Shin Persona Evangelion

by Ultra Sonic 007

Shinji Ikari stared, bewildered by the bizarre-looking man, who gave an intrigued smile. "An interesting guest has arrived. My name is Igor. Welcome to the Velvet Room, young fool...we have important matters to discuss, you and I." (A fusion of the realms of Evangelion and Persona, where not all is as it seems.) (Cover art by Renu of the Sufficient Velocity forums.)

98. The Story Thus Far - July 2015

Author's Note: Since we were in the month of August 2015 for about ten IRL months, I figured a recap of July 2015 would be helpful.

But this recap has even more narrative oomph than the one for June; don't skip this recap episode, because there's actually stuff talked about that ties into the ongoing plot!

xxxx

It was a peaceful night in Tokyo-3.

Pen-Pen dreamed a dream of time gone by...so his surprise could be excused, given unexpected company.

xxxx

"Ah. My apologies."

Pen-Pen, sitting on a beach chair at world's end, looked at the newcomer with surprise. "

Strange to see you out and about, as it were."

"The boy's dreams have been troubled as of late," he answered, sitting on sand stained red by crimson water. "I figured it was a good opportunity to...stretch my legs, so to speak."

"You are concerned?"

"Aren't we all?"

Pen-Pen shrugged in acquiescence. "Fair enough. The children have gone through so much, after all..."

"Perhaps you could remind me? I've been so preoccupied with the boy that my chances to gaze out into the wider world are...few and far between."

"To be fair, this is the path you chose to take."

"Just because precautions are necessary doesn't mean I have to enjoy them. Truly a shame, that I lack your particular skills at...clairvoyance, shall we say." Leaning back on his hands, the interloper stared at the image of a sun rising out of a giant woman's rotting face. "I hope the Third Child has been doing well."

Pen-Pen chuckled, clapping his flippers together; as a kiseru pipe manifested in his beak, a soft yet somewhat unsettling tune began to play over the waves.

"Strangely dissonant."

"A reminder that unpleasant surprises can lurk behind friendly faces. A shame that the poor chap was nothing but a patsy, last time around." The interloper looked intrigued. "At least, that's the impression little Jose got of Takuto Maruki."

"Jose seems rather charming, from what I've been told."

"A studious and rambunctious little lad. I'm sure he takes that analytical mindset from her. Now, with all that being said..." An old book manifested in Pen-Pen's hands, already open to a particular page. "How does the month of July sound? Quite a bit happened."

"Ah, most certainly...it seems like a lifetime ago."

"Relatively or literally?" squawked Pen-Pen with a brief laugh. "Anyhow...July 1st. Shiro Tokita's little island base in the Metaverse is crashed by yours truly...and Shinji Ikari, and Koromaru. We had to rescue Misato, after all; but while the boy gets distracted with Mana Kirishima, I run wild and induce a bit of panic in his goons! But by time Misato's been set free, Ikari's gone quite...mad, with the rage of a Beast. Were it not for mine and Misato's timely intervention, the lad would have likely killed Miss Kirishima in cold blood. But even though Tokita tried making a run for it, his base was ambushed by the forces mustered by Ritsuko Akagi for a mission...said forces including a certain man by the name of Ryuji Sakamoto. By the time I sent Misato and the two kids packing via Jose's portal, Tokita's base had been subdued...but Mana's brothers, to her dismay, had made a run for it." Flipping the page, Pen-Pen loosed a somewhat irritated quack. "Those poor boys ended up in the guile clutches of Takaya Sakaki...and as the day comes to an end, Shinji ruminates on how close he had come to losing himself to the Beast within. Only the words of Igor and the quiet encouragement of his Attendant, Sokila, enable him to endure that dark repose."

"A curious name, 'Sokila'. Why did she choose it?"

"From my understanding, she came up with it herself. I believe she was quite proud of it."

The interloper smiled. "That warms my heart. She seemed so very withdrawn, the last time I saw her in person."

"To be fair, she had just been saved from a terrible fate."

"I suppose that's fair enough," admitted the interloper. "Continue, please?"

"July 2nd: Recovering from the events of yesterday, Shinji answers another question from PILATE on the matters of justifying horrible circumstances in relation to trust, even as Shiro Tokita is proverbially whisked away from the Hakone Detention House by Gendo Ikari. Apparently."

The interloper frowned. "Why does Gendo Ikari exhibit such a strange presence?"

"What do you think?" asked Pen-Pen.

"I wish I could say for certain. My worst fear is...well, I'd rather not say."

"In which case, the ultimate showdown between that man and his son will be quite a show. For what it's worth, I don't believe it's your worst fear," the penguin said, in the manner of one who knew more than most and delighted in that fact. "I could be wrong...at any rate, while the boy undergoes a debriefing with Ritsuko Akagi and Kensuke Aida about the assault on Tokita's island base, Mana Kirishima and Misato Katsuragi have a frank conversation about the legal realities of being an orphan with cognitive and supernatural powers. Fortunately, their appointed custodian is one Sae Niijima, who's quite the competent sort. By the end of it, she's roped Misato into agreeing to become Mana's guardian."

The interloper chuckled, a strange look ghosting across his face. "Sae Niijima...she has a surprisingly prominent position in the boy's thoughts."

"Is that so?" Pen-Pen briefly inhaled from his tobacco pipe, releasing a colorful pattern of smoke. "A lingering remnant...at any rate, Shinji and Kensuke would have a rather serious conversation about the dangers related to their powers and the life they had, before relaxing with an action-packed anime movie at the theater! Kami Funsai Lurren Galann, I believe it was called. After questioning why one of their teachers is fixated on the Sun and the Moon, they make their way back to their dorm for the evening. The serenity of the full moon was...a point of note, I can't help but say."

"Is it that surprising? The moon has a central place in the cognition of man, seen as a sign of wonder and terror, depending on one's time and place."

