Koros45 doesn't own Mazinkaiser, Getter Robo, or Neon Genesis Evangelion
Stage 27: [Soul's Refrain]
Everything broke apart and the world around him faded. The Invaders, the projection of Unit 01, Adam and Lilith. He was alone again – save the grip on his wrist. Asuka's - the same one as before when Unit 02 had grabbed onto his Evangelion. He had grabbed her hand almost on instinct when the place collapsed. He'd made his choice, but it had not been one he wanted to face alone. Even her grasp was broken as he was washed out of the vastness of Lilith's body.
"We are the words 'I love you'."
Lilith and Adam's words echoed in his mind as he fell. And then he broke apart, waking up again in LCL. He thought he heard his mother spoke to him briefly and then Shinji felt the liquid around him. It was cold to the touch and perhaps it was real this time. He floated upwards until he bobbed along the waters' surface, mind unable to process much at all given everything he had just gone through.
/
Shinji was inside of the LCL on Earth now and Yui had said her goodbyes to him. It had worked. Yui Ikari basked in the victory of her long plan. All the years of waiting inside Unit 01 had paid off. Yui was content with their fate - SEELE was gone. And NERV was now irrelevant. Her son would restart the world on a proper course. Her long goal accomplished, Yui Ikari was impatient. The promise of rest was just out of reach. She emerged from Lilith's head, brimming with a feeling of satisfaction.
The sight that greeted Unit 01's eyes was the vastness of space – a eternal sea of stars that she could retire the form of the EVA Unit 01 to as she left humanity behind. That sight alone was worth all of her sacrifices. The Evangelion Unit 01 would be an eternal testament to humanity, leaving the people of Earth to return from the LCL when they were ready. She had said her goodbyes to Shinji, telling him that he could always find happiness. And she'd seen Gendo as well – for the last time. Her duties to her family finished, it was time to leave. To embrace her freedom and exist as a being now separate from humanity.
Just ahead of that freedom was a large body - that of a demonic figure with black armor and crimson wings. Its black armor was sleek and covered in pointed edges. The silver crown and golden horns gave the assembly a regal feel even as it moved both arms forward, pointing them both straight at her. Then they began to spin, slowly turning and increasing until they were spinning with great force. The eyes of the demonic machine glowed orange and for a moment, Yui Ikari felt uncertainty.
"TURBO SMASHER PUNCH!" she could 'hear' the machine's pilot yell from the EVA's comm.
She felt the spinning fist slam into Unit 01's frame and suddenly knew anger once again. Nishkiori's son was just as tenacious as his mother, it seemed. And that machine was formidable. It would be foolish to underestimate a Mazinger, especially if it was the 'Mazinkaiser' she'd heard Nishkiori mention her father in law was working on, way back when she worked at GIHERN. The spinning fist returned and Yui went on the attack.
"You're mine, Yui Ikari!" The boy inside yelled as she felt a spiked knee hit her in the waist. She felt her EVA form crumble for a moment before she recovered, bracing for a longer fight.
She knew suffering and sacrifice. They fueled her fervor as she kept attacking, snapping and punching at the foe. Her fist connected and she realized that it was just as impervious as it had been the night she'd eaten the S2 engine. Then it was not a fluke. The armor was all solid, and there was no vulnerable spot. It was a Mazinger after all. Defeating it would not be a simple task.
Yui struck again and the pilot grunted, her able to hear him through Shinji's active comm.
"Shinji needed you and you vanished! And now you're just trying to run away from it all! Some parent you are!" Kouji said with certainty.
Kabuto Kouji. The boy was still crawling around when she last saw him in person. She owed him no explanation. Once he became one with the LCL, he would understand. And she was so close! She stuck at the machine's head and he grunted in pain.
"If you hadn't involved my mother – if SEELE never targeted her - she might still be alive!" He yelled and met her lunging punch with his own counter cross. It was a slow attack, yet it still made a mark, Yui feeling the armor around Unit 1's head crack the slightest bit. Then she would have to give her all to end it.
