Disclaimer: I do not own the copyrights to Gundam Wing, Endless Waltz, Sailor Moon, Trigun, Evangelion, Lupin the Third, Outlaw Star, Rurouni Kenshin, G-Gundam, any other Gundam Series, Stephen King's The Dark Tower series, any movies, books, or any songs that are used in this story. All copyrights belong to their respective owners.

Notice to Readers: To understand certain parts of this story, you'll have to read the other stories before this one. It is recommended by not required.

The DarkTower:

Anime's Unite

Chapter 2: The Northern Group:

The Young Soldiers

            Across the seas of time and space, there was another Earth in the year 2015; life on that little planet had seen some extremely dramatic changes in the past fifteen years.  It all began with what has been called The Second Impact.  It was an event in which the Antarctic continent had been melted faster than an ice cube in a fire, raising the tide all around the world, and changing the life of the people there forever.  Yet, the people were lead to believe that the Second Impact was caused by a comet that crashed into the South Pole, but they were deceived.  The truth of this was that a creature was found in the Antarctic, something that would be called the 1st Angel…Adam. 

            It was from that singular event that began a chain of events that lead to the creation of the robots known as the Evangelions, the only machines that could fight the angels; a group of creatures that kept attacking the new city of Tokyo-3.  The first three were piloted by three special children; Rei Ayanami who piloted Evangelion Unit Zero, Shinji Ikari who piloted Evangelion Unit One, and last of all Asuka Langely Sohryuu who piloted Evangelion Unit Two.  Over a course of a few months these three children had fought against the angels, but as time went on it occurred to them that something was going on.  Something very sinister…

            In fact what the organizations of Nerv and Seelee had been planning to do was cause another event that would be Third Impact.  An event in which all humanity would be reverted back to an original state, back to a state of primordial liquid; it was this plan that was called The Human Instrumentality Project. 

            The Third Impact had already occurred.

            Shinji Ikari had fought one last time with his Evangelion and was left there on a white beach next to an ocean that was stained red.  Yet, he wasn't alone; at his side lying in bandages was Asuka Langely Sohryuu.  Even though Shinji never noticed but Asuka had changed in the last battle.  Her eyes that were once blue had turned to brown.  

            But, that didn't matter to Shinji, because fate had dealt him a very shitty hand.  That much was evident with his father…Gendo Ikari.  A man so ruthless that made the most insane of madmen look like saints.  It was Gendo who laid the first dent in Shinji's mind, it was when Shinji was a young boy and Gendo had abandoned him as if he was a stray dog that needed to be gotten rid of.  This happened after Shinji's mother had died in an accident.  That much was evident that Shinji's mind had been severely scarred by these events.      

            After the last battle that Shinji had to deal with, he had to make a choice…a choice whether to live or whether to die.  He chose to live, but was his choice the right one?  That was something that he wondered as he sat there on the beach next to Asuka as well as a few feet from a ceremonial wooden cross that he had placed there.  Upon that cross was nailed a silver cross that was so short that it almost looked like a plus sign.  It meant a great deal to the boy, because that grave marked the memory of Misato Katsuragi, a very special woman that Shinji had met when he came to Tokyo-3.  One of few women who had shown him any sort of kindness in the greatest sense of the word and it was actually Misato that gave Shinji a kick in the ass in order to get him to pilot the Eva one last time.  He was in a slump before the last battle; because of something he did…something terrible. 

            Shinji looked over to where Asuka lay and he couldn't help but feel angry at her.  Angry for so many different reasons…one of these reasons was when he was in the hospital with Asuka.  She was in a comatose state from an encounter with one of the angels who had invaded her mind.  He tried to wake up but she didn't move, she didn't speak, she just stared with glazed eyes up at the ceiling, and never even turning her gaze to him.  Perhaps that's why he was so angry at her, and perhaps that's why he tried to place his hands around her neck on that beach in the hopes of choking her.  He wanted her to acknowledge him, but instead she didn't even give him one scrap of validation.