"Indeed...now. July 3rd." Flipping the page, Pen-Pen continued. "Shinji wants to disclose some of the natures of his power and circumstances to a complete civilian; as Kensuke, Toji, and Hikari will tell him throughout the day, there indeed are. But he gives it his best shot, electing to confide in Mayumi Yamagishi about what he's gone through. It's a fairly enlightening experience for both children: to Shinji because he desires some sense of normalcy; to Mayumi because she very much lacks a fundamental normalcy, and finds his presence strangely real...but the reality behind such sentiments won't become evident until August, so let's not ponder further: after all, Misato needs his assistance! Bringing both Mana and Shinji under her roof, Misato elects the tried and true method of throwing the kids at each other until they make nice!"

"That could have ended quite poorly, in hindsight. They were locked in a life-and-death battle just two days prior."

"A fair point, but the boy's core retains a trace of apologetic submissiveness that is...ironically stubborn. With remorse over what he did, he would have been more than willing to acquiesce in conversation to her...and when not a threat, it's doubtful Mana would have initiated hostilities at that point. Besides, I was present to ensure order was maintained."

The interloper leaned over, gazing at an illustration of Pen-Pen backhanding Mana across the face. "Now why ever would you do that?"

"She cracked the table. Damaging the furniture is a no-no. Fortunately, it was enough to finally break the awkwardness, setting the stage for a new bond to form. Misato is satisfied enough by this development...and as Shinji departs after dinner, Misato and Mana are in the strange position of testing boundaries, setting ground rules. It's through this that, by pure chance, Mana stumbles upon that Featherman Z show...and becomes an instant fan."

"There are some familiar faces in that cast," mused the interloper, focusing on the faces of Ann Takamaki, Hifumi Togo, and Naoto Shirogane in particular. "The first two have some solidity, like photographs...while the third bears an idol's aura." He chuckled, as if having an epiphany. "How lovely! I'll have to keep this in mind for later..."

"Privy to something I'm not?"

"Now now, there are some things which are secrets even from you."

"Fair enough!" admitted Pen-Pen, turning back to his book. "Shinji ends his evening in the Velvet Room...where, after being introduced to the Apprenticeship service, he is given an actual key by his Attendant...at which point, after some deliberation, he offers to take her outside: much to her delight."

The interloper smiled warmly, listening intently as Pen-Pen moved straight into the events of July the 4th. As the penguin retold the story of Sokila's first foray outside of the Velvet Room with her Guest — complete with amusing asides about Elizabeth and Margaret's attempts at playing distraction, Misato's shopping trip with Mana and the unique growing pains that came with it, Sokila gaining her 'official' Attendant's uniform, the girl's bedazzled reaction to a department store, and the brief intervention by one Minato Arisato to calm Elizabeth down — he eventually noticed a melancholy expression on the visitor's face. "You seem troubled."

"...merely pondering the shame of it all, that they who have endured so much must still suffer more. Those born of LILITH and those born of ADAM...are they fated to forever be in conflict? Can Evangelion bring about healing, or is it fated to be the apocalyptic Destroyer? Can the efforts of so few be enough in the face of the masses and the one who subtly pulls at their strings?"

"We can only wait and see...and do what we can, in the meantime." After including a brief note about potential financial difficulties in Toji Suzuhara's future in the midst of a study session with Hikari Horaki — "How long do you think it'll be before either one of them confesses?" wondered the interloper — Pen-Pen moved directly to the next day. "July 5th. As Toji ponders whether his time at Hakone Academy will be shorter than expected...he inadvertently falls into the Metaverse."

The interloper snorted. "'Inadvertently', he says."

"If it works, it works."

"It's also rather crass. I imagine they'll be quite cross with you if they ever find out."

"I'm sure they would be!" Continuing on, Pen-Pen said, "As Shinji and Kensuke endure the drudgery that is working for Dr. Akagi, and Misato puts Mana through a training session in the Metaverse...Toji walks through the cognitive double of Kobayakawa Memorial Hospital, slowly but surely making his way to where his sister's room is located. Along the way, he's protected from some unruly Archetypes by a very big bear."

"A curious existence," mused the interloper, looking at a pencil sketch of a giant bear in a clown suit. "He is...quite a unique phenomenon, isn't he?"

"How am I unique?"

The interloper jolted with genuine surprise, gazing over his shoulder; as if summoned, the bear in question was sitting on the sand, pantoming his words via a cartoonish hand puppet. "How exactly are you here?"

Teddie tilted his head confusedly. "Um...am I supposed to be elsewhere?" nervously 'said' the hand puppet. "I was just dreaming, and wandered here because I thought you might want more company! Besides, I LOVE storytime!"

"...hmm." The interloper folded his hands. "It is a very curious thing, for one who originated as a Shadow to show such substance...and not even the Shadow of a particular person, but rather that of a general mass of human emotion and will. I'm honestly surprised you had enough stability to endure from one timeline to the next."

Pen-Pen chuckled at the interloper's question. "I suppose it is only natural: consider the Sea of Souls, and the Collective Unconscious of humanity. A vast, roiling maelstrom of energy; a metaphysical construct of immense depth; a cognitive mass of chaos; is it any surprise, that a being which emerged from those wild emanations would forge an identity for itself, once it established bonds of its own?"

"A tabula rasa," he mused, staring inquisitively at Teddie. "Even to the point where an ego barrier would form...ah, my apologies. I believe the term is bearier."

Teddie's eyes sparked with delight. "Yay! You get it, too!"

"But that doesn't answer my question as to why Teddie persists."

Pen-Pen tapped his long claws together; a can of Yebisu manifested, which he casually popped the top off of. "Think: what particular bond does Teddie have that is entirely unlike any other?" he asked before taking a swig of beer.

The answer was immediately clear. "The Wild Card."

Teddie moaned with sorrow, as the hand puppet began crying audibly. "Oh...I haven't seen sensei in so long...I MISS HIS UNBEARABLY MANLY CHARM!"

"...I suppose this would also explain Koromaru and the little fox."

Pen-Pen nodded, exhaling a puff of tobacco smoke that briefly curled into the shapes of a winged Shiba Inu and a scarred fox wearing a bib. "Indeed: the stories of humanity are rife with tales of intelligent dogs, loyal beyond the point of death...and of trickster foxes, with cunning and sly wisdom passed through the ages...but if not for their connection to the Velvet Room through a Wild Card, they would have had nothing to sustain their form from one world to the next."

"How curious...it's quite amazing, the potential of humanity, and the ways in which it can manifest." Leaning back with a smile, the interloper motioned for Pen-Pen to continue.