Unit 01 roared and a white cross flashed in front of her, the super robot caught in the center of the flash. It detonated to reveal Mazinkaiser was undamaged, if a bit rattled.
Nishiori had died then? That was news to her. Yui didn't exactly have access to news while stuck inside of the prototype EVA. Then Kouji must have felt she had a hand in her own good friend's death? She wished that he could somehow understand as she grabbed both of the machine's gold horns and headbutted the Mazinger.
"Dammit! If you had explained things before starting this project – this wouldn't have happened!"
Another obvious statement. And one he had said far too late.
She headbutted the machine again and relished the freedom the EVA's golden orange wings of energy gave her. And with the S2 organ she was truly self sustaining. A source of infinite power. This boy was on borrowed time – with both his machine's power, and the looming certainty of Instrumentality. Even if she couldn't damage him directly, it would be enough to outlast him. Then all she had to do was snap the lance in two. Then it would all be over.
/
Kouji shook and was pissed. Piloting Kaiser had made him a punching bag to the sheer inertia and other forces he felt through the Pilder. The EVA knew it too. Yui Ikari was a smart woman, grabbing onto Kaiser's horns as she struck the Pilder again with her head. It was more effective than the crosses of light. The jaws opened up revealing human like teeth and Kouji yelled as they tried to bite down on the Pilder, the sheer mass and durability of Kaiser's silver crown enough to keep the jaws at bay.
Kouji realized that he was at his end within the Pilder as well. Two Reis had grabbed him, one clinging to his neck and chest taking the form of Sayaka, while the one on his back was Shiro once again.
Resisting the pull to just give in was harder than before. He just had to stop Unit 01. That was the last duty he and Mazinkaiser were entrusted with. Go and the others were depending on him keeping Yui Ikari occupied while they dealt with Lilith.
He had to end things now. Three people came to mind the most as he acted.
"This is for Rei!" Kouji screamed as Kaiser Knuckle activated, one of the spinning gauntlets striking Unit 01 in the face. The girl that had no say in her actions. NERV treated her like a doll when she was much more than that. A sparring partner. A gentle spirit. One that deserved to have her own dreams.
"This is for Asuka!" Kouji followed up with a left hook, making Unit 01 let go of the horns and raise its arms in a defensive stance. Asuka. The girl who had been a rival. One with enough guts to lead the EVA team in Getter Dragon. To defend NERV when there was slim chance of hope. And someone who had saved his ass enough times that her skills backed it up.
The EVA was no longer on the offense. Perfect. Then he was all set up.
"And this is for Shinji - and all of humanity!" Kouji finished, slamming the Kaiser Knuckle into the EVA's chest. Shinji. A boy that like him had an uncertain destiny of a pilot thrust upon him. Yet for Kouji it had been an outlet. A righteous cause against Dr. Hell to avenge his Grandfather. Whereas Shinji's father had forced him to pilot against an uncertain enemy, leading them to this moment -where he was to be a sacrifice. It was not fair. Nor was it right for his own mother to lead him down such a path.
The spinning fist hit the red core and Kouji heard a crunch as Kaiser's fist entered the sphere. The EVA roared in pain, both arms immediately grabbing onto the arm and trying to pull it out. White eyes widened as the EVA leaned back and let out a wail that Kouji could not hear.
"Sorry, Mazinkaiser – I'm at my limit! So I leave the rest to you! God or Devil, walk whatever path you need to end this!" Kouji screamed as he slammed his fist on the Fire Blaster icon. "It's up to you now, my Mazinkaiser - "
Then the Pilder fell silent as the pilot vanished into a puddle of LCL, the uniform and helmet falling slack on the seat.
