Shinji continued the ascent with Maisie in tow, the sound of his heavy footsteps sprinkled with a litany of veiled (and not so veiled) insults and criticisms, an annoying background noise that made Shinji yearn for the blessed isolation that his trusty SDAT player could provide.

Shinji's silent begging went either unheard or ignored, however, the only music that reached his ears for a very, very long time being the one composed by Maisie's nagging. But even then, even in such a madness-inducing situation, Shinji found that the old saying about problems and silver linings still remained true, for it introduced the perfect environment to retrain one of the talents he had valued most ever since his arrival at Tokyo-3:

His ability to tune Asuka out.

Back when Shinji had his own body, development of this skill had proved critical during the many trips back to Misato's apartment from either school or NERV, especially at times when Asuka had been cranky for one reason or another, which was often. Even if imperfect (a quiet nod, affirmative sound or apology at the wrong time still proved fatal), it had saved Shinji from many a headache and many verbal spars that he would have undoubtedly lost during his time as an active Pilot, and the Third Child was ecstatic to find out that this talent of his worked just as well on Maisie as it did on his Asuka: it successfully turned a gruelling experience into a gruelling experience marginally less grating on his sanity and the following hours became much more tolerable as a result.

But then, and right as Shinji was beginning to feel rather optimistic about his trial, yet another wrench was thrown into his plans in the form of a new surface to tread. Gone were the forests and the muddy but still verdant paths, leaving way to a grey horizon of gravel and loose stone that introduced a whole new set of challenges to the already exhausted Third Child. Shinji's feet sank into the tiny stones, providing little surface to push from and making him slip and fall many times for every few metres that he managed to climb, a problem that only grew in magnitude when the mountain's incline grew harsher.

Shinji then tried to snake his way up the mountain, but his footing was just as precarious no matter what angle he tried. In the end, the Third Child swallowed his pride and crouched down on all fours, the lower centre of gravity providing more stability and helping him progress once more...

"Crawling along the ground like that is a look that certainly suits you, Ikari."

...although not without its fair share of negatives, either.

"Shut. Up." Shinji spat out, his words barely managing to come out in between heaving breaths.

"But how could I stop myself from commenting on such a sorry sight, and everything it entails? A creeping monkey shall be the key towards a better future? Please," Maisie scoffed in disgust, lazily hovering next to the young man. "The two of them must be truly desperate if they fail to realise the absurdity of such claims. There is no greater blindness than a lack of desire to see, indeed."

"Bet you wouldn't be so chipper if you were sweating half as much as I am," Shinji shot back, glaring at the girl to little effect. "I'd love to see you climb this thing my way."

"I already have, you dimwit. I can't believe you still haven't managed to figure that out," Maisie replied just as hotly, narrowing her eyes. "Then again, this is the same person that can't understand the laws of this realm even after spending so much time in it, so I suppose that all expectations should be tempered."

"And how am I supposed to know? I'm not a... major Aspect or whatever, like the three of you!"

"That's precisely why you should be far more aware of the power of cognition than any of us. And yet, here you are."

"...Cognition?" Shinji echoed. "You mean like... perception and understanding?"

"Of course, you dolt! Think about it: if you possess a physical form due to your own cognition-" Maisie suddenly cut herself off, appearing to think better of her explanation. "...On second thought, I should refrain. Knowing would sabotage a big part of this little exercise, and it probably wouldn't be nearly as effective as a result. It would spoil my fun, as well."

"Hey, wait! What was that you were saying?!"

"Nothing," Maisie deflected, floating further forward. "Quit your babbling and continue your feeble ascent. I tire of this test."

"...I don't know how many times I've said that you can leave whenever..."

If the Third Child's grumblings were actually heard, however, the Doll showed no signs of it, not that Shinji was about to test his luck any further than that. Instead, he put up his hearing barriers and began to go on all fours again, but just as he did Shinji noticed Maisie turn around and intently stare at a spot just past him.

Frowning, the half-girl made a motion with her hand and suddenly vanished from sight.