"As I was saying: Toji continues through the hospital, eventually finding the Realm of his own Shadow...and there's a very serious discussion about death and survivor's guilt that he's entirely unwilling to have, which is why his Shadow goes berserk. Fortunately, the double duos of Misato and Mana, and then Shinji and Kensuke, were sufficient to subdue the lad; coming to terms with his own gratitude for living on, Toji gained the Persona Gilgamesh. From that conflict was born a new bond between Shinji and Toji...though Rei Ayanami was displeased with my meddling. But when is she not?"

"Must you antagonize her? It seems counterproductive."

"Irritation at my person is preferable to brooding within her own head. She wasn't even satisfied by her conversation with Phanuel over the night of June the 29th." The penguin sighed, ruminating over the Angel of Hope's current 'status'. "I wonder, how his battle with Minako Arisato is going...and for how much longer...?"

"Poor Mona-Mona," bewailed Teddie, his bare paw rising to form a salute. "Your sacrifice will not be forgotten...!"

"To be fair, your nature is mysterious to more than just Ayanami. Are you even aware?"

Pen-Pen shrugged. "It's strange, how humanity's cognition views me in particular. Am I wrong for basking in it, so long as I help the main players survive until the end?" Turning the page in the book, he continued on with little fanfare. "July the 6th: another question by HEROD is made regarding a life or death choice, of sorts...but more importantly, I ask the boy whether or not I should shave my mustache!" The penguin brushed at his beak with the tip of his claw.. "A shame that beaks are incapable of growing facial hair in the physical realm."

"A true shame," remarked the interloper with genuine empathy.

"The boys from Room 23 gather at Neo Hagakure, where they discuss their various father issues, and relate to Shinji how exactly Kensuke, Toji, and Kaworu came to know each other. Compared to the other three, whose fathers were or are associated with NERV...Kaworu's father is a mystery, and he speaks of himself only as a 'ward of the state.' All told, he comes across as a bit...mysterious."

The interloper calmly hummed. "Mysterious indeed. Were it not for Rei Ayanami's testimony, his presence and demeanor would be...concerning." Glancing at Pen-Pen, he asked, "Do you have any insight?"

Pen-Pen chuckled. "I like to keep my eyes in many places, but don't mistake that for omniscience. I will trust in the fact that a bond between Kaworu and Shinji was born from this meeting...even if, afterwards, Kaworu seemed as though its formation was tearing him apart."

"Curious as to why that would be. It didn't happen in a similar manner with Minato and Minako Arisato," he remarked with a curious stare.

"And in those circumstances, their bond with the Angels was completely internalized on an essential level," observed Pen-Pen. "For separate existences to forge a metaphysical bond, on the other hand? It is no surprise, that one born of ADAM would react in such a way to one born from LILITH. Were it not for Evangelion, and the protection of the Velvet Room, I imagine Shinji would have reacted similarly...if he were even capable of forging such a bond to begin with."

"I suppose..."

"At any rate, the day ends with a delightful scene of Mana adjusting to the fact that she has a room she can call her own. Amidst worries about the state of her brothers, I serve as a delightful sleep aid; thus do we move on to the 7th of July. After cheering Toji up in the morning over his doldrums about the recent change in circumstances, Shinji goes through the school day as usual...save for lunch, where Hikari Horaki and Rei Ayanami both demand his time. Little Hikari is concerned about the recent changes in Toji's demeanor, while Shinji leverages Rei's concern about overextending himself into an offer for future missions together. The day rolls on: with surprising intrigue, Toji accompanies his custodian to a restaurant called Kanamin Kitchen, where he eats with Makoto Niijima and Ryuji Sakamoto. As they discuss his options going forward as a Persona-user, Ryuji offers to take on the boy as an apprentice; this particular decision will have many ramifications over the coming weeks."

"That guy seems pretty cool," remarked Teddie, his bare paw idly splashing at the crimson waters along the shore. "But I think he should be blond. I'm not sure why..." The hand puppet suddenly gasped. "Could it be...that I have a natural weakness for blonds? No wonder my human body was a blondy!"

The interloper chuckled at the sudden tangent. "Even after so long, the attention span of a child remains..."

"I wonder what Chie-chan, Yukiko-chan, Rise-chan, and Nao-chan would look like as blondes...?"

Ignoring Teddie's pondering, Pen-Pen looked back down at the book. A pleased quack slipped past his beak. "The next day...was quite eventful for many reasons. July the 8th: when the Second and Third Children first met each other in person."

"It feels like it's been forever since those events..."

Pen-Pen read, "Shinji was awoken that morning for an emergency deployment to the American city of Atlanta, to deal with a major outbreak of Ghosts and Acolytes. Whilst Rei and Sister Mary Makinami fought in reality, Shinji was instructed to reinforce the Second Child in the Metaverse...and at the site of the MAGI facility underneath the Georgia Dome sports stadium, he finally encounters her: Asuka Langley-Sohryu." The page bore an illustration of an eyepatch-clad redhead, standing atop the chest of a fallen Acolyte's Shadow; the whole image evoked 'expectant triumph.' "Naturally, she and Shinji hit it off immediately."

The interloper leaned in, looking at the banter between a flustered Shinji and a bossy Asuka. "How charming."

"Isn't it? Armed with her Persona Matilda, Asuka leads Shinji and Hamlet through the Georgia Dome...but in its depths, at the heart of the local MAGI, they encounter Jin Shirato. It is here, that Strega first makes itself known...and through power offered by Bardiel, Jin destroys the MAGI. Shinji and Asuka barely escape; the resulting explosion creates an immense distortion in the Metaverse, and the cognitive feedback kills many. Rei, pressured by this, utilizes her Ascended State...and it'll be a long time, before such a power makes its return..."

"Are the stakes nearing such a point?"

"What do you think?"

"It sounds like it's getting grizzly," murmured Teddie's hand puppet.

Pen-Pen nodded. "A certain redhead with a penchant for puns and two swords was watching this battle...as was an unfortunate lady in black...but it'll be some time, before they return. After the debriefing with the American military staff, where the future threat of Strega is assessed, the Evangelion-users all part ways...albeit not without some barbs from Asuka about why they're still going to school."

