Full Circle: The Ride is Over

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your cerebrums! I tried to make it easier to read; I really did. Oh well.


I. Rorek's Act of Love (The man trapped in crystal)

Malchior was laughing hysterically as Hans and Rorek remained hidden.

"I have triumphed!" He roared. He continued to prance about and enjoy his perceived victory.

Rorek sat numbly on the ground clutching the communicator that Robin had given him. Suddenly, it beeped.

"Rorek? Rorek! What has happened?" It was Robin's voice, but Rorek did not see him.

Rorek looked around, then stared at the communicator.

"What is this?" He marveled.

"Rorek, are you there?"

He cautiously spoke into the device.

"Y-yes, Robin, I'm here."

"What happened? I've lost Raven's signal! Is that Malchior I hear in the background?"

"I'm at the clearing in the woods. Something terrible has happened! Come quickly!"

"On our way!"

Rorek looked at the device. "How wonderful! I can communicate with someone who is not here without yelling."

Rorek's thrill over this new discovery was overshadowed by Raven's death. He sunk into despair.

"Are you alright, lad?" Hans put a hand on Rorek's shoulder.

Rorek sighed heavily. "As long as I find Raven again."

"You will. You know what you have to do, yes?"

Rorek walked over to the man trapped in crystal. He touched the surface. "For Raven, I will endure."

"You're a brave one, Master Rorek."

Rorek and Hans waited for the Titans to arrive. Starfire was carrying Cyborg, and Beast Boy as a pterodactyl was carrying Robin. Beast Boy set Robin down.

"Rorek! Where's Raven?" Robin surveyed the surroundings. He saw Malchior dancing about.

"She's gone…for now. Raven allowed Malchior to overcome her."

"What do you mean?" Starfire had some idea but she was afraid to let Rorek's words sink in.

Anger burned in them.

"Titans, go!"

"Wait!" Hans stood in front of them. "You must not! It had to happen this way in order for time to flow properly."

"Don't give me that!" Cyborg shouted.

"Yeah!" Beast Boy added. "I don't understand any of this time travel stuff, but Raven was our friend!"

"Please, lads, calm down. Raven knows what she was doing. Trust her. She knows what she's doing."

Robin pointed to the crystal. "Who is that?"

Rorek spoke up. "It's me, Robin. The man trapped in crystal is me."

"How can this be?" Starfire clasped her hands.

"When all this is over, you Titans will go forward to your own time 1000 years from now. Hans and I will go backward 50 years from now."

Robin began to make sense of everything and spoke directly to Rorek. "I see. It's another time loop. Fifty years ago, Rorek fought Malchior. Malchior imprisoned him in that crystal and kept him. Meanwhile, you were born years later and you grew up. One day you met Raven and the rest of us. Now, you will go back in time 50 years. You will fight Malchior and he will trap you in that crystal. The cycle will go on and on with Hans acting as the mediator. Am I right, Hans?"

"Indeed. You are ingenious, Master Robin."

Robin turned again to Rorek. "You love her that much." It wasn't a question, but a matter-of-fact statement.

"Yes, I do. I will go back in time and get myself trapped in that crystal. I'll have to be trapped for fifty years, but for Raven, I will endure."

Beast Boy rubbed his head. "Dude! I don't get it! Why get yourself trapped?"

"You don't have to understand, my Friend. Just believe." Rorek closed his eyes. "I believe in Raven."

II. Enter Eternity

"Well done, Raven! Well done!"

Raven stirred at the voice. She could barely remember what had happened. She had an awareness of her surroundings, but she had no body. Yet, she was able to see. Raven looked around. The atmosphere was like being in the deep reaches of outer space. Comets flashed by. She saw stars being born and stars fading out of existence. Raven was in awe of it all.

"W-where am I? What happened? Who are you? Where are you?"

"So many questions! You are in eternity. Malchior destroyed your body and you are a spirit now. As long as you had flesh and blood, you could not travel in and out of time. Now you are free to travel wherever and whenever you want. As for me..." Said the voice.

Malchior's book appeared in front of Raven. It opened itself to the page that had her picture in it. "Hi, Raven." It said.

"You're alive!" Raven's spirit reached out to take the book. "Or is this another one of your tricks Malchior!"

Raven stared at her picture which was staring back at her smiling.

"Malchior can't hear you, Raven. When you trapped him in the book on top of Titans Tower, he lost all of his memories. His mind is a blank state now. Remember me?"

