In the city of Ellay, in the country of America... In a back alley of the slums...

It is the morning after the fateful events that took place in the first part of the prologue.

"You'd better get out of here now," said the Gang Member.
"Yeah," another Gang Member agreed. "We wouldn't want to have to mess up that pretty face of yours."
Mila Aisengarde smirked. "Unless you two get your own butts out of this area," she retorted, "you're the ones whose faces will get messed up."
This caused the Gang Members to laugh. "Don't say we didn't warn you."
The first one dashed forward and attacked Mila, who easily sidestepped him and knocked him out with a clothesline.
The other one stared in disbelief. "How... How did you do that? Y-You're a girl!"
Mila shrugged. "And that has something to do with my fighting ability because...?" she replied sarcastically.
"I won't take this humiliation!" the second Gang Member snarled.
She glared at him. "You won't find anything in this area except for starving children. There's nothing for you here. Why do you people keep trying to take over here?"
"Because," the Gang Member replied, "we, the Neo-Bla-Bla Gang, are going to own every part of this city! And there's no way that we're going to let some stupid girl get in our way!"
With this, he attacked her, throwing a punch at Mila's face. With little effort, she caught his fist with one hand and delivered a forceful punch to HIS face. The Gang Member was knocked backwards, falling unconscious to the ground.
Mila turned from the unconscious Gang Members and faced the three younger children who had come with her. There were many more children back at Home Base, but these three almost always accompanied Mila when she went to scout the area. "It's okay now, I beat them," she said.
One of the children, a small 10-year-old boy named Brian, came up to her. "You're so cool, Mila!" he said in admiration. "You beat those mean guys like they were nothing! I sure wish I was as tough as you."
Mila smiled, running a hand through her blond hair. "Well, I've been street fighting since I was younger than you are," she said. "When you're older, I'm sure you'll be a lot tougher too."
"You really think so?" he asked enthusiastically.
She nodded. "You have a lot of potential, Brian," she replied, smiling at him. "You'll turn out alright." Mila looked over at the unconscious Gang Members. "Now, all of you help me get these two out of our territory. If they wake up before we get them out, just tell me, and I'll punch them out again."

With the three children's help, Mila removed the two intruders from their territory, which they called the West End, and dumped them back in the Neo-Bla-Bla-controlled area where they belonged. Fortunately, the two Gang Members did not wake up before this... for their own sakes.
After they were done, they retreated to the West End, and returned to the place where all the children lived, which they affectionately called Home Base. Home Base was an old parking garage; like almost everything else in Ellay, it was abandoned. They lived there because it was large enough to hold all the children, and it was easy to guard.
Upon their arrival, Mila greeted the gate guards, two teenagers like herself. They waved at her and allowed the group through.
Once inside, two of the children left to find their friends, but Brian stayed with her. "What're you gonna do now, Mila?" he asked her.
She looked outside; it was beginning to get dark. "I'm feeling pretty tired," she replied. "I think I'll get some sleep for once?"
Brian smiled. "Are you sure the others can handle things without you?" he said, being funny.
Mila sighed, fatigued. "I don't know," she answered with a joking smile, "but they're going to have to try."
The boy nodded. "Okay, Mila. I'll keep practicing my fighting skills, so I can get strong like you." He ran off to find a punching bag.
After he was gone, Mila went up to one of the higher levels of the parking garage, where she slept. Along the way, she thought of Brian. He idolized her, and she was very fond of him; he was like a younger brother to her.
On the 7th level, where everyone slept, Mila found her sleeping bag where she had left it. She crawled into it and was soon asleep.

