The Endless Now.

Some might wonder as to how many years it had persisted. How much time had transpired between the Intersection, and the unmaking of Aionios?

To ask such a question is to misunderstand the very nature of the world that Origin had unwittingly created.

Time, so to speak, did not retain its prior meaning: the realm of Aionios had been severed from that particular constraint, leaving it contained within a place that could not be breached from within or without. Or perhaps time itself had merely been frozen in place, allowing events to occur in the other dimensions without bringing about any change.

Was Aionios all there was? Did some form of existence continue on beyond its boundary? Could it even be said to have a boundary?

No one knew. As far as the souls within Origin were concerned — and therefore Moebius by extension — Aionios was all that existed.

Alas, their perspective was...limited by both design and circumstance.

One wonders what could have been, if their eyes had been opened to greater possibilities...

xxxx

/Time: An Indeterminate Number of Years Prior to the Main Plot/

/The Amphitheater, Origin's Core/

The world of Aionios was neither young nor old, when the visitor came to Z's attention.

Slowly turning his head away from the canvas — depicting a battlefield glittering with red motes — Z looked at a strange amalgamation of crystals and light, floating serenely in an adjacent seat.

(Whatever was left of the AI, that Z had been born from, observed with detached intrigue; there were no inherent data tags linking this phenomenon to Origin. Even those who had been born outside of the cycle of rebirth that gripped Kevesi and Agnian soldiers...even they bore a trace link to Origin through their ancestors. But this? This was truly foreign.)

(The conflux of desire and emotion that comprised the rest of Z listened intently to the voices within Origin: screaming about how this thing was new, and therefore potentially interesting...yet those were drowned out by the greater mass hissing with fear at the mere sight of it, impulsively worrying that its presence meant the end of their pleasant purgatory. Did it mean they would finally have to face the unknown? To that, they said nay.)

"Strange visitor," he said, peering deeply into the crystalline manifold. "For what reason have you intruded upon the flow...?"

His gaze pierced into a realm in-between.

Through a realm of endless clouds, Z witnessed a timeless ruin: floating amidst the gaps, with clockwork engines and ancient stone. He idly noted that his colors bled through, yet did not cast light upon the surrounding expanse. Truly, this realm was separate from Origin in all its facets. "Who is this?" he asked, unwilling to suppress his natural volume (for could the fiery screams that had birthed him ever truly be considered 'quiet'?). "What brings you to this place?"

"Meh, what a truly fascinating existence..."

Z's eyes turned downward, taking in a yellow Nopon with crimson eyes. "A Nopon," he observed. "You are the source of this realm?"

"Indeed! Through countless years beyond all comprehension, full of training and meditation...this one became the sagiest of sages: the Nopon Archsage, at your service!"

"Why have you come here, you who does not belong to the flow?" As much as such a determination galled him, Z could not but state the truth: this being wasn't even capable of being trapped by the flow whatsoever. Even if the damnably bizarre Nopon seemed resistant to the flow...this being floated above it entirely. "For what purpose are you standing here, before me?"

"Archsage has visited untold times and places, with treasure and trinkets for those who have partaken of my trials."

"And you think I would have use for your trials?"

"Meh, not for you!" protested the red-eyed Nopon. "Would uproot the canon, make things nonsensical. Prolonged exposure to Archsage would also likely reduce your 'supervillainpon-ness', and that be very, very bad! How then would plot go according to the Grand Design?"

What nonsense was this creature spouting? "I will ask again: why have you come here?"

"It simple matter of courtesy! Archsage never set up shop without permissions: would be rude! Would also get Archsage kicked out of The Club, since that's one of the rules." Shuffling in place, the Archsage added, "Was much the same in precursor of worlds! Zanzapon not care for Archsage setting up shop on knee; so long as it made Shulky-pon stronger! And Titan of Uraya liked the feeling my portal gave on her spine; she was old Titan, often complained of aches."

Those terms elicited a strange impulse of bewilderment. Echoes of memories flickered by, of the worlds which had once been, and no longer were. "Zanza. Uraya. You speak of those entities with familiarity. From where do you hail?"