"Because school is fun?"

The interloper ignored Teddie's answer. "A very good question..."

"Regardless, they were not quite ready for a bond to form...but as our heroes depart, we see that Takaya Sakaki has absconded with the Shadow of a certain prisoner. It is the Shadow of one Junya Kaneshiro: this man is the designated sacrifice for Mana's brothers, to serve as their initiation into Strega...to see if they are willing to pay a high price for greater power." With a grim exhale of smoke from his pipe, Pen-Pen shook his head. "And it is a price they paid in blood."

"A cruel baptism, indeed," murmured the interloper.

"Thus we move to July the 9th. Though Shinji is still recovering from his trip to Atlanta, a more important scene is occurring...elsewhere. A summit of Angels, where they talk about certain things that are, alas, beyond my sight."

The interloper arched an eyebrow. "An admission of fallibility? How surprising."

"The Angels are bound within the Sea of Souls, just as humanity is; though their essential properties undoubtedly allow them a means of communicating that is not within the power of humans to observe...the reality that such communication existed cannot be hidden. At least, not to me." Pen-Pen punctuated his comment with a sip of beer. "Whatever the meeting entailed, it resulted in Kaworu Nagisa being rather melancholy...but not as melancholy as the students of Hakone Academy, who have a day full of nothing but pop quizzes."

"Pop goes the beary?" remarked Teddie's hand puppet, before the bear himself got beaned in the forehead by an empty beer can.

"Enough of that now," chided Pen-Pen. "Shinji ends his day at school with a discussion regarding translations, and books, and the lessons they impart upon repetitive readings. After answering HEROD's question from previously regarding life-altering decisions, Shinji leaves a voicemail for his old sensei, thanking him for taking him in so many years ago. Thus, we arrive at July the 10th: this time, he awakens to a question from PILATE, regarding what it would take to make the boy run away from a painful ordeal. The 'sunk cost fallacy' is mentioned."

The interloper chuckled. "Ah...the boy is quite familiar with that notion, regardless of the agony it caused him."

"Speaking of 'painful ordeals', Commissioner Kenshiro Morooka had a meeting with Gendo Ikari, where the former has some choice words regarding Shiro Tokita's disappearance, and how quickly he claimed the fruits of the JET ALONE Project for NERV. Fortunately, he has a means of working off his frustration..."

"Taste-testing Mystery Food X?" wondered Teddie's hand puppet aloud.

"Not quite! While Shinji undergoes a study sessions at the school library alongside Hikari Horaki — wherein he learns of the girl's crush on Toji amidst her concerns about his recent changes — Morooka showed off to a bunch of trainees by throttling Goro Akechi like a ragdoll."

The interloper chuckled, looking at the book's illustration of Akechi seething at Morooka and his reptilian Persona, Leviathan. "A very entertaining spar, to be sure...but it seems that the immediate aftermath was more concerning."

Pen-Pen nodded. "Indeed; Morooka notified Akechi that Kyoto's Governor, Toranosuke Yoshida, had passed away...and that his position had been filled by none other than a man named Masayoshi Shido. Which, given that Akechi is actually that man's son...introduces some complications."

"There are some things which do not change, apparently..."

"Speaking of changes: July the 11th. A rather interesting day: Shinji is mandated to undergo missions involving Ghost subjugation and dispersal...and besides certain parts of Hokkaido, they are all located along America's eastern coasts." Pen-Pen chuckled knowingly. "This is a fact he neglects to tell Misato when he requests Mana's assistance on these missions."

The interloper sighed. "Oh dear..."

"As the duo go about their business, Mana couldn't help but wonder at just how Shinji came across the power of Evangelion...which is a shame, since such a matter has no bearing on her own enjoyment of combat's thrill."

"Envy is one heck of a bear to deal with. I should know: I saw Yosuke-kun and Chie-chan and Yuki-chan deal with it!" remarked Teddie's hand puppet.

"Meanwhile, Ryuji treats his new apprentice to lunch at Big Bang Beef Bowl, wherein there's a bit of ribbing about how Toji mentioned Hikari Horaki without prompting..."

"Ah, young love..."

"...but it's interrupted by Commissioner Morooka, who Ryuji turns out to have known from the A.T. Task Force's early days. Though Toji doesn't find out at this juncture, this is where Morooka warns Sakamoto about how his old apprentice, Jin Shirato, had become a member of Strega. A rather poor way to find out that your missing student was not, in fact, dead."

Teddie raised his head with intrigue. "Ooh...does this mean we'll have an apprentice-on-apprentice showdown in the future? Or an apprentice-versus-sensei battle?"

"That variant of narrative causality would be appropriate..."

"Who can tell? But that's for the future to unveil: we have the past to retell!" said Pen-Pen as he waved his thin tobacco pipe about. "Ryuji moves on with aplomb, taking Toji to the Metaverse to train the lad up! Meanwhile, Shinji and Mana arrive in America...only to get hit with sleeping gas the moment they emerge near the Boston Dead Zone. This is to the chagrin of NERV-01's Director and his wife: Takuto and Futaba Maruki, who are rather embarrassed by that turn of events."

The interloper chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "The boy reacted quite...negatively, finding out that Takuto and Futaba were married in this time. Given his memories of the prior world, it must have come across as quite a shock...notwithstanding his distaste for Dr. Maruki's actions last time 'round."

Pen-Pen waved it off with a flap of his flipper. "Bah, your little ball of anger at least understands Takuto's abilities were a function of a power beyond his control; he should know that much just from that fact Takuto's Persona this time around isn't Azathoth or Adam Kadmon."

"That is true...no longer oppressed by the enemy's influence, the truth of Maruki's Other Self was allowed to bloom..."

"But the day has just begun for the First Branch in America; as the Marukis get in the good graces of Shinji and Mana, their mission assignments are divvied out. Whilst Shinji has the most ground to cover, Mana focuses solely on Cape Cod. Meanwhile, back in Japan, Toji is recuperating from a rough day of training at Ryuji's hands; in a bit of manly bonding, he tells Toji about his own experiences with loss: namely, the deaths of his first wife Chihaya Mifune and then his second wife Shiho Suzui." Pen-Pen audibly sniffed. "It still makes me want to tear up..."

