Asuka watched as the helicopters and other vehicles attempted to retrieve Danya, hoping that he would be okay. Eventually, the Third Mate spoke after receiving the stats back from Danya's Entry Plug.

"He's awake." She stated firmly as Asuka turned to look at her.

"...He is...?"

Asuka asked, just to confirm. The Third Mate nodded, and Asuka looked back to the Evangelion. Slowly, she began to sit down, bringing her knees to her chin and then resting her head on them. The Third Mate noticed Asuka and Shinji's wounds, quickly making her way to the boat. The Third Mate had Asuka extend her legs, and began bandaging up her chest, and various areas that had been damaged. Asuka stared off into the sea as she did so.

It was over. After everything that's come to pass, even after all the hopelessness, the nihilism, the death, the despair, and the utter brokenness of the world, the day had still been won.

Shinji smiled at himself. For the first time since the end of the world, he did something that affected the outcome for the better, even though he didn't give himself credit for it. He kept telling himself that he ought to feel a sense of accomplishment, but he didn't. Shinji had been so accustomed to being a useless failure all his life, that succeeding felt otherworldly to him. He figured he might as well start getting used to it.

He looked at Asuka, wondering if she was okay, and sat next to her as they stared off into the sea. To know that they've prevented a fate worse than the Third Impact brought them a strange sense of catharsis. The souls of humanity could rest easy, and now...they had a second chance to return...just like Shinji had his second chance.

The girl slowly fell back onto the sand below her. Although the Solar Eclipse was starting to give way, it was still dark out, and probably would be for a few more hours, but... she enjoyed it. She reveled in the calming sounds of nature around her, a small smile forming on her face. If she had the strength, she'd be jumping around and celebrating wildly, but she simply... didn't. Asuka stared up at the stars and the red streak across the planet. She looked to her side, looking at Shinji before looking up at the sky again. She felt truly accomplished. The only other feeling in her mind was when she could return to Tokyo-3 and try and pick up the pieces of her past - if there were even any.

Standing on the barren expanse of the Moon, a lone figure stood, seemingly human, but far from it. It was none other than the sender of the new Lance; Kaworu Nagisa. He had conquered death, as he would do so again and again, till his purpose was fulfilled. He had recently emerged from a row of velvet and crimson laced coffins which in an act of impossible geometry, seemed to encircle on itself into infinity. Kaworu's intervention was an anomaly which shouldn't have happened, as the events which preceded his awakening had yet to be written.

And yet, in all its hubris, the world remained woefully oblivious to a single detail which encompassed them. The cataclysmic nature of the Third Impact broke not only the laws of space, but the fabric of time itself.

Instrumentality was a Dirac Sea; a pocket dimension, a gateway unto itself.

Aftershocks were bound to occur, it was only a matter of when. The only one who knew was Kaworu.

"Not bad, kid. Not bad at all." Kaworu said

He casually peered behind the corner of his eye, like he was being witnessed by an unseen omniscient entity.

"Yes. Of course. Their names are already written." He said before he fixed his eyes once more to the Earth, more specifically, the country of Japan.

"Soon, Shinji Ikari. Soon."

The end and the beginning were one and the same, the Third Impact caged the world in a cycle, and soon, it would be broken.

Asuka couldn't help but feel... weird. Like something was off. Maybe it was just her fight. She sat up, managing to come to her senses. She slowly leaned on Shinji's shoulder, her breath exhausted and heavy as she spoke.

"...What do you think we should do... after this is all over?"

Asuka asked Shinji- she had her own plans, but she was curious...she wanted to know what Shinji would do. Would he return to Japan to seek answers as well, or would he simply try and move on? Asuka had already basically entirely moved on- it was just that one thought, that maybe, just maybe... the people she held dear- besides Shinji, of course- were okay.

For the moment, Shinji didn't want to return to Japan. At least, not yet. The wounds were still fresh in his mind, and he had only just begun his journey of healing. He felt going back to Japan so soon would only raise more questions than answers. Evangelion was a rabbit hole, and some things were best left alone, not meant for mankind to understand.

He looked at Asuka as she leaned onto him and was at a loss for words. It was...surprising to say the least, as this was the first time he felt any genuine affection from her that wasn't one sided. He smiled.

In spite of what occurred between the two, Shinji couldn't help but feel they still had a future ahead of them.

—

EVANGELION: WESTSIDE STORY

Episode 10:

"Destination Unknown"

—

One Week Later…

The three former pilots stood along the beachside in San Francisco where Asuka and Danya first met. A ceremony was held by Captain HC Battlehorne to commemorate Danya for his efforts.

