When Approaching an Ancient;

The Ancient of Gallifrey

Abby Ebon

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who, Stargate: SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis, Yu Yu Hakusho or the implied Star Trek: The Next Generation.

"Well, well, what have we here? So nice to see you!" The Master exclaims at the sight of the Doctor (for it is the Doctor he's speaking to) even with Yuusuke and Rose at either elbow's side. It looks to Yuusuke as if they are expected, for there is a drum in front of the Master and it reminds Yuusuke of ancient ways used to communicate – and of drumming for storms in a dry season.

The Master has done both, for there is the fury of the oncoming storm stirring on the Doctor's features.

"Wish I could say the same." Rose spits out the words as if they burn, and her spitfire personality catches the Master's attention. He quirks a blond brow and smirks down at her. He is lean and mean looking in a business matter-of-fact way that makes Yuusuke's skin crawl.

His is not the only reaction, from the look Rose tosses him.

"You're new?" The Master mutters, frowning. It's as if he expects there to be gaps in his memory.

"She's not." The Doctor declares, and Rose gives him a fond if confused look.

"You're too late." The Master dismisses the matter of Rose, waving a hand absently, cradled in his other is the ZPM. It glows and throbs like a heart beat dying. Yuusuke has his eyes glued on it, as if the sheer force of his will in the look might stop it from unraveling the Maikai into Ningenkai.

"The Goa'uld are being dealt with." Is instead what Yuusuke says, and the Master looks to him, frowning at the possibilities his words present.

"How?" He asks, suspiciously.

"I am the Demon King of Earth, I invited them." Yuusuke smiles as he speaks, and the Master shakes his head as his logic struggles to make sense of demon instinct. The Master, no matter his personality or beliefs, is a Time Lord – on Gallifrey there were logic to laws for everything – it was quite the reverse of the MaiKai, where the only laws were forged by the strongest of ancient demons.

"To do what?" The Master asks at last, dreading his answer.

"To side with the humans, against Goa'uld." Yuusuke nods toward Rose, who smiles at him – showing the Master, in person, that humans and demons are more then capable of cooperating.

"It won't last – demons are meant to inherit the Earth." The Master argues, pouting like a child even as he cradles the ZPM in his arms.

"They won't, not ever – not without me. You do not know what it means to them, to be a King of Demons." The Master can see how sure Yuusuke is of this, and he chuckles, soft and sinister. Very obviously, the Master sets down the ZPM, the Doctor draws in a breath – and when the Master wags his finger warningly, says nothing – does nothing.

The Master walks to Yuusuke, meeting him eye to eye, face to face, for really the first time both take this meeting personally. Yuusuke is still and ready to attack – the Master rolls his eyes at how predictable it would be, but touches Yuusuke on the shoulder – surprised when he doesn't flinch, he speaks.

"Then you will just have to come with me and change their minds, right?" Yuusuke's eyes swiftly go to the Doctor, who nods, and Yuusuke focuses on the Master once more.

"Right." The Master takes Yuusuke, leaving behind the ZPM for the Doctor and Rose – a temptation the Master knows the Doctor will not leave alone.

Yuusuke finds himself in the 'Gate room, with Kurama in front of him – and the Master behind. Kurama's eyes widen to see the Master and Yuusuke so soon and there is a snarl curling his lips.

"You all will listen." The Master, Yuusuke thinks, likes a little melodrama.

Still, Yuusuke gives the Master credit to be so bold as to address any part of the Army so lightly, not to mention Shura and Mukuro who are frowning to see Yuusuke in unfriendly hands. The hard grip on his shoulder is plain enough language to the Master's meaning.

"Where is Hiei?" Yuusuke asks lightly of Kurama.

He pays for it when the Master shakes him with nonhuman strength, and snarls into his ear.

"One last chance..." Is his whisper and Yuusuke swallows and nods as if he's agreeing. Like thunder and lightning the Army shifts and murmurs, awakening to what they perceive to be a more immediate threat to a Demon King then what is above their heads.

Yuusuke catches Shura's eye.

"Earth is off limits." The Master throws him aside in disgust, and Yuusuke lets himself fall. His shoulder hits painfully against concrete that hides a mountain's strength. There is a sudden cry of rage which Yuusuke realizes, dazed – is Hiei. He looks to see the black shadow leap upon the Master – and in the Master's shoulder is the blade the Doctor named Excalibur.

Yuusuke smiles- it's a glorious, that sight, for the Master who was Ascended is now mortal. At his mercy.

Yuusuke stands and when Hiei would plunge Excalibur into the Master again, he raises his hand – and Hiei, wild eyed though he is - stops.

"Let's save the last of two Time Lords for the Doctor, eh?" Yuusuke suggests, and here his word is Law, and the Master's eyes widen in disbelief when Hiei nods thoughtfully, sheathing the blade and allowing Mukuro to stand beside him as the Master's guard.

