Chapter 29: Reunion

I'm still getting used to the idea of rebelling against the Scions. Those people that I knew and cared for. I still hope that Kauri and Aaminata, as much as I'll be working against them, are doing well. There's a part of me that wants to reach out to them. Give them the choice that I was given. I don't know if I'll ever get it, though.

But with the new arrivals… it's always hard to trust strangers. Especially when those strangers are working with what Tavis has become. Or was he always like that?

- From the personal journal of Ymris Joranna

Village-3, April 2nd, 2028

Daniel couldn't help but find himself a little giddy as he waited at the edge of the village and took a deep breath of the crisp morning air as he looked at a space that was, for the moment, empty. Standing beside him, amused but equally expectant, were the Ikari-Soryus and Nagisas.

The morning sun was still somewhat low on the horizon, and everyone else was getting to work that day. He'd made sure that young Shinji and Asuka got their rest with a day off of making their swords, and Rei and Kaworu had told him that Athena (a lovely name, that) was also going to be assisting the Suzuharas and Bunzaemon around the house after school.

'Amazing,' he mused, 'that she's become so normal after so long shackled under Ikari's command.'

He was grateful at the very least that her days, however numbered they may be, would be ones of relative comfort and happiness.

Then, a swirl of water appeared between two spikes of coral on the grass in front of them, stretching into a line the size of a large doorway before a curtain of water rose into the air, the top edge stopping just above their heads before the curtain parted, revealing one of the mess halls aboard the Wunder. Within it stood Eleanor, smiling slightly as the bridge crew surrounding her looked around in wonder. Mari Makinami stood by Mariah and waved excitedly, Rei Ayanami simply smiling slightly.

The first to step through, however, was the Suzuharas and the Aidas, all of the HERZ pilots and crew soon trading hugs and hands on shoulders as they reunited after far, far too long.

Daniel stepped through them, holding his hands out as the bridge crew stepped forward. "Well, welcome to Village-3. We're glad you could make it."

"We're… well," Maya said after a pause, "we're glad that it's here where we'll be staying."

Daniel nodded slightly. "I understand."

"Hey, Daniel," Midori said as she lifted the cello case in her left hand, another bag with her laptop and MIDI keyboard slung over her right, "where's Shinji? I was hoping to get him his instrument."

"He's taking the day off today, so you can give it to Shinji Ikari-Soryu here if you want. He'll make sure it gets where it needs to go." Daniel smiled slightly. "With how I've been working him and Asuka Shikinami, they deserve it, frankly."

"Oh?" Mari Makinami said as she waltzed over to Daniel's side, leaning over to gaze at him with a grin. "Will you finally tell us what mysterious arts and crafts the Puppy and the Princess have been working on?"

Daniel returned Mari's grin as he sighed dramatically. "Well, I suppose the jig is up. I'm helping them forge their own swords."

Mari blinked in surprise, and Daniel saw as Eleanor chuckled softly. "Well, then… the dutiful mentor and the patient blacksmith all in one. A fairy tale combination if ever I've seen one."

"It's been known to happen," Daniel said with a shrug. "I've known plenty of them. Godo, Andre of Astora, Celebrimbor…"

"Shut up. You know Celebrimbor?" Mari said, her eyes wide.

Hideki's brows rose. "When did you interact with him? Before or after he forged the Rings of Power?"

"It's a story that's worth telling when we aren't all standing around," Daniel replied as the HERZ pilots under Eleanor's command began to cross back over to the Wunder. "The others will get you situated in the village. There isn't much space to go around, so you'll likely be bunking with each other here. Hardly vacation spacing."

"Please." Koji scoffed. "I don't have to worry about an alarm getting me up any earlier than I want to. That's already more vacation than I've gotten since Borneo."

The bridge crew streamed past him, and he took a few steps forward, his feet hitting the deckplate as he stood in front of Eleanor. "God, I wish you could come with me," he said quietly.

"I know," Eleanor said everything else she needed to with a tender, all-too-quick kiss. "But I assume what you've got for me is supposed to make up for that."

Daniel nodded as he took a ring, one of the two that he'd been working on as he took Eleanor's free hand. "With this ring," he said with a grin as he slipped it on her free ring finger, "I thee link."

Eleanor studied the ring for a second before glancing back at Daniel with some suspicion glinting in her eyes. "How many days have you actually slept since you've been here?"

Daniel opened his mouth, then shut it before chuckling. "Any amount I say is going to be too few, isn't it?"

Eleanor sighed. "I assume this is there to help?"

"Just to feel like you're close to me, and for you to feel like I'm close to you." Daniel smiled slightly. "Just for now."

"Just for now," Eleanor promised.

"Well," Eleanor said after a moment's appreciation between them, "I've got to get going. We're going to be repairing Unit-02 in Burbank for the next little while. We'll be coming to get Asuka, and the rest of you, once it's done."

Daniel nodded. "I hope that Unit-02 goes quickly. Though, with the state it's in… that might be asking a bit much."

"Well," Eleanor said with a smile, pulling Daniel into an embrace and kissing him again, the moment lasting just long enough to leave both wanting when they parted, "you'd better let me go then, so I can be quick."

"As you wish," Daniel said with a smile.

Eleanor chuckled. "Take care of the bridge crew and Maya, alright? They're probably going to have some tremendous jet lag hit them in the face."

Daniel nodded. "I'll do something about that. I'll… see you tonight, I guess."

Eleanor arched a brow as the curtains of water began to close. "I don't need to be sleeping too, right?"

