EDITING NOTE:

italics denotes character thoughts - I tried using brackets, but ffnet stripped them off, so I re-edited all the chapters. some of the later chapters will make a LOT more sense now,

I am trying to write EVA as as a fantasy, set in medeaval japan. I'm going to try to stick close to the original plot, with a few tweaks (characters are about 16 instead of 14, and I deplaced the pseudo christian / buddhist themes with with pseudo assyrian / Shinto, partly because it makes more sense to me, and partly because Anno's themes were just WAY too complicated for me to duplicate) add disclaimer, goals, etc.

Notes:

In this story, I will try to minimize the use of the European style of address and try to stick with the Japanese, though I find I am refering to Gendo Ikari interchangeably as "Lord Ikari" and "Ikari-dono", so be warned.

for other honorifics, I use the following:

-kun superior officer /noble speaking to inferior

-dono lord

-san sir/Mr./Mrs.

-chan affectionate dimunitive

"Welcome home"

Shinji looked up in surprise. He had been standing on the empty docks for almost a half an hour, and had slipped into a glassy eyed trance as he thought about a peice of music he had been practicing last night. In front of him was a woman in a white tunic and black pants, with a red Guard tabard over that. She had a sword at her side and was holding the reigns of a large smoky blue horse.

"I'm Misato - Captain of your father's guard. He asked me to come meet you, as things are a little crazy here right now."

"Oh" was the less than excstatic reply "where is my father? Is he going to meet me?"

"Come on - I'll take you home. Once there, I'll see if your father is available." Misato mounted up, and before Shinji could decide what to do next, she scooped him up and pulled him unceremoniously up behind her.

Home. After almost eight years, this doesn't feel like home

They road at a gallop through the town towards Ikari Keep. Misato saw no need to slow down for turns. Fortunately, there roads were oddly clear of pedestrians.

"Captain Misato, where is everybody?" Shinji asked tentatively, finally taking notice of his surroundings.

Misato almost cringed closer to her steed "It's complicated. There is a state of emergency. I'll explain once we're at the keep"

The pair rounded the last corner and started across the open area towards the fortress. The Castle was a truly impressive behemoth with the outer walls being ten feet thick, and made of some black stone that always felt cold, even in the late summer. Most of it was squat and heavy, Covering the small hill it was built on like a scab, save for one high tower that seemed almost an afterthought, rising crazily from the left side of the main fortress to a height of five stories. It was the largest structure that Shinji had ever seen, save for the Ch'in Forbidden City.

Inside the courtyard, there was chaos, as if to make up for the emptiness of the streets - soldiers were checking their gear, grooms were tightening girths on saddles, servants were rushing to do their masters bidding.

"What's going on?"

Misato got a pained look on her face. "I don't know, but I have a suspicion. Come with me!"

The flamboyant captain barreled across the courtyard towards a blond women dressed in an all white robe "Ritsu! where the hell is the High Lord? I have Shinji, and he said I was to bring him directly to him!"

"I am here." A quiet voice replied. A man dressed all in black stepped from an overshadowed corridor. He had his hair cropped short, like a soldier, and he carried himself like one as well, despite being of middle years. "This is the boy? Prepare him to bond with the Kami-Armor"

"What?" Shinji froze in confusion. Nothing makes sense. And nobody is telling me anything. Though that at least I am used to "Father, what is going on? Where are the soldiers going?" There was a note of panic in his voice, as the sudden chaos after the calm of the coach ride still had him unbalanced.

"The Dragons have awakened, and their assault on humanity begins. An Iron Drake has attacked a caravan just north of the New Edo. The guards are going forth to face it. But without the Kami-Armor, they are unlikely to succeed. You will wear it." The reply was calm, and delivered in a tone that made it clear that debate was futile.

"No! I remember what that thing did to Mother! I won't put it on" Shinji was almost frantic with dread.

"Then these men will die." High Lord Ikari turned his back on his son. "Captain, Order the men out. Take command of the mobile ballista that is at the north gate and join them."

Misato gave Shinji a look before turning to the soldiers "Ok, men. Move out! Sergeant Aoba, you're with me - saddle up!"

