Tales of Evangelion Rewrite 1

Chapter 1: Mysterious World, Mysterious People

The pod labeled 02 opened up slowly, the hatch sliding out from the underside. The LCL spilled out, along with the red-headed pilot as she collapsed on the grass. After coughing out the liquid in her lungs, she forced herself into a sitting position to examine her surroundings. It was just a simple little island, no trees she could see, no people she could hear, just grass and sand. 'Where the hell am I?' No answer came to her unspoken question other than the release valve of the other two plugs. Shinji flopped out of his face first, hurling up the LCL before losing consciousness again. 'What did that Angel do to us? I can hardly keep awake myself.' Rei was the most graceful of the three, climbing out of the plug after returning her borrowed LCL. When she touched the ground, her legs went numb, and she collapsed to her knees. 'Even Wondergirl got the stuffing knocked out of her. How fitting.' She smiled inwardly.

"Huu! Huu!" Rei began to gasp repeatedly.

Asuka blinked as she took notice. "Ayanami, are you okay?"

"Cannot… breathe! Air… thin!"

'Ya, she's lost it. I'm breathing just fine, save for the exhaustion.' "Jeez, chill out Wondergirl. You'll get used to it. You always get used to it."

In a few moments, Rei's wheezing slowed, managing to remain conscious. Slumping over, she looked to the boy lying in a pool of liquid. "Ikari-kun?"

"He'll probably be out for a while. He did just tear himself out of an Angel, after all. And if you're as tired as I am, he's got that to deal with on top of it."

She nodded. "Situation?"

"Not too good." Asuka squeegeed the remaining gunk out of her hair to lighten the load on her skull. "As far as I can tell, this is an abandoned island. We'll have to set up transponders and sit around until we're rescued."

"So survival training until then."

"No, duh."

Rei ignored her, turning back to her plug and pulling herself up to it. "We should retrieve our emergency supplies. I will retrieve Ikari-kun's as well. It would be wise for you to obtain yours as well."

"Hey! I don't take orders from a doll!" Rei was tempted to say that she wasn't, but she decided to conserve her energy instead. Asuka went to her plug anyway to retrieve the kit, which was wedged rather tightly under her seat. After finally being able to pry it free, she returned, finding Rei sitting next to Shinji with two packs. 'Someone want to tell me how she managed to get there so fast when she can't even walk?' Her disapproval showed on her face.

Rei looked to her. "I will tend to Ikari-kun." She was already assembling medical supplies.

'If this were a love coupling, only the devil could claim making it, because that's a match made in hell.' She shrugged it off. "I'll get to work on the transponder." She pulled out a tripod, opened it up, and screwed a small cylinder to it, unfolding the miniature satellite dish and attaching it to the top. She flipped the switch and nothing happened. She rechecked the connections and tried again. "Damn US made crap." She swapped out the batteries and tried a third time. Failure. "Hey Wondergirl, toss me your transponder! Mine is busted." Repeating the same procedure with the new equipment yielded absolutely nothing. "Damn it."

"Is that one useless as well?"

"About as useless as Shinji in school."

Shinji coughed and groaned as he opened his eyes. "I heard that." The boy shielded his eyes. "Ungh. Someone tell the guy with the jackhammer to lay off."

Asuka crawled over to the other pilots and looked down at him. "Well, good morning. Sleep well, baka?"

"Not particularly."

"Well now that you're up, feel free to fix us breakfast."

At the mention of food, Shinji's stomach growled. "Could you deal with kit rations? I'm too wiped to move." He blinked, realizing there was no ceiling. "Hey, why haven't I woken up in a hospital? Didn't Rescue find us yet?"

"I do not believe they can, Ikari-kun. Our transponders appear to have been damaged." Rei answered as she unwrapped an energy bar.

He took it from her. "Thanks. They should be able to track us through our plug-suits. Well, at least yours. Mine's been dead for a while." He took a bite of the bar and swallowed hard. "God, that's crap."

