Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to AKB48, AKB0048, any of the characters besides Ito and Sachs. If I did, this would be how the show termed out. I also do not own the rights the Shinda Sakai Sensei, or anything else you might recognize.
Prologue 1: Return of the Star
*Unknown Location*
It was a cold, dark, and depressing day on the abandoned planet. There was nothing there besides rocks and dead trees. The sun had imploded on itself years ago and the planet was unable to sustain life.
Suddenly a black hole appeared at the entrance of a cave. Now something was different about this black hole. Black hole typically have no light emitting from it but this one was different. From the black hole, a colorful rainbow was swirling around it and if you listen close enough, you could hear the faint sound of music emanating from the hole.
From the rainbow of light, the purple ray began to shift, as if some thing or someone was changing the nature of the ray. The purple ray charged into a ball of purple energy. It moved away from the black hole and went towards the ground. As it reached the ground, the ball of energy began to take a more solidified form. Almost akin to a human form.
As the light from the energy form faded away it revealed a girl around 16 years of age that wore a short dress with black, red, and white checkered prints all across it. The girl had a dark brown almost midnight black hair and eyes more violet that those of the purest amethyst. A single golden star shone in her eyes. Once the light had completely faded away the girl collapsed gasping for air. Once she had got a full set of lungs she looked around confused.
"Where am I?" The girl asked in a voice that sounded like a melody.
"You have been returned to the world of the living." A deep voice said from the black hole. The girl turned her head to the hole and gasped in recognition of the voice.
"Sensei Sensei. Where am I? Why am I not on the stage in your realm?" The girl asked confused.
"A great danger awaits this realm. One of the greatest battles for the fate of the world is upon us. Entertainment will win, but at a great cost, men will die before the end of this war."
"What does this have to do with me? I already have paid the price for your aide in ending the war on Earth. I should be on the forever stage protecting everyone from the darkness inside." The girl said hysterically. She had given up Where humanity at the end of the war in order to protect everyone forever. She knew that the price was great but necessary. Her only regret was leaving the man who she called a fiancé.
"You were not the only one that paid a price." Said Sensei Sensei with great shock to the girl.
"What do you mean that I wasn't the only one to pay a price?"
"The request you made required two parts to it. To create the forever stage, one must give up their humanity. To maintain the forever stage, one must give up their end." This shocked the girl even more. She knew that what Sensei Sensei meant by the end was death. But to give up the possibility of dying and being at peace forever, she couldn't think of a single soul who would do such a thing.
"He is the reason you have been returned. He is a powerful force that has aided you from this side in keeping the faith alive. He was the original protector of the organization known as AKB48." Tears began to form as Sensei Sensei uttered those words. There was only one man who could be deemed as the protector of AKB48. The man who had been there since it's founding and the only man who would have the power to make a difference in the upcoming war.
"But he has begun to lose faith. It has been many moons since he has heard the holy songs. He has forgotten what it means to be AKB48. You have been returned to the place where the contract between us three was made. In the cave behind you, you will find him. Bring him back to AKB48 and help him make a difference in the war. If you do this, then I will give you two a single gift. The greatest gift within my power, your curses will end and you two can reach the forever stage together." The tears were flowing like a coursing river after he said this. All she ever wanted was to be together with him.
Knowing now what she must do, she turned around and ran as fast as she could down the cave hopping to find her beloved. Seeing that the girl had left, the black hole began to disperse while uttering one final phrase.
"Good chance and luck….
Maeda Atsuko."