"And why go through the trouble of learning those stories? Surely, you could divine that history through whatever means are at your disposal..."

Pen-Pen snorted. "Lad, if I were truly all-seeing, I would have settled upon a less painful method of distracting Misato until the climax...and even now, I'm not sure it'll be enough. There's only so much I can do, after all...but that's besides the point." Turning back to the book, Pen-Pen continued, "Ryuji and Toji react to my presence, as Mister P, with some measure of skepticism...but all it took was the sharing of stories to establish a perfectly manly bond of affection between us men!"

"So...manly...!" bewailed Teddie's hand puppet with manly tears.

"I feel like you're mentioning 'manly' that many times on purpose..."

"Back in America, the missions are winding down...but at Mana's last stop, she's ambushed by none other than the Reaper. Sadly, bereft of reason, she attacks it...to no avail. Were it not for Futaba's quick warning, the poor lass would have died before Shinji arrived to rescue her; it is only by the barest of margins that Shinji saves Mana from the Reaper, teleporting back to NERV-01 with assistance from Futaba's Persona, Prometheus. And that's how their day ends." Pen-Pen flipped the page. "While it's still the 11th in America, the 12th of July dawns in Japan...wherein Misato finds out, much to her dismay, that Takuto Maruki informed both her and Sae Niijima about Mana's incapacitation. It's not a very pleasant conversation."

"From what the boy recalls of Sae Niijima, I'm not surprised. She has quite an intense glare..."

"Fortunately, Shinji and Mana both awaken; it is here that Shinji finds out that Futaba knew her mother and Ritsuko Akagi whilst growing up...and there are plenty of pictures for the boy to consume. Takuto Maruki, meanwhile, indulges in his sympathetic nature and tries to shield Mana from the consequences of her failure against the Reaper, which she does not appreciate in the least; she would rather be subjected to the fullness of the truth, even if it makes her come across in a poor light. Fortunately, a meal of chicken and waffles suffices to mollify her...more importantly, it's during these conversations that Shinji learns about Rei Ayanami's origins in this world: found in the Metaverse as a mere toddler, with ostensibly no memory of how she came to be there. Oh, if only he knew..."

"Do you think Rei Ayanami will eventually tell her fellows the truth about how this current state of affairs came to be?" asked the interloper. "And not with regards to Third Impact: I mean the War in Heaven."

Pen-Pen sighed. "If it were up to Ayanami, she would take that tale with her to the grave."

"Unfortunate. I believe it would do her a world of good, to be more open with her fellows..."

"With all that being said, Shinji and Mana say their goodbyes to the Marukis; they return to Japan...inadvertently surprising Misato into falling over her couch. That was funny." Pen-Pen loosed a brief trill of laughter. "Her irritation with their overseas journey aside, she's glad they made it back safely. As Shinji and Mana nap away to recuperate, Misato decides to convene a sudden party to celebrate their successful missions! Kensuke Aida, Toji Suzuhara, Hikari Horaki, Kaworu Nagisa, and Ryuji Sakamoto end up arriving; it's a relatively festive gathering, all things considered. Ren Amamiya wasn't of the same opinion, alas; he wasn't prepared to be the dinner delivery boy whilst Ryuji was present."

"Does this mean that if Sensei encountered me, he would die from the shock of how much he missed me?!" Teddie stood on his hind legs; he might have looked fearsome, were his ursine face not contorted into a miserable frown. "I don't want Sensei to die!"

"Over this dinner," continued Pen-Pen, referring to an illustration that showed the entire group gathered around Misato's dinner table, "the children mingle, and talks turn to the upcoming new moon, and what they're going to do to prepare. Granted, it's during this dinner where I appear in all my feathery goodness...and Ryuji, being quite the eagle-eyed fellow, doesn't miss my physical similarities to one 'Mister P.' As the day draws to a close, the kids end up watching Featherman Z, which causes an entire debate between Toji and Mana about the realism of the stunts, or the lack thereof. Misato, meanwhile, talks with Ryuji about the potential exchange of information and favors...and during this conversation, my origin comes up: rescued by Ryoji Kaji in the year 2008 from a genetics research facility that was doing animal experiments. As the story goes, I was one of the test subjects that was going to be euthanized, and I was the one he happened to pick." Pen-Pen's eyes gleamed with knowing. "But it wasn't quite that simple..."

Teddie huffed with a strangely nostalgic grunt. "It's strange, thinking about those days," murmured the hand puppet. "But that's where you, Koro-chan, Foxy-chan, and I met each other!"

"Oh? Is that true?"

Pen-Pen nodded. "Indeed...but that story is not the subject of our retelling, now is it?"

The interloper's gaze was somewhat shrewd, as if trying to determine if Pen-Pen was being intentionally obtuse. Finally, he relented. "...I suppose not. I imagine I'll find out through the boy soon enough..."

"At any rate, once Misato tells Ryuji about my origin, that's when he makes note of the connection between yours truly and Mister P...and the poor lass becomes right paranoid as a result. It's a paranoia that persists to this day, I'm sad to say..."

"At times, it seems like you're all but rubbing your association in their faces. Why go so far, for such seemingly little gain?"

"Because after enough timelines, I know that Misato is stubborn enough to go for the source of her problems if she's got a lead. I imagine she would have gone straight to Gendo Ikari by now, given her disposition...or, knowing her luck, she would have somehow divined the identity of the Usurper and gone to confront them, even if it meant her doom." Sighing wistfully, Pen-Pen dumped the ashes of his pipe onto the sand. "Her life tends to end unfortunately, alas...even if it be by foul means, can you blame me for doing what little I can to keep her alive until the end?"

The interloper suddenly understood. "Ah...it is because of her bond with Shinji Ikari, that you can't be more overt."

"If it were just a matter of keeping her safe, there are simpler methods I could have used...but not only is she an important ally of Shinji, she's one of his bonds. Her involvement in these affairs is practically a foregone conclusion...and to be honest, she wouldn't be Misato Katsuragi, if she weren't involved in the thick of things. Playing 'keep away' is the best I can do." Sighing explosively, Pen-Pen flopped back in his beach chair and sagged into it. "If only I were the pet of a less troublesome woman..."

