This is something that just popped into my head when I was watching TV one
day. I'm not sure if I'll go through with it, but I thought to give it a
go. For some reason I like writing crossover fics, and I can't think of how
to write a decent non-crossover fic. So here it is a new concoction fresh
from my mind. I have no idea of how this will work, but I'm trying.
Saint Shinji (Draft) Evangelion crossover with Saint Seiya (This takes place shortly after the 13th Angel)
NERV Headquarters 2015
"That's impossible, Unit 01 and Shinji can't have just disappeared," cried out a hysterical Misato when she came to Central Dogma, early in the morning.
"It's a mystery, Shinji wasn't reported to have left the hospital, the security cameras didn't show a thing, he just simply vanished, at the same time as Unit 01. There was no records in the Magi, or any physical evidence that suggests that Unit 01 had been move, but it's not there anymore" Ritsuko reported, her brisk attitude belaying the relief she felt when she heard Unit 01 was no longer in the reach of a madman. "So what are you going to do now, Commander?' she silently smirked at the imposing man at the commander's platform.
Gendo Ikari, looked none too pleased by this recent chain of events, of Shinji he cared nothing about, it was better that he left anyway, but Unit 01 was a different matter entirely... "The old men aren't going to like this one bit, Ikari," said Fuyutsuki behind him. "Indeed" was Gendo's reply, "As long as Rei and Lillith are in my hands, I can afford to wait. The old men can't enact their scenario with Unit 01 gone, that would buy us some time"
In a darkened conference room somewhere in NERV
SEELE 01: "Where is Unit 01, Ikari?"
SEELE 05: "We demand answers!"
Gendo sitting in his usual position replied, "I don't know, but certain hypothesis points to its former pilot"
SEELE 03: "Former?"
Gendo: "The designated pilot of Unit 01 was.dismissed from NERV for insubordination"
SEELE 02: "We see. Proceed with your report"
Gendo: "The Magi recorded nothing on Unit 01 leaving its Cage, similarly the Third Child disappeared from his guarded hospital room without a trace"
SEELE 05: "We know you're an expert on hiding the truth"
SEELE 01: "Enough! Gendo Ikari, you are charged with the task with recovering Unit 01"
Gendo: "Understood"
A few months later Tokyo-3 2016
The Angels have ceased attacking, though glimpses of blue pattern have appeared, no Angels have.
"Begin activation sequence"
"Circuits 1 through 50 connected" announced Hyuuga.
"Beginning stage one connections, initial contact made," said Maya, "Beginning second stage connections, counting down to absolute borderline. 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2"
Red squares began filling up green ones, as synchronisation slowly reached the borderline, when suddenly.
"The pulses are flowing backwards," shouted a panicked Maya.
"Eject the plug now!" screamed Ritsuko.
"Synchronisation failed," said Shigeru.
Misato, who was observing the experiment, "So it won't synchronise with any pilot"
Ritsuko looked at her friend and shook her head sadly, "No"
In Gendo's large but dark office
"So it won't activate with any of our current pilots," said the man behind the desk, hands clasped in front of his face.
"No, sir! We have tried with Rei and Asuka. It simply rejects both of them, we even tried the dummy plug with similar results," said Misato.
"Has the core data been changed?"
"None that we can detect"
"So Unit 01 has been refusing all pilots. What do the Magi say?"
"They suggest the locking down of Unit 01, as there is virtually no possibility that Unit 01 will synchronise with any other pilot"
"Not even new candidates"
"None, since our chosen pilots have the highest possibility of actually synchronising with an Eva, sir"
"Very well. Dismissed, Major Katsuragi"
"Sir!"
"So how does this affect the scenario, Ikari?" a previously silent Fuyutsuki spoke up.
"It should merely delay it, until we find a suitable candidate," said the Supreme Commander of NERV, as he stood up.
"I see," said his second-in-command, in a tone that indicated that he did not, "However it seems 'fortuitous' that Unit 01 was found intact but its pilot is still missing"
"It doesn't matter," was the cold reply.
"Are you sure? Evidence suggests that only the Third Child can pilot Unit 01,"
"Perhaps, send an investigation on the Third's whereabouts. It might save time to find him, than look for another candidate"
"Yes, sir!" Fuyutsuki then left his friend alone, in order to carry out his orders.
A place unknown 2016
A brown haired young man stirs from his resting-place. Groggily he pushes himself to his hands and knees. He looks around him and recognises nothing around him, instead of a hospital room like he expected. It was a secluded wood, light filtered in lightly through the branches of ancient trees, giving this place a fantasy feel to it.
Young man: "Where am I?"
Voice: "You have been chosen, Shinji Ikari"
Young man: "Shinji Ikari? That's me" (A master of the obvious)
Voice: "You have been chosen to help determine humanity's fate, do you accept the responsibility?"
Shinji reels mentally from this, sitting up, he looks at his hands that are in his lap. 'These hands are covered in blood. Not just the blood of my enemies, the ones they call Angels but also the blood of my friends. Toji, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.' His thoughts continue this way for quite some time, but fortunately the voice which spoke to him, somehow sensed his distress and refrained from interrupting until the boy, cried himself out.
Shinji: "I can't do it. My hands are stained with blood; I hurt all those people I was supposed to help save. How can you ask me to save humanity, when I have destroyed so much? How could you?"
