Alex Whiter's Tale:
These have been peaceful days over at the M.S.I. Base. With Gemini spending most his free time sorting out the new recruits, he has no real complaints.
Except...Alpha has been holing himself up in his Command Sphere more and more often lately, banking on vague hopes that Alex Whiter is still alive.
Concerned for his well-being, Gemini tries to sway him off a fruitless chase, but Alpha backs his pursuits with logic regarding what happened back with Mr. Reality.
And sure enough, as if to reward his patience, the alarms start going off inside the base. Thanks to the DNA Alpha snagged off Mew, he's now finally picked up on Alex's energy signature.
Taking a copter alone to the Osagi Woods, Alpha vows to make up for his transgressions against the boy by helping him learn to understand his powers, and hopefully, find some answers as to why he went into seclusion.
Meanwhile, Alex is dragging himself through the dirt on his heels, a few nasty Piranha Plants in pursuit after one took a nibble out of his arm.
Refusing to die to some dumb plants, Alex exerts his fire for the first time and burns the plants to death...And also set fire to the woods itself.
But as he collapses, a water bullet puts the flames out, and Alpha drags him away back to the M.S.I. Base to treat his wounds.
In his restless sleep, Alex sees a nightmare of his own design. A world torn asunder, a sun bleeding upon a dying planet...His mortal enemies, risen from the grave to mock him for his worthlessness.
They call him a destroyer, the villain. He burns them down with fire, but their words still linger. And then, at the end of these terrible dreams, he begins to destroy himself...
He wakes up forcefully inside of the M.S.I. Base on a hospital bed, being watched over by Gemini.
Alex wastes no time trying to escape despite the great pain in his body. Gemini makes a small effort to try and stop him, only because he can tell Alex is too weak to even break through his defenses.
Gemini tries to appeal to him not as a soldier under orders, but as his friend. Alex holds him at arms length every step of the way, saying he doesn't want any help, especially not from the likes of Alpha.
Gemini gets blunt in telling him that Alex's health conditions were critical, which, given his powers, shouldn't have been possible.
Alex goes silent and then continues to try and leave, but Gemini makes one last plea for him to AT LEAST see Alpha once before he goes. He knows that he can't stop him once he gets even a little of his strength back.
Reluctantly, Alex forces himself to the Command Sphere, where he finds that Alpha had snagged the Gaia Temporis from his pocket when he was out.
Alex quickly calls it back, stating how he's certain that no one else will get to use it but him. This confirms what Alpha suspected, that Alex was the last one in contact with Mew.
Alex answers truthfully about what happened with Mew, but tries to dodge any questions regarding why he abandoned everyone.
However, Alpha manages to guilt him by bringing up Driad, which pisses Alex off to the point that he breaks his facade and yells at Alpha.
Alex states how he just would've been better off not existing, and he hates Alpha for not leaving well enough alone just like always.
Repeating some advice his old Commander once gave him, Alpha lets Alex know that he does legitimately care about what happens to him, and so do many other people. He doesn't want to see Alex wasting his life when he can do SO much good for the other worlds.
After all, there has to be a reason the Elemental Overlord chose him, right?
Alpha leaves it up to Alex to decide if he wants to stick around and get trained. He won't say anymore to him for now.
Thus, Alex leaves to think alone for a few moments.
But when he tries to do that he runs into Gemini again, who offers to share a meal with him in the cafeteria so he can so he'll have more energy to think straight.
Alex reluctantly accepts. As the two sit down Alex is withdrawn into his own thoughts. Gemini kindly tries to get him to open up a little, but doesn't really delve into his problems at first.
When its clear though that Alex has some insecurities regarding his powers and lack of control, Gemini decides to relate the story of his life to him.
He hopes that by doing so, it'll assure him that its never too late to turn your life around and make something better out of it.
But a bad voice inside of Alex's head keeps telling him its pointless to expect better things out of life. The only way to be happy, is to destroy everything, burn it all down.
Its only when another voice, taking the shape of Mew's, provides his support that Alex chooses to ignore the bad thoughts plaguing him and consider giving Alpha's support a chance.
He runs right back to the Command Sphere and nearly collapses from exhaustion. But this gets the point clear across that he wants Alpha's help. Thus, starting tomorrow, Alex will begin a new stage of his life, one that will change him forever...
Shina Aurora's Tale:
In a hidden city called Sancturia, a young girl named Shina Aurora finishes another day of high school with top marks in school work and home work.
She is an Aurian, part of a race of warriors that can use the power of aura, along with many other secret abilities.
She's just a normal girl though...A normal girl with a delightful set of friends, a set of nerdy hobbies, and a loving little sister named Kairi waiting for her at home.
After dropping off her school supplies at home, she greets her little sister lovingly with a hug and asks how her day went.
Kairi had just got done making her own weapon in class, a neat jeweled bo-staff that she's not too proud of. But Shina thinks it looks great and wants to test it out in a quick sparring match downstairs.
Shina draws her little rapier and playfully spars with her sister a bit, surprised by how well her weapon's holding off against her special techniques.