"Nope. Just… keep a weather eye out for me, alright?"

"As if I wasn't already?"

With that, the curtains drew shut, and Daniel looked out at the sun, rising on a new day in Village-3. Daniel took a deep breath, turned away, and followed after his friends.

. . .

Young Shinji Ikari looked down at the marble in his hand and could swear that it was heavier than it should have been. Did a soul have a weight, or was that simply his mind objectifying his hesitation?

Shinji took a deep breath and tried to connect with Kaworu's soul. It was still an imprecise thing, feeling almost like grasping around blindly to grab something. But his time out of an Evangelion hadn't dulled his skill. He found that feeling, that connection, and strengthened it.

"Hello, Shinji."

The first words Shinji had heard from Kaworu since he'd arrived at the village were weaved with weariness. "It's been some time since we last spoke."

"I know, Kaworu. I… needed some space, is all. Things have been confusing, and I've needed to think about it."

"I understand. I have done some pondering myself."

"Did… did you know that was going to happen? That you were going to get killed?"

"I did. And I accept that I will do it until I can assure your… happiness."

The words trailed off, Kaworu seeming to lose the vigor those words carried. "Then again, my efforts have always led to the destruction of the world you care for. Perhaps… it would be best for us to part ways. This world is broken, but you have the will to fix it. I simply… seem to stand in your way."

Shinji was silent for a moment as he considered the hopelessness in the words, and felt Kaworu begin to shy away from their connection. "No, Kaworu."

He felt the surprise that Kaworu felt as he continued. "You gave me the strength to at least try, even if all I could do was fail. If you didn't believe in me, I'm not sure I would have even been able to do that. And then what would my father have done?"

"And you were kind to me, even if you had your reasons. Even after being isolated from my other friends, you were a friend to me."

"I'd hardly call someone who trapped you in a cage of an AT Field a friend, though."

"Maybe. But… we can build from that. We can turn ourselves into something better."

"How?"

Shinji considered the question, so quiet and yet so desperate, as he saw Asuka rounding the corner, rubbing her eye as she shook off the last of her drowsiness. "Maybe… you could meet some of the people I call my friends. They're the reason I tried to fix the world. Maybe… having some other friends will help you, too."

It was silent for a moment as Asuka noticed him, pausing as she lifted a granola bar to her mouth. "What're you looking at?" she asked levelly.

"Sorry. I'm talking to Kaworu." Shinji struggled with what to say next. "He needs friends."

He could feel both Asuka's physical stare and Kaworu's metaphorical one boring into him, and he fought the urge to shrink back. Then, Asuka shrugged. "I mean, I guess. Probably going to be kind of difficult when his soul's in that marble of yours."

"Ms. Shikinami raises an excellent point," Kaworu said. "It seems I cannot speak to anyone else without making a connection with their soul. Something which I seem to be currently incapable of doing."

"We can talk to Daniel about it," Shinji replied to both Asuka and Kaworu. "He's the one who made this thing, after all. He should be able to do something about that."

Before anyone could continue, there was a knock at the door, drawing everyone's attention. Shinji, surely surprising Asuka, stood to answer the door before her.

He opened it to see Daniel, accompanied by… "Ms. Midori?" Shinji said incredulously. "What are you doing here?"

Midori, a familiar case in her hand, sighed quietly. "Well, Shinji, some of the bridge crew…" her words were smothered for a moment as she covered a huge yawn. "Decided to do a little protest. What happened to you, and all the pilots…"

She looked away, clearly embarrassed. "We let that go on for too long. So, now we're here, partially to say sorry, and partially to give the Captain and others something to think about."

"But here!" Midori said, a wide, easy smile returning as she held out the cello case. "We managed to snag this for you before we came here. We appreciate your music. Maybe you should come and play with us sometime."

Shinji took the cello case gingerly, looking down on it with what could approach reverence. "Maybe…" he looked up again, watching Midori stifle another yawn. "When you aren't about to fall asleep?"

"Damn it," Midori said as she rubbed her eyes. "It was nearly midnight when we decided to leave. Now… man…"

"If you'll allow me?" Daniel put a hand on Midori's shoulder, and she blinked, all tiredness seeming to flee from her.

"Wow," Midori said after a moment, blinking again as she looked at Daniel. "You can just… do that?"

"It makes time zones a lot more trivial," Daniel said with a slight grin.

"I imagine." Midori nodded. "You'll need to do that to the others, or we're going to be the next best thing to useless."

"My other kids will take care of that," Daniel assured her.

"Um, Daniel…" Shinji interjected, pausing for a moment as Daniel returned his attention to him. "I have a question about Kaworu. This world's Kaworu, I mean."

"How can I help you?" Daniel asked.

"Well, we were talking, and… I don't want Kaworu to just be here alone. He's had enough of that already. I just… want to give him the chance to meet new friends. Could… could you do that?"

Daniel smiled warmly. "Of course, Shinji. I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you."

"Of course." Daniel paused. "Still, take the rest of the day. Talk to him a little more before he starts branching out. I'm sure Athena might be interested in meeting him."

"Athena?" Kaworu asked.

"Ayanami's new name. It's from the book that you helped me get. It's… nice."

Kaworu was contemplative for a moment as Shinji gave a farewell to Daniel and Midori and closed the door. "Yes. Yes, it is," he said quietly.

Shinji regarded the instrument in his hands for a moment. It felt strange to have it so near.