            Yet, Shinji couldn't bring himself to kill Asuka like that.  The thought of her leaving him to be alone in an empty world as the one he was in was too much to bear.  With his hands around Asuka's neck, Shinji couldn't help but cry. 

            As his tears fell onto Asuka's plug suit, she finally had some movement.  Her right eye (while her left eye was covered by a bandage) had moved to look at Shinji.  Yet, her expression remained as neutral as ever. 

            Yet…she whispered one thing, "I feel sick." 

            Perhaps it was true what Robert Browning said how the world would end, it wouldn't end with a bang…but with a whimper.  For Shinji began to weep as his hands had let go of Asuka's neck, he fell onto his side into the bleached white sands, and he looked up to the sky to see that ring of blood that stretched from the east and to the west like the rings of Saturn.  He began to question why he made the choice at all. 

            In another alternate world, in the city of Tokyo in the present day, it was one fine summer's day.  It had been at least a year since the defeat of Galaxia. The Sailor Senshi (Usagi, Rei, Minako, Makoto, and Ami) were all enjoying themselves in their various lives. The Inner Senshi were relieved that the summer had started especially after all the work that they had to do over the spring semester.

As for the Outer Senshi (Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna), they had their hands full with raising Hotaru.  It was quite a delight for them; they had watched Hotaru grow over the past year.  It was strange that after the battle with Galaxia, she returned to the age of 9.  Still it was, in Michiru's opinion, to never question a miracle because that's when the miracle fades.  So, they continued to raise Hotaru.

It was on that summer's day in June on the steps of Rei's Temple that they got a very special visit.  Usagi sat on the steps enjoying the sun along with her friend Minako. While Ami read a rather medium book called, "A Critique of Pure Reason" Makoto was leaning against the post of the temple building.  While Rei was sweeping the walkways free of the dead leaves from the many trees.  Finally lying in the shade of the temple were the cats, Luna and Artemis.  As the day burned ever onward, there were the sounds of steps coming up the stone walkway of the temple.

Rei didn't pay any attention to it since in her mind she thought that it was just people coming to visit and pray at the temple.  As she heard the footsteps drawing ever closer she didn't look up.

She only said, "Good afternoon".

But that was when her ears were given a rather sudden shock.

"After all this time, that's all you have to say?" A very sarcastic and humorous voice said.

Rei looked up and saw three very familiar faces.  The first that greeted her eye was the young and handsome face of Seiya Kou, his black hair shimmering in the bright sunlight of the day.  He was smiling as he raised his hand to her.  Rei's heart had made a leap from being calm to being right into her throat as her face turned several shades of red.  She looked to Seiya's right, and found his friends and comrades. 

At his right was the very tall, Taiki. Even though he was rather on the very serious side, he too was smiling down at Rei's his hair tapered down over his shoulder.  Finally there was the young Yaten who only gave a smirk to Rei as he greeted her. 

Rei couldn't say a word.  She was utterly speechless, which was an odd occasion for her since she always had something to say about a certain situation.  Basically, a last word freak, especially when it came to an argument with Usagi.  It didn't take long for Usagi and Minako to see that there was something wrong.  But due to the bright sunlight of the day, neither one of them could see what was wrong or who was at the steps.

So, they just went over to Rei who stood petrified.

"Rei, what's wrong?" Usagi asked

Minako rubber her eyes to get a little sleepiness out of her eyes, and that was when she looked up and saw what was the cause for Rei's position.  She saw them...The Three Lights, or rather, the Starlights as the Senshi had found out on one day onboard an airplane.

"Seiya." Usagi uttered in shock to see him again.

"Hey, dumpling." Seiya smiled

"Yaten...Taiki." Minako finished as she too was in shock over this sudden visit.

"Hey, aren't you three going to say anything else?" Seiya asked with concern

Usagi, even though she was a klutz a lot of the time, when it really came down to it she always came through.

"It's great to see all of you again." She said in an oddly mature voice.

"Is that all?" Seiya asked then stayed silent for a moment "Well come on, give me a hug." He said with open arms, "Or are you going to stand there like a statue?"

Usagi couldn't refuse she opened her arms and hugged Seiya.  Minako followed suit when she did the same thing with great enthusiasm for Taiki and then very quickly over to Yaten.