"Yes. Malchior said that he had been waiting for me. I thought he put that picture of me there."

"Malchior didn't put me here. Hans was the one who put me here. He created me to give you a body after this was over. Once you complete your tasks, you and I will merge. You will become a living, breathing person again."

"What do I have to do?"

"Your father's influence is growing within you. You are beginning to develop powers as a result. Remember when you stopped time?"

"Yes."

"Well, you seemed to have developed the ability to bend and twist time. You were the one who created those white portals that sent all of you back in time. You also created the portal that sent Rorek into the future to get your friends."

"How am I able to do these things?"

"I don't know. All I know is what I am and what I was created to do." The picture disengaged itself from the book. Now, it was floating freely next to Raven's spirit.

"I don't understand."

"You don't have to. Let's go."

"Where are we going?" Asked Raven.

"Remember when you first started this journey? You were coming down off of the roof to get a book. That's where we're going now. You created or will create the portal which sent you back in time."

Raven was taken to the point where she had gone to her room to get a book. Raven watched herself trying to decide which one to read next. She then used her powers to destroy the chest that had Malchior's book.

After a brief dialog (Chapter 1), Raven created the white portal which had sent her back in time.

"So this is how it all got started. I sent myself back in time. What do I do now?"

"You already know, Raven."

Raven continued with her duties. She then created the portal that had sent Rorek back to her time to get the other Titans. She watched as they took the portal back to the Dark Ages. Raven then caused it to disappear. Next, she took Malchior's book.

"This is it," said her image. "Release Malchior and send him 50 years into Rorek's past. The loop will then be complete."

"So, this is Malchior's fate. It started when Malchior shows up in the Dark Ages. 50 years later, he meets Rorek. Rorek traps him in the book. 1000 years later, I find the book and will release him. After I seal him up again, Malchior is thrown back in time 50 years before Rorek and cycle begins again. I almost feel sorry for Malchior."

Raven began to recite the words that she had used to free Malchior when he had deceived her:

"Hezberek Et Morine, Gost Wenthen Verbis Nex

Ind Obrium Bis Pendrule

Paran Sic Cortis Rex!"

The book glowed and just as Malchior was exiting the book, Raven sent him 50 years into Hans's and Rorek's past.

"It is finished," said the image. "Create the portals to send your friends back to your own time." As the image merged with Raven's spirit, Raven became a living, breathing person again. She and the book were thrown back to their own time periods.

III. Full Circle

Hans looked over to Rorek and the Titans. "Raven has completed her tasks. It's time for all of you to go home now. Rorek and I now have a task to perform."

Suddenly a white portal appeared.

"Is that what I think it is?" Asked Beast Boy.

Hans nodded. "It's Raven. She has created the portal. It will take you back."

"Sweet! Let's go Cy!" Beast Boy and Cyborg ran into the portal. Starfire and Robin followed.

As Robin headed for the portal, he stopped and turned around. He and Rorek exchanged knowing looks.

Robin turned to Starfire. "Starfire, take the crystal with us."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

Starfire picked up the crystal and walked through the portal.

Robin smiled at Rorek. "See you in 1000 years, Rorek. Goodbye, for now." Robin reached out his hand to him. Rorek shook Robin's hand.

"Thank you, Robin. Farewell."

Robin disappeared through the portal leaving Hans and Rorek.

"Alright, Master Rorek, make me proud."

Rorek smiled and came out of his hiding place.

"Malchior!"

Malchior stopped prancing and turned around. "Ah, if it isn't the Great Slayer of Dragons! I knew you weren't far behind. Have you come to avenge your true love?" He mocked.

"I but wish that I could use my blade against you demon and kill you now. Raven was right. What's in store for you is much worse. Necronom Hezberek Mortix! "

The ground beneath Malchior gave way. Malchior stumbled and took to the sky. He circled and charged straight at Rorek. Rorek tried to dodge but Malchior caught him with his tail. He brought Rorek up to eye level.

"So, are you going to scream like a maiden now?"

Rorek remained silent. I believe in you, Raven. I shall find you again.

Suddenly, the book appeared over Rorek's head.

"She did it!" Rorek took the book and recited the curse that Raven had taught him:

"Aldruon Enlenthra Nalthos Sola Narisnor!"

Malchior yelled as he was drawn into the book. Hans came out of his hiding place. Another white portal appeared.

"It's time to go back 50 years."