"You were in that Angel forever, baka. I want to know how you managed to get free."

Shinji looked into her face from his horizontal position. "How can I explain… it was a desire… to see you… everyone… again, even if it was one last time." As Asuka pondered that, he finished his snack. With some food in his stomach he forced himself to sit up as Rei opened up a bottle of water. After taking a sip he tried to get his bearings. "How long have I been out, anyway?"

"Well, let me check." Asuka turned the screen on the back of her wrist up to her face and pressed a button. She pressed it again, and again. "What the hell? Mine can't be dead too!"

Rei tested hers. "As is mine. Either our batteries in the plug-suits ran out and the transponders are defective, or there is something else at work in this place."

Asuka took a bite of her own rations and winced disapprovingly. "So how do we get out of here?"

Shinji stretched his neck and blinked for a second. "How about that way? Look up!"

The other two looked to the heavens as a lone object twinkled far above. "Is that a plane?"

Rei answered. "It would seem most probable."

Asuka dove for her pack and pulled out a flare gun. "Here goes nothing." She loaded the cartridge, plugged her ear, and fired straight up. A trail of smoke started as it reached its peak a few hundred feet into the air. "Please see it. Please see it!"

The twinkle changed course. "I believe it saw it, Pilot Soryu."

Shinji smiled, but that turned into a fearful frown as the object closed in on them. The object was flying towards them on translucent wings. He scrambled for the gun in his kit and loaded it, cocking the first shot. Rei's eyes expanded in stun and Asuka became petrified. She swallowed before managing to speak. "This is the kind of help we DON'T need!"

"I don't like this." Shinji said, gripping the weapon tightly.

The translucent wings were attached to a human, or what appeared to be a human. He was an adult, almost middle aged, with red hair. He wore a type of clothlike armor with a sword attached to his belt. Instead of using his wings to float towards them, he used his feet and walked. "Interesting signal. I did not know any technology like that existed." He took a step towards the children. "Do you…."

Shinji snapped as he released the safety. "DAMNED ANGEL!" His Eva training kicked in as he fired three shots perfectly on target.

The man pulled out his sword and pressed his hand against the flat of the blade. "Guardian!" A yellow and green ball of light surrounded him and it took the impact of the bullets.

Asuka gasped. "That's not an AT Field!"

"What is that barrier?" Rei whispered to herself.

The ball of energy dissipated and the man spoke again. "Advanced magitechnology. Where did you children come from?"

"We're not telling you anything, Seraphim Angel!" Shinji hissed.

"So you have heard of my kind. That is odd in and of itself. I know someone who would be quite interested in meeting you. Come with me, please."

"We're not going anywhere with you!"

He put a palm to his forehead. "I seem to have forgotten my manners. I have no intention of harming you, so…."

"KRATOS!" The red-haired man turned at the mention of his name. Leaping from the sky, a party of eight landed, their vehicles they were riding on seconds ago disappearing. The one with brown hair drew the two swords at his hips. "Kratos, you traitorous swine! What are you doing to these people?"

"Lloyd. I should have known you would come here. I assure you I was merely trying to help them."

Shinji quickly glanced at Lloyd. 'He can't be much older than me, but he's holding those swords as if he's a pro.'

"Like we buy that!" The woman with long red hair spoke, only to reveal that it was a guy. "You were probably going to take advantage of those hunnies over there and toss that stick-boy aside like a piece of driftwood."

Asuka jabbed Shinji with her elbow. "He just compared you to driftwood." She whispered and chuckled. "Wait…."

"You are untrustworthy, Kratos. We will defend these children if you do not desist." A small pink-haired girl slammed a very large axe into the rock behind her without changing the stoic expression on her face. Rei examined her with her own emotionless stare.

"There is no need for unpleasantries." Kratos sheathed his sword and turned towards the group. As he walked towards them, they split into two ranks to let him through. "I have no wish to fight you today."

