Act Zero: Memories in Dreams

Red. Not just any red; blood red. The color was everywhere: on the walls, on the ceilings, on the windows… all that was in sight was streaked with the substance. If one ventured to look outside, even the sky appeared to be a red canvas where the clouds formed darker patterns of blood against it. But that wasn't what caught her attention. No, it was the bodies strewn on the floor that held her focus. Some were left mercifully intact, while others… others were shredded beyond any hope of recognition. The pools of blood eerily reflected the sight like crimson mirrors and the odor of death permeated the air. Decomposition would soon take place, leaving nothing of this place anymore. Atlantis had drowned in its blood; her people had paid dearly for their gifts. Only one word could describe the scene. Massacre.

"What would you do if you saw the future in your dreams? Would you change it? Or would you stand by and do nothing in its wake?"

"What is the future to you, Hikari? Is it a foreordained Destiny where nothing you do will change its course? Or is it a world where your hopes can become reality?"

That's right… what is the future to me? It's been so long since then… have I forgotten what I wished for? What I chose to fight for? What kind of future I wanted for myself and those I loved?

"I see what may happen, but I don't know why I see it. Yet for all that I know, I feel powerless to stop or change what I've seen. Why? Why do I see these futures in my dreams?"

"There are two things in this world you can't change, my little Princess, and they are the past and the present. Learn from them, and carve your future by your own will…" A cough, followed by silence as the king fell limply against his daughter.

"Father!"

Tears… are they my own? Why am I crying now? So many years have passed, and I'm so far away from that day…

"FATHER!"

"What you have before you is a choice. You can join us, work for us, and live in our world, or you and your friends can stay here to die with the rest of your people. Choose our side, and we'll let your people live. Choose the other, and we'll spare no mercy to anyone in this kingdom. So, little Princess, which will you choose?"

"I…"

"Princess, whatever you choose, we'll stand by you – aagh!" Bones cracked under the pressure as his hand was stepped on.

"Tsk, tsk… no need to interfere with your princess's decision." The man turned to the little princess. "So, your highness, what'll it be?"

Did I make the right choice? Is this what my parents would have wanted of us?

"Ashes of Phoenix!" Powerful flames leapt out from the boy's hands.

"Watch out!" A shriek of horror erupted as the flames tore the building apart. Licking the frames of the room, the fire surrounded the targets.

Did we do the right thing?

"Gryphon's Hurricane!" A gale, stronger than the fiercest tornado swept across the room, fanning the fire with more intensity than ever.

"Iyaah!" More screams. More nightmares that came alive. They were hopeless against them. The hour had struck. Time to repent for their sins with their own blood.

Somehow, it feels like we didn't. Then again, we should've learned long ago not to tempt fate. The future won't change for us; we have to do it ourselves. But what can we do now? Even with the freedom we have, we're still puppets hanging by the strings – chains really – that bind us to the puppeteer commanding our actions. If the people that we kill are atrocities to society, what does that make us? Our hands are tainted with blood, and nothing will wash it away.

Sort of a prelude to the actual story... it's more of a series of flashbacks than anything else... Weiss Kreuz will come in sometime within the next few chapters.. haven't planned out how yet.. -;; R&R plz!