"Speaking of origins would also be breaking rule of The Club. Would be inconvenient, since Archsage was also founder of The Club. Would then need to find Zohar to open The Club's front door again, and that would be awful inconvenient for Archsage. Would be equivalent to five million fetch quests!"

"...do you seek to interfere with our world?"

"Meh, you not understand much. Mucky-mucking with world not in Archsage's contract. Will only return once the Main Characters appear; Archsage's trials are for them, and them alone!"

"...so long as that is the case, then your terms are acceptable. I would ask that you leave."

The Archsage huffed. "Such joyless jerkypon! No wonder fans hate you." Turning away, the Archsage remarked, "See you when the plot begin!"

With a sudden snap — like an ethernet cable being pulled out of a modem — Z's perceptions once more returned to Origin. The crystals were gone. "...how curious," he murmured, leaning back in his chair; Y would likely have been intrigued by the creature's presence.

Even so, its existence was anchored beyond the world; it was not within the domain of Moebius, and thus it had to be cast aside.

The immense uncertainty that 'Archsage' had carried with it...was frightening.

Aionios was safer. Aionios was, in a sense, Certainty Itself.

There was comfort to be had in that, however wretched it was.

xxxx

Thus, time passed...

xxxx

/Time: Right before the Battle at Everblight Plain between Colony 9 and Colony Sigma/

/The Amphitheater, Origin's Core/

Z was alone, when the crystalline manifold made its reappearance.

As though expecting its presence, he peered into its boundless expanse; as before, the Nopon Archsage was there, amidst the floating ruins. His fur was a lighter color than before, but the Nopon still exuded that same unnatural power. "You have returned," he burned.

"Meh, was here less than two hundred words ago! After all this time, jerkypon hasn't changed. No sense of perspective! No sense of looking outside of uncomfortably large box that's also shaped like a giant ball while also being an admittedly cool giant robot!"

The Archsage's voice was slightly different this time, as well. No matter. Pointedly ignoring the ramifications of the Archsage's words, Z said, "Your presence must mean that your 'Main Characters' will soon be able to partake of your trials."

"Ah, indeed! Archsage would fling them through elaborate yet entertaining scenarios! In this place, it be like time have no meaning; they be able to fight to their hearts' content!"

What a curiously similar idea. "It is strange: you, who does not belong to the flow, nonetheless has chosen to create an eternal moment of your own. If that is your desire, then why would you not seek to perpetuate the Endless Now of the entire world?"

The Archsage looked at him as though he were an idiot. "Archsage trials can last forever, yes? But only until Main Characters get bored. Or until player put game down. It lasts forever...but only for a little while."

A 'forever' which lasted for 'a little while'? That was a contradiction in terms! "You are nonsensical, Archsage." Z truly could not fathom what this creature referred to. "Tell me: why is it that the Nopon refuse to become part of the flow? What makes them so resistant to its call?"

"Mascot Species Privileges," it seamlessly answered. "If you not understand, then no point in Archsage explaining any further."

Z didn't know what to make of that.

"Anyhow, Archsage made courtesy call as required. We will not be meeting again; hope you enjoy watching tutorial battle. Ta ta!"

And just like that, Z was once more within the theater: just himself, the events being played out, and the voices within and without his head. "It is curious, is it not, o ye voices?" he said aloud. "That your desired world is in fact the ideal creation of such a unique creature. It gains pleasure from such...even if in a limited fashion, it would seem." Alas, it was not Z's place to wonder about the motivations of the Nopon Archsage. The creature's designs would not interfere with those of Moebius...and it would be left alone. "If a creature of such power can be pacified by an Endless Now of its own design...then are you not the same? Are we not ourselves seeking entertainment, to make the tedium of existence enjoyable?" There was a murmuring echo from the rafters, quivering with agreement. "And so it shall be as before: let us now watch the passage of fate unfold, as we always have...and always will, forevermore."

Thus did Z lean back, unknowingly watching some of the Archsage's vaunted 'Main Characters' engage in battle upon the blighted plain.

xxxx

Author's Note: First rule of The Club— make it sound as vague yet cool as possible!