Step Forward

Year X998

The entire landscape was barren. The remains of buildings were barely recognizable after two centuries post-destruction, the natural decay of what remained had long since set in. There were no more man-made structures. However, nature, which should have long since regained a hold on the planet in a situation like this, had not. As if other forces were keeping it at bay.

"Nothing's changed...." A young girl was huddled up inside a cave with another girl who was a few years younger. Bespectacled, and wearing ragged clothes, she looked at the opening of the cave, towards the overcast sky. Lightning lit it up as thunder boomed. A heavy rain fell. A black rain. As if the Earth was crying. "Why....why do I still remember everything!? Grandfather....he said he'd change everything when he left...how could grandfather fail!?" She seemed to be in a case of hysterics.

The raven-haired girl beside her clutched her head, hissing, "...Damn it all...Nothing will change, considering everything...Maybe the reason changed...In that case, then we'll have to return to the past, and eliminate the source of the darkness which swept over this world." This woman was fiercely determined; above all else.

"That's easier said than done...." The bespectacled girl muttered. "The temporal energy grandfather built up...and that baboon-skin freak....they're all gone...and we're left with this!" She punched the cave wall in a frenzy, and it cracked with a BANG, shattering apart on them. "My head is breaking and I can't stand this!"

The black-haired girl rested her hand on her ally's shoulder. "...We're gonna get through this. Follow me." Her eyes shone cyan momentarily, as a small tear in the wall began to emerge...only to fizzle out immediately. "...Damn it all. In this environment my powers short-circuit..." She kicked the wall, only to hurt her toe. "...Hmm. When there's a will, there's a way. Across town, there's the old, abandoned library; I think if we look in the history books, we'll find out how to save the future. Now, come on, let's mosey. There's no time to waste."

"I can't move...." The bespectacle girl, her eyes were wide. "If we have to go...just...take me...I can't..." She started to violently tremble; perhaps a seizure?

The black-haired girl clutched the glasses-girl's hand. "It's going to be fine. There's nothing to worry about; we're gonna make it, and we'll find a way to set right what went wrong. Back in the past...there were legendary heroes, capable of saving the universe. If a little bit of courage is all it takes; just like they had...then we can save the world. Believe in the me that believes in you!"

Her companion actually stopped to chuckle, though it was weak and strained. "You never could comprehend a situation..."

The library was one of the few manmade structures left standing. However the building seemed to be falling apart, and it was leaning on it's side. But, by this point, it was also a refuge. Some of the few humans that were left took up refuge in this library, and thus, it was reinforced with magic to keep it from crumbling entirely.