AN: Okay, before we begin this chapter, I just want to apologize for the fact that it took me so long to write this chapter and update this story. I was stuck on how to best go about introducing the Transformers portion of the story into it without seeming like it was being rushed. And I'm not sure if this still TECHNICALLY counts as rushing it… I don't know, it depends on how strict most fanfiction authors are about details like these. But basically, after much careful consideration and character design issues, I have decided on what I want to do for the transformers portion of this story. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter, because I poured as much of my creativity into it as I possibly could. Okay, on to the chapter! Thank you for understanding!
Disclaimer: I don't own Neon Genesis Evangelion, Yu-Gi-Oh GX, or Transformers Prime in any way, shape, or form!
"Regular speech"
(Stardust Dragon [Monster/ Synchro/ Effect] Dragon/WIND [Level 8] ATK: 2500/ DEF: 2000) = Monster Card Stats
'Someone Thinking'
"Someone Yelling"
[Primus Speaking]
A Vision from Cybertron! The First Decepticon!
As the three EVA pilots did their own thing on the boat that was taking them to Domino City where the would begin their mission, Shinji couldn't stop thinking about SEELE and his father and what they were truly planning for the world. He wasn't sure how many people in Nerv knew what was truly going on behind the scenes, but he was sure that if they succeeded then it would truly be the end of all creation. He couldn't let that happen. Shinji truly wasn't sure why, but he felt more of an obligation to saving the world from SEELE and Gendo, far more than he felt that he needed to pilot that death machine known as the EVA.
He shuddered at the thought of that purple and green menace that they call a giant mech.
There was something about the thing that just didn't seem natural to Shinji, and not simply because it was classified as a giant machine. When he first got into the EVA he could easily tell that there was more to it than meets the eye. Why would a machine like that need to synch with a pilot's nervous system, especially if whatever injuries the EVA suffers are felt by the pilots themselves? And why would the cockpit need to be filled with a strange liquid that tasted an awful lot like blood? More importantly, why and how does a machine enter a berserker mode where it goes on a frenzied rampage intent on destroying everything around it? Including the target of its rampage?
These questions lit up in Shinji's head like the stars in the evening sky. And unfortunately, he just didn't have the answer to any of those questions.
He continued to look through his deck as he tried to form strategies to use in the upcoming duel exams. He knew that it wasn't going to be easy, and he'd rather be prepared for anything. His deck was full of low-level monsters, but he could use their effects to his advantage in some situations. Still, he thought that it might be a good idea to have some extra muscle on his side, so he'd probably introduce some high-level monsters later on. But for now, he'll stick to what he's got and try not to throw off the balance of his deck.
He sighed and put his deck back into its holster before putting it away where only he would find it. Shinji honestly wouldn't put it past Asuka to sneak into his room at night and try to mess with his deck just to make sure he doesn't pass the dueling exam for Duel Academy, with how petty, prideful, and arrogant the German pilot is.
He decided to worry about the exam in the morning. He wanted to be up bright and early for the big day, so he set his alarm, closed his eyes, and went to sleep.
But as Shinji slept a dreamless slumber, a pale blue ball of light fluttered into his room on the ship through an open porthole. It seemed to have this ethereal, almost mystical, presence about it. It lit up the room in a ghostly blue light as it floated above the pilot of EVA Unit-01.
[Shinji Ikari of Earth…]
Shinji groaned as he began to awaken, not used to waking up as early as he was. It was literally only two in the morning, but he didn't know that yet.
"Who… who said that?" Shinji asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
As he cracked open his eyes, he saw the glowing orb of light which quickly startled him awake. He bolted upright and backed up against the wall. Even when he had been absorbed by the EVA before, nothing quite like this had ever happened! The orb didn't seem malevolent, but Shinji knows better than almost anyone else that looks can be highly deceiving. After all, Asuka may act all sweet and kind to other people, particularly when she's trying to suck-up to their superiors at Nerv or trying to avoid getting in trouble.
The light began to pulse as a deep, yet distorted voice began to resonate from it. And though the voice was distorted, as though someone was speaking underwater, Shinji could hear it clear as day.
[You've no need to fear, child. I am Primus, the creator of the Transformer race known as the Cybertronians. A race of sentient robotic organisms from the far-off planet known as Cybertron.]
"You're really the creator of a whole species? I don't mean to sound disrespectful or anything, but shouldn't you be a whole lot bigger and with an actual body if that were the case?" Shinji asked.