Mazinkaiser's eyes flashed orange as its' designated pilot vanished. Its' charge and one it was designed to protect no longer existed. Mazinkaiser had no primary function beyond protecting Kouji and following the youth's instructions. However it was also made to fight. The secondary purpose becoming clearer as the charging Fire Blaster fueled Kouji's final command. Now with Kouji gone, the machine could perform at its' peak to no risk of Kouji getting hurt.
Its' chest flashed as Fire Blaster ignited and the heat ray struck Unit 01. The EVA was far too close and the fire far too intense for the AT Field to matter. It sent the EVA flying away in a limbo, mouth open in surprise. But that was just the beginning. The Scrander still functioned and it was enough for one last engines ignited for a moment and Mazinkaiser flew towards the Earth, letting gravity do the rest as it slammed into Unit 01 with both arms extended, the heat around both figures rising as the Earth's atmosphere welcomed both of them.
/
THE CASE OF REI AYANAMI
Rei was in a void now. She had expected to leave with Lilith yet – something was different. Lilith had stopped her process once Shinji had made up his mind. And now Rei had moved from the pool of LCL facing the Invaders to – wherever 'here' within Lilith was. She could guess it was where she felt the Getter reaching out to her earlier. And could feel it was still attempting to do so.
What do you wish for?
She realized that the voice was Lilith asking her the question.
Rei had assumed earlier that she would be Lilith - they would be one in the same - yet now her own existence was proven to her.
She found she didn't need to answer as she reached out her hand.
Then she felt herself form, the matter leaving Lilith's body to enter a new space. Her head and upper body formed, and as her eyes opened, she noticed she was inside of Shin Getter, Go Ichimonji grasping her hand. Then it made sense to her. The excess parts the Getter absorbed earlier were flowing together to create a body from the machine itself. She grabbed Go's hand with resolve. It was one of several that had reached out to her in the past. Go pulled on it, bringing her close and giving her body enough space to continue assembling, her legs finishing the process. Everything felt as it should. Heart beating, breathing and all five senses working.
He gave her a slight smile and then looked beyond her once she had formed. If they were to keep facing Lilith, Rei would do so as well.
Rei spun around so that she was sitting on Go's lap, staring back at Lilith.
"Then – you have your answer. Now - be at peace." Lilith said before Shin Getter's systems powered down, Go frowning as he looked around the screens for answers.
"We're running out of power - prepare for re-entry." He said. Then the two occupants in Getter Eagle heard the splatter of LCL as it covered the seats of Jaguar and Bear.
Sho and Gai had reached their limit, bodies turning into the orange substance.
"Our copilots are gone. We should brace for impact." Rei stated, looking out of the head cameras as she saw Shin Getter brace itself, the wrists moving towards her as it took a defensive stance. Then gravity pulled them in.
The pressure of re-entry hit them as well as the rising heat. Shin Getter's blue exterior reverted to red, blue flaking off as thought it were a coat of paint. Rei could see the glowing green lines of its body fading to dark as its' power dwindled completely, sharp pupils fading as it fell into a state of rest. The Getter slowness fell back to Earth. Rei felt a tinge of fear as she grabbed Go's fingers and wondered what was going to happen now. She had wanted to die - stated as much in Instrumentality. And in a sense the Rei Ayanami that was Lilith would do so.
Go embraced her and Rei realized she had been clutching his fingers with more force than she realized.. She said nothing as she let go of his hand and returned the hug, realizing she was glad to be free of Lilith. Finally her own person as she shed the last vestiges of both Lilith and Yui Ikari. The past was dead to her, as was the idea that she was a tool. Now she was herself and she had all the time in the world to figure out just what that meant. The thoughts were jumbled in her head as Shin Getter's body finally broke through the atmosphere.
THE CASE OF KOUJI KABUTO
Kouji stood in a red sea, clad in his pilot suit. Mazinkaiser was elsewhere, and he was missing the protective armor and sheer power the machine offered. The tide surged and he could see a distant beach. The place did not feel like Earth. The sky was all wrong. The Moon was too bright, and there was a large black fortress ahead of him.