Voice: "I understand your pain, it was decided that you are the best candidate for this task but I can help you, help yourself, if you will let me. Your mother understands, and she would hope that you will help us save humanity"
Shinji's tears stop suddenly: "My.m-mother"
Voice: "Yes, your mother" It started humming a lullaby-like tune.
Shinji finally hears the voice; it was warm, gentle, loving like a mother's embrace. It calmed and soothed his inner turmoil as he listened to it. Once again, he started to fall asleep; the Voice asked once again, "Shinji, will you take up this duty, even if it might mean more pain"
Shinji: "I'm.I'm not sure"
Voice: "Please think on it as you rest, humanity doesn't have much time. You might be their final hope. Sleep now, I'll watch over your dreams, as you rest"
Shinji nodded tiredly and fell asleep again. In his dreams, he saw his mother as she was before she died, waving to him, trying to tell him something important as she held him but his mind couldn't remember the words.
A shadowy figure sat on a boulder nearby and watched the sleeping young man, with a benevolent gaze, guarding him until he awoke from his slumber.
NERV Tokyo-3 2016
Asuka was extremely pissed; she had been through the most boring time of her life. They had found Unit 01 after months of searching, rather it found them, approximately five months after it disappeared, it turned up on the outskirts of Tokyo-3, standing in the centre of Ashino Lake, like some grotesque statue. After it was recovered, they immediately started performing tests on it, especially cross-synchronisation tests to find out if either Rei or her could pilot the Eva.
"Stupid thing. It's as lousy as its pilot," grumbles Asuka as she stomped her way back to the pilot's changerooms.
Misato jogs up and starts walking beside, "I'm sorry, Asuka but that test was necessary," she said apologetically.
"This is just like the Baka, to run away and burden us with this shit!" yelled the enraged redhead, since she was staring intently forward, she missed Misato's expression darkening. So she missed when Misato reached out and clamped a painful grip on her left shoulder. Howling in pain, she whirled around, anger painting her features, "What was THAT for?"
Misato's expression mirrored Asuka's, one of intense rage, "For you information, Second Child, he didn't run away, as you put it. He disappeared like Unit 01"
Asuka's wrath melted in the face of Misato's fury; "Unit 01's been found hasn't it? After all, I've just been stuck in it for the last two hours, where's Shinji anyway?"
"We don't know," said Misato, quietly.
"You don't." Asuka trailed off, "Not even those goons in Section 2 know"
"Neither does the Commander, but he doesn't seem to care"
"What a bastard!! He doesn't even that his son has disappeared off the face of the earth," screamed Asuka.
She continued screaming as she got changed, muffled when she started to put on her civilian clothes. She comes out of the locker room, Misato who was waiting in the hallway says, "Feel better now?"
"A bit. When I get home, I'm gonna have a proper shower. Ugh!" she brushed her hair with her hand, disgusted with the LCL residue, "The shampoo here doesn't cut it"
In a darkened conference room
Keel: "Report"
Gendo: "Unit 01 has been recovered"
SEELE 03: "But?"
Gendo: "It refuses to synchronise or activate in anyway"
SEELE 07-14: "Pardon?"
Gendo: "Unit 01 refuses to activate with any of the remaining pilots, even the dummy plug was rejected"
SEELE 03: "This was not in the scenario, we had made"
Gendo: "However no more Angels have showed up since"
Keel: "This conflicts greatly with our scenario, the 14th should have arrived by now"
SEELE 04: "How are you planning to rectify the situation? Need I remind you, with Unit 01 inactive, we cannot proceed with our scenario"
Gendo: "I am well aware of that fact. I recommend that Unit 01 is to be placed in cryostasis until we can deal with it properly. Everything possible has been tried but it seems that Unit 01 will not activate without its chosen pilot"
SEELE 03: "How is that being remedied?"
Gendo: "Search parties and independent investigations are being carried out but there has been no guarantee of success"
SEELE 04: "This is unsatisfactory"
Gendo: "All that can be done, is done"
Keel: "We won't shovel blame around this time but I'm warning you Gendo Ikari. You won't rewrite our scenario"
Gendo: "Of course"
The monoliths and visored man disappear.
Gendo picks up a phone, in a drawer on his desk: "Fuyutsuki! We just have to wait"
Somewhere
Shinji Ikari woke up; feeling more refreshed than he had ever been in his whole life. Stretching to work out the kinks in his muscles, he yawned, "How long have I been asleep?"
Voice: "Quite awhile now"
Shinji jumped up in a movement quicker than he thought was possible. A blond haired man stood before him, looking at him almost indifferently. Shinji's legs chose that moment to wobble, the man reached out and steadied him, he had an extremely strong grip.
Shinji: "Who are you?"
Man: "My name is Hyoga, I am to be your teacher for the duration of your stay here"
Shinji: "Teacher? Where the hell am I?"
Hyoga: "You do want to save humanity, don't you"
Shinji: "I suppose"
Hyoga: "I'm here to give you the tools to do so, hopefully there won't be any more Angel attacks but in doing so the test for humanity's survival have been shifted to a different contest"
Shinji: "A contest?"
Hyoga: "Lemme explain, those beings called Angels are actually messengers with a purpose. They have been sent by God to test humanity but some believe that is the wrong way to go about this, so there was some intervention"
Shinji: "Intervention?"