Lloyd's sword flashed out, the point underneath Kratos's chin. "Still can't bring yourself to admit that you won't win the next one?"

His eyes met the boy's. "You still lack the skills to defeat me. However I do believe you will be able to keep these newcomers safe." Lloyd lowered his sword. "I'll leave them in your care for now. Farewell." Kratos kicked off into the sky.

All parties put away their weapons as the man flew off. A young blonde almost made Shinji pull out the gun again when she opened up some red and purple wings. Rei stopped his hand quickly. "No, Ikari. This one is different."

"Is everyone all right?" The girl spoke in a worried tone, even though she wore a smile on her face. "I'm sorry you got caught in that mess, but we've had a bit of history with Kratos."

"But now that the danger has passed…." The tallest woman with blue-gray hair and an orange tunic stepped forward. "Look at that technological goldmine!" She rushed passed them towards the entry plugs, pink hearts rising from the top of her head. "Splendid! I've never even heard rumors of magitechnology like this! Oxygenated liquid envelopment coupled with holographic imaging… it's beautiful!"

The shortest, a blue-haired boy, shook his head and shrugged his shoulders as he walked towards them. "Sorry about her. She gets this way sometimes."

"Eheh…." A sweatdrop appeared on Asuka's head. "Hey lady, that stuff is kinda top secret. Would you mind not looking at those too closely?" She was ignored.

The tallest and burliest of them checked the horizon. "It's getting late. I would recommend we set up camp."

The sun had set, and the campfire had been lit, thanks to a little trick on Lloyd's finger. All eleven people gathered around the fire in a circle, air thick with anticipation. The blonde was the first to break the ice. "Those are some interesting outfits you have there. Are they a new trend?" Everyone but her, Rei, and Presea flipped on their faces. "What?"

"Collette… you ask them about their clothes before their names?" Sheena rolled her eyes. 'But I probably would have asked if she hadn't.'

"Heheh… sorry. It was the only thing I could think to say. But now that you mention it, we haven't even introduced ourselves. Sorry about that. My name's Collette, Collette Brunnel. I'm the Chosen of Sylverant." She bowed quickly.

"And you probably already figured out that my name's Lloyd." The red leather-clothed swordsman thumbed himself. "Lloyd Irving, the baddest swordsman on two worlds, haha!"

"And by baddest, he means the least skilled." The blue-haired kid motioned towards him.

"HEY!"

"I'm Genis, Genis Sage. I'm a half-elf, just to warn you, and I also have a perfect school record."

"I'm his older sister, Raine." The tall woman nodded to them. "I'm a professor at their school, but there's no need to call me by my title. I'm also a half-elf and I love archeology."

"… to a fault." Genis tacked on to the sentence before she smacked him upside the head. "OW!"

"My manners were extremely poor before. I am Zelos Wilder, the Chosen of Tethe'-alla." The red-haired pretty-boy took a long over-dramatic bow. "I would enjoy it very much if I could talk to you two lovely ladies in private later."

"God, give it a rest already, Zelos! Just because you can't get a single girl in the group, you try for people you haven't even known for an hour?"

"Can you blame me for trying?" Zelos shrugged.

"Pathetic. Ignore him if you can. It's what we all do. I'm Sheena Fubayashi, the summoner." A young woman with tied up black hair took a quick bow.

"I am Presea." She sat with her axe on her legs, sharpening the blade with a stone, only looking up to speak before returning to the task.

"My name is Regal, Regal Bryant." The large blue-haired man with a serious look was the last to speak. "Forgive my appearance. I am not as dangerous as I look."

Asuka motioned to his wrists. "And the cuffs?"

"Penance."

"I've told you you don't have to keep them on, Regal. We've all done things we're not proud of on our mission to save both worlds." Genis said.

"Guess we've met some kindred spirits then." Asuka made a quick chuckle. The statement sent the entire crew into silent reflection.

"Rei Ayanami, pilot of Unit 00." The pale girl responded in almost the same fashion as Presea, only with nothing to do after she was done.