As Usagi drew back she looked up to Seiya, "What brings you back here?"

"Let's talk on the steps, shall we?" Seiya suggested

Rei had finally snapped out of her trance, "Yes, let's go."

Finally, all eight of them were on the steps of the temple building.

"What brings all of you back here?" Minako asked

"Well," Seiya began, "We haven't had any enemies lately, and we kind of missed all of you, though these two won't admit it." He pointed to Taiki and Yaten

"So, we asked the princess if we could go to Earth and she allowed us."

"But wouldn't your planet be defenseless?" Makoto asked

"She does have a point." Ami brought up, "You should always be prepared for the unexpected."

"Well, we've been given, temporary leave of absence." Seiya said as he leaned back against the temple post.

"And one other thing" Rei brought up, "why did you come to us in Male form? We all know that your really females."

Seiya blushed, "I figured that this would be a little more comforting to all of you. Plus you should have seen the looks on your faces." He laughed, "It was priceless."

Usagi pouted, "Don't make fun of us, Seiya."

"By the way." Seiya changed the subject, "Where's Momoru? And Chibi-Usa?"

"Momoru's still studying in America." Rei explained, "As for Chibi-Usa, she went back to her real family." 

"Ok."  Seiya said

"How long are you going to be here?" Ami asked

"Why do you want to know?" Seiya asked in a very sensual way, "Are you looking to get some?"

Ami's face went beet red when Seiya said that to her.

"Seiya." Taiki said with a firm tone of voice like a peeved mother, "The Princess allowed us to stay here for three months. But if there is any emergency she would notify us."

As the Inner Senshi and the Starlights sat on the steps enjoying the day, something had to spoil the moment.

"So," a voice said, "You three are back."

The Starlights opened their eyes and found out who was speaking to them.  It was the Outer Senshi, Haruka, Michiru, Setsuna, and Hotaru.  It was Haruka who stood as the leader of the pack who looked down at the Starlights sitting on the steps of the temple.  She looked down at them with narrow eyes and a fire of hatred at them.

"Still mad at us?" Seiya asked very innocently to Haruka

"You're still outsiders to this system." Haruka said in a very commanding tone, "And it's our job to protect this system from outsiders."

"I thought we had put this issue aside." Seiya stated

"We still have a bit of a score to settle." Haruka answered back as she took her hands out of her pocket.

"Oh, I know what this is about." Seiya smirked

"What?" Taiki asked Seiya

"She's just jealous." Seiya answered

"Jealous of what?" Haruka asked with her eyes still narrow

"You're just jealous that we can turn into men, and you can't." Seiya said very snobbishly and then stuck his tongue out at Haruka.

"Ooh." Taiki shook his head, "Ooh. That was a very, very low blow, Seiya."

"Very mature of you" Yaten said with his hand over his face.

Haruka on the other hand looked at Seiya in shock.  She didn't know what to say or even if she should say anything. 

"Ok, that's it." Haruka snarled as she took out her transformation pen out of her pocket.

It was then up to Usagi to make peace.  She stepped out in between the two groups like a human shield.

Her arms were outspread as she pleaded, "Please, we're not enemies with each other. I agree with Seiya, I thought that we put this fight to rest. We're all Senshi here. We mustn't fight each other, it isn't right!"

Even though Usagi was looking towards Haruka, she never saw what Seiya and Haruka did at the same time.  The two soldiers were smiling at the same time.

"You're still the same." Haruka smiled
"Still the peacemaker." Seiya whispered

"So please" Usagi pleaded with great earnest from both of them, "Let's be at peace with each other."

At last, Haruka had put her transformation pen back in her pocket and backed down like a mad bull being calmed down.  Seiya was always calm the whole time, even though he had his hand on the transformation tool the whole time.

"Good." Usagi said with relief as she sat down on the steps. "This is the first step to our friendship. As I remember, we weren't exactly the best of friends either, right Haruka?"

"Uh..." Haruka paused even though she was too proud to admit anything, "Yes."