Yuusuke is still smiling when the Master looks to him, and Yuusuke thinks – maybe, the Master knows a little what it means to be Demon King.

"Right – let's take business, eh, what do you say Shura?" Yuusuke turns to the littlest and youngest demon, who puffs up in pride at being addressed as the co-King of this Army on Yuusuke's home turf.

The kid's grin is positively devious, and Yuusuke has a blissful moment of almost feeling bad for the Goa'uld who Jack O'Neill has told him so much about. The moment passes and he is ruthless for slacking the bloodlust that rushes though him with adrenaline.

The Doctor kneels in the dirt of MaiKai, finding it not very much different from the dirt of Earth. His touch skims over the ZPM, and he seals his lips against the urge to curse in frustration. He is over nine-hundred years old, thank you very much, and cursing wastes time.

"What's it look like?" Rose asks softly, her hand on his shoulder as she crouches next to him, feeling both helpless and useless.

"He's triggered it to go." The Doctor doesn't have to say that when it goes it will take this place with it.

"Is there a way to stop it?" Rose asks, though it's a useless question and not helpful at all. The Doctor doesn't answer, so it's just as well that she asked. A shadow passes over them, and it isn't just a figure of speech or frame of mind – Rose looks up and gasps as the creature makes a noise.

"Puu!" It stretches down its swan like neck, as if to take a closer look at the ZPM, blue feathers bristling and black hair somehow familiar in its wild way.

"Doctor! What is it?" Rose asks urgently, and the Doctor grins at it.

"Hello there, I'm the Doctor – who are you?" Big black eyes regard him, and the answer is trumpeted though a beak that could no doubt to damage.

"Puu." It says more softly, if a little more urgently.

"I'll tell you what you look like, a Sprit Beast – but who would be so significant to have a phoenix for one?" The Doctor asks of it, as if he expects an answer, and great black eyes roll upward toward the sky.

"Puu…Puu…" Another look at the sky, as if in hint.

"Sounds like…" Rose starts to say, her lips shaping "Puu" and "sky", "Yuusuke?"

"Puu!" It's triumphant, and Rose grins before faltering.

She shares a look with the Doctor, who tries to explain what's happening – and maybe Rose thinks, that's it's why the Spirit Beast – Yuusuke's Spirit Beast at that! – is here. To help.

"It's dangerous for you here – you have to go, go to Yuusuke, okay? This thing," the Doctor taps on the ZPM, uselessly, "is going to blow up and take this whole world with it." Puu ducks his head in understanding, and flops his ears – the Doctor sighs softly and gets up, giving into temptation to touch the Spirit Beast.

His fingers are snapped at, and instinctively the Doctor jerks back landing with his bum in the dirt.

"No!" The Doctor shouts in warning, for all the good it does – which is none.

He watches in disbelief as Puu swallows the ZPM – eats it as if it's some seed to be plucked out of the dirt. The Doctor yells out a warning- attempting to stand and stop him, but Puu flies swiftly upward. Soon he's out of sight, a blue speck in a blue sky.

The explosion, when it happens, ripples through the air and trees like a giant's sigh – a breeze they barely feel.

Rose puts her hand to her throat, looking hopefully skyward. She thinks that nothing could live though that sort of explosion tearing though them, but there might be something to bring to Yuusuke – some blue feather, maybe.

What she sees is a blue speck falling swiftly from a sky gone white with storm clouds.

"Doctor, look!" The Doctor had been standing with bowed head and respectful sorrow that Rose could understand; this was Yuusuke's Spirit Beast – not some pet. The Doctor's eyes follow her finger where she points. His cheeks wet with tears, his eyes widen.

"Catch it, we must catch it!" The Doctor urgently pulls her toward the falling blue bit which gets bigger as she watches.

What follows next is a bit like dancing in a field, only with shouts and running and arm waving.

It ends in success – Rose reaches up in a stretch in enfolds her hands over a little blue body folded into a protective ball.

"A baby?" Rose wonders thinking of the proud blue phoenix and wondering if this is the something it left behind for Yuusuke. A fuzzy bit of black rests on the blue feathers, and Rose tickles it attentively. Yellow feet wiggle and the blue body unfolds to reveal big black eyes and little arms and big flapping ears.

"Puu!" It greets and claims in one word.

"No – the two are one and the same." The Doctor sighs, as if he'd been holding his breath. He tickles the little Puu under its chin, this time it allows the touch willingly.

"If this Spirit Beast had died – so too would have Yuusuke." The Doctor explains, and Rose catches her breath from where it tugs in her chest. Rose understands now, those tears the Doctor had shed – had she known, she would have cried too.

"He seems to like you now." Rose says, and the Doctor grins back at her.

"Come on; let's go see how Yuusuke and my TARDIS are doing!" The Doctor pulls her along gently for the sake of what's in her arms, but it's just what they do all the same with no less urgency for which and when they came to MaiKai.