Hyoga: "Yes, humanity's survival will depend upon you now as it was meant to be but you were unprepared, so my goddess and her brethren who didn't want to see the end of humanity intervened for our behalf and I will help you prepare for the final test"
Shinji: "Me?! Why me?!!!"
Hyoga: "Because you have been chosen. Now come with me, let's see you fed and attired appropriately"
Shinji didn't know what to make of this, so he followed the strange man out of the grove and into the sunlight.
Four years pass without much event. This is the year 2020, despite the repeated detection of a blue pattern, no Angels have appeared to threaten mankind. Civilisation were rebuilding the damage done in what people now call the Angel War, but some horrific scars still remain. Antarctica never recovered but technological advances have enabled mankind to enhance and protect their environment. So certain regions were set aside to preserve the fauna in their natural environments, since technology allowed Man to do so, but it was all artificial.
NERV still existed though they were now cut-down to a few bases around the world, NERV HQ remained but NERV America and Canada were disbanded and all remaining technology and research were transferred to Japan. A few small bases remained in countries like China, Australia and Germany but that was all. The Evangelions were still around but people wondered why they were still paying taxes for the maintenance of these war machines when there was no war but NERV retained its funding but on a reduced scale since there wasn't a need for Evas at the moment.
Gendo Ikari sat in his dark office, planning his words to SEELE this afternoon. Before he needed them to accomplish his goals, now he wondered if he even needed them at all. Putting aside such thoughts for now, he opened a drawer and depressed a button. Shutters closed and the room darkened even more, black monoliths appeared around him.
SEELE 01: "Report"
Gendo: "Nothing, all the chosen candidates have been rejected"
SEELE 03: "This is a serious setback to our plans"
Gendo thought to himself, 'And it has taken four years for you to see that'
SEELE 01: "Our scenario cannot proceed without Unit 01"
Gendo: "The Magi indicate that there is 0.0000000000% that any candidate can pilot Unit 01. And the Third Child is nowhere to be found. All available resources has been put to his discovery, so far our efforts yield nothing"
SEELE 01: "We do not like this delay in our scenario"
Gendo: "We are doing all we can to remedy it"
SEELE 01: "We may consider adjusting the budget. For now you're dismissed"
Gendo's desk faded out but the meeting continued without him.
SEELE 05: "Is it wise to trust him?"
SEELE 03: "Whether we trust him or not doesn't matter. He's as committed to this as the rest of us"
SEELE 02: "Indeed"
SEELE 04: "Do you think he is hiding something from us?"
SEELE 01: "It is highly unlikely, he would have acted by now if he was. All that remains is to get Unit 01 operable for Instrumentality"
SEELE 02: "Indeed"
In a place of sub-zero temperatures and colder winds
Two figures stand before a pyramid of ice. A nearby crater shows the dark depths of a frozen sea, that from the sides of the crater, one could see that the layer of ice was metres thick. No force besides a small bomb could make a crater like that but no explosives have been used in this region for decades. One figure, a dark haired male, stood wrapped in a blanket, ice forming in his wet hair, evidence from his earlier swim in the frozen sea. An older blond haired man stood beside him, talking to him, praising the younger man's efforts.
Hyoga: "Very well done, Shinji"
Shinji smiled faintly, despite the ice formed on his clothes and hair, he showed no signs of feeling the cold, his teeth did not even chatter: "Thank you, sensei"
Hyoga shook his head wryly: "No that was all you. I merely gave you the knowledge and the tools to open your power"
Shinji: "Even so, I've got many things to thank you for"
Hyoga looked at him quizzically, his blond hair obscuring his features: "Such as"
Shinji: "For being my teacher, for helping me be the person that I am now. You taught me how to stay human despite this power," He paused and took a deep breath, "and for allowing me to meet Saori-san"
Hyoga smiled: "Then will you take the next step and become a warrior worthy of Athena"
The young man straightened: "Yes. I wish to fight for Athena's cause, which is humanity's cause"
Hyoga looked at his student sternly: "Then ready yourself"
Shinji nodded and shook away the blanket, revealing his body to the harsh frost winds. Clearly he has changed from the time he had spent in Tokyo-3, no longer a boy but now a man. Hyoga raised his arm vertically, a shimmering aura of light surrounding his hand, rays from that aura surrounded Shinji. Ice built up and crept upwards along Shinji's legs, holding him in place but he didn't flinch until Hyoga swept his hand down in a cutting motion, with a shout, "FREEZING COFFIN". Shinji gasped at the sudden power infusing him and containing him, that power suddenly constricted and bands of pressure surrounded his torso, his eyes closed as he struggled to breathe but ice had now fully encased him. The coldness of the ice crept into his body, his now sluggish mind recalled that the ice that now surrounded him is as closest to absolute zero, just a fraction of a degree away from that threshold. There was no way to break free, no power could unless.his mind struggled to recall.unless he becomes colder. Somehow he managed to clench his hands, 'NO, I CANNOT DIE HERE. I WILL NOT DIE HERE. I will do this, I will be free. I can see my friends again if I do this' slowly but surely a blue-silver aura infused him, emanating from his body.
Shinji: "Burn my Cosmo. Burn"
The aura increased in intensity, cracks began forming of the surface of that impenetrable ice coffin. Light permeated those cracks, widening those cracks more and more, until all hell broke loose. Shinji screamed, flinging his limbs outwards, breaking free of that icy prison, shards upon shards of ice flew out from all directions. Shinji lay panting on the ice, its cold warm compared what he had just felt. An even colder voice cut through the howling winds.