"As I recall" Usagi continued, "You called the Inner Senshi, 'little girls'. As you can see we've made tremendous growth with time."

Haruka never showed it, but she did feel guilty about calling the Inner Senshi "little girls". It was a very low blow, especially since they were all on the same side, except she was too self-righteous to notice it at the time.

 "Uh..." she paused again, "Yes."

"Now that we are all together" Rei stepped forward, "We may as well enjoy ourselves."
"I agree." Minako said standing up as if embracing the life in the air.

"Don't you think so, Haruka?" Michiru asked as she hugged Haruka's arm.

Haruka chuckled, "Sure."

All of them, the Inner Senshi, the Outer Senshi and the Starlights enjoyed the day as it rolled on.  The days of summer always seem to roll on the fastest; perhaps it was because of all the things that could be done and without the slightest cares in the world.  Still, there was something that was bothering one of the Senshi…actually two of them.  Rei and Minako, who both were having bad dreams…they couldn't remember them.  They had become like memories of the distant past, blurry and hard to conjure up the details.  All they knew was the feeling that they left within them as well as one detail…seeing a man in chains in a dungeon and he called to them…Help me…

            Back in the world of 2015 at the site of where Tokyo-3 used to be, Shinji Ikari continued to lie on that bleach white beach next to Asuka.  To Shinji, life seemed to be completely topsy-turvy, the world was dead…nothing made sense here.  He went back into the memories of his life and remembered that time not too long ago when he, Misato, and Asuka had traveled through a tear.  He remembered how he met a very special group of boys, the Preventers and their Gundams and how he, Asuka, and Misato had helped them clear their name when they were framed as criminals.  He even remembered the gift that was given to him by the pilot named Johan…it was a cassette tape.  It had a song that had touched Shinji very deeply.  It was called Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. 

            Is this the real life?

            Is this just fantasy

            Caught in a landslide

            No escape from reality

            Open your eyes

            Look up to the skies and see

            The melodic words of that song seemed to resonate in Shinji's mind, yet he remembered that he couldn't play his music anymore.  The batteries for his player had died a long time ago like everything else in this world.  He thought to himself that if he could have anything, it would be to hear that song in the earphones of his player once again, but he was left to only sing the song to himself in his mind.

            I'm just a poor boy

            I need no strife

            Because I'm easy come, easy go

            Little high, little low

            Anyway the wind blows…

            Doesn't really matter to me…

            To me…

            It just didn't feel the same when Shinji sung out those lyrics in his mind than when he actually heard that man's beautiful voice from his player.  The other worst part of trying to play something in one's mind like that is that sometimes the music skips like those old record players from the later part of the twentieth century or those primitive CD players.  It was when the mind would come to the chorus that it was hard to remember what the next verse was.  In Shinji's case, he couldn't remember the rest of the song after that.  All he could do was repeat that melodic piano and soothing voice in his mind…over…and over…and over again.  At last under a lively sky and surrounded by a dead world, Shinji had fallen asleep.       

            At first, his face held the expression that he was crying, but as his mind had drifted off into sleep his face relaxed.  It was as if he had found some kind of peace on that bleach white sand or perhaps in the depths of his mind.  Soon, he was dreaming.

            In his dreams, he dreamt about a different life; one that was happy and so was the people.  There were no Eva's to pilot and no Angels to fight.  It was the different life that was shown to him as he was trapped inside the instrumentality project.  His mother was still alive and his father had never abandoned him.  Asuka was his long time childhood friend; he was the greatest of buddies with Kenuske and Suzahara.  Misato was their teacher at school.  Rei Ayanami was the new student at the school; she seemed so much happier, so bouncy and full of life.  Not like how she was before, always so drab, dull, quiet, passive, and blank as a white sheet.  Plus, Shinji himself was a happier person…it truly was a wonderful life. 

            Shinji sat at his desk; he could feel his face smiling…something that he hadn't done in a very long time.  Thinking about it for a moment, he couldn't remember the last time he even smiled because he was happy.  There were no times like that in his life…not at all…at least not that he could recall. 