More than 30 years ago, long before the war against Giygas, the city of Ellay had been one of the largest in the country; it bordered the ocean and had a harbor. But then, after the war against Giygas, over a period of ten years, it slowly began to fade away, as more and more businesses moved to the popular, growing Merrysville area. Many people began to believe that Ellay was not "strategically located," as it lay right near a swamp, and many people were also still afraid of the mysterious Mt. Itoi. People moved out of Ellay, and headed for Merrysville or Reindeer. Eventually, even the people of Youngtown moved out because of the swamp, leaving a ghost town.
In the present day, in 202X, the only businesses and people left in Ellay were in the small part of town designated as "the South End." Ironically, the South End was closest to the swamp that had driven so many people away in the first place. The rest of the city, the North, West, and East Ends were all but abandoned... Except, of course, for the homeless people, who had nowhere to go.
Eventually, a group of homeless teenagers banded together and set up Home Base in an abandoned parking garage, and created a home for all of the orphaned, homeless children left behind in the abandoned parts of the city. Back then, Mila had been one of these children, left behind with no food and no home. After she grew old enough, she became one of the caretakers of Home Base and the children there.
All of the teenagers and older children at Home Base had a job, in order to keep up and protect their home. Mila was a Defender of Home Base; she helped protect Home Base from the advances of the Neo-Bla-Bla Gang. The gang had surfaced five years ago; through violent and aggressive campaigns, they had taken over the abandoned North End and East End of Ellay. They avoided the South End, because the police would stop them, and so far they could not take the West End, because the Defenders of Home Base fought against them. The leader of the Neo-Bla-Bla Gang was a shady, mysterious character known only as Dangerous Tom.
So far, the people of Home Base had done a good job of protecting their territory. However, the Neo-Bla-Bla Gang was becoming more and more violent, and they were beginning to try different methods. Some people had begun to think that it was only a matter of time before the gang got past the Defenders and took over Home Base.

When Mila woke up, it was dark outside, and the parking garage's lights had been turned on. Most of the children were gone.
As Mila got up and looked around, she heard someone calling her. "Mila!"
It was Brian. When he reached her, he handed her a loaf of bread. "Quincy came back tonight," he told her. "He brought food for us. Most of the kids were grabbing everything like crazy, and I thought you were still sleeping, so I took this for you."
Mila smiled at him. "Thank you, Brian," she said gratefully. "I forgot Quincy was coming today." Quincy was a Provider; the Providers lived and worked in the South End, where there were still businesses and stores. Their job was to earn money and provide Home Base with food.
She took a piece of bread and started eating it. As she ate, Brian asked, "Hey Mila, could we go to the old lookout tower tonight?"
Mila swallowed her food. "Why?" she asked.
"I want to look through the telescope," Brian replied. "You can see forever when you look through it."
"But I just took you to the lookout tower last week," said Mila. "I don't know why you like that old place so much."
Brian put on his most pathetic look, one that reminded Mila of a sad puppy. "Please?" he asked, drawing the word out.
Mila sighed. "Oh, all right."

They left Home Base and headed west for the path that led to the old lookout tower. Along the way, they went past a few Defenders who were standing watch, and Mila stopped to say hi to them.
Finally they reached the path, which was on the very edge of town. The lookout tower was situated on the coast northwest of Ellay, and people had to traverse a large field to get there.
Out in the field, away from town, it was very dark and quiet. The only light came from the moon overhead. Mila looked up; she could see the stars much more clearly out here, and she enjoyed looking at them. "I never get over how quiet it is out here," she said.
Brian nodded. "It's like it's more peaceful," he said. "There's no noise, and the Neo-Bla-Bla guys don't come out here."
"Yeah," Mila agreed. "For once, we don't have to worry about fighting them."

As they walked along the path, Mila suddenly began to sense that something was wrong. It was as if a sixth sense were trying to warn her of something, but she couldn't make out what it was.
Suddenly she remembered something, and she began to feel very foolish for coming out here. She turned to Brian; she had to tell him about this immediately.
"Brian," she said, "I was in a store in the South End two days ago, and they had a TV set with the news on. The reporter said that animals in the Spookane area were starting to go crazy, just like what's happening in Hawkland right now."
Brian's eyes widened. "You mean, the Madness?" he asked, suddenly sounding afraid.
She nodded. "That's what they called it," she said.
"You... You think that maybe it could have spread up here?" Brian said, his voice trembling.
"I don't know," Mila replied, starting to feel scared herself. "But I'm starting to think that this was a very bad idea."
Just then, the lookout tower came into view, and Brian forgot about the Madness. "There it is!" he cried, taking off running towards it.
"Brian, wait!" Mila called. She ran after him.

The lookout tower was abandoned in the present day, just like the northern part of town. The main door was busted in, so it was easy to enter the tower. Mila followed Brian inside.
The room inside was coated with grime, showing the signs of disuse. Cobwebs stretched all over, and spiders and various insects scuttled around. There was an old elevator in one wall, but it had no power and had not been used for years.
Mila looked over to the door in the other wall, which hung open on one hinge. She could already hear Brian running up the old maintenance staircase inside. "Brian!" she called.
With a sigh, she went over, watching her step, and entered the doorway. If possible, the stairwell was even dirtier than the other room. Not even bothering to try and hold the filthy railing, Mila climbed the stairs to the top floor.