As the soldiers started to move out, Shinji looked from them to his father. "You can't do this! You're sending them to their death!"

High Lord Ikari simply turned and walked away, into the same corridor he had walked out of.

He doesn't care! About me, about the men, about anything! Why is he doing this? Shinji watched the last of the soldiers ride out, slapping their horses to a gallop as they passed the gate. "I'll do it! Father! Stop!"

The blond woman who had been standing to the side throughout the confrontation put a hand on his shoulder as he was about chase after the High Lord. "The Kami-Armor is here. I will help you with it. Come with me." Her voice was cold and commanding. She led Shinji down another corridor to a flight of stairs that spiraled down into a dusty subterranean room. "Lumos" At her soft word, the room filled with light, revealing a twelve foot tall... thing. It looked like a misshapen humanoid wearing some hideous type of samurai armor, dyed the traditional Ikari colors: purple and green. It stood like a statue in the middle of the room, surrounded by boxes of magical paraphernalia and oversized weapons. The room looked to have been hastily abandoned - there were papers spread out on the desks that stood around the room, and one of the weapon racks had been knocked over.

"What do I do?"

The Sorceress in White pointed at a stool pushed up to behind the freestanding Kami-Armor and made a brief gesture. The back of the Kami Armor swung open, revealing a cavity large enough to hold a person. "Stand in there and place your hands in its hands, and think of your lineage as an Ikari."

Shinji stepped inside and tentatively placed his hands inside the Kami-Armor's. The back swung closed, and the armor filled with a thick, viscous goo. "Ahh! What is this? I'm going to drown!" Shinji pushed at the back, trying to open the armor by brute force.

"Don't panic, Shinji - the liquid is Ichor: It's what allows you to control the armor. You can breath it - just take a deep breath"

Once Shinji calmed down slightly, he found that he could indeed breath while submerged under the Ichor. He could even hyperventilate, which is what he was doing currently. I am Shinji, of the house Ikari. My father is Gendo Ikari, High Lord. . He continued on remembering his lineage as far back as he could - some twenty generations had been drilled into him as a child. But nothing happened. The Kami-Armor stood still.

Nothing is happening - I'm useless. I can't do this. Father will be angry with me. Misato will be disappointed with me. Those men will go and die. Just like mother, when she was enchanting the armor Shinji vividly recalled the scene - he was in the room with his father as Yui was casting the binding spells. But something went wrong - the spell failed, and he watched the soul be ripped from her body by the backlash of the spell.

Shinji couldn't see it, but the Armor's eyes lit up with an unearthly green fire.

Mother, how I wish you were still alive and we were all a family Tears formed in his eyes I am so weak As Shinji rested his forehead against the armor in despair, the whole thing gave a lurch and took a step forward.

"Excellent, young Ikari." The Sorceress in White smiled a tight smile and nodded. With a motion of her hand, a sheet of brass that had hung on one of the walls shimmered and then showed the courtyard as if through a doorway. "Now quickly - follow the soldiers. With your long legs, you will easily keep pace with the horses."

With a mute nod, Shinji shuffled through the doorway. With each step, he grew more confident of the Kami-Armor, and the creature picked up speed until it was running all out, chasing the last of the guard.

Fortunately, the guards rode on a main road through town on their way to the North gate, for Shinji was not certain that he could navigate some of the smaller alleys in town with his new body. And the armor did feel like it was part of his body, though a trifle numb, and a little awkward, like when he had his growth spurt last year. I can do this!

He caught up with the guards just as they passed the gate. As the rear-most soldier heard the dull clanging of his footsteps, he glanced back and sawed on his reigns in surprise. His horse gave a load neigh as she shied off to the side. The other guards glanced back. After a startled moment, they let loose a loud cheer.

Misato, sitting at the head of a team of horses hitched to what looked like a giant crossbow yelled out "Maya - cast a farspeaking spell on the Armor before he gets too far!"

The young journeyman mage nodded and concentrated, muttering words intently as she made short, choppy gestures. "Done, captain"

"Shinji - can you hear?"

"Misato? Yes - it's like you are standing at my elbow!"

