A/N: Well, it's certainly been a while since I uploaded anything. I've had this story idea suck in my head for a long time now and I'm just now getting this part of it out there. This prelude, as well as the next few chapters, has all gone through revisions until they were decently written.

For now, I would like for everyone to try and enjoy this story. But this story is rated this way for a reason…

All OCs present are either mine or PrettiWitchiMegChanChi's; the latter ones were used with permission.

"What is evil?"

The question had been asked countless times in the past. It had been answered in most of those occasions, but those answers varied greatly depending on who was asked.

What happens when someone is pure evil? How would they act and behave? The actions of a being that is pure evil cannot be reliably anticipated. Such beings have not been recorded since even the most evil of beings at least has a tiny, if negligible spark, or goodness somewhere within.

It is supposedly possible to make such a being. By transferring a shard of one's evil and nothing more into the very heart of a being before they are born, a being whose heart is pure evil could be created. Who to use is another point entirely.

Would it affect the light in their heart? Probably not; light and darkness are ultimately neutral in nature and it is possible to have a heart of pure darkness that is also pure good and vice versa. Such combinations wouldn't set well with people who are used to hearts of pure light automatically being good and vice versa; such beings of such combos would be at odds with and shunned by supposed "normal" people and their "normal" beliefs.

But has this ever been attempted?

"My sources say 'no'," Black Queen finished, "But records can be easily falsified. Perhaps the past Shadows thought it amusing to hide such truths when they can be so useful to us?" She chuckled in amusement. "My Light Half has meddled in my affairs for far too long! So my new plan will ensure she never did…EVER!"

Black Queen stood in shock. Her Light Half, the Queen of the Witch World, had used her powerful magic to strike the spell that would complete her plan. The force of the impact had completely destabilized the spell. Both knew that a destabilized spell was unpredictable in every sense of the word…

By her side was Shadow Doremi. Doremi, Momoko, and Aiko were behind the Queen as they had accompanied her to this place. Before any of them could register any shock, horror, surprise, or anything similar, the spell exploded, catching everyone in the blast. The Ojamajos and Shadow Ojamajo were quick enough to erect a defense, but the two rulers weren't so lucky. There was a brilliant flash of light. Then, there was a horribly loud crack.

When the light faded, the Queen could only make out a few forms. The first one was the Witch Queen's Rose, which would –hopefully- hold the unborn Hana and her sister, Yume; it was intact, much to her relief. Doremi, Momoko, Aiko, and Shadow Doremi stood there, having been completely turned to stone by the rampant magic despite their precautions. As Jou-sama looked herself over, she noticed that she too had been affected by the blast. It all made her gasp.

She was dead.

Floating over the ground now, Jou-sama realized she was now a ghost. Her body was nowhere to be found, but her crystal was still present. She called it back to her and immediately attempted to reverse the magic effects.

Her spell could do nothing to restore the girls.

Try as she might, the Queen's magic just wasn't strong enough right now. Several things went through her head as to why; such things included her powers being drained by the blast or by the transition to being a ghost.

Several voices, all of which were approaching, interrupted her train of thought. Thinking quickly, the now-ghostly Queen tried another spell. It worked, and the statues of the girls sunk into the ground and left no evidence of their presence.

At least they will be hidden, the Queen thought. Then, she flew into the ground herself and nestled right next to Doremi's statue. No sooner than she did, the voices had arrived.

The conversation was muffled by the ground above and went on for what seemed to be an eternity. Considerable tension could be felt. There would be, since the Witch Queen's Rose is extraordinarily important.

She was trapped several years before Hana was to be born, and with her were the remains of three of her favored Ojamajos and one of their Shadows. It will remain unknown what Black Queen did and what the aftereffects of her disrupted spell were going to do, but one thing was certain.

The timeline has been altered and there was nothing she could do about it.

"When my powers regenerate," the Queen said, "I will restore you to the way you're supposed to be. But…when?"

With that, the Queen drifted into a long slumber…