The top of the tower was not quite as dirty as the inside was, because it was washed off regularly by the rain. To the north, the ocean stretched toward the horizon, illuminated by the soft light of the moon. Mila looked around and found Brian peering through one of the telescopes.
She walked over to him. "Brian, we probably shouldn't be here," she admonished him. "It it's true that the Madness is affecting animals in this country, then we could be in a lot of danger right now."
"I know," Brian agreed, not looking away from the telescope. "I'm sorry, Mila. I just like looking out the telescope so much... You can look through it as far as you can see, and all you'll see is the blue ocean."
He took his eye away from the telescope and looked at Mila. "I want to go across the ocean someday," he said. "I want to go to another country, and see the other side of the ocean."
Mila then realized why Brian liked to come to the old tower so much. He liked to look across the ocean, to try and see the land on the other side.
Despite the potential danger of the place they were in, she smiled. "You have a strong will, Brian," she said. "If you really want to, I'm sure you'll make it to the other side of the ocean someday."
"You really think so?" Brian asked.
"I know so," Mila replied. "You can do anything, if you want to do it enough."
Brian grinned at her. "Thanks, Mila," he said gratefully.
She reached out and ruffled his hair. "Now let's go back home. I don't think it's a good idea to stay out here."
He nodded, and they left the tower.

Out in the field, on the way back to Ellay, Mila had the feeling that something was wrong again. The feeling came back stronger than before, so strong that she stopped moving.
"Brian, something's not right," she said, feeling afraid.
Brian stopped as well. "Do you think it's... a Madness creature?" he asked.
"I don't know," Mila answered. "I just have the feeling... that something is terribly wrong. I don't know what it is... and that frightens me all the more."
Trembling, Brian looked across the field, to where the path led. "Maybe we should try running back to town," he suggested.
Mila was about to reply when something suddenly burst out from the ground in front of her. It faced her and snarled.
"It's... It's a mole!" Brian cried.
The mole was larger than a regular mole, and much more dangerous. As it slowly advanced toward Mila, she saw an evil red glint in its eyes. She could practically feel its malicious intent to harm her.
Mila's terror rose as she realized that this was a creature of the Madness.
As she backed away from the mole, she looked over at Brian. He was frozen in place, not daring to even move. Seeing his fear, Mila's own fear changed to resolve. She had to protect Brian from this creature.
With her newfound resolve, Mila assumed her fighting stance. "You want a piece of me?" she demanded of the mole. "Come and get it!"
In response to her challenge, the mole snarled and dashed forward, slashing at her with its sharp nails. Mila jumped out of the way, leading the mole away from Brian. She darted forward and landed a punch on the mole's snout.
Thoroughly enraged, the mole reacted quickly, leaping forward and clawing at Mila. Not expecting such quickness, Mila was caught by surprise. She threw up her arms to protect herself, and the mole's claws slashed three long cuts in her right arm. She cried out in pain.
"Mila!" Brian cried, concerned for her. The mole heard him and turned around, moving to attack him.
Disregarding her injury, Mila chased after it, trying to get it to leave Brian alone. "No!"
She reached the mole and dealt it a powerful kick. The mole flew about five feet away and landed with a thud.
It had the desired effect. Once it got back on its feet, the mole snarled hatefully at Mila and dashed forward to attack her. But she was ready for it this time; she leapt out of the mole's way and kicked it again as hard as she could.
Mila recovered quickly from her attack and prepared to launch another, but there was no need. The mole became tame, and she saw the Madness disappear from its eyes. After looking around in confusion, the mole burrowed into the ground and was gone from sight.
Brian came over to her, concerned about her wound. "Mila, are you okay?" he asked.
"I'll be fine," she answered. She tore one of the sleeves off of her blue T-shirt and used it to bind the wound. "I guess this proves that there are Madness creatures around here."
Brian nodded in agreement, still clearly afraid. "What if another one comes?" he asked.
"Let's get back home as fast as possible, before that happens," Mila said.