The light, Primus, seemed to twinkle as the great spirit gave a hearty laugh at the question.
[You have a right to be skeptical of my claims, child. After all, you have been through so much in your short life. Much more than any life form should ever have to endure. And yet you have continued to press on and fight for those who have grown close to your heart. Your guardian and your friend, Rei, chief among them. But I'm afraid that the Earth needs your help now more than ever.]
"My help?" Shinji asked, concern laced in his voice.
[A great war has broken out between my people, Shinji. Two factions now fight each other in a civil war that has lasted for millions of years now. The heroic Decepticons, and the evil yet highly misguided Autobots. The Autobot Leader, who has only recently become a Prime, Optimus, seeks to completely eradicate the Decepticons and their leader, Megatron, before moving on to your world to conquer it! For the sole reason that Cybertron has been rendered inhospitable due to centuries of constant warfare.]
If Shinji was concerned before, he was quite literally panicking now! A war between sentient robots? From another planet? Coming to Earth?!
"What does this have to do with me? I'm not a soldier!" exclaimed Shinji.
[And Optimus was not always a Prime, and yet he started a war for complete and total conquest of Cybertron. One is not defined simply by their origins, Shinji, but by the choices they make in life. You did not want to pilot the EVA, a machine that has brought you nothing but great pain and suffering for every victory you have brought for the Earth. And yet you chose to pilot so that your friend, who was heavily injured at the time, would not have to endure such pain any longer. A true leader is one who can make the tough decisions when they count, and yet will never send anyone to do something that they aren't willing to do themself. Optimus made his choice when he stole the artifact that would make him a Prime and started this terrible war.]
"But why would he want to start a war in the first place? What's his motivation for doing so?" Shinji asked.
In response, Primus began to glow brighter as images began to flash before Shinji's eyes. He could see a giant planet made of metal and machinery. A planet that he could only assume to be Cybertron. And on this planet, he saw a great building full of knowledge collected over countless years being sorted through and managed by a single robot who looked like a male, judging by his build. The plating on his upper body was primarily purple with some lime green accents while his main body was black. His face was silver with glowing red optics, and the armor on his helm and lower legs, as well as his hands, was dark blue.
[Do you recall how I mentioned that Optimus wasn't always a Prime? Well, he wasn't always Optimus either. He was once a clerk in the Iacon Hall of Records named Orion Pax. But as he learned more about Cybertron's past, he became increasingly concerned about the present corruption in high places, and inequality among the masses. Orion became inspired by the words and ideas of a gladiator.]
A mighty beast made of metal was brought down as a single mech with a powerful build stood upon his latest foe. He had white plating almost all over his body while his helm was black, and his lower legs were dark blue. His armor was sharper with more angular curves than that of Orion Pax, and he had a large cannon mounted to his right forearm. His eyes glowed a gentle blue as did the various bio lights on his body.
The crowd of the colosseum where this mech fought cheered loudly for another well fought match. But later on, this mech stood before a large crowd of robots who were all cheering and pumping their fists in the air. Clearly, this mech had made some sort of inspiring speech as his followers seemed to be highly loyal.
[One who had named himself after one of the thirteen original Primes: Megatronus. Megatronus vowed to challenge Cybertron's leadership and demand that all Cybertronians be treated as equals. This gladiator-turned-revolutionary rapidly gained a loyal following. Soundwave chief among them.]
Later on, Shinji saw Orion speaking with Megatronus as they walked along the streets of Cybertron, the former gladiator seemed to be teaching the young Orion about the many things that corrupted present day Cybertron.
[Orion began corresponding with Megatronus, who came to be something of a mentor to him. As Megatronus left the gladiatorial arena for the political, he saw fit to shorten his name.]
He saw Megatronus and Orion appearing before a group of robots who stood upon these pedestals, acting as some sort of political group. Megatronus seemed to have been giving a speech about how things would need to change on Cybertron before things got any better. Unfortunately for him, things didn't seem to go his way.
[Before long, Megatron appeared before the high council to propose his vision for a just society. However, it was not meant to be… The High Council laughed at Megatron's proposal for a just society in which the caste system would be discarded, and completely disregarded his concerns for the current state of affairs. They had planned to name Orion as the next Prime… and it was here that the Iacon clerk began to show his true colors.]
Shinji gasped in horror as he watched Orion Pax literally stab Megatron in the back, a cruel smile upon his face as he watched the life blood, or rather Energon, pool beneath the former gladiator.