            In his dream, Shinji saw someone sitting next to him.  He couldn't remember why, but he felt compelled to look in that direction.  Like that feeling of a presence in an empty room, the presence of someone else there.  As Shinji was looking he noticed that the kid didn't look Japanese, in fact he looked very different than the other kids…even Asuka.  As a matter of fact he didn't even look like a kid, he seemed much older than that.  Almost as if he were in his 20's or so, he also had sandy blonde, his skin was fair yet tanned as if he had been out in the sun for a very long time.  He also had a pair of eyes that had a very odd kind of shade to them.  A dirty shade of blue, like the colors of blue and brown has been lightly mixed to produce a very light hazel blend. 

As Shinji looked, the man sitting there turned his gaze at Shinji and he saw that his eyes were honey brown, an almost golden color.   

            "We will need people you, Shinji Ikari."  He spoke softly; he spoke in a way that wasn't frightening like in nightmares.  He seemed so gentle and kind when he spoke, "You and all you're friends."

            "What do you mean?" Shinji demanded, "And who are you?"

            "You'll find out soon enough."

            His image began to fade away as if he was made of smoke that was drifting into nothingness, and Shinji began to awaken.  The thing that woke him up was sound…the sounds of insects…crickets chirping.  He opened his eyes and sunlight had met his eye like an old dear friend that they had not seen in a long time.  Shinji sat up and rubbed the sand out of his eyes to make sure that he wasn't dreaming and sure enough…he wasn't.  The world was so different, he could feel a cool breeze against his face and exposed arms, which was unusual since it was always so warm back home…

            "Home…" He thought, "Was it home?"

            That was a deep question, because really he always found that he didn't belong anywhere.  Most of his life he had lived with his teachers…since his mother had died and his father abandoned him.  Home was merely a word to him, at least until Misato.  He remembered when he stepped over the threshold of the door to her apartment. 

            "I'm home." He said

            "Welcome home."  Misato had smiled.  She was really the first person who actually did that for him…welcoming him home. 

            As he brought himself back to the reality of his situation he began to ask himself a very important question, "What is this place?"

            He stood upon his feet feeling the dizziness of coming out of sleep, much in the same way as getting out of bed in the morning.  His eyes were still trying to adjust to the brightness of the sun as he looked around.  He brought his hand over his eyes like a visor while his other hand was dusting off his pants of dirt and sand.  Everything around him was so blurred in his panicked state along with his eyes adjusting to the bright sun.  As he looked down upon the ground he was met with a great surprise. 

            Shinji saw Asuka lying down upon the ground.  Yet she was different that the last time she saw him.  Last time he saw her, she was bandaged up and she was still in her plug suit.  Yet, when he looked down at her, she was wearing her school uniform, that blue and white skirt with blouse combination.  She also had those Link plugs on her head that also acted as clips for her hair.  Her bandages were also gone, it was as if between last night and now (Whatever that was, Shinji thought) she had completely healed and was sleeping very peacefully in the grass.  Shinji's eyes had adjusted enough to tell that it was grass underneath his feet.  He took a look around to the horizon and saw that to his left he was at the foot of a great mountain range that spread outward from West to East as far as what Shinji could estimate.  Direction was a hard thing to grasp in this place from his disorientation.  He looked to…the south…as he guessed and saw springs, countless springs that spread out just in the same way as the mountains. 

            He took his hand that acted as his visor away from his forehead and then was greeted by another great surprise.  From out of nowhere a voice came out.

            "Shinji?"  The voice asked

            Shinji on the other hand was just about to leap from fear but was too frozen in it to do anything.  With the adrenaline washing over him he turned around and his eyes went wide with shock, elation, and confusion.  There standing in the grass just a foot away from him….was Misato Katsuragi.   

            Back in the Tokyo of present day at Rei's temple, the Sailor Senshi as well as the Starlights were all enjoying the day as it had passed them by.  Everyone seemed happy, except one.  For one of the Senshi was distracted by something ominous.  It was Rei who was still keeping up with her work of tending to the temple.  Sweeping away leaves from the stone pathway.  As she swept her mind wandered to when she was meditating near that bonfire.  She remembered looking into it and seeing things. 