'Huh?' Shinji hurried over to the area Maisie had been in with no small measure of surprise. 'Did she really just leave?'

"Hiya, Shinji!"

And then, a similar yet completely different voice beckoned him from the side.

"...Eh?" Shinji quickly turned towards the source and, not a second later, his mouth hung open. "W-W-WHAT THE HELL?!"

Asuka and Ace had somehow just appeared a few steps to his left, lazily riding what appeared to be a giant escalator, one that seemed to stretch from bottom to top of the mountain and that certainly hadn't been there an instant ago. The pair waved at him and sent twin smiles his way, one encouraging and the other full of smug.

"Hey, Third. How's the workout going?"

"You- You know how it's going! What's the big idea, making this place so damn huge?!" Shinji loudly let the Pilot know exactly what was on his mind before he pointed at the completely out of place contraption. "And what's with THAT?!"

"Oooh, so cranky!" Ace snarked back. "Is the wittle baby Shinji tired already? Is it time for his afternoon na-MMPH?!"

"Cut it out, you," Asuka quickly put a hand over the Pilot's mouth, preventing another argument from erupting. She then turned towards Shinji, smiling sweetly even as her other vainly attempted to escape her grasp. "Don't mind her. You're doing great, Shinji!"

"Umm... Thanks, but..." the Third Child pointed at the struggling redhead. "Isn't she going to be angry after that?"

"Don't care, she had it coming. I explicitly told her not to tease you, you know?" Asuka grumbled, annoyed, tightening her hold further. "She almost ruined the entire point of us showing up like this in the first place."

"Point? What point?"

Asuka froze the very moment she heard Shinji's suspicion-laden words.

"...Whoops," she mumbled under her breath, before sending a sunny (and obviously fake) smile the young man's way. "F-Forget you heard anything, Shinji!"

"I have a better idea. Why don't you tell me what all of this is supposed to teach me, already?"

"No! Can't do! Not yet!" Asuka furiously shook her head and the escalator sped up drastically, separating the pair from Shinji at the pace of a speeding car. "Keep it up, Shinji! Remember what you felt right now!"

"Hey! Wait! I said wait!" the Third Child called out to the pair, but they were out of sight almost as soon as the words left his mouth. Shinji let out a deep sigh, irritated and exhausted in equal measures. "...And they're gone. What was that about...?"

"...I see, so that's what they're doing. Clever girls," Maisie's voice suddenly commented from his side. "...That's how I would have commended them had they not managed to almost sabotage themselves with their ineptitude, anyway."

"ACK!" Shinji promptly sprang out of the way. "W-Where were you?!"

"Right here, obviously. I merely hid myself," Maisie smiled, amused. "Seeing the look of shock on the faces of those two as they realise just how powerless they are would have certainly been nice, but I can't be bothered to deal with the annoying fallout of such an action."

"...I don't think I want to know," Shinji eventually shook his head when he managed to get his heart-rate under control. "Anyway, you really know what they're up to?"

"I heavily suspect, but it is not my place to tell," the Doll shrugged, before pointing forwards with a cloth finger. "Should you want to know the answer to your question, you need but to reach the top. Not too long to go now.

"But this is where we part ways for the moment, Ikari," Maisie continued, turning towards him with a wide smirk. "Do amuse me in the days to come, won't you? I shall be watching."

And with a second flick of her hand, she was gone. For good this time, Shinji hoped.

-O]|[O-

"Not bad, Third. I'll be honest, a big part of me didn't think you had it in you."

Shinji threw a dirty look the Pilot's way, but bee lined his way to a comfortable-looking rock without an actual comeback. The last stretch of his climb had been short when compared to all the effort he had gone through to get there, but the Third Child had still needed to use every little ounce of his remaining energy to make it to the end. Out of breath as he was, he couldn't have replied to Ace's sass even if he had wanted to.

"Oh, come on. Don't be such a drama queen," the Pilot continued unimpeded. "Are you telling me that the mighty Third Child is reduced to this after just a little bit of exercise? If only Misato could see you now..."

"Cut... the crap," Shinji finally shot back, brushing the back of his hand against his forehead and creating a waterfall of sweat. "What was... that about, earlier?"

