AN: The conditions for Instrumentality and world rebuilding in EVA 4.0 were confusing to say the least, so I'll spare the technical parts for now, as well as I don't intend to spoil anything unnecessary. And there will be another chapter!

I do not own EVA.

Chapter 4: Endgame

"What are you doing here?" Misato Katsuragi's glare was cold enough to pierce through Shinji's AT-Field, making him shiver at first glance. He didn't have the DSS Choker on his throat anymore, so Misato figured there wasn't anything she could do to stop him if he set his mind on something. Not to mention he was carrying Asuka - their best pilot, thus their chance to win – in his arms. Misato thought he was using her as a hostage, dismissing the armed guards pointing their guns at Shinji since they could only do more harm than good. She crossed her arms around her chest, waiting for a reply.

"Returning your assets," Shinji spoke, putting the unconscious redhead down on a bench beside him, much to Misato's relief, "and I'll pilot Unit 01."

"And start another impact?" Ritsuko Akagi said sarcastically. 'She's technically not wrong,' Shinji chuckled internally, "No, but you can't defeat commander Ikari without me. He's got the Lance of Longinus. If we don't stop him the world's gonna end anyway." His tone was calm and firm, very much un-Shinji-like.

"Shinji," he was surprised that Misato said his name, "you nearing Wunder and Unit 01 is already a big compromise on our side. Last time I said, don't pilot an EVA. And you didn't listen."

"They told me I could fix my mistakes if I pull those two Lances out," Shinji answered calmly, "I-I just wanted to-"

"The puppy's right, Captain," Mari Makinami suddenly emerged from the door, "I've heard it all. What he and Nagisa talked about inside Unit 13. The puppy really thought he could make everything right," she smirked, "I don't know how but he stopped fourth Impact, and saved the princess here from self-destructing."

Misato blinked. "He…saved Asuka? Why…she was an enemy to you that time," she kept glaring at him, "unless…" a knowing wink from Mari confirmed her suspicions. "You're doing tall this for her, right?"

Shinji lost his cool composure and blushed, "I-I-" he took a deep breath, "part of. But I'm also doing this for everyone else, including myself. The only way I can forgive myself."

Misato kept her glare at Shinji, trying her best to relate the boy in front of her to the boy she mothered fourteen years ago. She was glad to see that at least some part of the old Shinji had remained. He was like her son. She hadn't had time to mother her actual son since every time she saw him, it reminded her of Kaji, who died preventing Third Impact. She was running away from her problems, just like the old Shinji did.

Now even Shinji stopped running away. She couldn't run away anymore.

Besides, Shinji's actually got the point here. Unit 13, with its dual-dummy plug controlled by Commander Ikari, WILLE had little chance of winning the fight, not to mention he had the Lance of Longinus in his hands. Their best bet right now would be the apotheosized Unit 01.

"But we can't fight him. He's got the Lance! We don't have weapons that counter it!" Ritsuko stated matter-of-factly, pushing her glasses up.

Misato Katsuragi closed her eyes, giving Shinji a break from her soul-piercing glare. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes again, but the look was much softer, "there's another Lance, born from the black moon," she said, "the lance of Cassius."

"We're approaching Antarctica, ETA 1 hour." A technician reported.

"With both Lances, we can rebuild the world," Ritsuko spoke, "sounds too good to be true."

"Send Captain Shikinami to the medical bay and give her a thorough physical check," Misato ordered; ignoring Dr. Akagi's disapproving look, she turned to Shinji, "Shinji, come with me. Please."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Shinji followed Misato to her office. Upon entering he noticed her expression changed instantly. "Shinji," she started, her voice soft and calming, giving him a strong sense of nostalgia. "I'm sorry."

Shinji blinked, "wha-what are you sorry for, Misato-san?"

"I'm sorry for treating you like that. I'm sorry for accusing you of the one who destroyed the world. I'm sorry…for everything. I know you're not to blame." She took a deep breath, "I…forgive you, Shinji-kun."

