Lost Ancients

(Universe DB)

The City of London holds a rather infamous place in human history. Try as New York, Metropolis, or many cities in Japan might, London holds the record for being the epicenter of the most alien invasions in human history. Whether they be Daleks, Dark Elves, or any other semblance of creature, the city has seen more than its fair share of the bazaar.

London is less known, but no less accurately, for its population of alien visitors that stuck around. Perhaps due to hosting the largest Zygon population on the planet, and no shortage of other strange parties, passerby from the stars decide to plant roots. And where there is a population, there is money to be made.

In a non-descript bar down an even less conspicuous alley, one can find themselves patron of the original branch of the Bar with no Name. Bars that bear this title all have a story behind them, whether they host aliens, mythological beasts, or supervillains of subpar stature. Many stories in fact. The thing is people never seem to agree which one really happened.

When one enters the London branch, they'll see it as an ordinary drinking den, albeit with a rather economically minded redhead tending the counter. It's through observing the crowd when one may feel the slightest hint out of place.

On a day like any other, the last of his race found himself here. He's a blue humanoid, short and balding, wearing dirty red robes that have obviously seen better days. What little white hair he has left is frayed and strewn about madly. His name is Ganthet, and he is the last of the Maltusians, better known as the Guardians of the Universe. His drink of choice? Sadly, it's a beverage whose name is lost to time, as those who invented it have either died, or consumed so much that they simply forgot.

Behind him marches an odd man, and very human looking aside from his white robes that stink of experience beyond his presumed years. His face wrinkled with age; is covered both by an excessively lengthy beard and nearly as long a head of hair.

"Ganthet?" The man asks sitting down beside the alien. "Out of all the people I'd expected to see in such a place, you were not one of them."
"Who?" the Guardian mutters under his breath, sifting through ages of memories past. "Gandalf? Gandalf the White? Is that really you?

The wizard motions to the bartender, who brings a small glass of red wine. "Last I checked at any rate. Though I'm not surprised you struggle to recall. It's been many an age since I've seen your kind, and even longer since any have seen me."

"Quite true old friend." Ganthet states wearily, a bitterness in his words. "I suspect this will be the last time you see my kind ever again."
"Is that so?" Gandolf asks, eyebrow raised. "You seem rather more emotional than the last time I saw you. What was it your lot said about "Purging emotions?" It seems it did you a load of good."

"And what was it you said about opening up a school?" The alien counters with a hitch in his breath. "This is hardly the place a headmaster should be seen."

"Simple. I am no longer headmaster. I trained my fair share of wizards and sorcerers. A few odd time travelers too. They hardly need my help after this long. And I rather enjoy travel as of late."
"You've always been so..." Ganthet trails. "Flighty. Ever since we met on that rock. Never there when you're needed."

Gandalf smiles tersely, a light scoff escaping his lips. "Really old friend? I never knew you to disparage one's place of birth. And as for my preference toward flight? I merely see no need to hold a post when my job is already done."
"Is that why you refused a post on the Watch?"
The wizard stills, glass level in hand. "So that's what brings you here. Your people's failure brought more than the loss of their soldiers and lives; you lost a Gem too."

Ganthet quiets, eyes sullen. "You were right, all those years ago, after the Time War. We could not appreciate the spectrum's power, and it cost us all in the end."
"I take no pleasure in being right old friend." Gandalf tilts his head, "But, perhaps you'll listen to me now when I say this. Your life is far from over."

"Oh? I do believe it is." The guardian says blithely. "My people? dead. Lanterns? Powerless. The entities? Gone. And even now, everything we fought against those ages ago threatens to return to the living. Whatever is left?"
"Hope." The wizard says solemnly. "I once had hope in the smallest of people, and he became one of the greatest friends I've had the pleasure of knowing. Hope is never lost."

The Guardian remains less than agreeable. "Aren't you listening? There's nothing left to hope for!"
Gandalfs glass makes a stamping sound on the counter. "Do you forget, old friend? What I lost amongst the Time Wars ashes? Why I stayed far away from your little group all these years?" He sighs, looking at the alien. "You have fallen far, if you forget your own words."

Ganthet raises his head, focusing on the man. "My words? What Words? Tell me, what could I have said to influence you so greatly?
"The War had ended." The white wizard began, face bleak with the surfacing memories. "Gallifrey was not the only world to burn, as you well know. New Genesis went first. The flames of Apocalypse froze over. The Chozo barely escaped their dead world to be scavengers for all time to come. Even the ancients of Chaos lost their way. "

The old man stops to breath, taking a brief sip of wine, steeling his thoughts for what came next. "Even Middle Earth, its rich history longer than any other, burned like all the rest. And not by the Daleks, or Darkseid, or even those from Beyond. By our own fearful allies. Rassilon always did fear what he could not understand. He did not understand my people. And I was not happy."
His gaze fell intensely on his friend. "Do you remember this part? I went to that group. It was easy, Dialga and the Kai so focused on fixing what was broken. The spirit borne from chaos could hardly use its own power, let alone guard anything. Your brethren were planning their, soon to be, greatest mistake. It was perfect. Until you showed up."

Gandalf drank one last swallow from his glass, setting it down silently on the table, and began to speak.

"In fearful day, in raging night, With strong hearts full, our souls ignite, When all seems lost in the War of Light,"

"Look to the stars, For hope shines bright." Ganthet finishes. "That was my oath, to undo what had been done, when will could simply not be enough. As long as the stars yet shined.

"That it was." The wizard smiles. "And it was that confidence that stayed me from going against every principal I believe in. That confidence, that no matter the darkness, hope would remain."

The two sit in silence for some time. No drinks. No memories shared. Just two of the oldest men in all reality.

Gandalf eventually breaks the silence. "Funny thing is... I don't remember your people ever having been given a Gem? Something about that steel fellow distrusting the Time Lords closest ally."

His friend nods, agreeing. "True, we were not among the Watch at first. Recently, the Space Gem was discovered on this planet, and Lantern Jordan brought it to Oa, flanked by the entire honor guard."

"Ah... the Space gem?" The wizard wonders aloud. "Was that Gem not fought over by the so called "New Gods?"

"It was." Ganthet confirms. "The God of tyranny wielded it to move his armies, and even nearly won the war, had he not been stopped. Had He not shown' up, the universe would have fallen."
Gandalf nods, memories refreshed. "I recall. The Power Gem's guardian went missing after that trick, didn't he? I never did see that old boy again."

"Nor I. We had this sectors Lanterns search, but the Gems have always been difficult to find."

"That they have, that they have." The old wizards' eyes close, lost in thought. "And that Old Lizard always enjoyed his naps."

I will admit I'm not the biggest fantasy buff, but I've always had a soft spot for both LOTR and the Hobbit. I grew up reading those books, following along as if I were in the story myself. Sadly, I have never been able to quite comprehend the greater lore involved, so this is probably playing very fast and loose with most aspects.

I figured that some more details from the Time War would be nice, and remembered being told that in some rather supplemental Doctor Who books, the Time Lords simply deleted magic from their universe. Well, that obviously didn't work out for them in this story, but that doesn't mean they didn't try.

Tahnks for reading, and have a wonderful day.