"So," Asuka said, stirring him from his thoughts, "can you play that just on its own?"

"Well… yeah," Shinji replied, unsure of what the look in her eye meant.

"Got something to play?" she continued. "It'll be a decent change of pace from all this silence I get to hear so much."

Shinji sat on one of the chairs, opening the case and preparing the cello with practiced ease. Like riding a bike, as he was sure Daniel might say.

He considered his options for a moment, then nodded as his bow touched the strings. Yes. That would do.

Slowly, he began to play Bach's Cello Concerto No. 1 for Asuka and Kaworu both. And for a moment, they all experienced peace.

. . .

The day, spent in rest (at least somewhat, with settling the bridge crew in the village), soon drew to its close, the night sky shining down on the quieting village.

In the household of the Horakis though, more than a few crowded around the prone form of Bunzaemon Horaki on his cot as he coughed again. His skin was clammy, his pulse drifting dangerously low at times.

Hikari Suzuhara fretted over her father, Toji, Nozomi, Natsumi, Ryoji Jr, Daniel, the Ikari-Soryus, and the Nagisas staying back as best they could to give her her space. There was a solemn air in the room as Hikari patted her father's forehead with a cool, damp washcloth.

Athena kneeled in front of the rest of the group, looking intently at Bunzaemon as she cradled Tsubame. The baby had taken a shine to her, much to Hikari and Toji's amusement, and Tsubame was as much in Athena's hands as she was in Hikari's.

Normally, such a thing calmed the baby down. But now, she sensed the tension, the fear in the room. And so, after a particularly nasty cough, she began to cry.

Athena rocked the baby gently, as Hikari had shown her, but the child wailed even still.

Hikari looked back at her baby, stretched to the point of breaking as tears slid down her eyes. "Oh, Tsubame…"

"Stop worrying about me for a moment," Bunzaemon said, his voice low and weakening. "Take care of your child."

"But father…"

"If you'll allow me, Hikari?" Daniel said quietly, and Hikari looked back to see that Daniel had cleared an impossible space, an acoustic guitar in his hands.

He began to pluck the strings, and Tsubame's crying became less urgent, Athena turning to allow her to see Daniel as he began to sing softly and quietly in English.

"In the beginning of time, from the dark there emerged one true light we would hail as the prettiest star… with a reverence that will endure… that we'll use as a spiritual guide for all time… in the glow of its halo of trust we exalt, in its shadow we harbor all fear…"

As Daniel sang, Tsubame's eyes began to shut, and as the song continued past words, she drifted to sleep, Daniel finishing the song with a quiet flourish.

Hikari breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Mr. Theisman."

"Of course." Daniel smiled slightly as Athena carried Tsubame out of the room for a moment, sorrow still gleaming in his eyes as Bunzaemon began to cough again.

"Hikari…" Bunzaemon said, gripping the sleeve of her dress. "I want you to listen closely. All of my family."

The Horaki family gathered closer, and Asuka Ikari-Soryu stood. "We should probably let you guys have your moment…"

Bunzaemon put out a staying hand. "It's alright, young lady. I'm not going to be too cryptic and personal."

As Asuka took a seat next to Shinji, silently taking his hand, Bunzaemon continued. "Hikari, Nozomi… it's been amazing to see you two grow up into such beautiful, amazing women. Fujiko would be so proud of you both. I know you two have such brilliant futures ahead of you."

"Toji," he said after a moment, "it's been an honor to get to know you as the brave, smart husband of my daughter. I can't ask for a better man to take care of her."

His head turned slightly. "Natsumi, you should know, even though she's gone, your mother was an amazing daughter as well. You look so much like her. Share some of her best traits. You'll go far in life with that drive of yours."

"Ryoji…" Bunzaemon sighed, a process that took just a shade too long for anyone's liking. "I've met both your mother and your father before."

Everyone saw the somewhat incensed look on the boy's face as Bunzaemon continued. "I understand you're confused, even somewhat resentful toward Captain Katsuragi. Honestly, you have every right to be. But your mother bears the weight of the world on her shoulders. She's made her decisions to the best of her knowledge and made her mistakes, just like every parent does. That doesn't mean you should outright forgive her when you next meet. Just… keep it in mind."

"And you all," Bunzaemon said as he regarded his houseguests, "thank you for making these last days eventful. I will admit… one of my greatest fears was dying alone. Now… I can go see Fujiko again… wherever she may be…"

Bunzaemon smiled slightly. "Now all of you go to bed. You need your rest for tomorrow. I'll be fine."

It was still a long time before anyone left, the Nagisas the first to stand up and leave, followed by the Ikari-Soryus. Daniel stood last, walking over to Toji and putting a hand on the man's shoulder.

Toji flinched slightly, turning back to see Daniel's expression of sympathy. "If you need help… we're here," he said softly. "Any kind. Any time. Just find us. That goes for all of you."

Toji's eyes went wide, tears welling in them, then he nodded. "Alright." his was a choked whisper.

Daniel nodded. "Good night, Toji."

With that, he exited the room, making his way to his own room and gently closing the door.

He turned to the space. It was a funny thing, sometimes, how darkness, the muted colors of the night, became so much more pronounced by tragedy.

Then, before he could settle in for the night, a clear tone, a gentle hum, snapped him back to alertness. That was the alarm for Kensuke's house. Who was there this time of night?

. . .

Young Shinji slept. As he slept, he dreamed. He hated doing that.