Shinji felt a sense of hotness building around his eyes, "I-Thanks, Misato-san. I-but I can't forgive myself…" He paused, closing his eyes to prevent tears from pouring out, "I need to end this myself. It's my responsibility. I'm not running away ever again."

"We…to be honest, we have little chance of winning this battle." She sighed, "supposedly, there're three more airships like Wunder, controlled by NERV. And we can't rely solely on Unit 02 or 08 to defeat Unit 13. It's too strong."

"That's why I need to pilot Unit 01. It's the only way." He replied.

"I know. But…" She buried her face into her hands, "promise me something, Shinji."

Shinji had never heard Misato using the tone she was using now; it was filled with desperation. Even before the fight against the eight Angel, she only sounded concerned, but not desperate. "Y-yes, Misato-san."

"Promise me you'll make the right choice." Misato lifted her head, looking into Shinji's cobalt eyes. "For humanity. For your friends. For me. For her."

Shinji swallowed. Although he had already made his decision, he still felt a chill ran down his spine hearing Misato say those words. 'Thanks, Misato-san. I'll do whatever I can do to save her.' His decision suddenly reminded him of someone. 'Like father, Like son.' He sighed internally, "I promise, Misato-san."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Asuka slowly opened the eyes, her pupil shrinking to adjust to the brightness of the room. "Oh shit…what happened?" She felt her head spinning.

"You're awake. Good. A little longer you'll miss the battle." She turned her eyes to look at the source of the voice, "Dr. Akagi?"

The faux blonde nodded, "you were unconscious for almost two hours. How do you feel?"

"I feel…" She felt like shit, but she knew this wasn't the time for moping around, "I'm ready to fight, doctor."

"Good to hear. Now do you remember how you got here?"

"yeah…actually, no. All I remember is…" Asuka's eyes widen as she recalled the last thing she saw, "God damn it! Where's that stupid brat?"

"Who?"

"Baka Shinji! Who else?" She yelled angrily, "where is he? Don't tell me…"

"Shinji Ikari is waiting inside Unit 01," Ritsuko Akagi answered, ignoring the temper of the girl, "and you should report to your Unit as well. We're close to Antarctica."

'Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit…' Asuka thought, 'This is so fucked up. What is he, stupid?'

"I bet he's doing this cuz he wants to be some kind of hero, and I'm not letting him taking away my honor!" 'What part of 'no matter what I'll die in the end' he doesn't understand?'

Ritsuko sighed, "We don't exactly have any choice, Asuka. We can't really stop him, either."

"What? Don't you trust my abilities? I'm your best pilot!"

"Yes, but Unit 13 is much stronger than any of the Units we have, not to mention it also has the Lance of Longinus. Our best bet is the apotheosized Unit 01 at the moment."

Asuka slammed her fist on the table, instantly punched a hole in it. Just as she was about to make another angry comment, the klaxons sounded. "All personnel, battle stations!" The PA announced.

"There's no time to waste. Asuka, report to your EVA." Ritsuko said, turning to leave to room.

"Idiot!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"It's no use, it's too strong!" Asuka cried, trying her best to break through Unit 13's impenetrable AT-Field. Even though she had already activated the beast mode, she was hardly making any progress.

Temporarily retreating to take a better position, Asuka willed her EVA to wander around Unit 13 in a circle, trying to find a weak point. Not far away Unit 08 was fighting against multiple EVAs, all of them controlled by dummy plugs.

Asuka took another charge at the purple EVA Unit, at the same time putting out the strongest AT-Field she could deploy. Unit 13 raised its AT-Field as well. The clashing between the two forcefields shook the ground around the two EVA Units, raising a cloud of dust and dirt. Unit 13, being the superior Unit and having two dummy pilots, easily won the round again. Unit 02 was sent flying backward and slammed onto one of the icebergs.