He squinted and realized he was looking at a leg. Large and made of Super Alloy Z. The appendage went high into the sky and connected to a much larger body of black and silver.
Kouji saw it! Ahead of him was a looming and hulking figure! A black body! A silver mouth! Yellow eyes that blazed like fire! A gigantic steel face! Truly formidable, the iron castle that stood before him could only be described as a devil!
"You chose poorly."
The being's 'voice' called to him. From the air itself it seemed. It was looking right at him, the huge machine staring into his very soul as it loomed over him, its shadow covering a majority of the ocean he stood ankle deep in.
"No! You're just a bad dream! Seeing you get beaten by Mother and Grandfather was how I became a true Mazinger pilot!" He yelled at the devil.
"Denying my existence will not change my existence here. It has been the collective actions of humans and your ancestors that roused me - leading me right to you, Kabuto Kouji. And now - I have returned to absorb you as another part of me - the final component to complete Mazinger ZERO."
"Mazinger ZERO? This must be a sick joke. My Grandfather would never make something like you!"
"Perhaps your version of Dr. Kabuto was more sane then some of his . . . other dimensional contemporaries. Regardless - I exist in enough timelines to become tangible and appear before you in this perception of reality. I must say - you're always tenacious, Kouji. Perhaps that's why you're usually the final piece to activate my full abilities."
"Well I don't want any part of that. Just like how I made a vow to Mazinkaiser that I wouldn't let it become a devil, I won't let you turn me into one either! No matter what it takes, I'll fight you with everything I have!"
"And what - do you have to fight me with? Observe my work, and know that your resolve is meaningless."
Mazinger ZERO raised a massive hand and Kouji saw a myriad of battles appear before him. image upon image of the demonic Mazinger activating and tearing apart anything that opposed it. The regular Mazinger Z was the first to fall. Then a battle with a Great Mazinger that evolved into - a Great Mazinkaiser of sorts? Kouji could not tell as the image faded, replaced with some sort of UFO robot battling it as well, with a white and silver body similar in shape to Z and Great's, firing a blast of lighting from curved golden horns on its' head. None of them were able to defeat the titan that bore down on him.
I wish to stand at the peak of all Mazingers. No Super Robot - no machine may oppose me, though several from my native timeline and others have tried. All have failed. Though you are Kouji Kabuto, you are just a mere human. And I will now absorb you - and achieve sentience and form in this universe as well!"
Seeing the images of Boss Borot, Aphrodite A, and the other Mazinger Army fall before it was already enough to break his spirits, but now, without his own Mazinger to fight back, Kouji felt powerless, though he would never let ZERO know that. Not just Mazingers if this ZERO could be believed. Getter, and the EVAs would be next. Despite all that they had done to stop NERV's plans, would it even matter against something like this? Kouji fell to his knees and struck the water, yelling in frustration at the sheer terror that built in his breast.
"Don't listen to him, Human! Stand, Kabuto Kouji!"
A voice from behind Kouji yelled. It was equally loud. Kouji turned, his surprise at the new sight eclipsing the terror of seeing the same Mazinger so soon.
A prideful face! The gargantuan form of a hero! Gleaming armor, shining like lighting itself! Such as sublime form was that which transcended humanity! Yes, this being before him could certainly be described as a righteous, absolute, and all powerful God!
Kouji was stunned as the figure behind him looked a lot like a man clad in Mazinger-like armor – and he was the same size as his opponent. A crown, breastplate, and armor that shimmered the color of gold. A dark blue cape flapped in the wind and he stood, legs in a wide stance, ready for battle. He had a strong jaw and gave Kouji a quick smirk before glaring at the Mazinger with his sharp eyes.
"ZEEEETTO~!"
The figure roared, raising his arm to the skies as a great arc of thunder crashed from the sky and stuck his raised fist. The oceans below churned and boiled as the golden figure pulled something from the lightning – a sword with a Z in the pommel of its dark red guard.