It isn't hard to get out, there are paths that the Doctor senses leading out – and they follow one, and Rose realizes that soon nature will do what the ZPM could not – one day, demons and humans will be forced to live together on Earth – but she is grateful it didn't happen this day.

For once, the Doctor finds it all calm on Earth – if calm it can be called, when it looks like the aftermath of a storm had passed. It's a bit of a hike though the mountains to get to the military base that tucks the 'Gate beneath its weight and height.

"A perfect defense is a natural one." The Doctor greets the men that let them though and down. They are expected, is the only confused response.

Rose hides Puu behind her hair, and when they are greeted off the elevator, Yuusuke is waiting for them.

"I've got a surprise for you!" Rose and Yuusuke say as one.

"Oh?" Yuusuke wonders, eyebrows raised in mirth and good humor that come to all demons after a fight.

"Puu!" Exclaims the excitable bundle of blue feathers, with flapping blue ears and wiggling yellow feet: Yuusuke's look is soft and his smile full of awe as he takes in the sight of his Spirit Beast.

"Oh!" He greets softly, ruffling black hair so like his own.

"Mine's bigger." Yuusuke tells the Doctor with a smirk. He gestures and from the gathered Army (a mix of both demon and human) Hiei comes forward with Mukuro, behind them – in chains – is the Master with a smile for the Doctor, waving hand by wiggling fingers.

"Ta-da." Yuusuke says dryly.

"Thank you." The Doctor is serious, and Yuusuke only nods in understanding.

"What about out there, what we saw before?" Yuusuke asks, following – or leading – the Doctor to where the TARDIS rests.

"The Enterprise of humanity will rise from the ashes." The Doctor says with a wink that means everything – Yuusuke grins outright, but Hiei and Kurama exchange looks as if they will keep a better eye on Yuusuke from now on – no matter if he likes it or not.

Hiei steps boldly forward, his sward the Excalibur offered.

"I give it to you." The Doctor takes it, showing none of the distaste he feels for weapons.

"I hear drums, the drums of war!" The Master mumbles under his breath, like lullaby grinning.

"None of that now..." Mukuro warns, with a literal yank on his chain to pass over the Master to the Doctor. The Doctor takes this burden too, with no word, and paying no attention to the look that passes between Rose and the Master.

"Here." Rose offers Puu back, but Yuusuke shakes his head with a small smile.

"Nah, he likes you two. I try to keep him happy; you'll take care of him?" Yuusuke asks of the Doctor, who nods looking fondly down at the bundle of blue feathers.

"Of course I will." Puu coos at the Doctor with a soft "puu". It seems to promise the same.

Satisfied, Yuusuke turns around, waving over his shoulder dismissively with a smile that hurts them to see – he doesn't want to see them go. Hiei and Kurama follow him out, and it seems to signal the Army that they too should leave for Shura claps his hands together and a door opens out of the wall that was only concrete and mountain. He, this time – is the first one thought, and the Doctor wonders what the demon child, heir to all of MaiKai will tell Yomi of all this.

They file though, a blur of demon Army. The Doctor is glad to see them go – as glad as he was to see them come here, in fact.

Mukuro is the last though the door, and never turns her back to them – so she sees when the Master blows her a kiss. Her expression – if it changes – is hidden by the slamming door which fades behind her.

"Bye, kid, take care of yourself, you hear me?" Jack O'Neill demands of Rose, taking the young woman into a hug she's clearly surprised and pleased by.

Teal'c nods his head in solemn agreement, the gesture as noble as any bow.

Sam Carter is the only one to smile, at Jack's gruff show of affection – but she nudges the Doctor with her shoulder to get his attention.

"Thank you for everything, and – well – come back someday, yeah?" The Doctor nods, a manic grin that almost makes Sam want to take back her words lights up his face. The Doctor, after all, is rarely invited back.

General Hammond nods to Rose – and salutes the Doctor, a gesture that's returned with no grin at all.

"Now you're done?" The Master asks, whining and rattling his chains inside the safety of the TARDIS.

The Doctor closes the door, and the last person he sees is Jonas Quinn – and the Doctor wonders what Daniel Jackson is doing among the Ascended Ancients with the seed of doubt the Doctor had planted and watered.

The Doctor sets the Excalibur aside, and goes to the TARDIS consul; it lights up at his touch and spins into space and time, no firm distention yet in mind.

Rose watches as the Doctor frees the Master of his chains, and then takes up Excalibur once more – he looks at the blade and how it glistens under the faintest of light. Puu waddles on the floor toward the door, a sign that the Doctor agrees with.

It feels wrong here – wrong in his hands.

The Doctor lets it go out the TARDIS door, the sword spinning out of sight, end over end, until it's out of sight, a twinkling light like any other star out there.

"Now why did you go and do something like that?" The Master, free of chains, but within the ever watchful TARDIS, asks of the Doctor.

"Who knows? You find humanity in the oddest of people…" The Doctor says with a shrug for his oldest friend and fiend.