He was back in the Geofront, on that day when he'd first nearly ended the world. The fact that he was cognizant of that surprised him somewhat. The world was dark here, and all was silent. The silence itself seemed to press on him, making whatever gaze the 10th Angel might have leveled at him inadequate to surpass such quiet.

"It's a shame, isn't it?"

Shinji blinked, the voice unfamiliar, and he turned to regard a young lady, from where he wasn't sure. She had tanned skin and long black hair, a simple dress of purple draped over her frame. "Who… are you?"

"That really doesn't matter right now."

The girl walked past him, towards the mist and rubble, before she paused and looked back at him. "Well, aren't you coming?"

Shinji frowned slightly, then took a step forward, following after the girl. Somehow. "Where are we going?"

"Far away from here." the girl replied. "After all, what good is it to simply stand in the ashes of dreams?"

Shinji found himself confused, but somewhat intrigued. He was surprised how much he was interested in this sort of conversation. "Well," he began, "aren't failures just a chance to start over?"

"Sometimes." the girl smiled as they emerged from the Geofront into the ruined city. Shinji hadn't seen the aftermath, but he was pretty sure this was where the dream took things and ran with them, buildings twisting into odd shapes, their fronts breaking up into fractals as the pair passed. "But some dreams are big enough that it takes a sacrifice to start again."

"Don't I know it," Shinji muttered.

"You and I, Shinji," the girl continued, "we're two of a kind. We want something for ourselves, so we strive to do whatever it takes to make it a reality."

"But I didn't do this, or anything else, for myself." Shinji objected. "I did this for the people I love."

"Did you?" the girl asked airily as they passed beyond the city limits in the blink of an eye. "Or did you do it so you could feel better about the things you'd done?"

"I wouldn't be so selfish! The whole world was in my hands, and everyone depended on me. I can't afford to think like that."

"That's the thing, isn't it?" the girl said. "The whole world depends on you. Doesn't that give you the right to be a little selfish? To ask for something

you want every once in a while?"

Shinji pondered on the question for a moment. "I wish it worked like that," he said quietly.

"Well, what's stopping you then?"

Shinji shook his head. "Well, a military organization, once. Now… I just want to help my friends."

"Is it really so altruistic as that? Are you sure you want nothing else in return from them?"

Shinji considered the question for a moment as they walked across roadways and sidewalks. This must have been a dream for them to cover so much ground so quickly. "Well… I do, really."

"Then take it. Don't be afraid to stand up and demand the change you want to see in the world. Passivity only ever brings you to regret."

Shinji shook his head as he stopped. "Who are you?"

The girl turned to regard him with a grin. "Someone who could be a friend. Maybe even a teacher…"

"

Now that's quite enough of that." a voice boomed, seeming to echo across the whole landscape

With that, the night sky fell over them all like a blanket, and Shinji couldn't see anything for a few moments,

blinking his eyes to find that he wasn't, in fact, dreaming anymore.

He was out in the middle of a wide road covered in core material, the sun almost at its noonday apex, a Failure of Infinity striding away from him and the girl… except she wasn't a girl anymore. She was a young woman, rising to her feet in that self-same dress, a vest and belts filled with vials and pouches that weren't there in the dream, and sighing quietly.

Looking beside him, Daniel stood with arms crossed and an unamused glare in his eye as he regarded the woman. "Now, Shinji's in the middle of something, miss. I don't exactly appreciate you taking him out of the village unannounced."

The woman sighed. "Well, it's not as though I was simply out to get him. He's got places to be, solutions for this world to get help with."

Daniel arched a brow. "And let me guess. He needs to be at Matsushiro."

The woman held up her hands. "Well, you've got me, guilty as charged. It's not like he was doing much in the way of productive work where we came from."

"He is in the middle of healing himself. You are disturbing it." Daniel shook his head slightly. "I don't even know who you are."

The woman rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. "Well, I suppose an introduction is in order. I am the grand priestess of Supai, lord of darkness and dreams, Yzma, here currently of the Scions of Unity."

She gave them a somewhat over-dramatic bow, looking meaningfully at Daniel. "And I know who you are, of course. The little lost lamb of the pack, at least so Tavis tells."

Daniel's other brow shot up. "Yzma?" he said incredulously before sighing quietly. "Of all people…"

"Do you know this person?" Shinji asked Daniel as he saw the man shake his head slightly.

"I know of her," Daniel replied as Yzma put her hands on her hips. "Somewhat," he added almost as an afterthought.

"Well, as glad as I am to know that I'm a known quantity," Yzma said glibly, "I do have my own work to get to. Work that requires young Mr. Shinji here."

"I have an idea of what that work is," Daniel said, interposing himself between them. "And I won't let you take him."

Yzma sighed as she rolled her eyes. "It's always a game of cat and mouse with you young men, isn't it?"

She shrugged. "Well, at least I have a little backup."

As she spoke, an arch of green fire flared to life beside her, a man stepping through it as if going on a stroll, hands behind his back. He seemed to be Asian, probably Chinese, with a rounded square of a face that was host to long white hair pulled up in a simple bun, a long mustache and beard, and discerning eyes that shifted from color to color. He wore rather ostentatious robes of red, yellow, and blue, and smiled slightly as he saw Daniel.

"Well, well. If it isn't Daniel Theisman." the man said in a calm, clear voice. "And here I thought I might have been done crossing paths with you."

Daniel looked concerned. It was not a look that Shinji felt comfortable seeing at the best of times. "I don't believe we've met before."

