Ouroboros
A Story And Addendum For Memoirs Of The Heroes. (Previously "Memoirs Of An Adventure's Child."))
(All Characters Are Ficticious And bare no resemblence to living people. Any resemblence to fictional characters is only by chance. Special Thanks to Howard Phillips Lovecraft)
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When JaNa and I awoke that morning, my father told us of the plan. His friend from school, Joel, would help us sneak in and out of the the Celestrial Temple. We needed the help in getting in and out. JaNa then said, "What if we run into St. Marius or my brother, or even those two demons? They won't be fooled so easily."
My father only said, "Joel said that he would help us through. I have no doubt in my friend. He has been helping the guardians for a long time."
My mother then said, "Besides, if I remember the temple correctly, we won't go as farth as the chambers where those two would be residing." I had to give my mother credit. She was being optimistic, but there was one thing on both my mind and my sister's mind.
My sister, Lena, said it first. "But, what about Rotat's prophecy." I saw JaNa almost started to cry, but I held her. "And even what Skiz's spirit said. One of us is going to disappear. And we don't even know where to."
I looked at her and said, "Maybe, but who knows what will happen to who goes missing. For all we know, we could end up just missing for a year's worth of time, jumped ahead one year."
Isis then said, "Be quiet. I have thought this over. We shall go, but we will be extra careful. Rotat told us it will happen, and it will. He has never been wrong before."
My father looked at her and said, "Are you hoping he'll be wrong this time, because he did foresee your death." Isis just stared at him and we left the Zonehome. We didn't have to worry about Gen-Bu as we made our way back to the door to our world, but we did worry about his occational quakes. We could still fall through the land down to the world of the Elementals. When we finally went throught the door, their was a member of the route waiting for us there.
My first reaction was to strike at the Route Member, until he removed his hood. "Rich, how are you old friend." It was Joel. He then nodded at Isis and said, "My Goddess, I am glad to see you are still safe."
Isis just said, "We will all be safe when the route has been eleminated."
Joel nodded and then said to my father, "Rich, it's been a long time and while we still have relative safety, could you tell me who your compainions are?"
My father just nodded and said, "Alright, this lovely woman next to me is my wife, Li. She is, well, was the innkeeper from the world of the Final Dungeon. She was also Ki's sister."
"She is Ki's sister. Ma'am, I am honored to meet you."
My mother just said, "Thank you, and thank you for helping us save Vet."
My father then motion Lena forward and said, "This is my eldest child, Lena."
I noticed something in the look he gave her, but I couldn't identify it. "Nice to meet, you. It looks like you have a great burden on your shoulders."
My sister just nodded and said, "I have to guard an evil gem. I wish I didn't have to do it." I noticed the look on Joel's face then. He knew something. Isis did say that he had the power of prediction. Had he seen what had happened to her with that gem. Was she the one to disappear?
My father then motioned me and JaNa over and said, "And this is my youngest, Max, and his girlfriend, Vet's daughter, JaNa." Joel gave me the same look that he gave Lena, which puzzled me even more. He then said, "I see that you look like your father. I hope you will be able to find Vet's Mana componet in the Mana Castle." He looked at JaNa then turned to my father and softly said, "Does she know?" My father shook his head, and Joel didn't say a word.
JaNa whispered to me and said, "What did he say to your father?"
I didn't want to lie to her, but I didn't want her to be upset, so I did lie. "He might have wondered if you were like your brother."
"I could have told him that."
"I know, but would he have believe you." She nodded in understanding.
Joel then handed us cloaks. He said, "Put them on. Something in the Route's cloaks allow them to walk in the Mana Net. I don't know what it is, but it does the trick. Keep your heads down at all time, and be careful. Don't talk and listen to me. Once we hit the Mana Net, I will wait outside it. Do you all understand?" We all nodded and put the cloaks on.
We returned to the Celestrial World, and headed to the Celestrial Temple. As we walked, no Route member stopped us. Occasionally, one would say hello to Joel, but that was all. It was the least resistance we had in getting through the Celestrial World. We entered the Celestrial Temple and made our way to the elevator, when we met our real opposition. I heard the voice of KLar say, "Joel, who are these members?"
I reached for my sword but Joel then said, "They are members who have just joined, Annointed One. I am going to show them the castle that our leader had before he was so cruelly murdered."
There was a pause until I heard him say, "Alright, but make sure they are here for the meeting tonight. Our leader, St. Marius, has a plan to destory Isis and her band of rebels, and it all involves destroying the Elbiot in the Mana Net."
JaNa almost screamed but she held it in. Joel then said, "But won't it object, they have been helping us sir."
