A/N: I am not that fond of flashbacks, but think it is important to really flesh out the past. So, this is the second part of the prologue out of a total of three. The third part will set up the real story. I will respond to reviews regularly in the A/N depending on their amount. Minor edit to the first chapter so readers will actually know it is the first part of the prologue.

Thank you to rEpose for being my beta.

Reviewer Reviews:

Anon: I'm glad you like the premise behind the story and seem to enjoy it so far. It has been a pet project in my mind for some time. I don't really do crossovers because they are hard to keep track of who is who. Thanks for the review.

The Fool's Journey: Indeed, I agree it was pretty short for a prologue. I think it was partly deliberate so people don't get confused by venue changes. Also, I will admit I didn't really know how to extend the venue without making Minato sort of hang around… bad joke but I digress. Hopefully, I will explain better in the next chapter and thanks for pointing it out. Thanks for the review.

Yuruya: Agreed, the pacing was a bit too fast. It was partly on purpose though and yeah it is a prologue I forgot to put that somewhere in the first chapter thanks for pointing that out. I will say up front it will not be a continuation story because I do not think I would be able to write more than a one-shot if it was and don't want to disappoint you. I can't answer the question about Hamuko since it would be a spoiler. Thanks for the review.

Update: Cleaned for formatting issues 7/6/14

Prologue Part 2: Fate

April 6th, 1999, Port Island (Undisclosed Laboratory, Late Night)

Eiichiro Takeba P.O.V.

Sounds of scientists working feverishly were barely audible as heavy rain fell on the windows. The following events would alter the future, placing a burden on those too young to understand the hardships they would suffer.

"It's nearly done. I will become king of the new world. With Death awakened I will have power beyond imagination," said Koutesu Kirijo. His eyes bulged and he began panting in anticipation.

The goal that he had invested so much in was about to come to fruition. The scientists were in the last stages of finishing the experiments on Shadows. There was nothing to stop The Fall now. His plan would allow him to harness the power of Shadows and change the course of history as he saw fit.

Eiichiro Takeba knew that this was his last opportunity to prevent this catastrophe from being released to the world. He had let his curiosity of Shadows and the recognition he received from the Kirijo group as a scientist get to his head. Everything had started off innocently as Koutesu's vision and ambition seemed to intoxicate the imaginations of the brilliant minds on the project. Over time however it had quickly devolved into a monstrosity.

At that moment, Eiichiro remembered the reason for joy in his life, his daughter Yukari. While he was not able to spend much time with her, he felt like the happiest man in the world when they were together. The memories came flooding back to him. Like the time when Yukari first learned to say "Daddy" and when she first learned to walk. He didn't want to throw it all away.

He knew he had to do everything in his power to prevent Koutesu's maniacal dream from becoming reality. It meant that he would have to break the promise he made to his daughter. Death would be a respite from the guilt that had gathered in his heart like an abyss, yet the sadness of his daughter growing up without him was unbearable.

The sounds of glass shattering and the screams of others began to surround Takeba.

"Yukari, forgive me. I love you," were the last words spoken by Eiichiro Takeba.

(Moonlight Bridge, Late Night)

Minato & Hamuko P.O.V.

Meanwhile, Minato began to stir as an explosion was heard in the distance. The ground was cold and unforgiving as the rain tapered off. How he got here was a question he could save for later because a building was on fire close by. The blue-haired teen shook off the cobwebs and began to stumble away from the blaze. Familiar landmarks passed his peripheral vision as his legs seemed to carry him to no particular destination.

"What the heck is going on? And it's a full moon" he thought looking toward the heavens.

Minato had understandably become suspicious of full moons due to his journeys in Tartarus. He couldn't shake off the queasy feeling in his gut and arrived at a familiar looking bridge. There was no doubt about it, this was the Moonlight Bridge where he had fought the Hanged Man Arcana. It was also where his parents had died. As if on cue, he could hear a car approaching.

A little girl cried in the backseat of a car driven by her parents because she wanted to stay home. It had been a lousy trip in Hamuko's opinion because the weather had been rotten most of the time.

"Now, now Hamuko, stop crying, we're almost home now," a soothing motherly voice stated. The car was nearing the Moonlight Bridge.

Without warning, a dark figure appeared on the bridge and blocking the roadway. Hamuko's father blared on the horn, but the figure didn't move. Hamuko's father veered the car out of control on the slick pavement. The car skidded and rolled a couple of times before stopping on its side near the bridge's ledge, eventually catching on fire.

Acting on instinct, Minato moved towards the burning vehicle, trying to rescue the victims. No matter how confused he was, there was a fear in his heart that he knew who was inside. It was already too late for the front passengers, but the child was relatively unharmed due to being in a child seat. To Minato's surprise, the child was not a younger version of himself, but rather a girl. He pulled the girl out of the car and to safety before the flames endangered them both.

"Are you alright?" he asked the auburn-headed child. There was no response at first, but she nodded her head slowly. Minato let out an involuntary shudder since the people he had witnessed burning were his own parents. Tears formed in his eyes as he had repressed this memory before, but now had to watch it happen all over again.

Hamuko was in a state of shock at what just happened, but wondered why the stranger who saved her was crying in such a pained way. He seemed to have just appeared out of the blue to help her in such a dire situation.

"Target acquired," a robotic voice said as it glided gracefully towards the scene.

Aigis entered the fray and began to fight Death, raining a hail of bullets on her enemy. Death seemed unfazed by the barrage from its android counterpart. She quickly became aware the weakened shadow was still too powerful to defeat by conventional means.

In silence, Minato watched the scene unfold, already aware of the outcome. With no evoker or means to fight Death, Minato felt rather powerless standing in front of the child. However, even though he had no means to fight, he felt a strange attachment to the child. This was his fate and his responsibility even though he wasn't sure why the past had changed.

"Suitable vessel identified, clearing obstruction," and without warning Aigis began charging Minato who was protecting Hamuko. Minato had a peculiar feeling that he was the obstruction and that Aigis' real target was the child.

"Dammit, do you realize what you're doing?" bellowed Minato.

Aigis seemed to not be listening and knocked the wind out of Minato. He began to lose consciousness, his vision getting blurrier by the second.

"Ugh, Ai-gis… stop."

The sound of her name by this stranger caused the blonde to stop her assault.

"Identify yourself," she remonstrated. Had she met this person before? No, she didn't know of any other humans except for the ones back at the laboratory.

Minato's last thoughts as Aigis stood over him were, "Why am I so worthless…?" Hamuko had curled into a ball out of fear nearby.

"Welcome back to the Velvet Room, my dear young man."