DISCLAIMER: I don't own Neon Genesis Evangelion or any of the characters associated with the series. GAINAX owns the rights to this series.

A/N - First and foremost, I would like to inform you that Shinji is very OCC in this story. If you are a fan of the shy and introverted Shinji, you have been warned. Also, the events of this story take place after Episode 1 in which Shinji loses consciousness during his first battle with the angels. Some things might not necessarily make sense in comparison to the actual story because it deviates quite a bit due to the nature of the plot, but this is my first attempt at this, so please bear with me!

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Prologue - Preparation

It's never an easy thing to wake up with a severe headache.

This was no exception for young Shinji Ikari as he opened his eyes to find an unfamiliar ceiling. Just yesterday, he had felt uncertain, depressed, unwanted...

Now, he was different. He actually thanked his father for giving him this opportunity. Forcing him to pilot the EVA and risk his life against the angel had changed his life forever...

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"Do you understand what you have to do, Shinji?" asked Yui Ikari for the third time.

"Yes mom, I do." Shinji replied.

So this was what having a parent was like. They liked to tell you what you already knew and repeat themselves unnecessarily seemingly just to annoy you.

It felt good.

It felt good to know that someone cared enough to repeat things to the point of annoyance just to make sure you understood. It felt good to have someone that constantly reminded you that they were on your side no matter what.

It felt good...just for once, not to feel used...

It was almost time. In this vaccuum inside the consciousness of EVA, months had passed. Five glorious months while in the outside world, only a few hours had passed. During this time of euphoria, Shinji had been reunited with the consciousness of his mother, who had taken physical form inside Evangelion Unit 01. His mother had then taught him all that she knew about Project EVA, his father, NERV, and most importantly, SEELE. Some of the things he had learned had mortified him, and some of it shook him still. Most of what he was told would have been too much for a normal 14 year old boy to take in. However, Shinji was stronger in heart than most 14 year olds and, although he didn't know it, Yui Ikari did. As his mother, she knew Shinji more than anyone else alive. She knew he was capable of correcting the chain of disastrous ambitions that she had so foolishly helped ignite. So, in order to correct her mistakes and give Shinji a fighting chance at a normal future, Yui had given him a gift both terrible and invaluable. Knowledge. She knew this was a terrible thing to ask of him and it tore her apart inside. However, both Shinji and Yui knew that in order for humankind, including Shinji, to survive, Shinji had to endure suffering a little longer.

But at the same time, Yui had given Shinji love. Unconditional love that he had so desired for all of his life but had never received. It had torn her apart when she had first laid her eyes on him staring back at the giant monstrosity that was EVA. His eyes had been so full of pain, crying out for years of loneliness and misery. Then, a slight glimmer of hope had appeared in those beautiful eyes when he saw his father, Gendo. 'Maybe things would be different,' she could almost hear him hope, 'maybe he wanted me back as a son...' And those hopes only to be crushed by Gendo's selfishness and cruelty. The last flicker of hope that Shinji had the capacity to carry had disappeared with that, and Yui Ikari knew she had to do something to help her son.

So she had. During Shinji's first battle with the angels, Yui had caused the EVA to go berserk and absorb Shinji into itself, causing his body and soul to maintain a physical form within the consciousness of the EVA. Now Shinji was ready to go back to the world. Although it pained her greatly to see him go, Yui was content just to have been able to let him know that she will always be with him. That any battle he fights, will be with her. That he will never be alone.

It was time.

Shinji hugged his mother one last time, tears freely rolling down his face. "You're a grown man now Shinji." said Yui, fighting to keep her voice steady. "Go out there and make me proud."

"I will." Shinji replied, determination shining in his eyes as the pain of farewell reflected across them. "I'll make you proud mother."

Yui smiled. "You already have, more than you could know. I love you Shinji, remember that. And whatever you do, despite all the things you have to do, don't let yourself turn into someone like your father. You must be able to control your emotions, not banish them forever."

"Don't worry. I'll find a hot girlfriend and introduce you to her just to prove I'm not an emotionless robot." Shinji said, half a smile on his face.

Yui laughed. "You do that! I'll hold you to it."

Then, with a final hug and a final memory of each other's smiling faces, Shinji drifted off into unconsciousness as Yui sent him back to the outside world.

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[PA System] "Captain Misato Katsuragi and Doctor Ritsuko Akagi please report to Room 2A. Captain Katusragi and Doctor Akagi you are needed in Room 2A please."

Shinji looked up at the security camera monitoring him from his bed and smiled sadly.

Here we go.