Kairi's flustered that she's not strong enough, but Shina disagrees in her head.
Their mom, Auris Aurora, returns with take-out and they all enjoy a nice meal together.
Afterwards Kairi goes off to bed and Shina begins working on her belated birthday give, a nice bandana with the word "Hope" etched into it with kanji.
During this, Auris walks in to her room and has a brief chat with her about the coming days. A man by the name of Gravitus is returning to Sancturia, to perform a test regarding an artifact called the "Neo Drive" on Shina.
Shina's confident it'll go smoothly with no fuss, but Auris worries it won't be so clean. Nevertheless, she trusts Shina to make the right decision, then kisses her on the forehead and goes off to bed herself.
Shina, meanwhile, lays back in her bed and thinks about the test in regards to her little sister. She sees a lot of potential in her, maybe enough to make her worthy of the Neo Drive.
In two years time she'll be old enough to take the test, and Shina worries that if that happens, Gravitus will become dangerously powerful. Though its clear she doesn't know the full specifics as to how that works.
But she doesn't want to take any chance. Gravitus is a danger to her family, especially her little sister, and so she wants to do something to save her. But what can she do alone? Its a thought that plagues her thoughts as she goes to sleep that night.
The next day, Shina sneaks out under the pretense of going to study with her friends. Instead, she meets with a man named Gabriel outside Sancturia's sole Pyramid.
This man, with his strange green skin and ancient samurai garb, is like a father to Shina despite some loyalty to Gravitus, so she feels safe confiding her feelings with him.
She wants to know if there's some way to stop Gravitus, as surely Gabriel must have been thinking of something over his time serving under him.
Gabriel does have a vague idea. His allies, the Planetary Aurians, had secretly learned of the location of the Elemental Overlord's successor. But as they are under Gravitus' watchful eye, Gabriel has not had the courage to make a move.
Shina thinks she could do it, even with the risks Gabriel brings to her attention. But when her determination clearly isn't about to stop, he finds he has to relent.
In his hand is a device that can send her to the successor's world, but he emphasizes again that if she does it...She's putting herself at great risk if Gravitus catches wind of her departure.
Shina doesn't care. Its worth risking her life to help her family know peace.
Gabriel hands the device over, on the caveat that Shina not jump recklessly into this mission.
Shina returns home and weighs the pros and cons of her mission. Spending some quality time with Kairi, however, just makes it obvious what she has to do.
In the dead of night, once Shina has finished her sister's gift, she sneaks into her room and tries to drop it off quietly...Only to arouse her sister from her slumber by accident.
Kairi is confused why Shina's up this late, and Shina fumbles her way around trying to lie...Only to realize she has to be somewhat honest.
She tells her little sis that she'll be going somewhere, but promises to return, as they planned to go down to Earth together when they're older.
Kairi, being too young to understand any of this, naturally begs Shina to not leave her. But Shina looks her straight in the eyes, wraps her in a hug, and then tells her how much she loves her before wishing her to be good while she's gone.
Tearfully, Shina passes off her gift and then leaves the room. But before she can use the device, she finds that it had been snatched by her mother, who resides in the living room.
Auris has one brief talk with Shina to evaluate her determination going forward. When Shina proves she lacks the hesitation to proceed, Auris grants her two gifts for her well-being.
One, a stone called a "Drive", will help her fight in an emergency. Two, a letter, in case things don't work out with the Elemental Overlord directly.
With these parting gifts, Auris then hands her the device, and Shina gives one last farewell before vanishing off to a new world.
Auris digs her fingernails into her skin and curses what she's allowed Shina to do, having an ominous vision of her enduring great suffering.
Meanwhile, Gravitus confides with Gabriel over a hologram. Turns out he willingly allowed Shina to leave, as whatever she does going forward shall ensure his existence.
Gravitus "thanks" Gabriel, who can feel nothing but guilt over having betrayed Shina's trust...
Shina has a soft landing on a grassy plain in a strange new world. Recognizing the softness as "grass" from her books, she takes a look around and noticing that it seems relatively normal...Save for the hills with eyes, but whatever.
She flies into the nearby town and winds up coming across the local inhabitants, the Toads. Her presence causes a panic due to her abnormal height, but she manages to calm a couple Toads down long enough to find out where she is.
Upon hearing the names "Mario and Luigi" her mind does a quick shutdown and reboot, with her sprinting around town and menacing a few more Toads with her excitement over being in THE Mario's world.
After a Toad tries to attack her in self-defense and gets knocked down, however, Shina calms down a bit and tries to handle things a little more...tactfully.
But upon seeking info on the Elemental Overlord, she's directed towards the memorial statue in the center of town.
She isn't sure how to handle this. She refuses to believe its real. Surely he's still alive, right? Why would she be led here on a lie of false hope?
Before despair can truly set in, E. Gadd winds up overhearing the conversation and decides to assist Shina's efforts with his own knowledge.
Turns out E. Gadd had some suspicions that the Elemental Overlord's successor might be alive, but Shina coming here after him confirms it for him.
