CHAPTER 16_A VERY MOPEY EPILOGUE

Overconfidence. That was what lost his liege Gerard the battle and the war. Winterlune was convinced of this. Overconfidence from himself about the power that Gerard wielded and that they needed no allies. No others to share the power with, and the ability to execute the Grand Design to its purest extent.

But all that was lost now. It looked like certain victory mere minutes ago, before those damned beasts arrived and drove the army he and Gerard had carefully cultivated into oblivion.

Unbelievable.

Those creatures couldn't possibly have had the powers or intelligence to best the Grand Design by themselves, but arriving as a new force while they were fully engaged with the human armies completely ruined their chances of victory. That and the giant eagles were able to help humble even the largest of Gerard's dragons. It was a humiliating defeat.

Winterlune couldn't think of too much more. Gerard had also fallen, crushed by an abominable ape. It was ironic that it was one of Gerard's own creations, one whose mind has been opened by his liege. It was such a betrayal of the gift it has received.

It didn't matter now, as Winterlune tried to depart the field of battle as rapidly and as quietly as his black steed could take him. His huge thoroughbred black horse wove and dashed and jumped its way through the throngs of his own chaotic and broken forces as arrows and bolts rained down around him. Some of the arrows found a mark, helps of pain and dismay rang out randomly from his dwindling army. Each of them was fleeing for their own lives as the tsunami of human and animal forces engulfed their comrades behind them.

Winterlune vowed revenge as several solders next to him we're pierced by arrows. Vowed that he alone would take up the mantle of Gerard's Grand Design. He would do it, no matter the cost. He needed time to prepare the next move. He would plan it meticulously. He would win next time.

/

Shinji awoke slowly and comfortably. He was ensconced in a luxurious feeling, and it took a few moments to remember where he was and that soft fragrant warmth was in fact Anna draped over him. He rose slowly and looked around the large field tent.

Still a habitual early riser, Shinji sat up slowly and quietly, not wanting to disturb the queen's blissful slumber. He brushed a few stands of hair away from her eyes and smiled at her peaceful expression.

The memories of last night slowly entered his mind, the massive celebration of the victory, the food, three drink, and then there were all the things he and Anna did afterwards…he felt his cheeks light up.

Shinji looked up at the tent's ceiling quietly contemplating the events that led him to this point in time and space. He realised he was no longer afraid of unfamiliar ceilings. He was even making friends, without first getting punched in the face.

Surely, he weeks truly be happy here if he stayed like Anna wanted him to. A very large part of him wanted the same thing. He wondered if there was anything wrong with staying in this world and being selfish. But in talking with his mother, he'd also come to realise that saving the world was his responsibility too and he couldn't shirk it. Even if Tokyo-3 wasn't as idyllic as his current life, he still had to see it through.

Shinji needed to go home.

And he knew that decision would be difficulty to stomach, especially for Anna. He would miss her very much too. But he knew he was doing the right thing.

He felt two warm arms encircling him from behind and a peck from soft lips on the back of his neck sent shivers down his spine.

"Good morning Shinji," whispered Anna. "You look lolly l like you've been thinking about the meaning of life, the universe and everything."

Shinji chuckled. "Nothing so complicated. I… I've just…been making a decision."

Her arms seemed to hold him tighter, almost as if she knew what was coming.

"You're going to go home, aren't you?"

He turned around and held her tightly too. He could see the tears welling up in her eyes. Honestly there were years in his eyes too. The last few months had been enlightening. Shinji was not worthless. He could be loved, and he could love back. His eyes had been opened to the possibilities of real connections and love and happiness.

He'd never known true happiness until he realised that he was making a decision to walk away from it.

"Yes, I…I thought about it a lot. I need to go home and save my world. You know that the Evangelion was built to fight giant monsters…Angels we call them. They're terrifying. I need to save my friends and my mother and even my… father."

Anna simply held him tighter.

"I hate it. But…I understand why you have to go. I wish I had a chance to save my parents. Maybe things would have been easier if they were still around. But…they're not."

She looked at him fiercely, their equivalent heights making it much easier. "You'd better find a way back to me, Lord Sir Shinji Ikari, Knight of the Colossus, Combustor of Slimes, Tamer of Wolves, Slayer of Dragons, and Guardian of My Heart."

"I promise to find a way back to you."

/

As had been decided, the seven dragons' balls were cut from their host bodies and assembled outside the gates of Castle Wesen. It was the only place large enough and open enough to host those assembled and to let the stench dissipate even a little. The castle had been seriously damaged during the battle, its walls smashed in several places by Unit One struggling against dragons. Towers had been burnt out and the keep partially collapsed. What was an imposing structure was now just an unnerving monument to Gerard's folly.

Shinji stood in front of the foul-smelling bollocks trying not to throw up his breakfast. And last night's dinner. Those assembled around for the occasion, the monarchs of the various nations and generals were not faring much better, though they seemed to be hiding it all the same.

Shinji had been briefed by Renee that a very short but very specific incantation had to be recited by the person who slayed the dragons and that person was the only one who could make the wish. He stepped cautiously towards the pile of fourteen pink ellipsoids, not wanting to get close enough for the stench to overpower him, and started reciting.