Voice: "Are you able to continue?"
Shinji stirred, his Cosmo burning his strength to infuse him with strength, he laughed at the irony. His will and physical strength was needed to unleash and contain his Cosmo, giving him strength and power, hence his harsh training but when he thought of his friends, his sensei and Athena, he once again felt warmth running through his limbs. His Cosmo pulsed like a heartbeat as he fought to get up, finally it stabilised when he got up to face the owner of the cold voice.
Shinji: "Yes, sensei. I can and I will continue"
Hyoga's cool facade broke for a second to flash him a smile: "Then do it. Claim the Cygnus Cloth."
Shinji nodded and settled into a fighting stance facing the ice pyramid. Unaware to himself, his Cosmo increased til it was blinding to look at, Hyoga felt the power entrapped in the younger man and was stunned for a moment. He knew his student had potential, but he was surprised at the power within the young man.
Shinji: "AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! DIAMOND DUST ATTACK!!!!!!"
A stream of light infused wind blasted the pyramid, the pyramid despite being a solid block of ice was unable to withstand the onslaught and shattered. Blocks of ice rained down around the teacher and the student, raising snow into a small blizzard, hiding from their eyes the remains of the pyramid. When the snow cleared enough, so they could see again, no trace of the pyramid remained, in place stood a pillar of ice topped by a metal box. Suddenly that metal box unfolded itself like a flower and a column of light shot upwards. That column of light arced shooting back down like a meteor, right onto Shinji. Shinji disappeared into the column of light, when the light faded, he stood here clothed in simple armour, gauntlets, cuirass, metal skirt and leg guards. Despite the simple look of it, it provided more protection than full body armour because this was no ordinary armour. This was a Saint's Cloth, created into ancient times by the power of gods, strengthened by willing blood. Hyoga smiled, and summoned his own Cloth, a golden aura surrounded him, and suddenly the Aquarius Cloth appeared before him, it separated and clothed his body. Shinji looked at his own body in awe, attired in the Cygnus Cloth.
Hyoga: "Yes, you are a Saint now. One of Athena's warriors, even this Cloth recognises you as a Saint, for it contains a will of it's own and chooses who shall wear it. It has chosen you, Shinji"
Shinji turned around and faced his master wearing the Aquarius Cloth of one of the Twelve Gold Saints, the highest ranking and most powerful of all of Athena's warriors. It humbled him to know that his master had worn this Cloth before him, the one that he wears now on him. Shinji kneeled in front of his sensei.
Hyoga lays his hand on Shinji's head: "You have done well, Shinji. There is great power within you, hopefully it will be enough to face the oncoming trials. My only wish is that I could fight by your side but it is forbidden to me. Know this whether you succeed or not, I am proud of you, Shinji"
Shinji looked up at his sensei, tears in his eyes: "Thank you, sensei. Thank you" (if you didn't get all that about Athena's warriors and Saints and stuff. Go check out Saint Seiya first, it would help)
Hyoga turned away: "There is one more thing I want you to learn"
Shinji looked up: "What is that, sensei?"
Hyoga: "In order to learn it, you must defeat me in single combat first"
Shinji scrambled up: "I can't do that! You're my sensei, my mentor"
Hyoga: "What have I taught you?"
Shinji: "To care, to love this world and all its creatures but also to fight the evil that seeks to destroy it or dominate it"
Hyoga: "What else?"
Shinji: "Sometimes you have to set aside your feelings and fight as one of Athena's Saints"
Hyoga thought: 'I know it's hard on you Shinji but this is the only way. For what it's worth, I'm sorry'
Hyoga: "I am your sensei, would you disobey me?"
Shinji stood still, shocked: "No, sir!"
Hyoga nodded: "Then fight me to master all that I have to teach"
Shinji understood then, what Hyoga wanted him to do.
Shinji: "Diamond Dust Attack!!!!"
Hyoga raised one hand and all of Shinji's frost dissipated.
Hyoga: "Real frost air is like THIS!"
Hyoga flung out an open hand, a stream of biting frost air, colder than the Siberia winds, shot into Shinji, throwing him back into an ice wall. An impression of Shinji was left on ice, proof of the strength of the attack. Shinji staggered away from the wall, breathing heavily.
Hyoga: "Lose your emotions for me and fight me properly. You are stronger than this. Your emotions can get you killed" Shinji screamed, fist slamming hard onto the thick ice: "NO! I cannot, if I do I will no longer be human, I just be another killing machine" Though Shinji cannot see it, Hyoga's lips curved into a smile: 'Good, he has learned but is he wise enough to know how to focus them'
Hyoga: "Then die!"
Shinji's eyes widened, as Hyoga raised both hands clasped together.
Shinji: 'That stance, NO! he's going to use it'
A bright aurora, and an image of a woman holding a vase appeared behind Hyoga.
Hyoga: "AURORA EXECUTION!!!!!"
He swung his fists forward, and a blast of Arctic wind, infused by golden light, blasted Shinji, destroying everything it its path.
Hyoga: "Shinji! This is my most powerful attack taught to me by my master Camus, it can generate unlimited amounts of killing frost. Can you withstand its power?"
Shinji flew through the air, screaming, "AAAARRRRGGGG", his mind worked to comprehend this powerful attack, 'It's so strong' Suddenly he hit a wall of ice, it shattered around him, burying him within its icy embrace. 'Is this the end? I can't feel anything, is this what death feels like, a black emptiness.' He lost consciousness, his fate undecided.