"But I thought you liked trouble," retorted Teddie.

"That's besides the point." Pen-Pen tapped his claws against the armrest of his beach chair, casually manifesting a martini. "Moving onto the 13th of July: as the school day progresses, Shinji is sent a collection of pictures about Yui Ikari from Futaba Maruki. This prompts him to speak with his homeroom teacher at the end of the day; Fuyutsuki pulls out a photo showing a dinner from 1999, where Katsuhito Ikari, Naoko and Ritsuko Akagi, Fuyutsuki himself, Wakaba and Futaba Isshiki, Takuto Maruki, and Yui and Gendo Ikari were celebrating. Despite the halcyon days that picture represents, it is also a reminder about how fleeting life can be, because things unravelled shortly thereafter, with Wakaba passing away during Second Impact, Yui disappearing in 2004, and Naoko dying in 2006...though, Fuyutsuki does not disclose the truth that she committed suicide."

Teddie tilted his head. "Naoko Akagi...isn't she the lady with three minds? But she's alive, isn't she?"

"Not in the conventional sense," remarked the interloper. "And it's to our advantage, alas."

"...eh?"

"That's neither here nor there," said Pen-Pen, glossing over Teddie's confusion. "Shinji observes that Fuyutsuki seems to be staying away from the children of his late peers; reflecting on the importance of family, they both conclude their meeting with plenty to think about. Shinji, whilst pondering these matters, decides to forward copies of Futaba's photos to Gendo Ikari...who promptly deletes them, going through the trouble of calling Shinji to tell him off."

The interloper frowned. "How rude."

"That's how the day ends: with Shinji stewing over why his father seems to despise the memory of Yui...and Gendo stewing over whatever darkness has consumed him. Thus we move on to the 14th of July: classes open with a kanji lesson that Shinji finds curiously simple; classes end with Shinji heading to the Literature Club, where he and Mayumi discuss how one's interpretations of books will change as one grows through life...and, to Mayumi's surprise, Shinji admits that he's already thought of them as friends by this point. Back at his dorm room, he finally answers PILATE's question regarding what he's willing to endure for a thankless ordeal...at which Shinji discloses he would only run if he had no hope of changing things; if he could not save anyone...and PILATE, to his dismay, is initially displeased by his answer. But after further elaboration and clarification, PILATE seems satisfied by his resolve, even if she finds it somewhat foolish. Thus the day ends, amidst the banter of Shinji's roommates."

"And so we get closer to the new moon..."

"Indeed! July the 15th: NERV demands the presence of Shinji, Kensuke, and Toji in order to prepare for the following day. Ryuji puts Toji, Kensuke, and Mana through the paces in the Metaverse, whilst Shinji spends more time in..." Pen-Pen paused for dramatic effect. "...The Tube™."

"...is it actually trademarked, though?" wondered Teddie, his hand puppet scratching curiously at his noggin.

"There's a brief aside where we see Misato try and corner me in real life...fortunately, my impeccable acting is enough to throw her off my trail. And all it cost was one guilt trip."

The interloper gave Pen-Pen a stink eye. "How uncouth."

"You're not a lady's man at all!" criticized Teddie.

"If we make it to the end alive, I'll apologize to Misato as much as I have to. Moving on: during his stay in The Tube™, Shinji asks Ritsuko about her memories of Yui Ikari, which have some measure of unhappiness about them...not that Ritsuko is willing to share. Misato eventually arrives, taking Shinji into the Metaverse to recruit more Archetypes from NERV's reserves; theirs is a rather frank and honest discussion about no longer wanting to be chained by their own fears, and Misato is refreshed by Shinji's earnestness. Later, everyone reconvenes in the cafeteria with Rei Ayanami, where they discuss potential tactics and strategies for the following day, all to the dulcet tones of Louis Armstrong. But of course, the day can't end without one last awkward father-son encounter in an elevator, where Gendo makes the significant admission that he hates Shinji for a reason...not that he tells the boy what that reason is."

"...can pain truly drive someone to such madness?" wondered the interloper.

"You should know better than most, given what you've witnessed," observed Pen-Pen. "But, as Shinji slumbers away in the Velvet Room...the day of the new moon arises: July the 16th...and the battle against Ramiel."

The penguin gazed wearily at the image of a crystalline octahedron, hovering above Tokyo-3. "When Ramiel emerged, he struck at Shinji first with a mighty beam; the residual energy bled through the Cognitive Protection Center, prompting numerous Agents to focus on Shadow subjugation as numerous Acolytes were 'born.' Thus were Ryuji, Toji, Kensuke, Mana, and Misato occupied for most of the morning...but as for the Angel: after his initial strike, he withdraws into his Seat of Power at the nexus of mind, body, and spirit. It is there, where Rei Ayanami pursues him, and engages in combat...and where Shinji follows; thus begins the battle. Meanwhile, in the real world, Mana is temporarily put down by an Acolyte's surprise attack...at which point Minato Arisato, out for a stroll, gives her a brief lesson as to how relationships constitute a two-way street."

The interloper stared quietly at the illustration of Minato holding both AIGIS and LABRYS. "Continue."

"His strange ability to synchronize with the weapons befuddles Mana, but she has little time to wonder before leaping back into the fray. As for the battle against the Angel...after the two Evangelion-users give it a good show, Ramiel propels them out of his Domain with violent force, where they crash into the ground outside Tokyo-3 within the Metaverse."

"A shame that something with such a graceful and dignified appearance would be so devastating," mused the interloper, gazing at the next picture of a symmetrical crystal hovering over a smoking crater.

"Rei's injuries are harsh, but not enough to slow her down; the sight of her burned and bleeding back is enough to strike at Shinji's core, to plead for her to accept his help...that she doesn't have to bear all of the pain by herself, that she isn't replaceable."

Teddie balked. "But...doesn't she have the soul of Big Mama LILITH? Why would she be so unbearably careless?"