"Straight to the point, huh? You're no fun," Ace made a big show out of pouting, before she turned towards Asuka. "Although it is getting a bit late outside, really. What do you say we get this thing started?"

Asuka sent her other a warning look, but nodded in agreement and focused her attention on Shinji.

"All right!" Ace cheered. "Tell me, Third: when you saw us go past you earlier, how did you feel?"

"...Huh?"

"This is important, Shinji," Asuka added, sounding stern towards him for only the second time since he had met her. "Please take it seriously."

"I... I don't know," Shinji stuttered, still taken aback by the strange question. "I was... confused?"

"Sorry, we meant before this dummy opened her big mouth," Asuka elaborated with a grimace, pointing a finger at Ace. "Right when we first showed up, riding that escalator."

"The moment I saw you?" the Third Child echoed, thinking back. "I was annoyed, I guess."

"Really?" Ace jumped in, stepping closer to Shinji with a knowing smirk. "You were only annoyed when you saw us cruise along, making a mockery of all your hard work?"

"...Fine, I was angry. More pissed off than I've been all day," Shinji expanded, turning to face the Pilot's mocking. "Why?"

"Angry, huh? Well, then I'd say that it worked like a charm!" Ace turned towards Asuka, looking very proud of herself. "See? That's why my encouragements were necessary!"

"Whatever you say, just get on with it," the other redhead replied with a weary roll of her eyes. She then stepped back a little, putting some space between herself and the other two. "You take it from here."

"...I don't follow," Shinji declared, watching how Asuka retreated before he turned accusing eyes towards Ace. "But this better not have been some elaborate joke."

"Oh shush, you big baby," the Pilot deflected, condescendingly patting his head and stepping past him. "We just said it's important, didn't we?"

Ace moved towards the edge of the summit and stopped with her back towards him, Shinji warily moving to follow a few moments later after pausing to seek Asuka's assurance. The Third Child was taken aback when he reached the Pilot's side, finding that her expression had turned far more serious and less grouchy than Shinji had seen in... likely ever.

That alone was enough for him to show some attention, although Shinji was still reluctant to speak up first.

"This mountain is a metaphor." Ace eventually spoke, saving Shinji the obvious question.

"A... metaphor?" he repeated, recalling the artistic term from his time at school. "A metaphor for what?"

"For Asuka's training towards becoming an EVA Pilot."

"A metaphor for EVA?"

"Can you stop repeating what I just said?" Ace glared back at Shinji, a bit of her usual self creeping back into her words.

"...Sorry."

Only to palm her face at the more than predictable answer she received.

"You just don't learn, do you, Third?" the Pilot breathed out through her fingers, then allowed her hand to limply fall back to her side. "Whatever, just be quiet for a bit until story time is over, hmm?"

Ace threw a pointed look at Shinji and awaited an answer. It came in the form of a hesitant nod after the Third Child's loud gulp almost echoed down the mountainside.

Satisfied, she began her tale:

"Like I said, this is a metaphor for Asuka's training as an EVA Pilot. It's obviously condensed because we can't have you doing this thing for the better part of a decade, but it should have given you a rough-"

"Did you just say a decade?!"

"...I said that you should be quiet, but I guess you didn't catch that part," Ace shot back with an annoyed glare, making Shinji recoil back a bit. "Yeah, Asuka trained for about ten years, give or take. What of it?"

"It's just... I didn't think she had trained for that long," Shinji elaborated. "I thought that she had been a Pilot for... two or three years at most."

"HA! You don't train someone as important as an Elite EVA Pilot in two or three years, Third!" Ace jeered, stabbing her index finger at Shinji's chest. "Goes to show what you know."

"...I would have known if she had just told me."

"...Fair point," Ace grudgingly conceded, going back to her spot. "In any case, Asuka's training was a gruelling regime in mind and body both, but she threw herself at it with single-minded abandon. She learned military tactics, martial arts, weapon handling, and basically every other ability that a modern day soldier would need to master, and she did all of that at an age when most kids are struggling to learn the times tables. Impressive, isn't it?"