End Chapter 1
Saint Shinji (Draft) Evangelion crossover with Saint Seiya (This takes place shortly after the 13th Angel)
NERV Headquarters 2015
"That's impossible, Unit 01 and Shinji can't have just disappeared," cried out a hysterical Misato when she came to Central Dogma, early in the morning.
"It's a mystery, Shinji wasn't reported to have left the hospital, the security cameras didn't show a thing, he just simply vanished, at the same time as Unit 01. There was no records in the Magi, or any physical evidence that suggests that Unit 01 had been move, but it's not there anymore" Ritsuko reported, her brisk attitude belaying the relief she felt when she heard Unit 01 was no longer in the reach of a madman. "So what are you going to do now, Commander?' she silently smirked at the imposing man at the commander's platform.
Gendo Ikari, looked none too pleased by this recent chain of events, of Shinji he cared nothing about, it was better that he left anyway, but Unit 01 was a different matter entirely... "The old men aren't going to like this one bit, Ikari," said Fuyutsuki behind him. "Indeed" was Gendo's reply, "As long as Rei and Lillith are in my hands, I can afford to wait. The old men can't enact their scenario with Unit 01 gone, that would buy us some time"
In a darkened conference room somewhere in NERV
SEELE 01: "Where is Unit 01, Ikari?"
SEELE 05: "We demand answers!"
Gendo sitting in his usual position replied, "I don't know, but certain hypothesis points to its former pilot"
SEELE 03: "Former?"
Gendo: "The designated pilot of Unit 01 was.dismissed from NERV for insubordination"
SEELE 02: "We see. Proceed with your report"
Gendo: "The Magi recorded nothing on Unit 01 leaving its Cage, similarly the Third Child disappeared from his guarded hospital room without a trace"
SEELE 05: "We know you're an expert on hiding the truth"
SEELE 01: "Enough! Gendo Ikari, you are charged with the task with recovering Unit 01"
Gendo: "Understood"
A few months later Tokyo-3 2016
The Angels have ceased attacking, though glimpses of blue pattern have appeared, no Angels have.
"Begin activation sequence"
"Circuits 1 through 50 connected" announced Hyuuga.
"Beginning stage one connections, initial contact made," said Maya, "Beginning second stage connections, counting down to absolute borderline. 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2"
Red squares began filling up green ones, as synchronisation slowly reached the borderline, when suddenly.
"The pulses are flowing backwards," shouted a panicked Maya.
"Eject the plug now!" screamed Ritsuko.
"Synchronisation failed," said Shigeru.
Misato, who was observing the experiment, "So it won't synchronise with any pilot"
Ritsuko looked at her friend and shook her head sadly, "No"
In Gendo's large but dark office
"So it won't activate with any of our current pilots," said the man behind the desk, hands clasped in front of his face.
"No, sir! We have tried with Rei and Asuka. It simply rejects both of them, we even tried the dummy plug with similar results," said Misato.
"Has the core data been changed?"
"None that we can detect"
"So Unit 01 has been refusing all pilots. What do the Magi say?"
"They suggest the locking down of Unit 01, as there is virtually no possibility that Unit 01 will synchronise with any other pilot"
"Not even new candidates"
"None, since our chosen pilots have the highest possibility of actually synchronising with an Eva, sir"
"Very well. Dismissed, Major Katsuragi"
"Sir!"
"So how does this affect the scenario, Ikari?" a previously silent Fuyutsuki spoke up.
"It should merely delay it, until we find a suitable candidate," said the Supreme Commander of NERV, as he stood up.
"I see," said his second-in-command, in a tone that indicated that he did not, "However it seems 'fortuitous' that Unit 01 was found intact but its pilot is still missing"
"It doesn't matter," was the cold reply.
"Are you sure? Evidence suggests that only the Third Child can pilot Unit 01,"
"Perhaps, send an investigation on the Third's whereabouts. It might save time to find him, than look for another candidate"
"Yes, sir!" Fuyutsuki then left his friend alone, in order to carry out his orders.
A place unknown 2016
A brown haired young man stirs from his resting-place. Groggily he pushes himself to his hands and knees. He looks around him and recognises nothing around him, instead of a hospital room like he expected. It was a secluded wood, light filtered in lightly through the branches of ancient trees, giving this place a fantasy feel to it.
Young man: "Where am I?"
Voice: "You have been chosen, Shinji Ikari"
Young man: "Shinji Ikari? That's me" (A master of the obvious)
Voice: "You have been chosen to help determine humanity's fate, do you accept the responsibility?"
Shinji reels mentally from this, sitting up, he looks at his hands that are in his lap. 'These hands are covered in blood. Not just the blood of my enemies, the ones they call Angels but also the blood of my friends. Toji, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.' His thoughts continue this way for quite some time, but fortunately the voice which spoke to him, somehow sensed his distress and refrained from interrupting until the boy, cried himself out.
Shinji: "I can't do it. My hands are stained with blood; I hurt all those people I was supposed to help save. How can you ask me to save humanity, when I have destroyed so much? How could you?"
Voice: "I understand your pain, it was decided that you are the best candidate for this task but I can help you, help yourself, if you will let me. Your mother understands, and she would hope that you will help us save humanity"
Shinji's tears stop suddenly: "My.m-mother"
Voice: "Yes, your mother" It started humming a lullaby-like tune.