"Danya Aloyoshenka; designated pilot of Unit 3.14 of NERV-U, in the face of an insurmountable threat, your courage, self-sacrifice, valor, and will have protected us and quite possibly the rest of humanity from a fate worse than that of The Third Impact. As acting Captain of the US/Russian Naval Fleet, it is my honor to bestow upon you, the highest ranking award for your service above and beyond the call of duty. Wear it proud sailor." He said before he handed Danya a medal never seen before in the US Military; one which bore thirteen stars on it like Old Glory.

"With all due respect sir, the real heroes are Shinji Ikari and Asuka Langley Soryu. In spite of everything they were forced to endure, if it weren't for their choices, I wouldn't be here today, and we would've never defeated Helel. They deserve all the help in the world they can get. And if the new leaders of humanity deny them that, then I deny this medal." Danya spoke as he reached out and dropped the medal, only for it to be caught again by the Captain.

"Again with the selfless acts. You've barely changed, have you Danya?" He asked, chuffing, as he handed the medal back to him.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe I've only just begun." Danya replied as he accepted the medal, accepted the change. "Rather than medals sir, I ask you only this, will you look after them, as you did me?" Danya asked the Captain.

"Whatever it takes, son." Battlehorne replied with a nod. Danya held his tongue this time around, and shook the Captain's hand. Alongside Shinji and Asuka he walked up the sidewalk to the old Land Cruiser which thanks to some naval ingenuity had been fixed. Danya loaded his belongings into the car, as he was planning to continue his journey across North America, in the hopes of finding a new life for himself, away from his troubled past.

"Shinji, Asuka. No matter what happens. Look after each other." He said to them both, who he hugged.

Shinji couldn't help but choke upon his words, as he felt quite sad; melancholy about the whole thing. In spite of knowing Danya for only a short period of time, he had come to value the moment he spent with him, as the three of them had done what was once thought impossible. "Are you sure this is what you want?" He asked.

"Yeah. I figured it's time I make a life for myself, unburdened by the past. I reckon it's somewhere out there." He replied.

"Call us when you find America." Asuka said to him before she gave a confident smile and waved goodbye to Danya.

"Hoping the phones still work." He replied as he got into the driver's seat, adjusting it and closing the door. "I'll find a way. I'm sure of it."

"Sailors! Salute!" Captain Battlehorne said as he saluted the pilots along with the rest of the crew in a grandiose spectacle.

"Goodbye...Evangelion." Danya said before he turned the key, and the engine roared back to life. With a simple touch of the pedal, his car drove forward onto the road again, away from the beach, away from Evangelion.

In hindsight, what had come to pass was poetic. At first, Danya was the one who was hell-bent on helping out the two of them overcome their own inner turmoil, but in the end, it was Asuka and Shinji who helped Danya overcome his own. In fact…something good had come of it. The two of them stood there in silence, eyes on the car until Danya was out of sight, holding hands as Pen-Pen stood underneath their soft grip.

The Captain couldn't help but smile. He always saw Danya as a surrogate son, but he never thought he'd see the day where he'd feel bittersweet heartache as the pilot took leave from under his wing; from under his command. Truly, he couldn't be more proud of how far he had come in the brief time they'd come to know each other. He placed his cap back on his head and turned to his sailors. "Third Mate! Chart a course! I want us topside by sundown. And that does for the rest of you, let's get to work!"

"Aye Captain!" They said before they began scrambling to their boats. The Captain smiled before stepping in front of Asuka and Shinji, who snapped out of their melancholic trance. He would keep his promise to Danya as he extended his hand asking them, "Care to join?"

Deep within the underbelly of the hollow earth rested the Ruins of Arqa, a secret among many SEELE have hidden from the world. There, a divine and ancient artifact that would unlock the mysteries of Instrumentality and grant knowledge which would forever change the world; The Key of Nebuchadnezzar.

But that's another story, for another time.

As Danya kept driving along the road, he slid in one of his cassette tapes. Not looking back, he would go wherever the road took him, wherever the cross would guide him, wherever his heart would lead him. He knew he had a life, and he would do whatever it took to make it worthwhile. No matter how much grief and sorrow would befall him, no matter how many hardships would overtake him, he would forever stay true to himself and his faith. It was only a matter of time before his heart would lead him to the one place he longed to call his own; home.

God is in his heaven, and all's right with the world.

THE END