Pen-Pen sighed, staring at the crimson light of an eternal sunset. "She believes her own pain to be secondary, in the grand scheme of things...but can she endure forever? I suppose only time will tell." Turning back to the book, Pen-Pen continued, "Convincing her to let him cooperate in a more tangible manner, Shinji uses his awesome power to both endure Ramiel's rage, and to launch Rei at high speed toward the Angel's Core: swift and sure, she pierces Ramiel through his very being. Thus is another Angel slain, and the newborn Acolytes running rampant were thus snuffed of life and vitality in an instant." Pen-Pen suddenly chuckled. "It is the sight of this that finally convinces Ryoji Kaji's Shadow to enlighten Shinji Ikari as to the nature of things...but that's for another day."

"...wasn't there something about a giant spider?" wondered Teddie.

"Ah, you mean Matarael? He died against Asuka in a battle that was surely epic...a shame that Sister Mary Makinami didn't see any of it." Flipping the page, the penguin added, "anyhow, as Shinji Ikari awakens at the hospital, he speaks frankly with Rei about living as though her own life was worth living...and it ends with a smile that echoes from an old life to now...but this brief reprieve means little to the rest of the world, which was ravaged by the Angels in numerous places."

"Thus were events set in motion for Japan's eventual isolation from the world," murmured the interloper. "I wonder if they are regretting their choice, now that Strega is expanding their reach...?"

"Compared to repetitive fights and a seemingly futile grind against Acolytes and Ghosts, day after day? Strega probably seems like a more tangible target by comparison: one that can be planned for, given enough warning. And if they continue to target the MAGI, eventually the other nations will narrow down on Strega...but to what avail, given their patrons amongst the Angels?" Pen-Pen irritably inhaled through his pipe, loosing another cloud of angry smoke. "July the 17th. The Wild Card Trio discuss Minato's actions during the new moon, and ruminate over how much of a newbie Ren is relative to Minato and Yu. As for the First and Third Children...they, along with Commander Ikari and NERV's three Directors, cover the carnage from the prior day. Millions perished throughout the world, in the worst incident of mass Angel Syndrome since Second Impact. They listen to the message that had been broadcast by Strega: a declaration of war against those allied with Evangelion...and all the political angles that go with it. While their debrief concludes, Hikari talks with Kensuke and Toji about the collateral damage from the prior day, and how the student body looks at Shinji and Rei with no small measure of trepidation in light how they can fight such awesome monsters...and survive." The picture of Ramiel's corpse being broken down said plenty. "As Shinji returns to his dorms — getting a conciliatory message from Mayumi; another question from HEROD regarding a scenario fit for a fantasy quest; another offer from Tanaka's Portable Commodities — he is greeted warmly by his roommates...and is invited by Kaworu Nagisa for a visit to the Boxing Club the following day."

"He doesn't seem like the type for boxing," wondered the interloper. "Perhaps that's why he's so effective?"

"Do you think he could take down a bear with one punch?" asked Teddie.

"He might very well could! Anyhow, onto July the 18th: during the morning walk to school, Shinji and Mayumi commiserate regarding the events of the prior day, even as he feels the quiet bud of isolation beginning to bloom from other students...this unease persists throughout the day. Fortunately, the Boxing Club serves as a decent distraction; the club's health advisor, Shinjiro Aragaki, makes him sign a waiver in the event of possible injury; given that the club's captain is Akihiko Sanada, that's all too possible. One thing leads to another, and Shinji ends up in a spar with Kaworu...only to be knocked out in one punch." Pen-Pen sighed. "A poor showing, all things considered."

The interloper sighed. "Shinji Ikari isn't a fighter at heart, it would seem."

"Indeed; though he awakens relatively quickly, he is still told to go to the nurse's office. As Kaworu gives him a shoulder to lean on, the boy muses about how appearances in the eyes of the beholder can change, and ebb and flow...and how, despite how odd it may seem, boxing provides him a 'pleasant distraction'."

"A distraction from what, though...?"

"Shinji asked that same question," remarked Pen-Pen. "The school nurse arranges for Shinji to be taken directly to NERV, to have his mind scanned after suffering a concussion; Misato and Dr. Sayoko Uehara are none too pleased by such tomfoolery. As Shinji rests, Misato finally deigns to answer some of Shinji's questions about herself, including her history...which, in this particular timeline, has many uncanny similarities with reality..." Pen-Pen sighed heavily. "Witnessing Second Impact in its fullness...is it always her lot in life? At any rate, she leaves Shinji to rest...and Misato converses with her Other inwardly, resolving to continue being a 'work-in-progress'." Then penguin chuckled quietly at the thought. "Oh, and the day ends with a cutaway to Misato's apartment, where Ryuji is chaperoning Toji, Kensuke, and Mana...and the girl showcases that for how horrid her luck in life has been, she's got immense luck in games of chance. I mean, seriously, who gets a royal flush honestly?"

"A bear maiden?" joked Teddie.

"July the 19th," continued Pen-Pen. "Rei decides to confront Kaworu Nagisa in the early morning within his dorm room, taking advantage of the fact that Shinji, Kensuke, and Toji are elsewhere; through her interrogation, she determines that he is aware of older times...which makes his apparent decision to not be an active player rather interesting."

"Indeed; what 'rules' could be binding him?" wondered the interloper.

"What 'rules' indeed?" cryptically answered Pen-Pen. "Though Rei regrets the fact that Kaworu cannot be an open 'participant', she is at least mollified by his presence...and that, regardless of what else may have changed, his devotion to Shinji Ikari seems unaffected. Thus do we turn back to Shinji, who is once more lying within The Tube™ at the mercies of Dr. Akagi and her poor sense of humor. Once he's released, he wanders the city, eventually stumbling upon the door of the Velvet Room...which results in another delightful outing with Sokila. By chance, he meets Toji and Kensuke at Big Bang Beef Bowl, who are somewhat perturbed at the fact that the little girl knows not of the pleasures of beef."

"...what would a Big Bang Bear Bowl shop, be like?" wondered Teddie aloud.

"With leftovers in hand, Shinji and Sokila return to the Velvet Room; Igor marvels at how the Room seems to keep changing so constantly in response to Shinji's desires...but, as this occurs, a stranger is watching from above."

The interloper stared quietly at the image of a cloaked girl in black, holding a naginata in her hand. "A 'stranger' is an improper choice of words. More like...a poor pawn, who lost the chance to be a player."