Shinji finally hears the voice; it was warm, gentle, loving like a mother's embrace. It calmed and soothed his inner turmoil as he listened to it. Once again, he started to fall asleep; the Voice asked once again, "Shinji, will you take up this duty, even if it might mean more pain"
Shinji: "I'm.I'm not sure"
Voice: "Please think on it as you rest, humanity doesn't have much time. You might be their final hope. Sleep now, I'll watch over your dreams, as you rest"
Shinji nodded tiredly and fell asleep again. In his dreams, he saw his mother as she was before she died, waving to him, trying to tell him something important as she held him but his mind couldn't remember the words.
A shadowy figure sat on a boulder nearby and watched the sleeping young man, with a benevolent gaze, guarding him until he awoke from his slumber.
NERV Tokyo-3 2016
Asuka was extremely pissed; she had been through the most boring time of her life. They had found Unit 01 after months of searching, rather it found them, approximately five months after it disappeared, it turned up on the outskirts of Tokyo-3, standing in the centre of Ashino Lake, like some grotesque statue. After it was recovered, they immediately started performing tests on it, especially cross-synchronisation tests to find out if either Rei or her could pilot the Eva.
"Stupid thing. It's as lousy as its pilot," grumbles Asuka as she stomped her way back to the pilot's changerooms.
Misato jogs up and starts walking beside, "I'm sorry, Asuka but that test was necessary," she said apologetically.
"This is just like the Baka, to run away and burden us with this shit!" yelled the enraged redhead, since she was staring intently forward, she missed Misato's expression darkening. So she missed when Misato reached out and clamped a painful grip on her left shoulder. Howling in pain, she whirled around, anger painting her features, "What was THAT for?"
Misato's expression mirrored Asuka's, one of intense rage, "For you information, Second Child, he didn't run away, as you put it. He disappeared like Unit 01"
Asuka's wrath melted in the face of Misato's fury; "Unit 01's been found hasn't it? After all, I've just been stuck in it for the last two hours, where's Shinji anyway?"
"We don't know," said Misato, quietly.
"You don't." Asuka trailed off, "Not even those goons in Section 2 know"
"Neither does the Commander, but he doesn't seem to care"
"What a bastard!! He doesn't even that his son has disappeared off the face of the earth," screamed Asuka.
She continued screaming as she got changed, muffled when she started to put on her civilian clothes. She comes out of the locker room, Misato who was waiting in the hallway says, "Feel better now?"
"A bit. When I get home, I'm gonna have a proper shower. Ugh!" she brushed her hair with her hand, disgusted with the LCL residue, "The shampoo here doesn't cut it"
In a darkened conference room
Keel: "Report"
Gendo: "Unit 01 has been recovered"
SEELE 03: "But?"
Gendo: "It refuses to synchronise or activate in anyway"
SEELE 07-14: "Pardon?"
Gendo: "Unit 01 refuses to activate with any of the remaining pilots, even the dummy plug was rejected"
SEELE 03: "This was not in the scenario, we had made"
Gendo: "However no more Angels have showed up since"
Keel: "This conflicts greatly with our scenario, the 14th should have arrived by now"
SEELE 04: "How are you planning to rectify the situation? Need I remind you, with Unit 01 inactive, we cannot proceed with our scenario"
Gendo: "I am well aware of that fact. I recommend that Unit 01 is to be placed in cryostasis until we can deal with it properly. Everything possible has been tried but it seems that Unit 01 will not activate without its chosen pilot"
SEELE 03: "How is that being remedied?"
Gendo: "Search parties and independent investigations are being carried out but there has been no guarantee of success"
SEELE 04: "This is unsatisfactory"
Gendo: "All that can be done, is done"
Keel: "We won't shovel blame around this time but I'm warning you Gendo Ikari. You won't rewrite our scenario"
Gendo: "Of course"
The monoliths and visored man disappear.
Gendo picks up a phone, in a drawer on his desk: "Fuyutsuki! We just have to wait"
Somewhere
Shinji Ikari woke up; feeling more refreshed than he had ever been in his whole life. Stretching to work out the kinks in his muscles, he yawned, "How long have I been asleep?"
Voice: "Quite awhile now"
Shinji jumped up in a movement quicker than he thought was possible. A blond haired man stood before him, looking at him almost indifferently. Shinji's legs chose that moment to wobble, the man reached out and steadied him, he had an extremely strong grip.
Shinji: "Who are you?"
Man: "My name is Hyoga, I am to be your teacher for the duration of your stay here"
Shinji: "Teacher? Where the hell am I?"
Hyoga: "You do want to save humanity, don't you"
Shinji: "I suppose"
Hyoga: "I'm here to give you the tools to do so, hopefully there won't be any more Angel attacks but in doing so the test for humanity's survival have been shifted to a different contest"
Shinji: "A contest?"
Hyoga: "Lemme explain, those beings called Angels are actually messengers with a purpose. They have been sent by God to test humanity but some believe that is the wrong way to go about this, so there was some intervention"
Shinji: "Intervention?"
Hyoga: "Yes, humanity's survival will depend upon you now as it was meant to be but you were unprepared, so my goddess and her brethren who didn't want to see the end of humanity intervened for our behalf and I will help you prepare for the final test"
Shinji: "Me?! Why me?!!!"