Finally they made it back to the West End. Fortunately, they did not encounter any more creatures of the Madness.
"When we get back to Home Base I'm going straight to bed," Brian commented as they headed back for Home Base.
Mila nodded, not really paying attention. She was more concerned with the fact that she hadn't seen any Defenders yet. This is strange, she thought. There should be Defenders here, guarding our territory. Where are they?
Her unspoken questions were answered when they finally made it back to Home Base... And the answers horrified her.
Instead of the gate guards that had been there when Mila and Brian left, there were Neo-Bla-Bla Gang Members. The parking garage was surrounded by Gang Members, all clad in their crimson gang colors.
Mila and Brian stared open-mouthed at the sight, unable to speak. Mila was unable to fathom how this could have happened.
Suddenly someone grabbed both of them by the back of their shirts and hauled them backward into the alley they had come out of. Reflexively, Mila whirled around and prepared to fight.
Two Defenders, Nick and Jenna, stood before them; Mila recognized them as two of the ones she had seen on the way to the lookout tower. "Don't stand out there like that!" Nick admonished them. "If they see you, they'll attack you."
"Why did this happen?" Mila demanded. "HOW did this happen?"
"It was shortly after you and Brian left," Jenna explained. "The Neo-Bla-Blas suddenly stormed Home Base. We came back from our round, and they had taken over."
"I'm sure the Defenders there fought back," Nick said, "but there must have been too many gang members for them to fight off."
Brian sat there, speechless. Mila looked down. "What about the children?" she asked. "They weren't hurt, were they?"
"The Neo-Bla-Blas didn't hurt them," Nick answered. "They kicked them out into the street with no food, but they didn't hurt them."
Mila sighed in relief; at the very least, the children hadn't been hurt. "Is there any way we can retake Home Base?" she asked.
Nick shook his head. "There are too many of them," he said. "The three of us can't take them all on."
For the first time, Brian spoke. "There's four of us!"
"The FOUR of us can't take them all on," Nick corrected, looking at Brian. "The parking garage is full of them, Mila. Not even your great fighting skill would be enough. The only reason we waited here this long is because we knew you were still out there somewhere, and we waited here for you to come back."
Jenna sighed despairingly. "This was inevitable," she said. "Ever since that horrible gang started gaining power, this was inevitable. Now they control the West End, too."
Mila closed her eyes, accepting the truth. "So then... What are we going to do?"
"Well," Nick said, "when we came back and found out what happened, we made a plan. Another Defender, Carl, was with us when we came back. We sent him down to the South End to tell the Providers what happened, since they live down there."
"Now that we've found you two," Jenna continued, "we have to go to the South End and meet up with Carl and the Providers. Once we do, we'll detail our next part of the plan."
"Which is what?" Brian asked, including himself in the discussion.
"The children are out in the street, with nothing to eat and nowhere to go," said Jenna. "We still have a responsibility to them, Mila."
"Since the Providers live in the South End," explained Nick, "they can keep at least some of the children under their roofs. Once we figure out a plan for it, we have to search the West End for children and bring them to the Providers' places, where they can stay for a while until we find ourselves a new Home Base... If we can find one, that is."
Mila nodded in approval; given the current circumstances, it seemed like a good plan. "Okay then," she said. "Let's get going, so we can get a start on this plan."
"Right," Nick agreed. "The sooner we start, the better. But be careful; there are a lot of gang members prowling the streets."
"I know," Mila said. "But that's not the worst of it; on the way back from the old lookout tower, Brian and I were attacked by an animal that was affected by the Madness." She showed them her wounded arm.
Jenna's eyes widened. "You mean like what that reporter said on the news a few days ago? The Madness from Hawkland?"
Mila nodded. "It's starting to affect the animals in this country, too," she said.
"Then we'll definitely have to be careful," said Nick.

As they walked to the South End, Mila thought about the recent events. Some people had said that it was only a matter of time before the gang took over their home, but Mila had never really believed that. Now that it had truly happened, she felt lost. Home Base had been her home for many years; she had grown up there, and now it was lost to her. Her home was gone.
She looked over at Brian. Other than the few things he had said during their conversation earlier, he was silent. Mila could only imagine what he was going through; Home Base had been his home as well.
It's strange how things change so quickly, she thought. Not even one day ago she had been confidently defeating Gang Members and listening to Brian's dreams for the future, and now she had lost her home, and was forced to sneak around her own territory.
She hated the gang. Only the coldest of people could throw out children to starve to death. It didn't matter that the gang had not physically hurt them; they had done something just as wrong. Without food, the children would not survive.
As she and the others went to carry out their plan, Mila made a solemn vow. Someday, somehow, she would bring down the gang. No matter how long it took, or how hard it would be, she would bring it down. And once she had accomplished that, she could make the remains of Ellay a better place for children.

What she did not realize was that her destiny awaited her, and that she would soon help protect not only the children of Ellay, but the children of the entire world...

And so begins Mila Aisengarde's part in the story...