This prologue chapter is intended to set the scene for the following chapters, and is a VERY brief recount of the events leading up to the actual story. This includes the events of the original Guilty Gear story, Guilty Gear X, and Guilty Gear XX. I apologize if so I apologize if any information is inaccurate. I do request that any discrepancies found be brought to my attention, but please do so by emailing me as opposed to placing it in a review, where I might not see it as quickly. Thank you.

Sol had not been one to think much about others, at least not in the past 100 years or so. Even during his time in the Order of Holy Knights, the one man he could have called friend, Ky Kiske, was perhaps little more than a nuisance to him. He managed on his own, rarely bothering to stick his neck into anyone's business. The only exception was That Man.

Whenever there might be information regarding That Man, he'd follow it until he hit that inevitable dead end. I-no of course didn't make things easy for him, but again, she was just a nuisance in his eyes.

Not too long after the Gears War, he heard of the tournament through the invitation that found its way to him. Everything smelled wrong, and so he dived in, finding out about Testament's plan to resurrect Justice, and putting the plan to an abrupt stop. And then, things became quiet. Again the 'threat' of gears seemed to be stopped. But he did know better.

News of a new commander gear was hard to ignore, especially when so many rewards went out for slaying the new threat. Not so much interested in a reward as much as the possible lead to That Man, and that sense of responsibility that haunted him for even taking part in the project those 150 years ago, he battled many foes, some familiar, some faces newly searching the glory of fame and fortune. He found his way to a quiet grove, where he had heard the gear was staying. He was not too surprised to meet Testament there, guarding the place like a loyal pet to his master.

But this time, something was different.

Testament's hatred for humanity was still boiling in his eyes, but when he fought, Sol could tell that Testament was not fighting for that same delusional dream of slaughtering humanity. This time, Testament was fighting for something more personal. Even so, he was unable to match Sol in skill, and had to submit and allow him to pass.

Sol had been expecting a beast of horrid appearance and even more horrifying power. Upon entering into the center of the grove, he would find he was only half right. The gear had all the appearance of a mature woman, beauty that surpassed that of almost every other woman he encountered, mixing a look of full growth with an air of a child's innocence. Her demeanor was sweet, and even when faced with Sol, she was kind. But he could tell she was unhappy.

When her power awoke, he strained himself to his limit, pushing his body as hard as he had when he fought Justice years ago. Despite her beauty and innocence, the power inside her could control her, and that was what made her dangerous. She didn't want to fight, but could not stop herself when the power inside took over.

Sol managed to defeat her, but something would not bring himself to slay her as he had Justice. It was Testament who told him she was only half gear, and though her power was immense, she had no will to use it to destroy.

And so a grand farce was established. She would be proclaimed dead, her bounty granted to a Chinese woman wanting to start a restaurant. Very few were told of the girl's true fate, only Sol himself, Testament, and her keepers, the Jellyfish Pirates.

One sight haunted Sol after that ordeal. The last time he saw the girl, whose name he found was Dizzy, she smiled at him. He would learn later that it was the first time she had ever smiled.

For some time, the world was seeing a peaceful time. But several forces were boiling up under the surface. The Postwar Administration Bureau had begun to target certain people, mostly the remaining Japanese warriors, as well as any with knowledge of combat with chi, including the Chinese cook who had claimed the bounty.

In addition, I-no returned to become the thorn in everyone's side, including Testament and Johnny, the leader of the Jellyfish Pirates. Sol learned that the woman had attacked the ship, and as a result Dizzy had been lost overboard. Testament was enraged with the Pirates, who were desperately searching for her, and knowledge of her resurfaced as she was encountered by members of the fading Assassins Guild, and representatives of the Zepp nation.

Sol took it upon himself to find her. He wasn't sure why. He kept telling himself that if he found I-no, he might get a lead to That Man's whereabouts. And he wanted to believe that this had nothing to do with Dizzy, but the moment he found her and I-no deep in the heat of battle, he knew he was lying to himself. Just as Testament had felt, for some reason he felt this desire to protect her, even though he was not bound to the will of a commander gear as Testament was.

Once more Sol took on I-no, who once again slipped away before he could question her. And once again he was left alone with a scared Dizzy, longing to be back with her new friends. He approached her, wanting to simply check that she was alright. But the moment she saw him, her face lit up, and she threw herself at him, embracing him tightly.

Sol practically had to peel her off him before Johnny and his grew found them. He gave her a simple smile, and slipped away himself to let her be found alone. As usual, he was not intending to get caught up in a heartfelt reunion.

He wasn't even aware that he had just missed out on one himself.

While he knew the Post War Administration Bureau was now more active, their goal was uncertain. But something told him they would find out about Dizzy, and seek her out as well.

But for the time being, he laid low, as he did all too commonly. Even so, he could not forget the expressions of her face: the sight of her first smile, the look of hope and gratitude when he appeared before her after fighting I-no. He could almost imagine the dreaming look on her face, looking out from the deck of the Mayship, wondering where he was and what he was doing. So deep was this thought, he wouldn't even know that he held that very expression.