"Good - keep running straight up the road - the drake is just over that hill. But be careful - the Kami Armor spirit is linked to the Kami shrines in New Edo, and it can't go much further than that. When you feel a pull at the pit of your stomach, you have gone too far and you have only minutes before the Armor goes inert. Got all that?"

"Yes, Captain" Shinji's exhilaration faded, as the reality of the situation sank in

"The guards will back you up as best they can. Now GO!"

"Yes, sir!"

Shinji put on a burst of speed, letting the guards fall in behind him. It felt good to be leading people that needed him. In no time at all, he saw the drake - it was a winged dragon, with an ugly, bird-like head and stubby claws. It was circling over a grove of ancient oaks, trying to get at something hiding inside. Periodically, it would spit a job of iron with tremendous force, causing even those majestic trees to shake, and several had already been toppled. But what really surprised him was the suit of Kami Armor laying sprawled against a rock outcrop, as if it had been thrown there. There were deep gouges in its orange paint.

"What? Where did the other Kami Armor come from"

"Never mind that, Shinji - concentrate on the Drake!"

As Shinji put on a burst of speed, the drake spotted the band of soldiers, and with a flutter of wings, it awkwardly turned towards them. As it swooped down, Shinji was froze as he realized that he had forgotten to grab any weapons. I'm an idiot

WHAM

The Drake's front paw shoved the frozen Shinji into the ground as it continued on towards the guards. The soldiers spread out, firing from their bows. The arrows bounced off harmlessly off of the drake as it smashed into a guard, giving him a shake before throwing him into the air.

Undeterred, the closest soldiers drew their swords and charged, only to be smashed aside by the drake.

Shinji gathered himself up and sprang for the drake, grabbing at the hind leg "No!" I won't let you hurt anymore of them! . The drake shook him off, slamming him into the ground. Shinji staggered up, scrabbling to grab anything that he could use as a weapon.

I won't let you hurt them. I won't let you hurt them.

WHAM. A glob of iron shot from the drake's mouth, throwing Shinji into a tree.

Shinji gritted his teeth, almost growling his mantra "I won't let you hurt them"

As his anger grew, he could feel something in the armor encouraging it, like magical adrenaline. At the same time it felt as if the Armor was feeding off of his anger, using it to grow in speed and power. He soon felt almost drunk with the effect.

He staggered forward, grabbing a fallen soldier's sword. The Kami Armor leaped twenty feet into the air, grabbing the drake's foot as it turned to make another pass. Shinji roared out "DIE!" And started awkwardly hacking at the drake, severing a wing.

Both the Drake and the Armor crashed into the ground, but Shinji made a drunken leap at the drake as soon as he gathered his feet.

The ferocity of the attack confused the slow witted Iron drake. It tried to knock Shinji far enough away to bite at him, but each time it did Shinji smashed the claw out of the way and delivered another clumsy blow to the exposed flank. Soon, it was covered in shallow cuts.

"Shinji, the heart - stab it in the heart - that is the only way to kill it!"

"DIE!" Shinji smashed aside the drake's questing jaws and started chopping at the monster's chest. One of his blows must have hit it's target, for all of a sudden the drake stopped moving and collapsed.

Shinji staggered back, almost vomiting, staring stupidly at the now defunct dragon I did that? A cheer went up from the guards.

Shinji was exhausted, physically and emotionally. He had to be helped back to the keep. After returning the Kami Armor to its storage room under the direction of Misato, Shinji shed the armor and slumped on a welcoming bench, leaning heavily against a crate of spell supplies. He sipped at the tea that somebody had slipped into his hands as he tried to make sense of what had happened during the fight. A rattle of wheels drew his attention as a wagon was rolled through the magical brass by a team of guards - apparently the horses refused to cross through the magic portal.

As the wagon came to a halt, the Sorceress in White rushed over to the orange Kami Armor that lay on it and proceeded to open it. A pair of men then loaded a young woman onto a waiting stretcher. Shinji got a good look at her as she was carried past him towards the door.

She's sort of pretty. I hope she's ok The woman appeared dazed and there was something wrong with her left arm. But what held Shinji's attention was her startling blue hair. It was cut much shorter than was popular among the ladies of the court, but it suited her, offsetting her pale complexion. As her stretcher drew even with him, her gaze snapped to his, and he was unnerved to see that her eyes were red.