I heard KLar say, "It was the Elbiot's idea. It know that 3 of them have been slain, and since we can not reach the other three, this one suggested we kill it to prevent our failure."
Joel said, "I understand your wisdom," and led us down the elevator. When we got the bottom, Joel said, "You don't have much time. You must get in there, get to the castle and rescue Vet. If you don't do that quickly, and get out in time, we will all be found out."
My father looked at Joel and said, "Don't worry, we have been through that place before."
Joel then said something, "Be careful of the snake that guards it." We all looked at him strangely, and he said, "Trust me." He turned and watched for anyone coming. We enter the Mana Net and began the long trek to the Mana Castle.
We moved fast and during the walk, my father said, "I wonder what Joel meant by beware the snake. Why should we be afraid of a snake?"
My mother said, "Maybe it's a giant snake. Like a Hydra." That would be understandable. A hydra was a most evil snake.
My sister then said, "We would have seen it by now. Maybe its a constrictor of sorts."
JaNa looked at her and said, "Those are drawn out by loud sounds. There are tales of creature from one of the past timelines floating in this world."
Isis looked at JaNa, and said, "Very few of them have been seen except in the world of Fantasy. They are not allowed to leave that world. I just hope that it isn't what I think it is."
As we neared the Castle, I said to Isis, "What is it you hope it isn't?"
She stopped us all and pointed, "That." I looked where she was pointing and almost laughed. Floating in the air infront of the door was a small garder snake with it's tail in it's mouth. It formed a circle. She then said, "Ouroboros. I heard tales of it, but never wanted to see it."
My father just said, "Ouroboros. What is that?"
Isis just said, "It sleeps in all times, all places, everywhere, everywhen. It has no future, and no past. No one dare disturbs it."
JaNa looked at Isis and said, "Why?"
Isis just kept looking at it and said, "I don't know. Nobody ever found out."
Our quest to save Vet was in jeopardy. I looked at everyone and said, "I don't know but we have no time to look for another way in the castle. I'll risk moving it."
JaNa grabbed my arm and said, "What are you doing? You don't know what it will do to you. I'll lose you."
"JaNa, I love you. I'm prepared to make any sacrifice for you. I want you to see your mother again. What ever happens to me, I will find you and see you again. I love you that much." I kissed her and moved toward the snake.
My parents both yelled at me to stop. I even heard Isis yell at me, but I felt I had to do this. As a neared the snake, I heard a voice say, "We will be waiting for you." I looked at the snake. It said that. I didn't understand, but I decided to ignore the words. I grab it and it said, "We had waited for the day of this event, ever since we will come here so long from then." This thing was talking of the past as it was the future. All of a sudden a felt a surge of magical power as we flew in some sort of tunnel. As we flew I saw a crystaline thing form. It flew straight at me and knocked me out.

When I awoke, I looked around to see I was in the middle of a battle. I felt my face only to find a mask there. Where was I? I then realized what Ouroboros had done. I saw many Crystoids fighting my grandfather, only he was younger, and a young man was next to him. I thought it was my father. Then the Crystoids grabbed the kid. Another attacked my grandfather and knocked him down. I ran over and attacked the Crystoid. My grandfather looked at me and said, "Thank you, sir, but save my son, Eric."
I was surprised. I thought I had no uncles. My father never mentioned one. I ran to save the young man, when the Crystoid fired at some rocks. A woman was standing under them. I relized who it was, it was Lynn's mother. I realized at that moment what Ouroboros had truely done. I ran as fast as I could and pushed her out of the way. She smiled and thanked me. She was lovely. I hated to, but I had to do what time dictated. She then said, "You are a handsome young man."
My grandfather walked over to me and I said, "I'm sorry, sir."
He looked at me and said, "It's ok. It was a tough call. I'm glad I have another son. What is you name, young man?"
I looked him straight in the eye and said, "My name is Mask."
"Well Mask, I think this lady likes you."
"Thank you, sir. Can I call on you for a favor one day?"
"Anytime, by the way would you like to join the guardians?"
"Yes, sir. I think that would be best." I saw the woman smile. This was going to be odd, but who could I tell about this whole situation without upsetting time. I thought about it, but in time I knew who I should tell. I know that in some years, my father would help me, and then I would tell Vet the truth some years later. That was how it would be.

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Ouroboros looked out at the scene. They knew that they will meet Max, and bring him to this time to be Mask. It was the least they could do. They had destroyed a whole time line sometime after this day, and will destoy it before they will meet Max. All the events were nothing more but a circle to them. They were never born, they would never die. They would constantly pay for the crime they will commit, and constantly commit a crime they would forever pay for. They were above Eternal, they were Constant.