Hans turned to a blank page in the book. He recited an incantation. An image of Raven appeared in the book. Rorek stared at it in wonder. He thought that it was beautiful. Raven's eyes were closed and she appeared serene and content as her hands glowed with her powers.

"Raven will need this." Hans said as he put the book down. "Alright let's go."

"What about Malchior and the book?"

"We can leave it here. It will find its way to Raven eventually. Then, I get to watch you do stupid things in the name of love."

Rorek smiled. Then, they walked through the portal.

When Rorek and Hans arrived 50 years into their past, they found that Malchior was already terrorizing the village. After Raven had dumped him here, Malchior had lost all memories of her and Rorek. His mind was now a blank state. His rage was unforgiving as he struggled to remember. The only memories he had retained were some of the spells that he had learned.

Hans smiled at Rorek. "This is it! Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

Rorek nodded.

"Alright, Master Rorek." The two embraced one last time. "Take care. Say hello to Raven for me."

"I will. I wish that I had a father like you." Rorek's eyes began to tear up. "Thank you for what you've shown me."

"Aye, think nothing of it. Go on before you make an old man cry! Now, let's put on a good show shall we?"

Rorek put on a helmet that covered his face and he disguised his voice. He ran out to the people.

"Citizens! Fear not, for I am the Great Magician! I will protect you from this demon!"

Malchior was so busy rampaging that he didn't even notice Rorek. Rorek took advantage of the distraction to create a powerful offensive spell. He hurled it at Malchior. The blast sent Malchior flying like a rag doll. After Malchior had been thrown beyond the boundary of the town, Rorek used his magic to produce a barrier that not only shielded the town, but many others from any dragons. The townspeople cheered.

"Oh, thank you, Great Magician! You saved our town. Pray, let us see your face!"

"Nay! I must not be detained. Farewell!" Rorek ran to the edge of town to face Malchior one last time, but he did not let Malchior see him.

Hans snickered. "He's really played his part very well! Its time to play mine. This is going to be fun!"

Malchior groaned as he got back on his paws. He looked about him to see who had cast that spell. He then saw Hans standing in front of him.

"Who are you, worm!"

"Get up, demon! I, the Great Magician, challenge you!"

Malchior stared at the fat old man in disbelief. "YOU?"

"What's the matter? Afraid to take me on?" Hans let out a round of heroic laughter that made his belly shake. Malchior stared at the jiggling fat in disgust.

"Ugh! Great Magician you say? You are more like a fraud. I won't waste time killing you. I have a better fate in store, oh Great Magician!"

Malchior recited the same spell that he had used to trap the Titans in crystal. Just as he had finished the spell, Rorek used a light spell to blind Malchior. While Malchior was temporarily blinded, Rorek pushed Hans out of the way so that the crystal engulfed Rorek. Rorek tried to make it look real as he took off his helmet and forced a look of terror on his face. Inside, though, he was happy.

Raven, wait for me! Rorek lost consciousness as the crystal engulfed him.

Hans took the helmet and hid as Malchior regained his vision. Malchior was puzzled. He studied the crystal. The man inside looked thinner for some reason. Malchior shrugged it off.

"I'll keep you as a trophy, my friend. Great Magician indeed!"

Malchior grabbed the crystal and flew off.

Hans watched until they were out of sight. He sighed and walked back to the town. When he arrived, the townspeople were chattering away about the Great Magician and how he had shielded their town.

"He was so heroic!"

"Who was he?"

"I didn't even see his face!"

The conversations went on as Hans approached a vacant lot.

"Hey, Mister!"

Hans turned around and saw a teenage boy.

"I've never seen you here before," the boy said.

Hans smiled. "I've come to build an inn here. I noticed that you don't have one."

"Well, we could sure use one! Now that the Great Magician has protected us from the dragons, we should be getting more travelers! You never said who you are, Sir."

"I am the self-existing One. I have no beginning or ending. I am He who provides rest and refuge for the weary human spirit. I stoke the fires of the human heart, and I make sure that the flame is never extinguished."

"Huh?" The boy stood there speechless.

Hans chuckled and put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Why don't you get some of your friends and help me build that inn."

The boy snapped out of it. "Oh, sure thing, Mister! Do you think that we will ever see the Great Magician again? If have a son, I want one just like him!"

"Don't worry, lad, you'll definitely be seeing the Great Magician again even if you don't recognize him."

The boy was again confused but ran off to round up his friends. Hans stared after him and shook his head for he knew that the boy would one day grow up to become Rorek's father.