            She saw a land that she had never seen in any map or picture would ever show.  No place on Earth was like what Rei was seeing, with its vast mountains, lush and thick forests, and towns that weren't as prosperous as the towns of Japan.  Though it wasn't that which drew Rei's attention it was what was ahead…a tower…a large tower that spiraled towards the sky and was black as obsidian. 

As Rei thought about it she was sweeping over by a very old tree.  It was covered with sacred ropes, and blessings tied around its branches. Rei had stopped for a moment as she looked up at the old tree. She looked at it to admire its age in how it had lasted all those years with the metropolis of Tokyo spreading up all around it. By some impulse she reached up to touch it.  And suddenly under the sensitivity of her hands she no longer felt solid mass of the tree bark.  She felt empty space and she was falling into the tree.  By the time she had realized what happened she couldn't bring herself to stop it.  All she could do was scream as she fell into the sacred tree.

"AAAHHHHH!" She screamed on her way into the tree.  Her scream caught the immediate attention of Usagi who was sitting on the steps of the temple with Seiya.

She looked over to the sacred tree and she saw a small glimpse.  She saw the feet and the rest of Rei's kimono as she fell into the tree that was soon followed by her screams.

"REI!" Usagi screamed as she leapt up from the Temple steps and ran across the grounds to the tree.  In extreme circumstances, Usagi was never one to think. She was always the one who acted on her heart as well as her own instincts. She ran to the tree and didn't even think of coaxing it out to see what the tree was. She simply stepped forward into the tree and fell into it with Rei. She didn't scream, she only fell silently in.

"USAGI!" Seiya screamed as he too ran across the grounds to the tree, but unlike Usagi, he was stopped. Taiki reached out and grabbed onto Seiya's arm to prevent him from meeting the same unknown fate as Usagi and Rei.

"Don't." Taiki said with great feeling for his comrade.

"Ami." Yaten asked, "Can you analyze the tree?"

Ami was shocked and stunned by what happened, but she had to keep herself together.

 "I think I can." She answered

She took out her little computer that had the symbol of Mercury on it. She walked over to the tree an analyzed it. She had seen the same readings before, but only once before.

"Everyone." She called, "I think you should have a look at this."

Instantly the Senshi and the Starlights came over and gathered around Ami.

"What is it, Ami?" Seiya asked

"From what my computer is reading," Ami explained. "There's a Trans-dimensional Vortex inside this tree, in other words a tear between two worlds. I've only seen this type of reading once in my life."

"Yes, I remember it." Haruka said, "It was a tear that landed us in a different universe."

"What was there?" Taiki asked

"There were young boys there who piloted great robots called Gundams." Haruka explained, "There was even one boy there who was married to a woman who was....was.....my reflection."

"Meaning what?" Yaten asked

"She was like me in so many ways that it was eerie."

"Does this tear lead to the same place?" Minako asked, "Because I want to see them again!"

"I don't think so." Ami answered, "The readings aren't the same. But that's not important now; the important thing is that we find Usagi and Rei."

"Agreed." Seiya said, "We should follow."

"That is the logical solution that I was going to suggest." Ami said

"Good." Seiya said as he leapt first into the tree.

"Ah." Taiki said with frustration, "Seiya always jumps before he looks."

"Well, let's get going." Ami said all Gung-Ho about the situation

Soon, all the Senshi and the Starlights had plunged into the tree. Even the cats, Luna and Artimis had followed suit. All of them had plunged down into the darkness of the tree. No one had any idea of where they were, or where they were going.  At least until they saw a light.  And instantly the light had consumed all of them.  Instantly they found themselves bathed in sunlight.

But it wasn't like the sun of the city.  It was pure, unbridled sunlight that came down in warm rays while the wind swept across their faces.  All of them were unconscious as to what or where they landed.  That was when all of them had woken up. 

The Sailor Senshi had woken up and had a look around.  They saw that they were in the country.  It was pure country.  There was not a building in sight.  It became quickly apparent that they didn't know where they were nor did they know how to get back home. 

To be continued…