Geno then winds up dropping in, confirming these suspicions further. Geno recognizes Auris' bloodline in Shina, the lady in question turning out to have been responsible for his creation.
Geno explains that he always knew Alex was alive but respected his wishes for privacy. But seeing how desperately Shina needs his help, he's willing to ignore his wishes momentarily.
He offers to take Shina directly to his general location, and she goes without hesitation, believing if anyone can convince him...Its her!
United Tale:
Shina arrives outside the M.S.I. Base. Geno warns her that she might run into resistance and offers his word of good will, but Shina knows she has to do this herself.
Thus Geno returns to Star Haven, and Shina approaches the base. Wishful thoughts of grandeur for what the Elemental Overlord currently looks like distracts her, leading to her smacking into the front down and activating the alarms.
A few Shy Guys with trenchcoats and laser pistols come out to arrest her.
Shina completely disarms them by bursting into laughter and collapsing onto the ground, their attempts to stun her proving ineffective.
After she's had her fun she has them "arrest" her and "take her to their leader".
She eventually comes to meet Gemini and Alpha, shocked that a Goomba of all creature's is running this huge base. Alpha is naturally offended, especially when Shina starts pinching his cheeks, much to Gemini's amusement.
Shina eventually explains her case, though Alpha is suspicious until Shina winds up not being aggressive against his attempt to be threatening.
However it turns out Alpha was a few steps ahead here and had already called the Elemental Overlord over to meet this strange new girl.
Alex and Shina meet for the first time, with Alex being flustered by her appearance while Shina is shocked that he's so...young, shattering her pre-conceived notions of grandeur.
After Alex is rapidly bombarded with the girl's babbling to the point of him losing his patience, he starts noticing there's something familiar about her energy.
He quickly connects her to that woman he fought when sent two-thousand years into the past, and even pieces together that she must be her daughter.
Alex accidentally blurts out that he thinks she's a grown-up, only to become surprised and even more flustered when it turns out she's only 16.
Then he gets down to business and demands to know what she wants. Explaining everything with Gravitus, Shina pours her heart out to request his help.
But Alex refuses, rationalizing in his head that if this Gravitus person could defeat the lady he lost to, then he's not strong enough still to beat him...
He bluntly shuts down Shina's attempts at hyping up his strength and tells her to just train in safety until she can beat him.
But she doesn't HAVE the time to do that. She needs to stop him NOW.
Before she suffers a breakdown, she pulls out that letter her mom gave her and decides to read it. Alex begins to leave in disinterest...Until his name is directly mentioned in the letter.
Auris had a contingency in place in case he couldn't do it. Shina will require Alex's help still to go into space in search of a mythical relic of the Aurians called the "Cosmos Drive".
With how much faith Auris has in them being able to do it, Shina once again tries to demand Alex's help. But he once again refuses, leaving the room in frustration.
Shina can't believe what she's seeing and prepares to stomp after him to give him what-for, only for Alpha to hold her back and decide to have a talk with him himself.
With the two of them alone atop the roof of the base, Alpha manages to pry the truth out from Alex...
He feels odd around the girl not because of any infatuation, but out of admiration. For her drive to succeed, her positive, bubbly attitude, and just her ability to keep trying to have faith in someone worthless as him.
Alpha lays it out bluntly...Alex can't just sit back and constrain himself to his training. The world's big and open, and full of opportunities to do better things.
Shina coming here was a sign, a sign that Alex needs to move on and try to do good elsewhere.
Alex can't bring himself to feel confident about that. He just feels it isn't worth the risk of destroying her faith, or ruining her people's lives because of his failure. He just doesn't want to prove Chaos Alex was right about him.
Alpha softly tells him that he'll respect his decision...But he hasn't even bothered to ask Shina what drives her so much. At the very least, he should make his decision after that.
Alex reluctantly agrees, and goes to meet Shina back in her containment cell.
Alex is very uncomfortable around her due to her age over him and, y'know, being a cute girl, though he won't admit the latter.
Shina tries her best to make it easier for him but her enthusiasm proves to be a big roadblock there.
Shina ultimately mentions her family's happiness being her main motivation, which pains Alex given the lack of his own parents anymore.
As the two slowly talk things out Alex learns more and more while Shina comes to terms with just how young Alex started doing this, and how long he's BEEN at it for.
Especially having no parents either, it really makes Shina want to do her best to help HIM too.
Alex ultimately agrees to help her on her quest to save her sister, but only with a few easy ground rules that she agrees to without much hesitation.
The two then head outside the base and, after some short farewells to Gemini and Alpha, Alex makes an air sphere that'll act as their vehicle through their long ride into space.
Shina takes another peek at her note, telling her that their first destination shall be the "land of dragons"...And then, she steels her heart, vowing to do anything she can to save her sister.
But little did they know, a figure watches them from the shadows of the sky, making their own vow to see the end of an "endless recurrence" by leading the "Phoenix of Destruction" down a path to true death.
And thus, begins a perilous journey that will change their lives, and the lives of those around them, forever...
Part 4.5 Prologue END.