When Shinji woke up he found himself in the middle of a forest. Trees as far as his eye could see there were no sounds save for the occasional animal call.
"Where am I," Shinji mused as he took in his environment. Standing up to stretch he felt as if he had not moved his body for months, if not years! Almost every joint seemed to creak as he stretched. With his mouth drier than a desert he set out for some water after hearing the rushing sounds of a river nearby. Upon seeing his reflection in the river Shinji discovered that his body had grown during his time in Unit-01. His body had grown by about ten years older as he stood a good foot taller, coming in at 5'10", and his hair trailed to his shoulders. Had any NERV personnel seen him they would have mistaken him for a younger Gendo. More importantly, however, was the blood-red sphere that had imbedded itself into his chest. Gingerly touching it he found it to secrete a calming warmth, not unlike the kind one gets from embracing a loved one.
"A S² organ? Is this where Unit-01 went?"
As he mused and refreshed himself the cries of a young girl overtook the silence of the forest.
"I WON'T GO BACK! LEAVE ME ALONE!"
His head perking at the sound he began to run to the girl. Whatever thoughts he had about not interfering with the problems of others had ceased as the girl continued to cry in fear. Running faster than any human could, he failed to notice his body shimmer as the armor of Unit-01 began to cover him. He arrived to see a child with blue hair trying to fend off two unseamly soldiers.
"Listen here you brat! I don't care if yer a princess or not, when King Garon demands yer attendance ya go without question," sneered the older looking of the soldiers.
"If ye keep running then Im a break that purty face of yer's," proclaimed the younger soldier.
"NO!," the girl shouted, tears streaking her face. As the soldiers stalked closer to the girl Shinji appeared in between them.
"Cowards! Are you so craven that it requires two of you to take on this girl?"
Turning crimson as blood rushed to his face the younger soldier shouted,"shad up ya Hoshiden freak! Wot in the hells are ya doing here in Nohr anyway!?"
"I'm sorry to say, but I don't have a clue what Hosiden or Nohr is. Now leave this girl alone or you'll have to face me!"
As he shouted his proclamation of protection the girl looked up to him with hope-filled eye. "He's going to save me! B-but where's his weapon?" Suddenly her chance of freedom began to look dim.
"Hmm, by the looks of those soldiers this planet's humanity must be some sort of Medieval Era," thought Shinji as he separated the girl from the soldiers. They took notice of his lack of weapons and the younger soldier became embolden, charging Shinji as his senior yelled at him. His body acting on instinct Shinji's arm darted out to catch the swinging blade, surprising the soldier. He pulled in the soldier and headbutted him, sending him sprawling on the ground with his nose gushing blood. The older soldier was stunned leaving him open for an attack. Shinji, sword in hand, swung at him with his blade tearing through the soldier's armor and becoming embedded in his chest. Turning to the girl Shinji picked her up in a bridal carry and ran off deeper into the forest.
After what felt like hours of running Shinji found an empty cave for the two of them to rest. Gently putting her down Shinji took note of the girl's appearance. She was young, perhaps only ten years old, with light blue hair. What took his attention, however, were her eyes. They were a gentle gold, a color unknown of in his past home. The girl noticed her savior staring and could not help but blush as he examined her.
"Tell me child what is your name?"
"A-Azura," stammered the girl.
Taking note of her nervousness Shinji gently patted her head to put her at peace. "Why were those soldiers chasing you, Azura?"
Startled at first, Azura soon found herself leaning into his touch. Slowly she answered, "I wish to leave Nohr. I cannot live at the palace anymore! F-father grows crueler as the days go on and my mother is not longer with me." Tears began to form anew in her eyes as she continued her tale. "M-mother told me of an aunt in Hoshido so I escaped the castle in hopes of living with her. But then my father ordered the soldiers to capture me. If you hadn't saved me I would have been taken back and punished!" Azura was shivering, her blush gone and face pale as she remembers past punishments.
Pulling Azura in Shinji tenderly embraces her and he hugs him back. She clings to him afraid that he might not be nothing more than a dream. After what felt like an eternity Shinji pulled back and looked Azura in the eye. "I am a stranger to these lands Azura, knowing nothing of Nohr nor Hoshido. Despite this I wish to aid you reunite with your aunt should you allow me."
This time tears of joy begin to fill Azura's eyes as she pulls herself into Shinji's chest. "Thank you sir, thank you…" she repeats over and over. Staring with starry eyes she ask, "what is your name ser?"
"My name is… Shinji," he answers in a quiet voice.
"Shinji...Shinji," Azura repeats his name over and over as weariness begins to overtake her.
"Rest child, gather your strength. Once you are rested we shall begin our journey to Hoshido," Shinji states as he allows Azura to use his legs as a pillow. "Not even one day in and you're already saving others," he thinks amused. "This time, however, I won't fail her." With that final thought Shinji found himself falling into the abyss, his eyes closing and his hand resting itself on Azura's head.