Shinji sat with his legs pulled up to his chin. He shot glares at Collette and remained silent.

"I'm Asuka Langley Soryu, the best damn Evangelion pilot you've ever seen." She put her hands on her hips and stuck her nose into the air. "I've got exclusive rights to Evangelion Unit 02. The idiot next to me is Shinji Ikari, pilot of Unit 01."

"Evangelion?" One of the group of eight asked as the rest looked to each other for an answer.

"Never heard of an Evangelion?"

They shook their heads. "I've never heard mention of them in anything I've ever read, and I assure you, I've read quite a lot." Raine said matter-of-factly, "Just where are you people from, anyway?"

"Tokyo-3." Asuka answered quickly, just about as puzzled as everyone else.

"You mean Meltokio, don't you?" It was Sheena that tried to correct her.

"Um… no…. I mean Tokyo-3. You know, stronghold of man, ultimate defense against the Angels and all that jazz?"

"Which world are you from?" Lloyd asked, drawing something in the dirt in front of him.

"World? We're from Earth. Aren't you? I mean… this IS Earth, isn't it?"

"Actually no. This is Tethe'-alla. We traveled here from another world called Sylverant."

"Then how…?"

"The twelfth." Shinji finally spoke.

Sheena went wide eyed before she shook her head. "I'm sorry, what?"

"The twelfth Angel must have sent us here before it died. But why? How?"

"Angel? Did you say Angel?" Collete suddenly got in Shinji's face, looking hopeful and sweet. "Do you know about them? They might be related to the Cruxius Seraphim."

"You're one of their kind. You should know." Shinji eyed her wings.

"Shinji!" Asuka whacked him. "Sorry for his behavior. We've been battling Angels for nearly a year now. Our manners have sort of gone down the toilet because of it. I want to thank you for saving us from that Kratos guy."

"Ah, that's no problem." Lloyd said as Collette backed away to her original spot. He whispered to her. "Collette, your wings. The wings."

"Huh? Oh, whoops." She closed her eyes and they disappeared.

"Travelers from a place called Earth, eh?" Zelos spoke. "Are all the girls on your world as cute as you two?"

"Back off, Casanova. We're not interested." Asuka shot a look at him that killed a fly in front of him.

"So what are you three going to do now?" Raine interjected.

"What do you mean?" Rei answered in muted tones.

"Well, you're here, on Tethe'-alla, and you say you come from Earth, where apparently you're fighting some sort of war. Now that you're here, what are you going to do?"

"It is obvious that we must return. The next Angel may appear at any time, and without our ability to pilot the Evangelion, our world may be lost."

Lloyd pursed and bit his lip. "Well, we can try to see if we can find a way back to your world on the Rhieards tomorrow. Maybe if we can trip the rift between Tethe'-alla and Sylverant, we can find your world on the way."

"You know it probably won't be that simple, Lloyd." Genis leaned forward.

"I know, I know, but it's better than doing nothing."

"We'll need to take those things with us." Asuka pointed her thumb over her shoulder at the plugs.

Zelos pulled out a small box from his pack. "No problem! We'll just use my Wing Pack." He opened it up and raised it into the air. The plugs shrank and jumped inside before he put it away.

Asuka's jaw dropped. "Woah! Can we get three of those? Can you imagine taking your Eva on the go, Shinji!" She elbowed him blindly, and got no response in return. "Shinji! Earth, I mean Tethe'-alla to Shinji! Anyone in there?"

"HUH?" She startled him out of his daze. "Oh, sorry."

"Pay attention once in a while, honestly."

"Sorry."

"Will you stop apologizing?"

"Sorry."

"Enough already!"

"Sor…."

"Well this looks familiar!" Lloyd burst out laughing. "He apologizes just like Collette!"

"Wow… heheh…." Collette sweatdropped. "I guess he does. Sorry." Everyone else fell on their faces other than the stoic ones and Shinji.