Ace's rhetorical question sounded off towards the horizon but received no response, just as she had predicted, a deep silence settling between the two people at the edge of the summit. Shinji was struggling to comprehend the magnitude of Asuka's achievements, no doubt, staring at her while completely awe-struck as she heroically gazed towards the distant horizon. Of that, Ace was absolutely certain.

But that certainty shattered into a million pieces when Ace finally turned around to face the Third Child, herself: Shinji was indeed looking at her, but the look he was giving her was not one of silent awe, but rather one of silent disbelief. Bordering on scepticism, to be precise.

"What's with that look?" the Pilot demanded.

"It's... nothing," Shinji denied, quickly shaking his head. "It's nothing!"

"You suck at lying, Third. Out with it."

"...You'll get angry."

"No, I won't," Ace reassured him, trying to sound truthful. But her honest words completely failed at reaching the young man. "What? Do you want me to promise, Third?"

"Eh... yeah?"

"...Whatever, I promise. Out with it, already!"

"Okay..." Shinji finally gave up, taking a few more seconds to fidget on the spot and figure out how he wanted to proceed through the verbal minefield. "If... If Asuka has trained for so long and is so skilled in combat... howcomeshe'shadsomuchtroublefightingtheAngels?!"

Shinji braced himself for impact the very moment the last word left his mouth but, strangely enough, no actual raging strike struck any part of his body. Surprised, the Third Child peeked through the slit between his arms, only to find Ace firmly clenching her fists with fire in her eyes.

"...Oh, you were right. That question is pissing me off quite a bit, Third. But I promised, didn't I?" the redhead grumbled through tightly-pressed lips, looking like any of the explosions going on inside her could escape at any second. Her eye twitched a few more times before Ace took a deep breath and forced herself to relax, putting up a wall of indifference not long after. "...Whatever. It's not like it doesn't have a simple answer, anyway."

"It... does?"

"Sure. I mean, how many Angels has Asuka fought that could have been beaten with conventional tactics?"

"...Oh." The Third Child mouthed, quickly catching on to what Ace meant. The latest batch of Angels had been nothing like the first two he himself had faced, after all. It was reasonable to expect that Asuka and her proper training at the time when compared to him would have done a much better job than he had against the Third and Fourth Angels, maybe even the Fifth.

"Yup. Asuka could have handled those two small-fries in her sleep. Did so during the single EVA combat sim-tests on multiple occasions, in fact," the Pilot agreed, managing to read Shinji's mind. "That's what an Elite and properly trained top EVA Pilot can do. But it just so happens that being the best at regular combat proceedings matters jack shit in this war."

"That's something else I don't understand. Why is Asuka so... obsessed with being the best?"

"That's for later. But going back to Asuka becoming the top EVA Pilot, it should be enough to say that things didn't go exactly as planned," Ace grumbled. "Or rather, they did at the beginning, before they got seriously derailed at the end."

"Derailed how?"

"...Funny that you would you only need to go back to some time ago, when the both of us came along to say hi," the Pilot clarified, pointing to the incline Shinji had climbed. "Our means of transport wasn't just for show, you know?"

Shinji frowned, turning Ace's words inside his head as he followed her finger. The gargantuan device that went from base to top of the mountain was still as out of place as ever.

"You mean that escalator is a... metaphor, too? For someone else's EVA caree-?" The eyes of the Third Child suddenly widened in realisation. "...That's me, isn't it?"

"You're damn right it is, Third. Congrats on figuring that one out," Ace faux-praised his breakthrough, pointing a finger at the massive escalator. "That's meant to illustrate the rise of a certain annoying boy, after he was pretty much picked up off the street and immediately put at the helm of an EVA."

Shinji felt a pang of guilt when he heard his suspicions proven right, about how he had, as Ace had previously put it, made a mockery out of Asuka's struggles with his own piloting. And while it might not have been at all intentional, this new knowledge did certainly help to put into perspective some of the reasons why the Second Child always seemed to be mad at him.