"Oh, but we have." the man's smile broadened, and a symbol appeared on his forehead, two hands cupping underneath a blooming rose, as he bowed slightly. "I am Shang Tsung. The, quite usually, Silent Gardener."

Daniel's eyes went wide with shock. "So the man…"

"Simply a soul that appeared useful to my ends." Shang Tsung straightened from the bow. "Not that he allowed me to accomplish my mission. My acquired tools can only take me so far, especially when I'm constrained by fools to conceal my true power."

"Isn't that the way?" Yzma said with a roll of her eyes. "It's like they're afraid we'll let the power go to our heads or something."

Daniel took a deep breath, a crystalline pistol that hummed quietly flowing into his open left hand as he leveled it at Shang Tsung. "Last chance, you two. Walk away and let me deal with you later."

"Oh," Yzma said, voice dripping with sardonicism as she looked over at Shang Tsung. "Look at him. He's such a hero, isn't he?"

"It's all the same, wherever you go," Shang replied as he settled into a stance, whisps of green light flowing into his hands as twin pistols, ghost-like in their transparency, formed. "People throwing themselves away for what they think is just instead of actually doing something worthwhile."

Shang Tsung wasted no time leveling his guns and firing, Daniel curving the bullets away from them as he returned fire, a shield of deep green crystal forming as he switched targets every once in a while. Shinji turned and ran towards a barrier dividing the road, diving behind it and peeking out as Yzma simply let the rounds pass through her, appearing almost bored as the wisps of smoke that spiraled up disappeared almost as quickly.

Shang Tsung dashed forward, the two pistols becoming tomahawks as he pressed the attack, Yzma smiling slightly as she sank into the ground, Shinji watching her shadow swoop around Daniel before she reemerged, throwing away an empty vial.

As Daniel turned to face her, she stepped forward and threw a straight punch at Daniel's face, sending him sprawling in a plume of red as Yzma coughed for a moment. Shinji's eyes went wide as the dust cleared to show a dazed Daniel struggling to get up.

"What do those even taste like anyway?" Shang Tsung said nonchalantly as the tomahawks became a massive hammer, its striking ends almost like a tenderizer as he hefted it and smashed it down on Daniel's chest, a pane of crystal shattering in place of his ribs.

"Well, this one at least is cinnamon, roast hazelnuts, and a little bit of the titan's blood that leaks through those," Yzma replied. "It's an acquired taste."

"I'm sure," Shang Tsung replied as the hammer became a sword, plunging toward Daniel's heart before the man barely caught it. "Go get the boy."

Yzma nodded as she turned to Shinji, a sympathetic look on her face as he backed away from her.

"Now I understand you're probably feeling a bit… overwhelmed," she said, rummaging through her vest as she walked through the barrier, her lower half turning into smoke before reforming as she pulled out another vial, an almost glowing teal liquid in it. "But this stuff's nepenthean essence and mint. It'll calm you down quick as a flash…"

She seemed to loom over him now as he stumbled and fell onto his back, looking up as Yzma began to kneel down.

Then, Yzma saw something behind him, her eyes going wide as she shouted in surprise. Her head became smoke as something that gleamed orange zipped through it. Shinji looked back and saw two figures standing behind them, one pointing a pistol made of some orange, glass-like material at Yzma, the other holding in their right hand a shield that began to float apart.

Both of them wore armored suits, helmets covering their faces. The one that had shot Yzma had a helmet with two orange ovals for eyes, connecting in the middle of its face and making a line that went down to its chin. The other had a purple visor, twin curving lines at the corners of its eyes that had one line going up and another going down.

"Step away from the boy." the one with the pistol said, and Shinji's eyes went wide at the familiar voice. "I won't warn you again."

"And who are you?" Yzma asked as she grabbed Shinji's arm, jerking him to his feet as she pulled out a knife, its blade utterly black. "His father?"

"Not his specifically." the man replied. "But the difference is meaningless."

With that, the man charged forward, the pieces of the other person's shield flying apart as he charged. Yzma snarled as she slashed the dagger into the air ahead of her, tearing open a portal of shadow.

The man paused as two beasts emerged from the shadow, four-legged and snarling as needles of prismatic light shot into them from the pieces of the woman's shield. Whatever wounds they received as they slammed into the man, however, seemed fleeting as more shadow flowed from the portal to fill their spots.

'Where is Daniel?' Shinji wondered, trying to look past himself while struggling against Yzma's still apparently strong grip.

He saw two more figures dashing past, one slamming into Shang Tsung with a frosted-over mace as the other sprayed the man down from short range with a pitch-black submachine gun. It felt odd how… quiet it all was. Grunts of exertion, the odd whoosh or crackle as weapons clashed and fired.

And yet, here he was, watching the man who was charging toward them brawling with the beasts with glowing orange gauntlets, and remaining restrained. 'What am I still doing here?'

He had an AT Field. And now, he decided to use it.

Shinji focused on the spot behind his back, between him and Yzma, and pushed, the AT Field flaring to life behind him catching Yzma completely by surprise as she went flying away, her grip on him slipping as she landed and slid.

Shinji wasted no time as several pieces of the other person's shield flew past him, stretching out his arms almost to embrace the tear in reality. His AT Field flickered around the tear, and the flow of shadows halted as the man and his companion began to tear them to bits.

As the shadows dispersed Shinji squeezed his AT Field, the crack in the air disappearing after a moment as he let out a deep, exhausted breath.