After Lloyd recovered and plucked a blade of grass out of his nose, he went to everyone's packs. "Anyway, you three should probably join up with us for now. These worlds can get pretty dangerous, and you're going to need some protection if you want to travel. Fortunately… ah, here they are… we have some spare weaponry." He took an example of each of their old weapons and laid it in a line on the ground. "Take your pick."

Rei picked up one of Genis's weapons after analyzing the selection. "This is a Kendama, correct?"

"Yep, that's the Falling Star. It's a nice one." The little mage answered. "It's kind of difficult to use though. I'm not sure…."

She began to swing it professionally, letting the ball on and off, switching sides on the hammer before catching it on the stick again. "I used something similar to study hand-eye coordination."

"I-I'm stunned! Take it, Rei, it's yours."

"I thank you." She bowed and returned to her position by the fire.

Shinji paced back and forth as he took his turn, before lifting up two matching rings. "What are these?"

"Oh, those are my Chakram." Collette raised her hand. "That's the Ring Whirlwind."

He put them down in disgust. "No thanks. I could use something lightweight though…" He squinted as he brought two yellow cards up to his face, trying to read the tiny scrawl written on it.

"Those are my Lightning Seal cards." It was Sheena that answered. "They're actually quite powerful, but you have to make physical contact for it to take effect. Try them out. If they work for you, I'll let you keep them."

"Thank you, Miss Sheena." Shinji bowed quickly.

"I-It's nothing." She blushed, scratching the back of her head and breaking eye contact.

Asuka walked back and forth between the axes and the single blades. "I'm proficient in both forms of combat, but I think I'll go for this blue knife here."

Zelos walked up next to her and looked over her shoulder. "Oh, that's the Ice Dagger. I used to use that one all the time. Now a part of me will always be with you."

She spun it around her wrist and pointed the frigid tip between his legs. "Keep it up and you'll lose a few parts." He backed away quickly.

Raine looked at the starry sky. "It's getting rather late. We should get some sleep before the long day tomorrow."

Shinji woke with a start, covering his mouth tightly to muffle the scream that followed his nightmare. It was the middle of the night, and everyone seemed to still be sleeping soundly. Not wanting to be tormented by dreams again, he got up and walked to an outcropping of rocks and felt the breeze. He sat down and put his knees to his chin and stared into the distance. 'I never thought any of this was possible. Becoming an Evangelion pilot, risking death on a daily basis, having the world's fate on your shoulders, seeing your friends getting hurt….' He shuddered. 'It's just too much sometimes… and now…' Shinji buried his face in his knees, 'and now I'm in a place that isn't even remotely familiar.'

Sheena had made her latest sweep around the campsite, returning to find the boy on the rocks. From her spot, she closed her fist and pressed it to her heart before uncurling it to the side and walking forward, straight for him. He looked up as Sheena held her skirt on her legs as she sat down. "Hey kid, you okay?"

"If you don't count having my reality ripped to shreds, yeah."

"Well, let's try to lift your spirits a bit. Check out the stars, they're really beautiful tonight. The constellations are perfectly aligned." When she turned to look at him, his eyes were reflecting the starlight as he looked up. She turned away, her lip twitching.

"I don't recognize any of them. Do you think my world is out there somewhere?"

"I can't answer that."

"So why are you up?" Shinji side glanced her.

"Technically, I should be the one asking that." She turned towards him and leaned back on one arm. "It's my shift on night watch."

"I see." Shinji nestled his chin in his knees again.

"You guys were fighting in a war, right? Why are people your age getting sent to the front lines?"

"We're the only ones that can pilot an Evangelion. That's the reason why we've got to go back. The Angels just keep attacking." The hairs on his neck bristled at the word.

"You really hate these Angels, don't you?"

"They're really dangerous. I don't want to see anyone else hurt by them." He clenched and unclenched his fist.

Sheena observed it for a second before looking back to the campsite. "By association, you don't care much for Collette either, am I right?"