Especially Asuka's increased hostility after Shinji managed to surpass her record synch-ratio. Having the achievement of a lifetime snatched away by someone who didn't at all deserve it would make anyone furious.

It was no wonder Asuka hated him. And there was only one thing that Shinji believed could even start making it better:

"I-..." he began, bowing forward. "I'm so-"

But any more words were harshly interrupted by the speedy contact of a rubbery hand against the back of his head.

"OW! What was that for?!" Shinji promptly protested.

"Because you were about to apologise for being good at your job," Ace chastised him with a critical look. "Do you realise just how stupid and dishonest that makes you sound?"

"But I am sorry!" Shinji argued back. "I didn't mean to... to... stomp all over Asuka's efforts like that! Didn't you just say that this was something she trained for all her life?!"

"That still doesn't make it something you should apologise for, you're the more talented Pilot and that's that. No amount of 'Sorry' is going to change that, whether it comes out of skill, an innate gift, or just plain, dumb luck," the Pilot stated, as if quoting an unquestionable truth. She then turned to look towards the fog, appearing to see something more than endless grey. "Besides, it might be immensely infuriating but, at the same time, it's also worthy of respect."

"...What?"

"I said that it's worthy of respect, and respect it she does, trust me," Ace repeated, her voice growing uncharacteristically soft. "It pisses her off to no end but, deep down, Asuka can't help but admire you and your abilities. She can't help but see all those fights, all those operations in which the Almighty Third Child single-handedly turned the tide of battle and wish that she were more like him.

"As capable as to have the highest synch-ratio, as skilled to face a monster like the Fourteenth on her own, as compassionate to take a blow for another..." the redhead listed with her fingers, before growing silent at the fourth item. When it came, the last entry was far more hushed than the others. "...and as fearless to dive into a volcano without a second thought, saving a comrade's life."

...

Shinji stared in shock at Ace, not knowing how to react to the unexpected compliments. A big part of that was due to Shinji admittedly finding most of what Ace had just said completely unbelievable but, at the same time, he also knew her words to be the truth. After all, who would know what Asuka's thoughts and opinions were better than a literal part of her psyche?

"I..." The Third Child stuttered, but the words would not come. What was he supposed to say to something like that? He had always believed that his roommate despised him but, while that assessment might have been true to a point, Shinji couldn't wrap his head around the new information he had been given.

Asuka looked up to his achievements? Admired him, even?

'Although I've taken everything that by all rights should have been hers?' the young man realised, high spirits going sour in the blink of an eye. 'Me, who hates piloting EVA?'

"Don't give me that face, Third," Ace intruded into his thoughts, reading his mood without even needing to look at him. "I thought you'd be happier, considering that I don't praise you all that often."

"How can I be happy about what you just said? You just told me that I'm responsible for Asuka losing her place in the world," Shinji sighed deeply, his eyes steadily dropping down to the ground. "And the best part is that she's wrong. I'm nothing special."

The Third Child felt Ace's eyes bore into him from the side, but no immediate response was forthcoming. The only sound that reached his ears was that of a deep sigh not too different from his own.

"...That's not something I should argue. Whether you think she's right or wrong is all up to you, Third," the Pilot spoke in time, voice neutral. "In any case, did you get some useful insight out of the experience?"

"...Yeah. I think so."

"Then that's what's important, and pretty much all the use that we had for this place. We should get going towards the next," Ace proposed, turning and heading back towards Asuka, who had been doing her best to entertain herself. "Not too long now until it's time."

"Time?" Shinji echoed, following the Pilot with wary eyes. "Time for what?"

Ace paused and looked over her shoulder, awarding the Third Child's curiosity with a smirk and a wink that were not at all foreboding.

"Time for a little experiment of my own I want to try."

A/N: One more chapter remains until we go back 'outside'. Sorry if some of you feel that the pacing of these last few sections could have been further improved (I did what I could), but Shinji and company needed to do this stuff and I felt that having it all as a single block worked better than switching PoVs from update to update between here and the girls. Let me know in the reviews if you feel that something else could be improved.

See you next week! :D