"Damn it all…"

Shinji looked back at Yzma as she stumbled to her feet, the front of her dress covered in liquids that were beginning to smoke and bleach the fabric. She looked over, and Shinji with her, at a hole of fire that Shang Tsung dropped into, Daniel holding the two others back from chasing after him as it disappeared.

Yzma rolled her eyes. "At least he knows basic math," she grumbled, grabbing something from inside her vest and throwing it to the ground, multi-colored smoke blooming around her with a bang before blowing away to reveal that she too had disappeared.

The skirmish, as it were, was over. And Shinji sank to his knees as he took deep, quick breaths. How had he not killed her with that push? Kill… the push…

Images, memories of the battle in Terminal Dogma flooded into his mind, the ground before him fuzzing in and out of focus. 'Damn it… why now…'

"Shinji? Are you alright?"

The words, coming from that voice, were utterly nonsensical. Was that…

The man kneeled in front of him, his helmet disappearing, revealing the face of Gendo Ikari. Even with the all too familiar chinstrap beard gone, the circle beard and mustache couldn't conceal his father's face. And those eyes, so much like his… where were the glasses? Why did they show so much concern… they shouldn't be doing that.

It was then that Shinji promptly fainted.

. . .

Daniel took a deep breath as he rubbed his face, looking over at his rescuers. "Well, now's as good a time as any to come swooping in."

Misato Kaji stepped up, her helmet disappearing to reveal a braid of her dark, nearly purple hair falling down her back after being freed. "Of course, Daniel. Keeping an eye on Matsushiro, as important as it has been, has gotten kind of boring."

Ryoji nodded. "I can agree with that." he paused for a moment, looking between Daniel and Misato. "Are you both sure that it's a good idea to take your helmets off in this?"

"For now, yes," Daniel replied. "We'll want to get back to the village soon, though."

Ryoji nodded as his helmet flashed out of existence, revealing a wry smile. "Either way, it's good to see you again."

"Mr. Theisman," Gendo called out, drawing the attention of all three of them to him and Yui as Gendo lifted the limp form of Shinji in his arms. "He appears to be stable. Yui and I will see to him as we go."

"Alright," Daniel said, staring down at his pajamas with a quiet sigh. "Let's hurry back. Shinji needs to be back at Village-3, and I need to get ready for what remains of the day."

They wasted no time making the long walk back toward the village. As they walked, Yui frowned as she held a hand to her ear. "Nothing. The comms here are terrible. I'm surprised the Pneumaic interference hasn't torn you two apart yet."

"If we weren't Interfaced," Daniel said with a grimace, "we might have been."

"Did you Interface the Children of this world as well?" Gendo asked.

"Well… it's more complicated than that." Daniel decided on. "Were you able to watch this world's Receptor movies?"

"Not really," Ryoji said with a shrug. "We didn't have access to them or anything else related to our world on the Errant, which is strange considering how otherwise comprehensive it was. All we really have is what you told us about what's just happened."

Daniel sucked his teeth as Misato's expression darkened, right alongside Gendo's. He'd need to talk to Eleanor about an update after this. "Shinji spent nearly a decade and a half trapped in Unit-01's core alongside Rei number 2. The process of initiating Near-Third Impact Cracked Shinji and Rei's souls. I just pieced them back together."

"Cracked?" Yui asked. "I'm guessing that's your term for the interstitial stage of linking one's soul to Pneumaity?"

Daniel nodded. "That's right. In essence, the process is almost like making the world's most powerful omelet. Just… putting the egg back together, in a sense."

"Your analogies could probably use a little work," Misato said, a deadpan look on her face that couldn't disguise the gleam of amusement in her eyes.

"Well, when you've heard as many of them as I have," Daniel said with a shrug, "they get a little… muddled, so to speak."

Then, in the distance, five other figures appeared, Daniel smiling slightly as he waved at them. All but one of them returned the wave for a moment, the last doing so after one of the two behind them put a hand on their shoulder and said something.

"Well, hello," Daniel said with a slight grin as the five joined them. "Decided to miss the party, I see."

"Hardly," Ritsuko said as her helmet came off, revealing a head of brunette hair streaked through with blonde. "With the five of you, we figured things were well in hand."

"Well, at least when the others showed up, yeah," Daniel said, massaging his jaw. "Yzma apparently can pack a hell of a punch."

"Did you say Yzma?" Maya piped up. "What's she doing here?"

"Likely part of a fleet of Scions that are scattered around the solar system right now." Daniel looked over at the young lady that walked between Ritsuko and Maya. "Kyu, could I trouble you for a status report on Matsushiro? I think I could use a little succinctness and small word use right about now."

Kyu Akagi's helmet came off, revealing her eye-catching white and gold hair as she retrieved a clear-pad. "Matsushiro is, by all rights, a normal community. Religiously active, unsurprisingly, with a prominent chapel in the center of town. Several farms, a blacksmith, and a mechanics shop are also prominent fixtures."

"How did you get through the barrier?" Daniel asked. "As far as my contact says, it's a rather… dicey prospect."

"With a little vision, Mr. Theisman," Gendo said meaningfully.

"That is correct." Kyu continued. "Using Mr. Ikari's Interfacing to ascertain a path through the mist, it was trivial to stay somewhat distant from the settlement itself."

Daniel nodded as Kyu scrolled through several pictures, walking over to him and expanding the screen to allow him to see. "We captured these photos of what appear to be important persons in the town itself."

An older man with a weathered face and robes with the Scion insignia on them. A woman talking to a group of what appeared to be farmers. And an all too familiar woman, the right upper half of her head replaced with a glowing, carved stone resemblance.

