some time with the Doctor before he had known who she truly was.

The Doctor stopped suddenly and pointed a few meters ahead. There sat a cute little town, which looked strangely humanoid. Shrugging, River and the Doctor started forward toward the only sign of civilization. The Doctor paused again and spun around. He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and pointed it at his Tardis, which made a beep that resembled a car horn.

The Doctor chuckled. "Car alarm."

River grinned and hooked her arm with his. "Funny, sweetie."

The Doctor beamed. "Try telling the Oods that!" The two continued on their way until they entered the small town. Large houses lined the cobblestone streets, houses of Victorian style and Southern appeal. No locals roamed the streets; nobody chatted pleasantly at the baker's. A few kind souls looked out their windows at the two strangers with pity.

A man, the law enforcement of this town the Doctor guessed, of noble family walked up to them, an arrogant flair to his step. He was tall with broad shoulders, bulging muscles peeked out from the opening of his loose white shirt. He had a very mean and proud look on his face, his black hair fell down to his shoulders, and was tied in an elegant style behind his neck.

The man stared sternly at the two. "You are trespassing in Avignon, and will pay the consequences. What are the means of this unlawful trespassing?"

The Doctor stepped forward. "Oh, no, it's alright. We just took a slight detour. We mean no harm to your laws. See, River- yes that cute blonde your staring at- and I have gotten a bit lost. We were heading for 18th century France. As you can see, I've made a terrible mistake in my coordinates. Now, if you'd just excuse us-" The man swung out and punched the Doctor in the jaw- hard. The Doctor reeled back, and crashed hardly onto the pavement. River gasped and rushed over to the Doctor's side. Blood dripped out of his nose as the Doctor's head lolled back in unconsciousness. "Now, miss. If you'd kindly accompany us-" River noticed that two new men as bulky as the first had shown up. They all looked similar, and River assumed they were brothers. The one with short, blond hair spoke up to the first.

"Niko, good job! Should we take them to the usual place?" The blond and the other brother, a red head, rushed over and dragged the Doctor up.

Niko seemed to be considering it. "No, take them to my place, Steven." Steven hefted the weight of the Doctor onto the red head, and hurried over to accompany River. "No, you and Garrett accompany the man; the mademoiselle can walk." Steven nodded and returned over to Garrett. River watched in dismay as they jostled the Doctor around and practically dragged him off to who knows where. Niko offered the lady his arm. River huffed and walked proudly after the Doctor. Niko grinned at the foreign woman, and followed behind with a smirk on his face.

A/N: Reviews make me happy and give me a push in the right direction. Take a hint! ;)

Luv Trinaluv:)