She groaned in pain; looking upwards, she saw Wunder was losing the battle against three other battleships. EVA Unit 10 took control over it, and the four of them flew in formation, together with a giant cross.

It was the key to open the minus space. She couldn't let Unit 13 get into there. Or everything would be over.

And Shinji was still nowhere to be found.

'So, there's no other way,' she thought. Taking a deep breath, she took off her eye patch. The moment it came off, she felt an alien sensation surged through her body. The Seal Pillar slowly came out of her glowing left eye; the Angel was finally freed from the seal, and it's taking over her body quickly. She screamed in agony, arching her back.

What happened next made her dumbfounded.

A strange but familiar girl came inside her entry-plug; Asuka was shocked as she recognized the ghost-like girl.

"The prototype of Shikinami series?"

One of the requirements for Unit 13 to become a god was it had to be fed by an Angel. Now she was the perfect target. She fell right into the trap.

"No you're not gonna make it!" Asuka yelled as she tried to activate her DSS Choker. Just as the prototype was about to reach her and take her away, another purple EVA Unit emerged and pushed Unit 13 away, effectively cutting off her connection with it. The ghost Shikinami disappeared from the entry plug instantly, leaving a confused and angry Asuka inside.

"It's about time you show up, DUMMKOPF!"

Unit 01 carried the Lance of Cassius, while Unit 13 carried the Lance of Longinus. The two purple humanoids clashed against each other, their movements mirroring each other. Every blow sent out by Unit 01 was perfectly blocked by Unit 13, and vice versa.

She needed to do something. Anything!

She charged towards Unit 13, expanding her AT-Field. With her Angelic power combined with her EVA, the AT-Field should be strong enough against Unit 13.

"Asuka, go back! I'll deal with this!" Shinji's voice came into the channel.

"No! I'm not leaving you to fight alone!" She shouted back.

Unit 13 saw her moment of distraction as an opportunity and threw the Lance of Longinus directly at her. She was like a deer caught in the headlights, unable to move.

"ASUKA!" Shinji didn't think much and threw the Lance of Cassius at her as well, hoping to intercept the Lance of Longinus. Two lances crashed head-on and bounced off each other; the Lance of Longinus fell to the ground while the Lance of Cassius flew away.

Asuka picked up the Lance of Longinus, and threw it back to Shinji. "Shinji, catch!"

Unit 01 caught the Lance with a firm grip using both hands, and turned to look at the weaponless Unit 13.

The battle was over.

Both Unit 02 and Unit 01 charged towards Unit 13; while Asuka summoned all her willpower to create an AT-Field to negate Unit 13's, Shinji charged in to engage in close-quarters combat. Unit 13 couldn't even put up a fight against the battle couple. Suffering a decisive blow from Unit 01's Lance, the core of Unit 13 cracked, its eyes dimmed, and eventually completely darkened.

"We…won." She stared at the battlefield with two eyes that's glowing in different colors, "Unit 13…has gone silent."

"Asuka, please don't-" She signed, cutting off the communication channel. She didn't want Shinji to know what's going to happen next. "It's the end, then. I guess this is it. Not as bad as I thought."

Her right hand reached the DSS Choker on her throat. "I'm the last Angel… it's the only way."

She took out the detonator. "I still want to gossip with Mari. Heh, she's one good friend."

Beep. The device was activated. "I hope I can tell Misato she was the mother I never had."

The device glowed, dozens of crimson columns with diamond-like heads formed a circle around her throat. "I also want to thank Kenken…for his support and approval."

The columns started spinning. "And…Shinji…I think I finally know what I feel about you." She paused, closing her eyes. "I love you, Shinji Ikari."

The spinning picked up speed. "Captain Asuka Langley Shikinami," She smiled. "defeat the ninth Angel. Situation resolved."

A flash of light. And she's gone.

She didn't see another white giant, firmly holding two spears in its hands, began rising from the ground.

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AN: My bad there'll be another chapter. I'll get it out in one day, don't want to keep you guys waiting on the cliffhanger.