"I summon thee, Eternal Dragon of the Heavens, make my wish come true!"

It felt like a few minutes before anything happened, but it was merely a few seconds. The seven dragons' balls began to glow and pulsate before merging into one big mass of energy. The sky darkened and everything became black and white as an enormous dragon taller than Unit One emerged. It seemed to be the only thing with any semblance of colour, green carapace and yellow belly that looked like an eternal staircase winding its way towards the heavens. Its head was adorned with golden horns and flaming red eyes. Each arm extending from its sleek body ended with onyx claws.

If took all of Shinji's strength to not run screaming to the hills. He could sense the raw power of the dragon. He was glad that he didn't have to fight this one.

The dragon looked at Shinji, flaming eyes drilling through him like an arrow piercing an apple. His heart felt like it was simultaneously skipping every beat, yet it was beating, threatening to escape from his chest.

When it spoke, it was with a rumbling so loud that Shinji though the sky and the earth would swallow him. "You have awakened oneself. One sees a pure heart who has stepped out of time and space and…outside of creation. You are an anomaly."

Shinji looked at the dragon meekly. "Uh, yes. About that. I-I was hoping that you could help with that. You see, I wish to be sent back to my world."

The Eternal Dragon bent down to get a closer look at Shinji, which gave him a closer view of its giant nostril. It peered at him from every angle, making growling sounds, which Shinji assumed were a dragon's equivalent of a human's grunt of disapproval.

"I am not certain how a small, meek creature such as you managed to summon me," summarised the Eternal Dragon after some time. "You do not exhibit the powers of previous summoners. Yet this leads me to the conclusion you are a most singular person."

The Eternal Dragon seemed to give a little sigh. "Very well, I will help you. Though it is outside of my powers. Bear with me…"

To Shinji's – and everyone else's surprise – the Eternal Dragon summoned a rectangular slab into one of its large hands. The slab had a rainbow cherry symbol on it, which reminded Shinji of the phone Misato had given him when he first joined NERV. It was somewhat unnerving to see the celestial being was indeed bringing the slab up to its face and started talking into it.

"Yo! It's me. How are you? Yes, yes, long time no speak."

Shinji heard some gibberish slither its way out of the dragon-sized phone as the Eternal Dragon nodded along at various intervals.

"It's not my fault nobody's summoned me for five hundred years. Yes, I still remember that I owe you a drink. Look, no time for this. I need your help with something. Hang on, I'll share my location."

A boop rang out over the castle as the dragon pressed something on its phone.

"You got it? Alright, great. See you soon."

The phone vanished from sight. Shinji was struggling to wrap his brain around the fact that divine dragons even used telephones. He supposed there was some sort of divine phone network in the cosmos or something.

Meanwhile a small, rather human sized portal shimmered into existence in front of Shinji, through which a statuesque woman dressed in long flowing robes stepped out. She was exquisitely beautiful, with rainbow hair that flowed down her back like a prismatic waterfall. She seemed to smile coquettishly at Shinji like she knew every single one of his secrets. It made an already nervous Shinji even more anxious.

"Well, well, well, what have we here," purred the newcomer. She walked up to Shinji and looked him over. "Looks like there was quite the show here. And all instigated by this little cutie?"

"U-uh, uh…show?" he stammered nervously.

"Why, so many people here and you're the centre of attention," the mysterious woman said to him. "You must be very accomplished."

"No m-ma'am, I j-just pilot the Eva…nothing else."

"Hmm, modest as well. How interesting," she teased. My, I've been rude. I am Celestia, the Matriarch of Space and Time. My husband the Eternal Dragon has asked me to fulfil your wish in his stead. Seems to me that my husband is a little bit impotent in regard to manipulating space and time, unlike his other abilities."

Shinji wondered if the god-like dragon was blushing. His face seemed a much darker green. Or maybe it was just the lighting. Nonetheless, he wasn't sure what Celestia meant with her rather teasing tone.

"I-I'm not sure what you mean, ma'am."

Celestia let out a small melodic chuckle. "Such innocence too. Well, let's not waste time here, I have to make sure I can spend some quality time with my husband after this before his physical body dissipates again. With a wave of her hand, Celestia opened a portal next to her which shimmered similarly to how she made her own entrance. However, it was Evangelion sized.

Shinji looked at the shimmering golden gate, which cast the warmest golden light all around the otherwise barren landscape. The more he looked at it, the more he thought it was pulling him, urging him to get in it. Through it was home. The home that he wanted to save. The home with people he cared about; Misato, Touji, Kensuke, and the rest of his classmates. His father. Asuka.

He looked back at there battlefield where he just helped to save this world. This one where he also had friends, happiness, even a bit of love. It was proof that he wasn't the useless pariah that he imagined he was.

Anna stood there looking resolute, with a sad, wan smile that he knew was reserved just for him.

Please, come back to me echoed in his mind's ear. He hoped he could find a way to get back one day, after he'd finished what he needed to do. So far this was the one and only place where he'd found real contentment. Sure, he started off wanting only to please people, but learned after a time that they were happy he was part of their lives.

I hope. I wish. I will!