Hyoga: "Because you have been chosen. Now come with me, let's see you fed and attired appropriately"
Shinji didn't know what to make of this, so he followed the strange man out of the grove and into the sunlight.
Four years pass without much event. This is the year 2020, despite the repeated detection of a blue pattern, no Angels have appeared to threaten mankind. Civilisation were rebuilding the damage done in what people now call the Angel War, but some horrific scars still remain. Antarctica never recovered but technological advances have enabled mankind to enhance and protect their environment. So certain regions were set aside to preserve the fauna in their natural environments, since technology allowed Man to do so, but it was all artificial.
NERV still existed though they were now cut-down to a few bases around the world, NERV HQ remained but NERV America and Canada were disbanded and all remaining technology and research were transferred to Japan. A few small bases remained in countries like China, Australia and Germany but that was all. The Evangelions were still around but people wondered why they were still paying taxes for the maintenance of these war machines when there was no war but NERV retained its funding but on a reduced scale since there wasn't a need for Evas at the moment.
Gendo Ikari sat in his dark office, planning his words to SEELE this afternoon. Before he needed them to accomplish his goals, now he wondered if he even needed them at all. Putting aside such thoughts for now, he opened a drawer and depressed a button. Shutters closed and the room darkened even more, black monoliths appeared around him.
SEELE 01: "Report"
Gendo: "Nothing, all the chosen candidates have been rejected"
SEELE 03: "This is a serious setback to our plans"
Gendo thought to himself, 'And it has taken four years for you to see that'
SEELE 01: "Our scenario cannot proceed without Unit 01"
Gendo: "The Magi indicate that there is 0.0000000000% that any candidate can pilot Unit 01. And the Third Child is nowhere to be found. All available resources has been put to his discovery, so far our efforts yield nothing"
SEELE 01: "We do not like this delay in our scenario"
Gendo: "We are doing all we can to remedy it"
SEELE 01: "We may consider adjusting the budget. For now you're dismissed"
Gendo's desk faded out but the meeting continued without him.
SEELE 05: "Is it wise to trust him?"
SEELE 03: "Whether we trust him or not doesn't matter. He's as committed to this as the rest of us"
SEELE 02: "Indeed"
SEELE 04: "Do you think he is hiding something from us?"
SEELE 01: "It is highly unlikely, he would have acted by now if he was. All that remains is to get Unit 01 operable for Instrumentality"
SEELE 02: "Indeed"
In a place of sub-zero temperatures and colder winds
Two figures stand before a pyramid of ice. A nearby crater shows the dark depths of a frozen sea, that from the sides of the crater, one could see that the layer of ice was metres thick. No force besides a small bomb could make a crater like that but no explosives have been used in this region for decades. One figure, a dark haired male, stood wrapped in a blanket, ice forming in his wet hair, evidence from his earlier swim in the frozen sea. An older blond haired man stood beside him, talking to him, praising the younger man's efforts.
Hyoga: "Very well done, Shinji"
Shinji smiled faintly, despite the ice formed on his clothes and hair, he showed no signs of feeling the cold, his teeth did not even chatter: "Thank you, sensei"
Hyoga shook his head wryly: "No that was all you. I merely gave you the knowledge and the tools to open your power"
Shinji: "Even so, I've got many things to thank you for"
Hyoga looked at him quizzically, his blond hair obscuring his features: "Such as"
Shinji: "For being my teacher, for helping me be the person that I am now. You taught me how to stay human despite this power," He paused and took a deep breath, "and for allowing me to meet Saori-san"
Hyoga smiled: "Then will you take the next step and become a warrior worthy of Athena"
The young man straightened: "Yes. I wish to fight for Athena's cause, which is humanity's cause"
Hyoga looked at his student sternly: "Then ready yourself"
Shinji nodded and shook away the blanket, revealing his body to the harsh frost winds. Clearly he has changed from the time he had spent in Tokyo-3, no longer a boy but now a man. Hyoga raised his arm vertically, a shimmering aura of light surrounding his hand, rays from that aura surrounded Shinji. Ice built up and crept upwards along Shinji's legs, holding him in place but he didn't flinch until Hyoga swept his hand down in a cutting motion, with a shout, "FREEZING COFFIN". Shinji gasped at the sudden power infusing him and containing him, that power suddenly constricted and bands of pressure surrounded his torso, his eyes closed as he struggled to breathe but ice had now fully encased him. The coldness of the ice crept into his body, his now sluggish mind recalled that the ice that now surrounded him is as closest to absolute zero, just a fraction of a degree away from that threshold. There was no way to break free, no power could unless.his mind struggled to recall.unless he becomes colder. Somehow he managed to clench his hands, 'NO, I CANNOT DIE HERE. I WILL NOT DIE HERE. I will do this, I will be free. I can see my friends again if I do this' slowly but surely a blue-silver aura infused him, emanating from his body.
Shinji: "Burn my Cosmo. Burn"
The aura increased in intensity, cracks began forming of the surface of that impenetrable ice coffin. Light permeated those cracks, widening those cracks more and more, until all hell broke loose. Shinji screamed, flinging his limbs outwards, breaking free of that icy prison, shards upon shards of ice flew out from all directions. Shinji lay panting on the ice, its cold warm compared what he had just felt. An even colder voice cut through the howling winds.
Voice: "Are you able to continue?"