"I – Zeus, the God of Lighting and the warrior known as Z-Mazinger! I will face you on this day, Mazinger ZERO!", the golden figure challenged, pointing the sword at his foe.
"Then – you will die as well, Z-Mazinger." ZERO muttered before it began to advance towards the golden man.
"Now – choose! Kabuto Kouji! Tell me your choice as I kill Ze us and conquer yet another Mazinger!" ZERO demanded. Then the two began to clash, titanic blows creating more waves below as lighting pierced the sky, striking at ZERO's head and back.
Kouji yelled, ignoring the waves that splashed around him, soaking his uniform and stinging at his eyes.
"It will always be the same choice, you monster! I know I can't become a God, and I refuse to turn the Mazinger I pilot into a devil! So - I'll use the power my Grandfather entrusted to me to open the future for humanity!" Kouji yelled to the two clashing titans.
"Well said, human! Remember - the light your Mazinger emits is the power to grasp the future!" Zeus yelled as another lighting blast kept ZERO at bay.
"Even if you escape today, know this. You will fall. It is only a matter of time until I find the dimension you reside in. The moment I make contact with your individual universe, it will become mine. Just like every other reality that I encounter on my path to be the ultimate, solitary Mazinger."
ZERO swung at Zeus, the Iron Cutter slicing off one of Zeus' arms. The God cried out in pain yet still managed to cast another lighting blast at the mechanical devil.
"Futile! Now you will perish – and I will conquer this space, Zeus!"
"Not if light still exists! Kabuto Kouji, do not forget what has transpired here! You are the key to defeat this monster! And I will do my duty, as one who bears the title 'Z Mazinger' should - with a fist that splits open the future!" Zeus yelled, dropping the sword in his left hand to pick up his fallen arm and hurl it straight at ZERO's face.
"FLY, IRON FIST - ROCKET PUNCH!" Zeus screamed as the fist hit its' mark. The collision illuminated the area in white and ZERO's howl of pain could be heard - and then everything went blank.
/
Another pool of LCL. A beach this time. Where was this? Was it the same room? The place with Lilith? A brief place to stay before everything changed again? Shinji did not know the answer and it didn't make the current situation easier.
Everything had a red tint. The sky. The vast sea of LCL spread out from the edge of the beach he lay on. Even the moon above them, stained with Lilith's blood. Then he was on Earth. And he was no longer in EVA Unit 01's form.
He felt a pulse, and the inside of his mouth. But something felt wrong. He could feel two of each, from two different bodies.
He could see from another pair of eyes as well, the same sky. It made his head ache as both images tried to coexist in his brain.
Red.
Asuka's plug suit was red as well. Shinji made his way over to her and shuddered as he felt like his mind had split in two. He saw her – just as he could see himself. Looming over her and looking lost in her eyes.
"Don't let go." he heard her think and then both of them reached out, clasping hands.
But he'd heard the thought, clear as day. Why was that? How could that be?
"Don't ask me! I see myself with your eyes too!"
"What the hell - "
he thought to himself.
"I don't know either! This is too much!" He heard her respond and realized that thinking to himself was now just wishful thinking.
"Asuka – it's over. I mean - I think it's over."
"Then why are we shoved together like this?"
He closed his eyes so that they were seeing only one image now, him crying over her as the emotions rolled down his cheeks.
It was impossible.
Asuka sat up and put her hands on Shinji's shoulders, steadying the two of them as they tried to process everything.
The room they had both shared in the moments right before Instrumentality was still there. In both of their heads. Asuka didn't know how she knew Shinji could see the same exact concept she could, but it was solid. His thoughts. His emotions. Memories and feelings all were readable to her as though they were her own. Like their minds had been crudely shoved together. Surface thoughts of acceptance, fear, and intimacy were hardly registered as she could feel just how lost he was.