"Misato - who was that? And where did the second Kami Armor come from - I thought the there was only the one?"

Misato finished issuing a string of orders before turning to Shinji "That's Rei Ayanami. And the Kami Armor she wears was a gift from the Daughter of the East Wind." Misato Shrugged and smiled "That's all I know."

"Maybe I should ask father"

Misato restrained a frown "It's worth a try"

Shinji nodded, and leaned back against the crate. He was asleep in moments.

It was several hours later, as Misato was getting ready to head home, she gently reached over and shook the sleeping boy

"Wuh?"

"Shinji - do you have a place to stay? You should get to bed"

"No, I don't know." Shinji paused to gather his foggy thoughts. "I guess I should go ask about that" He replied, looking embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it for now - I have a spare room at my apartment - you can crash there."

Shinji was too tired to do anything more than nod.

(O)

The following day, Shinji staggered out of a strange room. It was late afternoon, and he still felt awful, like a bunch of mad monks had thrown him in a winepress and tried to squeeze out a several bottles of 'Chatteux de Shinji, rouge'

Shinji took the opportunity to look around the apartment. It was typical of the rooms in Ikari Keep - dark, brooding, and solid. The one redeeming feature was that it was spacious, or it would have been, if every available surface wasn't covered in junk. The living room was graced with a large wardrobe whose top drawer was pulled open and was doing extra duty as a dirty dish basin. An assortment of clothes spilled off of the table onto the floor, where they joined their brethren. An unsheathed sword was propped up against a pile of armor in one corner, panties hanging off the crossguard.

And that was just the living room. What Shinji glimpsed in Misato's bedroom was far worse. Thankfully the room that he had slept in was empty. It was no doubt intended for a servant or a maid in waiting, neither of which had ever graced this apartment. And survived.

SLAM

Misato's entrance through the front door startled the teen out of his contemplation. The Captain had her arms full of a small keg which she heaved into a corner before tapping it and pouring off a mug of ale.

"YEAAAH!"

Noticing the odd look from Shinji, she smiled and explained "I ran out yesterday, and I didn't have time to get a new keg this morning before work, so I had to skip breakfast. Speaking of breakfast, have you had anything to eat - you must be starving after your exertions yesterday."

When Shinji just nodded mutely, Misato opened up a case labeled "Naval rations" and started rummaging

Why does she store her food in that old thing? Shinji looked on in curiosity, carefully not voicing any questions. Wait a minute. That can't actually be...

"Uh, Captain?"

"Call me Misato - I'm off duty" She gave Shinji an overly perky smile.

"ok, uhm, Misato. Is that.. actually hard tack?"

"Yeah, I have a great recipe for it! And I only have to go shopping once every couple of months - it keeps forever" Misato took the handful of rock hard crackers and threw them into a bowl before covering them with beer. At the sound of the crackers clanging into the bowl, a flap in the wardrobe opened and a penguin waddled out.

"Umm, Cap.. Misato, what is that?" Shinji pointed at the strange creature as he shied away from it.

"Hmmm? Oh, that's Pen-Pen, my cat."

"CAT!"

Misato sighed "Ritsu tried to transform him into a dragon, back when she was just a journeyman, and well, she's not quite certain what happened, but he's been like that ever since. Not that I mind. He's kind of cute this way." Misato reached down and tousled the head feathers of the waiting penguin

"Wark"

"Don't get pushy - your dinner will be ready soon." Misato fished the hard tack out of the beer before putting it on three seperate plates. She next pulled out a jar of fermented fish sauce and covered the moistened crackers with a healthy (?) dollop. Misato then brushed clean the table and set a plate in front of Shinji before taking one for herself and putting the remaining one on the floor for Pen-Pen.

Shinji look at his dinner with trepidation "Uhm, Misato...? Is this safe to eat?"

The Purple haired captain glanced up, slurping down a mouthful "Eat up!" was the cheerful response. Seeing Shinji's continued dubiousness, she added "I'll have you know Pen-Pen loves the stuff."

"WARK" came the happy reply. Warm Water Penguin translation "It's great! Just like mom used to regurgitate for me!"