"I'd be lying if I said no. It's the wings, really. I was a hair away from killing her on instinct."

"Trust me, Shinji, she'll grow on you. You probably won't believe me, but I originally was sent to assassinate her. Now look at where I am."

Shinji blinked. "Really?"

"Heh, yeah. It's a long story, but we've gone through and learned a lot." She scanned the campsite again. "Collette is a victim of these worlds and their constant competition for the limited mana. I can't really explain it that well, though." She sighed. "What do you think about the others?"

"Well… it's nothing."

"Do you realize that when you say that, it usually means the opposite?"

Shinji pitched forward slightly. "Even people in this world know that?" He sighed.

"I'm not going to tell anyone, Shinji. Be honest."

"Fine. Lloyd seems to be my total opposite, but he is a bit headstrong. The Professor and Genis seem to keep him in check though. You know, I probably should ask her more about this world."

"You'll get your chance soon. Her shift is next, assuming you're still up by then."

Shinji nodded. "As for Zelos…."

"Ugh! Even his name skives me out."

"I think he's trying to put up a front, avoiding some deep wound he's holding back. Regal on the other hand doesn't hold back any of his pain, and the result is kind of scary."

"He's more peaceful then you'd think, just don't go near him if he's upset."

"Presea… her eyes are so cold, it's like her heart is closed off. She reminds me of Ayanami."

"You can thank the Cruxius Crystal embedded in her for that one. She could barely speak until a few weeks ago, when Lloyd managed to work his Key Crest magic. She's opening up again, but she sometimes forgets she's a little girl."

Someone's footsteps came up behind them. "Sheena, it's time for my watch. Get some sleep." It was Raine.

"No problem." She stood up and put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "See you in the morning."

"Umh." He nodded. "Thanks for listening, Miss Sheena."

Raine took up her spot on the grass. "Can't sleep?"

"Nightmares." He nodded and sighed.

"I don't blame you. There's a lot to take in. I don't think I'd be able to handle it all at once either."

"Professor, do you think you could tell me about this world, er… worlds? Maybe if I knew more about it, we'd be able to find a key to the way home."

"It's a long and painful story, Shinji. Are you sure you don't want to get some sleep for now?"

He shook his head. "I think I need to hear this."

Raine closed her eyes and bowed her head before she began to speak of the legends of Mithos, Kharlan, the Seals, and World Regeneration.

The two girls with oddly-colored hair held the illusion of sleep as they faced each other. After Sheena had returned to her mat and began snoring lightly, Rei spoke, her eyes still closed. "Should you not be sleeping?"

"As should you." Presea whispered. Both girls opened their eyes.

"We possess similarities, you and I."

"That was my assessment as well."

"What experiences created this phenomenon?"

"I am the victim of an experiment with the Cruxius Crystals. Lloyd contained its power within a Key Crest, however what you see before you is the remains of my former self. What brought this about for you?" She sat up, looking at her short arms.

"I was raised by Commander Ikari to only have emotions required to associate with others. As of late, I have been experiencing some I do not understand." Rei also rose to a sitting position.

"As have I. However, I do not believe you were raised this way. Where is your Crystal?"

"I have none."

"Indeed you do, the link between mine and yours is one I can sense. Perhaps it has not manifested." She covered her crystal with her hand.

"That is impossible." Ayanami blinked.

"And yet, I have no doubt to the fact. If my theory is true, then we can expect great things from you, Rei Ayanami. Rest well." Presea laid her head on the pillow and returned to her dreams. Rei followed, letting her brain soak up and process the information as she slept.

As Rei returned to her pillow, Asuka rose, looking for someone to speak with. Her sneaking brought her to Lloyd. "Hey, Lloyd. You awake?" He didn't stir. "Lloyd, can I talk to you for a bit?" He flipped over and opened his mouth, his tonsils reverberating in a loud snore. "Pathetic."