Depression
It was the only word she could come up with, feeling sick to her stomach at how similar it was to her own. Though his was brought on by helplessness and fear rather than anger and pride. But that didn't matter. It was the same ugly pit she'd been in countless times in her own head. It was startling to her that Shinji's depression was just as deep as her own, the resulting effects on him obvious when she put two and two together.
Then she felt his grief, not just for the disappearance of Kaji, but for the uncertain
Touch.
Her hand on his face. Better. Things are going to get better. The contact was all the world to him and she could feel the gratefulness fill his core like a bonfire. Or was it her as well? The relief was not only his, she realized as having him there – knowing that she was not alone – was intense. She – they – could move away from the negative thoughts as their thoughts danced around one another.
Feeling.
A startled blossom of warmth as she could feel the same touch – as though she was him. Then there was a deeper emotion beneath it, her mind taking in the various words and concepts that Shinji's own sang to her.
Thought.
That they were the same. She could see through two pairs of eyes, one showing Shinji's eyes widening in surprise at the realization. The other her own face, the expression looking numb as she saw herself. She looked shocked as well.
'I love you'
'I need you'
Stand.
One – or both of them thought. Then they struggled to move their bodies individually. Hands supported each other as their legs wobbled and pushed upwards, shaking as they both rose, clutching each other tightly. The physical contact seemed to help with the movements.
Kiss.
He didn't have to read her mind as their lips met, the contact the only thing they needed to each make good on topping their disastrous first kiss. And now the advantage of the shared - mind? feelings? emotions? - was that they could feel how the other felt. It was an infinite compromise between feeling good and satisfying the other, the extremes reversing and merging together instantaneously.
'Does Baron Ashura always feel like this?'
He had asked. She laughed in his head and he could feel a prompt from her mind.
"Why not? It's looking like the end of the world so let's have at it."
Fingers gripped at her waist, bringing them further together as Asuka deepened the kiss and they were overwhelmed at how solid the flood of feelings, senses, and emotions was. There was no more need for words. No more need for awkward conversation or rejection. They were their true selves. And they accepted each other at that level.
Then they broke apart and she could see his smile reflected on her own face. They hugged again and she realized that he was still crying.
'Disgusting.' She said, echoing his thoughts and he half laughed in her head. The other half was of a put-down to himself and she immediately shut that down with another physical kiss.
'For two kids that just came out of Third Impact, we're not doing so bad. This definitely beats the last time we kissed.'
'Yes, but – are we always going to be connected like this? Stuck in each others' thoughts?' he wondered to her and she felt a sudden panic.
'How the hell are we going to do anything like this?'
She moved to take a step back, still clutching his shoulders as she focued to look around in just her own vision. It was hard to break away, almost like she was tearing off a limb.
He was still there, and she realized that he wasn't the only one who had been crying.
The contact was still there. Flickers of Shinji's thoughts, senses, and snapshot memories. Even though it was not as quite intense.
He looked around with her and they saw a head in the distance. Gigantic and still. Lilith's head had come off, falling into the red and LCL filled ocean.
It stared back at them with a singular open eye and gave them a half smile – the rest of the head submerged in the fluid.
'Is Rei dead?' she heard him think and returned the grip on his hand. She refused to believe it – the girl having helped her through another night just about a whole day ago now.
'She didn't tell us the whole plan – but it looks like it ended about how she expected it would.' Asuka thought back.
The two collapsed, knees on the sand and pulled each other close.
"I'm so glad you're ok! I'm so glad I was able to move. Asuka – I love you!'
'I know! I can hear you! And - I feel the same." She said, returning the embrace.
''We're not alone anymore! We'll figure this out together – one step at a time.' Shinji responded. The two looked out at the ocean, staring at the distorted world that lay ahead of them.
He stood after a moment, feeling a wave of hope wash over him. With NERV - his father gone, it meant that things would be different. In a sense it might be the end of the world, but - for him it was also the beginning of one.