"Well, I'll be damned…" Daniel muttered.

"What is it?" Ritsuko asked.

"This is Kodama Horaki. I'm sure of it." Daniel grabbed the clear-pad from Kyu and showed it to the others. "She's… man, that must not have been pretty for her to need that."

"What significance does having her be in Matsushiro hold?" Kyu asked quietly.

"Because her daughter is in Village-3. No one knows where Kodama went after Near-Third Impact. And for all intents and purposes…"

He paused as the village came into sight. "Kodama Horaki may have just missed her father's passing," he said quietly.

It was a somewhat somber mood that rested on them as they passed through the ACC Pillars and back onto the grass, passing trees and a small stream as Daniel called Shinji Ikari-Soryu's clear-pad. "Hey, kiddo," he said with a smile. "In case you were wondering, I managed to go and get Shinji."

"Oh, thank god," Shinji said with an apparent sigh of relief. "What happened? We woke up this morning and you were just gone."

"That's right!" Asuka's voice cut in as she likely wrestled away the pad from Shinji. "You had us worried sick! Even Shikinami was all agitated this morning, and she came down from Kensuke's house to say as much."

Daniel began to reply before Misato raised a hand, a slight smile on her face. "Mind if I butt in?" she asked quietly.

Daniel smiled as he put on speaker mode and held it out to her. "Go ahead." he mouthed.

"Well, Asuka," Misato said sweetly, "Daniel caught the kidnapper and drove them off. With some help of course."

"Oh hey, Misato," Asuka said, the surprise in her voice not fully masking her happiness. "You're with Daniel?"

"The whole old guard is here, Asuka." Ryoji piped up. "Fresh from a little spy work in Matsushiro."

"Where are you?" Shinji asked after a moment's silence, his voice happy, but somewhat sober. "We're… well, we're going to help with Mr. Horaki's funeral."

"So he did pass last night," Daniel said quietly, sadly.

After a moment he sighed quietly. "Well, we're just about to the village limits. We'll see you soon."

"Okay."

With that, the call ended, and they began to walk on the road, the rest of the old guard's armor disappearing to show plain clothes as they passed people on their way to or from lunch. It wasn't hard for Daniel to find the way to the Suzuhara residence.

As they approached, they saw several people waiting on the doorstep for them. The Ikari-Soryus and Nagisas, Athena and Shikinami next to them, smiled slightly as they approached, Daniel smiling at their puzzlement with the last couple, thus far mostly silent, and their appearance. Toji, Hikari, and Nozomi studied them with red-rimmed eyes, curious even in their grief.

And Ryoji Shinji Kaji, Natsumi by his side, had his gaze locked on Misato and Ryoji as they approached. Slowly, he faded away from the group, Natsumi looking back in confusion before she stepped into his place

They came to a stop in front of everyone, and Daniel sighed quietly. "I heard the news," he said, equally quiet. "I'm sorry. Please, give me a moment to get dressed, and I'll come and help."

Hikari and Toji nodded, and Daniel made his way past them as the two groups slowly met.

"Hello, Mother," Shinji said with a smile, hugging Yui tightly for a moment before stepping back. "Father."

"Shinji," Gendo said levelly. "It's good to see you're doing well."

Shinji nodded. "Is this world's Shinji okay?"

"Besides fainting at the sight of me, yes."

Asuka couldn't help but stifle a slight chuckle, Shikinami rolling her eye. "Y'know," Asuka said, "it's a shame that you didn't get to meet this world's Gendo. I'd have loved to see you punch him in the face."

"With how things have transpired here," Gendo said, his expression serious, "that has every possibility of happening."

As the Ikaris continued their conversation, Kyu approached the Nagisas and Athena, nodding to them. "Rei, Kaworu. It's a pleasure to see you again."

Rei smiled slightly. "And you as well. How has your 'field research' been?"

Kyu sighed quietly. "It has been as arduous as one could expect. But I've gained many different insights, as can be expected."

She paused as she looked at Athena. "And what is your name?"

"I am Athena Ayanami. I am… searching for my own purpose."

Rei nodded as she put a hand on Kyu's arm. "I have a question for you and your parents concerning her. Could you walk with me for a moment?"

Kyu nodded, and they went a little ways away from the group. "Many of the villagers don't know of it yet, especially Natsumi and little Ryoji, but Athena has been made as a Frame Knot. She will disintegrate into LCL… fairly soon, as far as I can tell."

"And you wish me to forestall that," Kyu said with a sympathetic look.

"I do. You and your parents are perhaps the best people I know to try and solve something like this. And as much as we aren't really sisters…"

She looked back at Athena, Kyu following her gaze. "She deserves what we've gotten as well. A family. So… as a sister?"

Kyu considered it for a moment, then nodded. "I'm unsure what my capabilities as an older sibling are. My experience as an only child may hamper my endeavors."

Rei smiled. "Well, it's a good thing that we'll be learning together. I'll fill you in on my… research, as it were."

Kyu smiled in turn. "And I'll make sure my parents are aware that they'll be taking care of another child."

Rei nodded, then regarded the couple that stood somewhat apart, speaking briefly as they took in the village around them. "What are Ms. Akagi and Professor Fuyutsuki doing here? I didn't expect them to accompany Misato and the others from our home."

"Neither did we." Kyu gave her what could be considered a conspiratorial grin, slight though it was. "But Mr. and Mrs. Fuyutsuki were adamant that with a world like this, it would be a prime location to do some advanced studies on LCL and Corite."