"He could sleep through a Desian raid." A voice came from behind her and she jumped, whirling around in a fighting pose. Who she saw was Collette, smiling and bobbing up and down.

"You scared me there!" Asuka whispered harshly.

"Sorry about that." Collette scratched the back of her head. "I use my wings at night sometimes so I don't wake the others."

"That's… rather considerate of you. Mind telling me how I can get a pair?"

She put her head down and her voice faded. Her wings receded into her back. "When I unlocked the first seal… Remiel…."

"I'm guessing that's a touchy subject. We all have those, so you don't have to tell me." Asuka waved it off.

"Thanks." She lifted her head again. "What did you want to talk with Lloyd about?"

"Shinji."

"Why, is there something wrong with him? I hope he's not sick or anything."

"Maybe in the head." She said under her breath. "I'm more worried about your safety, Collette. Shinji doesn't take kindly to Angels, and if he suspects you as being one, I'm pretty sure he might try and kill you."

"I'm not an Angel, Asuka. At least… I never truly became one…." She looked away.

"Okay, getting near the touchy stuff again, I see. Just let me say that Angel or not, if Shinji thinks you are, then he might snap like he did against Kratos. I just was worried about that since we're traveling together for who knows how long."

Collette took her hands and held them between the two of them. "Thank you, Asuka. But don't worry. I'm not totally helpless, you know. I can take care of myself."

A smile appeared at the corner of the redhead's mouth. "I'm sure you can, Angel girl."

"Speaking of him, where is Shinji?" They looked around, and found him listening to a long lecture Raine was providing. "There he is." Collette paused. "Asuka… is there something wrong with him?"

"Hmph." Asuka folded her arms up. "He's a stupid, perverted introvert that uses his bad childhood as an excuse to act weird. Most of the time he just sits in that very same position, listening to his SDAT. The rest of the time, I'll give him a verbal and physical beating every so often to shape him up, but it never seems to do anything. He really gets on my nerves sometimes, honestly."

"Um… sorry, but what's an SDAT?"

"Nothing like that here, huh? Well the quickest way to describe it would be a box that plays different types of music depending on the tapes you put inside it. That SDAT is his prized possession, and it's back on Earth. I'm sure he misses it."

"How sad… I hope we'll become friends someday."

"Heh. Maybe if he gets some happy pills and comes out of that pose."

"I dunno… don't you think he looks kind of cute like that?"

"Huh? No way!" Her face faulted. "Wait… did you just say he's cute? Are you crushing on him or something?"

"Hehe. No, Asuka. I just think that he and I could wind up being really good friends. But I can tell you there are a couple of crushings going on in this camp. Namely Genis trying to get Presea's attention."

"So the mini-Rei has an admirer huh? Well, I guess that does sound kind of cute, though I feel sorry for Genis. If she's anything like Wondergirl, he doesn't have a prayer."

"And Zelos is crushing on every girl in sight."

Asuka shook her head and shrugged. "Ah Zelos, proof that woman is far superior to man."

Collette covered her mouth as she chuckled. As she turned to head back to her mat, her eye caught Lloyd, still snoring away. "Asuka… can I ask a favor?"

"A favor? What favor?"

Collette sighed. "Our lives are in danger every single day, and not all of us fight at once. If you're in battle, could you watch over Lloyd for me?"

"Watch over… for you…." A wry smile appeared on Asuka's face. "Sure, Collette, but it looks like there's a third crushing going on in this camp."

Collette blushed. "Wh-what are you talking about, Asuka? I'm just worried, since everyone seems to want a piece of him."

"And what piece is it you want?" Asuka laughed at her stunned crimson face before issuing a jaw-splitting yawn. "I'm about to pass out here. We'll talk in the morning." She headed back to her mat.

"Yeah… good night." As Asuka returned to her dreams, Collette stood over a sleeping Lloyd. "I wish I could tell you the truth, Lloyd, but I'm too afraid of how much it will hurt you. I can't tell you the truth about this body, but maybe… maybe she can help me."