Shinji stirred, his Cosmo burning his strength to infuse him with strength, he laughed at the irony. His will and physical strength was needed to unleash and contain his Cosmo, giving him strength and power, hence his harsh training but when he thought of his friends, his sensei and Athena, he once again felt warmth running through his limbs. His Cosmo pulsed like a heartbeat as he fought to get up, finally it stabilised when he got up to face the owner of the cold voice.
Shinji: "Yes, sensei. I can and I will continue"
Hyoga's cool facade broke for a second to flash him a smile: "Then do it. Claim the Cygnus Cloth."
Shinji nodded and settled into a fighting stance facing the ice pyramid. Unaware to himself, his Cosmo increased til it was blinding to look at, Hyoga felt the power entrapped in the younger man and was stunned for a moment. He knew his student had potential, but he was surprised at the power within the young man.
Shinji: "AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! DIAMOND DUST ATTACK!!!!!!"
A stream of light infused wind blasted the pyramid, the pyramid despite being a solid block of ice was unable to withstand the onslaught and shattered. Blocks of ice rained down around the teacher and the student, raising snow into a small blizzard, hiding from their eyes the remains of the pyramid. When the snow cleared enough, so they could see again, no trace of the pyramid remained, in place stood a pillar of ice topped by a metal box. Suddenly that metal box unfolded itself like a flower and a column of light shot upwards. That column of light arced shooting back down like a meteor, right onto Shinji. Shinji disappeared into the column of light, when the light faded, he stood here clothed in simple armour, gauntlets, cuirass, metal skirt and leg guards. Despite the simple look of it, it provided more protection than full body armour because this was no ordinary armour. This was a Saint's Cloth, created into ancient times by the power of gods, strengthened by willing blood. Hyoga smiled, and summoned his own Cloth, a golden aura surrounded him, and suddenly the Aquarius Cloth appeared before him, it separated and clothed his body. Shinji looked at his own body in awe, attired in the Cygnus Cloth.
Hyoga: "Yes, you are a Saint now. One of Athena's warriors, even this Cloth recognises you as a Saint, for it contains a will of it's own and chooses who shall wear it. It has chosen you, Shinji"
Shinji turned around and faced his master wearing the Aquarius Cloth of one of the Twelve Gold Saints, the highest ranking and most powerful of all of Athena's warriors. It humbled him to know that his master had worn this Cloth before him, the one that he wears now on him. Shinji kneeled in front of his sensei.
Hyoga lays his hand on Shinji's head: "You have done well, Shinji. There is great power within you, hopefully it will be enough to face the oncoming trials. My only wish is that I could fight by your side but it is forbidden to me. Know this whether you succeed or not, I am proud of you, Shinji"
Shinji looked up at his sensei, tears in his eyes: "Thank you, sensei. Thank you" (if you didn't get all that about Athena's warriors and Saints and stuff. Go check out Saint Seiya first, it would help)
Hyoga turned away: "There is one more thing I want you to learn"
Shinji looked up: "What is that, sensei?"
Hyoga: "In order to learn it, you must defeat me in single combat first"
Shinji scrambled up: "I can't do that! You're my sensei, my mentor"
Hyoga: "What have I taught you?"
Shinji: "To care, to love this world and all its creatures but also to fight the evil that seeks to destroy it or dominate it"
Hyoga: "What else?"
Shinji: "Sometimes you have to set aside your feelings and fight as one of Athena's Saints"
Hyoga thought: 'I know it's hard on you Shinji but this is the only way. For what it's worth, I'm sorry'
Hyoga: "I am your sensei, would you disobey me?"
Shinji stood still, shocked: "No, sir!"
Hyoga nodded: "Then fight me to master all that I have to teach"
Shinji understood then, what Hyoga wanted him to do.
Shinji: "Diamond Dust Attack!!!!"
Hyoga raised one hand and all of Shinji's frost dissipated.
Hyoga: "Real frost air is like THIS!"
Hyoga flung out an open hand, a stream of biting frost air, colder than the Siberia winds, shot into Shinji, throwing him back into an ice wall. An impression of Shinji was left on ice, proof of the strength of the attack. Shinji staggered away from the wall, breathing heavily.
Hyoga: "Lose your emotions for me and fight me properly. You are stronger than this. Your emotions can get you killed" Shinji screamed, fist slamming hard onto the thick ice: "NO! I cannot, if I do I will no longer be human, I just be another killing machine" Though Shinji cannot see it, Hyoga's lips curved into a smile: 'Good, he has learned but is he wise enough to know how to focus them'
Hyoga: "Then die!"
Shinji's eyes widened, as Hyoga raised both hands clasped together.
Shinji: 'That stance, NO! he's going to use it'
A bright aurora, and an image of a woman holding a vase appeared behind Hyoga.
Hyoga: "AURORA EXECUTION!!!!!"
He swung his fists forward, and a blast of Arctic wind, infused by golden light, blasted Shinji, destroying everything it its path.
Hyoga: "Shinji! This is my most powerful attack taught to me by my master Camus, it can generate unlimited amounts of killing frost. Can you withstand its power?"
Shinji flew through the air, screaming, "AAAARRRRGGGG", his mind worked to comprehend this powerful attack, 'It's so strong' Suddenly he hit a wall of ice, it shattered around him, burying him within its icy embrace. 'Is this the end? I can't feel anything, is this what death feels like, a black emptiness.' He lost consciousness, his fate undecided.
End Chapter 1