Rei nodded. "Such studies…" she paused, blinking. "Ms. Akagi married Professor Fuyutsuki?"

Kyu nodded. "Indeed. I not only have a grandmother, but a grandfather-in-law as well. It's a strange family I have. But I love them for it."

Before Rei could reply, all eyes turned to Daniel as he emerged from the house, tears fresh in his eyes as he wiped them away. "Alright," he said quietly to Hikari and Toji. "I'm ready. Let's give him a proper funeral."

. . .

The rest of the day was spent preparing Bunzaemon for his rest in the earth, atop a hill that had a commanding presence over the graveyard. The plot had been prepared for him some years before now, and all Daniel, Toji, and Shinji Ikari-Soryu had to do was dig it up. It was quick work.

After the body, wrapped in rough linen, was lowered in, the dirt covered him in short order, and the three men stepped back to take in the work, Hikari stepping forward to lean on Toji.

After a moment spent staring at the ground in mourning, Ritsuko stepped forward, putting a gentle hand on Hikari's shoulder. "May I do something?"

Hikari nodded, and twin disks of stone swirled in Ritsuko's palms as she held out her hands, a thick rectangle of granite rising from the earth, stopping as it reached about 2 meters tall. She pointed and drew in the air, black stone flowing from the grey like pen strokes, spelling out the name 'Bunzaemon Horaki'. It was a simple marker, for an equally simple man.

Ritsuko stepped back. "He's a kind man where I'm from. He was here, I'm sure," she said quietly.

She looked back at Maya and Kyu. "Come on. Let's not get in the way of their time here."

"I'll be along soon, Mother," Kyu said, drawing Maya's attention to her. "I have some things I would like to speak to Athena and the Horakis about."

Ritsuko nodded. "Alright. Come on, Maya. Let's find someplace to stay. I think we'll be here for a while."

With that, Ritsuko, Maya, and the Fuyutsukis walked away, leaving Daniel, the gathered Horakis, young Shinji and Asuka, Athena, and the Kajis along with her.

Asuka Shikinami side-eyed Misato, who returned the glare with a weary expression. "I'm sorry. For what it's worth," she said quietly.

Asuka looked back at the grave. "At least I have that much."

Daniel sighed quietly as he regarded the grave marker, silence descending on them for a moment. "I've always been impressed with Mr. Horaki's wisdom and his kindness. Your father's a decent friend to me where I'm from. Every time we went over to his home to have dinner, which was more than a few, he made sure I was always involved in helping clean up. Strange thing, having a guest do the dishes, right? First time I asked why, he said, 'You told me about the life you lived before all this. It's far away now from what I can tell, but you have to remember it. The people and purpose you had in it. It keeps you grounded, humble. That's why I ask that you help clean the dishes.' Because I was a dishwasher before I had any of this power."

He paused, chuckling at the ridiculousness of saying it out loud. "I'm sure this world's version of Bunzaemon Horaki had that same wisdom. But now, it has left us along with him, and the stars burn a little dimmer for the loss."

Hikari sighed quietly. "Thank you for the words, Mr. Theisman. They mean a lot, actually."

She looked back. "I wonder where Ryoji's been. Father treated him like a grandson," she said, her tone distracted. "Maybe he just needs some time alone to process it…"

"Um…" Ryoji said as his brow furled. "I'm right here. Unless…"

Hikari looked over at them, then her eyes went wide as she seemingly noticed Ryoji and Misato for the first time. "Wait a minute… he must have seen you…"

"The boy?" Misato said. "Is he…"

"Your son," Daniel said quietly. "Ryoji Shinji Kaji."

Misato and Ryoji went pale. "Don't tell me…" Misato whispered. "I…"

"Did your best to not hurt him after Ryoji died." Daniel fully turned to face Misato and Ryoji. "He's old enough that he remembers his mother. And it wouldn't surprise me if he's resentful that she left him, regardless of how well-intentioned she may have been."

"What you do with that information…" Daniel shrugged. "Well, that's up to you. I want you guys here though. With what's coming, we'll all need to be ready."

Ryoji and Misato looked at each other, then Misato nodded to Daniel wordlessly before they turned and walked away, speaking quietly to each other.

Daniel had no intention of intruding on their conversation as he turned his attention back to Kyu as she stepped over to Athena. "I do not believe I properly introduced myself when we first met. I am Kyu Akagi. Along with my parents, I will be assisting Rei Nagisa in ensuring that you do not break down into LCL."

She held out a hand, and Athena shook it. "I see. I… hope that you will have success in your endeavor." Athena said quietly.

Kyu nodded, looking back at Daniel. "Would you prefer to share our findings from Matsushiro, or shall I?"

"You've been to Matsushiro?" Nozomi asked, stepping forward to admire Kyu's hair. "What was that like?"

"Well…" Daniel began, taking out his clear-pad and going through the photos from Matsushiro. "My team found someone there. Someone you've been wondering about."

He turned the screen to show the gathered Horakis, and Hikari and Nozomi gasped, Natsumi walking over to look at the screen. "That's Kodama…" Hikari said in a strangled whisper.

Natsumi's eyes went wide. "What happened to her?"

"We're not sure." Daniel gave the pad to Hikari, and they continued to study the picture. "But what we do know is that she's alive. And that we're going to get her out of there."

Daniel looked over at the headstone. "If only, at least, to say goodbye to her father… and hello to her daughter."