Celestia stood beside him, catching his eye. Her face had faded to a white silhouette after she opened the door. But he could sense her patience and acceptance of whatever decision he wanted to make.

Shinji gulped and nodded. He returned the wan smile Anna was giving him, and unsure of what else to do, waved farewell. He had so much to say that he couldn't put into words. So many things that he wanted to do, but not enough time to do them.

And so Shinji climbed into Unit One and walked the few steps into the threshold of the gate and, along with Celestia, disappeared into its warm light.

/

"Where am I?" asked Shinji, as he walked, no ran, no floated, no flew, no crawled, through some kind of space. Rainbow shards of infinite glittering stars flitted past and danced around them. Occasionally, some colourful light would pass through him and...

...he was on a desolate beach looking at the red sea with nothing for company except for a necklace with a metal cross...

...there was a good crowd tonight. He stared across the sea of adoring fans in the dark, smoke filled room. They were not fans not of his bass guitar skills specifically, or even the whole band, but of her. Her fiery red hair, her vibrant smile, her sweet voice. He was her biggest fan too. His band mates, a quiet girl with electric blue hair on electric guitar and her brother the drummer with messy silver locks cheered as the show climaxed...

Shinji was back in the real world – whatever this real world was – gasping for breath.

Celestia replied: "this place is both within and without time and space. All the infinite possibilities are here, some of which I expect you have experienced."

Another shard passed through him and...

...a parachuting girl in a white shirt with green and red plaid skirt crashed into his face. It was so very soft and very warm and he hoped he wouldn't get kicked in the face like the last he accidentally looked at the wrong time and saw his world's desires...

...protocol didn't prevent relationships between officers. Protocol didn't prevent relationships between officers. He clutched the flowers – real ones from Star Base Eleven's hydroponics farms – a bit harder to focus his nerves on something else. Protocol didn't prevent officers yelling at him, and he was fascinated by her, and scared of her and damn she was beautiful. Her brilliant red hair brighter than the command uniforms to match her temper, and he would follow her anywhere in the galaxy. He looked into her eyes when the door to her quarters opened for him and him alone. Her right eye was that brilliant shade of blue his soul could swim in for all eternity and her left was duller from her past assimilation...

Shinji gasped again. "How...where is my world?"

Shinji felt Celestia smile. "Don't you worry about that. I'll be able to find it soon. In the meantime, please keep calm. Not all the realities are pleasant. But they either haven't happened yet or are just a possibility amongst all of these."

Celestia looked ahead again, and started muttering something. Meanwhile they passed by and through some more shards of all colours, and Shinji saw...

...he was already broken. He hated everything. He hated everyone. He did so many horrible things. To him. And especially to her. There would never be redemption. But he still cared for her, in his desperate, irredeemable way. And those harpies had her, or parts or her. At least, that's what he assumed from the shreds of red Evangelion in their mouths. And as his brain caught up with his eyes, he screamed...

...there was a giant back being in front of him. He had to stop this, before everyone died. He had to save her mind, trapped as it was inside the giant mechanical beast. He had to, they'd been through so much together, saving each other. She would do it for him, yell at him, tease him, push him. Now he had to do it in her place...

...he was a Helldiver. He was. Now, he was very much a Gold. But after all the trials and tribulations he was so proud that they'd paid off. The Sovereign's crown complemented her flaming red hair perfectly, a bright and shining symbol of the new Solar Republic. A brighter new future for those who had been under the yoke of the stratified Society. She saw him in the crowd, their love communicated across the distance without any sound, just trust and understanding...

"Almost there, Shinji. Apologies for the delay, I'll get you home in no time."

He nodded, not sure how many more alternate moments in time and space he was able to take before he forgot which was 'real' and which wasn't. More and more shards swirled in his eyes and some even went through him...

...as did her shrill voice. She was far more effective than an alarm clock. Shinji had no idea how his redheaded childhood friend could possibly be so sweet and beautiful on the outside, but such a demon on the inside. He turned over mumbling he needed more sleep, but she wouldn't allow it. She smacked him with nuclear ferocity as the price of his disobedience...

...his heart skipped a beat. It was hard to believe he'd actually survived it all. And now, despite things being imperfect, he had the two most precious things in the world; freedom and her. Well, freedom was defined by the remote American compound in which they'd put them for their protection. Make that three: hope. Hope that things would get even better as time allowed him to walk further away from the traumas of the past. Hope that what he and she had created would know nothing of their pain, and see only a bright future ahead...

He snapped out of it again.

"Ah, here it is," Celestia said, holding a small blue shard between her thumb and index finger. "Your world. Your reality and your time. I can put you back wherever and whenever you want. Is there some point in time and space that would be suitable?"

Shinji wasn't sure what the answer should be. He thought for a moment and hoped that his answer would be smart. Or at least not wrong. "I disappeared into an Angel and nearly died. Could you...put me back just as the Angel died? Or is dying? I...I don't really know."

Celestia thought about it and looked intently at the shard squirming for escape in her hand. She nodded after a few seconds, probably interrogating it silently. "Yes, that seems to be a logical time and place for you to return. I will make it so..."

And just like that, his world became white again.