Shinji tentatively took a bite. His eyes bugged out. He grabbed the flagon of water and poured half of it down into his mouth. He then looked back at the expectant face of his roommate, and then down at the ...meal. "Sigh." Well, at least it's not poisoned Not wanting to disappoint the woman, he stoically finished his meal (along with two pitchers of water).

"Uhm, Misato? I'm grateful for you letting me sleep here, but I should probably find my own quarters."

"Sorry, kiddo. I checked - the keep is crammed full, and there's nothing available. You can stay here, though. Besides," She leaned in with a leer "Somebody has got to teach you how to have a good time!"

Shinji paled and drew in on himself "Uh, what about father? Shouldn't I live with him?"

Misato settled back down and shook her head sadly. "Sorry, but the High Lord is working on some magic that requires privacy and quiet."

(O)

At the same time, up in the high tower, Gendo Ikari was sitting at a large table empty save for himself and a dozen floating balls of light evenly spaced around it.

"The Marduke project proceeds according to the scenario. The Third child has arrived and has proven.. adequate." the High Lord steepled his gloved hands before his face, concealing his mouth, making his expression even more unreadable

A harsh metallic voice came from one of the softly glowing spheres "The Heart of Adzu has been found. It will be sent."

"What of the Second Child?"

"She is ready to play her part."

(O)

SLAM

"I'm Ho-ome" Misato caroled as she returned. It was now evening.

Shinji looked up from cleaning and assembling a flute. The apartment was much neater now, but Misato didn't seem to notice.

"Oh, you play? That's so cute. Can I hear?"

"Only a little" Shinji blushed in embarrassment at the attention. He then blushed harder as Misato leaned over to get a better look at his instrument, giving him more of an eyeful - she was now wearing a loose peasant blouse instead of her guard uniform.

Shinji quickly got up to put the flute away.

"Anyway, I talked to Senechal - That's old man Fuyutsuki -and he wants you to be integrated with the other well-born children - you'll need to know them when you are lord, afterall"

"Also, do you know how to fight?"

At Shinji's blank look, Misato explained, "I mean, a noble born kid like you has usually has been trained in several weapons. It would be a big help with learning how to fight in the Kami-Armor."

Shinji shook his head and looked down. "I know how to use a knife."

"A knife?"

"It's the only weapon that the hostages at the Ch'in court are allowed to learn. And I did a little archery"

"Well, then, we'll just have to teach you! Not a problem" Misato beamed at the despondent Shinji.

Shinji just nodded quietly, feeling inadequate. Misato looked at Shinji, Shinji stared glumly at the floor, shoulders hunched poor kid. What happened to him there?

An uncomfortable silence took hold. "How did father secure my release in the first place?" Shinji asked quietly, playing with the flute in his hands. "They wouldn't tell me much when I was leaving" Shinji recalled being awoken an hour before dawn by a pair of Imperial guards. He had been certain that today he would executed, as he had expected to be almost everyday, but instead the guards simply ordered him to gather his belongings and get ready to leave.

Misato grew more serious "I don't know, but two months ago, there was a sudden flurry of emissaries from the Empire, and shortly afterwards, Lord Ikari announced that you would be coming home."

Misato perked up again "But what matters is that you're home again, so that calls for a PARTY!" She strode over to her private keg and poured off two mugs. She down hers in one swig. "Aahh." Smiling, she held out the other to Shinji, only to find that he had retreated into his room. Poor kid. He's really scared to live

(O)

That night, as usual, Shinji had nightmare. He was back in the Ch'in court, except he was smaller - a child of maybe eight years.

"So what have we got here?"

"It's the new Japanese hostage. His dad did something to piss off the emperor."

It was a pair of larger boys - the sons of a couple of imperial ministers - who had the run of the palace.

"So what did daddy do?" The first, a meaty lad with close-set eyes, stepped forward.

Shinji tried to back away, but the other boy, taller and lankier, and with a smirk on his face, stepped up and gave him a shove. "Where you going, shoe-scum?"

Shinji broke and ran. But the other boys were taller, and they knew the layout of the palace better. It was only a matter of time before the beating started.