[Orion accepted the high council's offer to become the next Prime and turned on Megatron as he backstabbed the mech who had once been his mentor. Quite literally backstabbed. But even though Megatron was out of the way for a time, Orion knew that he could not be the next Prime without first finding the one relic that could endow him with the vast knowledge of all of the past Primes: The Matrix of Leadership. And as his search began, so too did his conquest of Cybertron.]
And so, Shinji watched as a great war ravaged Cybertron. The planet was consumed by death and destruction as Cybertronians were forced to pick a side and fight against one another, usually to the death. Brothers, sisters, cousins, friends, it didn't matter. They were all forced to choose a side and fight to either conquer Cybertron, or to restore peace to the planet and bring about great change that would be beneficial to all of the planet's inhabitants.
Megatron was locked in something of an eternal combat with Orion Pax, the two former friends, practically brothers, now nothing more than bitter enemies! Among those fighting with Megatron were Soundwave and this much smaller Cybertronian that resembled a bird. Data told Shinji that this small bird robot was called a Minicon, and that its name was Laserbeak.
[A great civil war broke out between the Autobots, who were the army of Orion Pax, and the bots who joined under Megatron's leadership, the Decepticons, causing many to fall in battle as their sparks began to be extinguished left and right. Through peaceful negotiations, Megatron had managed to create strong ties with many different bots who became members of his Decepticons, while Orion's army grew stronger by bots who were likeminded to Orion joined him merely to destroy the rebelling lower caste bots. Orion vowed to find and claim the Matrix, wherever it might lie! Unfortunately, in my permanently transformed state, I was helpless as Orion traveled to the very core of Cybertron where I resided and stole the very relic that he was searching for… The Matrix of Leadership! And with its power, he became a true Prime… one tainted by the evil that had warped his mind and Spark… Optimus Prime. But that's not all that he did, I'm afraid.]
Shinji watched as Megatron traveled to the very core of Cybertron where he was met by Primus. Though the deity was currently in a more spherical form of body due to transforming himself into the core of the planet many millennia ago. Strangely, though Primus himself glowed blue, most of his bio lights were glowing a very ominous purple color. He learned through his memories that Primus had been infected with a substance known as Dark Energon, which is considered highly poisonous, even to a deity such as himself. Especially since Primus still has a physical body which can be harmed and even killed if he's not careful.
[Optimus's war with Megatron poisoned our world, right down to its very core. When he learned of this, Megatron traveled to the core in hopes of reversing the ill effects and found himself before the spark of Cybertron's very life giver. Indeed, I revealed myself to Megatron. Though I was ailing, and still am, I sensed the innate nobility within Megatron and bestowed him with a piece of my very essence. It was thus that a surprised and humbled Megatron grew in strength to be on par with Orion Pax, who became Optimus… the last of the Primes.]
To finish up the flashbacks, Shinji watched as Megatron received a piece of Primus's spark which seemed to merge with the Decepticon Leader, empowering him and making him strong enough to fight the dark Prime on even ground. Needless to say, Shinji was floored by all of this new information. It was quite a lot to take in. But he took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and tried to get some more information.
"Well, say I believe your story… why would you come to me? What makes me so special to you?" Shinji asked, his low self-esteem showing through in his question.
[Because, Shinji Ikari, you have what many other humans on this world do not have. And that is a pure heart and a will to fight to protect, rather than fighting for fame or glory. Surely you passed the trial of skill when you defeated that centipede monster using nothing more than your EVA's knife while you had very little time left, while saving your two friends in the process. And you endured an atrocious trial of the flesh at the hands of that pyramid creature's particle beam.]
Shinji hummed in response. He remembered that particular encounter very well. He's still got the scars from the burns to prove it.
[And throughout your own war with those creatures, you have continued to pass every test of courage that has been dealt to you. And it is because of your selflessness, your drive to protect, and your sense of right from wrong that I have chosen you to become the new leader of the Decepticons.]
Now, THAT threw Shinji for a loop.
"What?" he gasped.
***To Be Continued…***
Ending AN: Dun, dun, duuuuuun! And so, the plot thickens! Okay, so I'm currently working on how Shinji will look as the new Megatron for this story and there is an explanation for how this will happen. All will be revealed in time. Anyway, the poll on my profile is still up, so if you haven't voted already, please be sure to do so! REVIEW, FAV, FOLLOW, AND VOTE MY LOYAL READERS! Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next time.
Poll Question: Which of these stories do you want me to continue & focus on after I've finished writing The Phantom of the Empire? (Select Three Choices)