"Minako's attempt on Shinji's life — apparently — is aborted, thanks to whatever influence Gendo Ikari has over Tokyo-3...but Shinji is unaware of all this, busy as he is conversing with Igor. Though Shinji doubts whether he was the right choice...Igor assuages him with the knowledge that even if one's circumstances are not ideal, a difference can always be made...anyhow, in spite of that heartwarming conclusion, studies still await him back at the Izanagi Dorms! His answer to HEROD's prior question — namely, that on a perilous quest, he would rather take a sword that would never break instead of a guide with necessary knowledge or a healing elixir — surprises the MAGI...but their subsequent inquiries, aiming for clarification, only serve to perturb Shinji as to what the depth of his heart and thoughts are truly like..."

Teddie plopped down into the sand beside the beach chair, burying his snout under his paws. "Trying to find out who you really are...I can relate," murmured the hand puppet."

Pen-Pen flipped the page. "July the 20th. Shinji awakens to a question from PILATE, this time relaying a scenario that...is a very thinly-veiled allusion to an incident where a nuclear-powered robot went on a rampage, so very long ago in a world so far yet near to our own." As he spoke, his claw traced over the illustration of a lanky, hunchbacked robot that was dressed like an oni.

"...for what reason, does the name 'JET ALONE' persist? And why is it always an inappropriate name for the project it represents?"

"A possible fixed point in the mental narratives of humanity?" offered Pen-Pen as a suggestion. "Anyhow, another day of classes ends...and Principal Lorenz requests a meeting with the boy after a run-in in the halls. After discussing the nature of education and the challenges involved with the perceptions of other people, he's off for one last cram session at KiKi Ichibanya." The included image of Shinji, Toji, Kensuke, Kaworu, Hikari, and Mayumi — all gathered around a single table, eating curry and reading from books — was rather wholesome. "Amidst the typical worries and banter of teenage students, the hour grows late...and we finally reach the dreaded summer exams."

"...why would they be dreaded?"

"Spoken like an innocent cub in a grizzly's world," harrumphed Teddie. "I remember how panicked Yosuke would get...but not Sensei. He was as cool as a polar bear!"

"Given these exams, and the missions he takes immediately afterward...it's like the days fly by, for Shinji Ikari. Besides some intriguing conversations with Goro Akechi and yours truly, nothing of any true significance happens. Thus, in the proverbial blink of an eye, July the 21st passes...and the 22nd, the 23rd, and the 24th...until at least, on the 25th, exams come to an end. Exhausted, Shinji naps away the afternoon and evening...but more importantly, we get a glimpse of Rei Ayanami doing something...unusual." The book included a picture of her slumbering in her bed; yet, on the very next page, it showed the same blunette standing within a grungy, dilapidated chamber, kneeling before a flickering computer monitor. "A dark place, marred by blood and mildew...speaking with an unknown computer about 'integration' and 'anomalies'. Once her inspection is complete...she seemingly awakens, and busies herself to keep herself going." Pen-Pen looked calmly at the interloper. "Your thoughts, dear chum?"

The interloper quietly cupped his chin. "Merely that...it is a shame, that so much of the burden falls upon her shoulders. She already carries quite enough, does she not?"

"If you asked her, she would say that it's not enough."

"A lamentable mentality...but one that I suppose was inevitable. Do you think she will ever shed it?"

"I certainly hope so," muttered Pen-Pen. "At any rate...July the 26th. Toji decides to invite Shinji to meet his sister in-person at Kobayakawa Memorial Hospital; but he gets distracted by one Yu Narukami, who is as eccentric as ever...but his introduction of one elderly patient by the name of Nanako Dojima has its own brand of melancholy." Pen-Pen ignored Teddie's sudden blubbering about 'Nana-chaaaaan!', reading, "Her condition is a unique, bearing signs of past memory...or perhaps an odd clairvoyance?" The interloper said nothing. "In any case, Narukami asks if Shinji is able and willing to see everything through to the end...and when he chooses to take a stand, the bond of Judgement is forged."

The interloper chuckled. "Ah...how interesting...yet appropriate."

"The boy finally meets back up with Toji, who introduces him to Sakura Suzuhara. After a bit of story time to the unconscious girl and a bit of thinking about what it means to even be a 'kid' when they've gone through so much, he ends up tailing Mana Kirishima...who is tailing Minato Arisato, because she's mighty curious about how he was able to wield AIGIS and LABRYS! That particular thread will remain unplucked for now, however; going into the Metaverse, Mana remarks about her need to attain greater mastery of her own power...a need that Shinji is more than willing to help with. After a bit of training, Shinji — tired and exhausted — falls asleep on a couch in the dorm's common room, where they're watching the exploits of Olympic outfits with excitement. Thus ends another day...but when he awakes on July the 27th, it's to being bound by a bunch of toilet paper in a janitor's closet! An example of hazing gone wrong-"

"That's not hazing."

Pen-Pen turned quietly at Teddie. "Pardon?"

The hand puppet wiggled authoritatively. "Nope. Definitely not hazing!"

"He has a point," remarked the interloper, reading ahead a little. "It's not exactly an initiation ritual...and there's no alcohol involved, either...I believe that's just old-fashioned bullying."

Pen-Pen stared flatly at the duo. "...if you insist." Turning toward Teddie, the penguin asked, "How exactly do you know the definition of hazing so offhandedly?"

The big blue bear looked away. "...there are some things that men and bears experience which must remain unspoken. Such is my solemn bond..."

The interloper and penguin both looked quizzically at the bear. "...right," droned Pen-Pen. "Anyhow, phasing through the wall is all it takes for Shinji to escape, much to the surprise of the ne'er-do-wells that scatter upon sight. Breakfast with his roommates at Kernel's Fried Chicken enlightens Shinji as to what just happened to him...but before any Marine Day plans can be made, yours truly sent him a message to meet up in the Metaverse...and although a tip from Ritsuko Akagi clues Misato in as to what's happening, I still manage to send the boy on his way through Aokigahara Forest, following a delightful fox from a time long past. Right after he leaves, Misato confronts me, wanting to confirm her suspicions as to whether Mister P and Pen-Pen are one and the same...and she calls Goro Akechi to confirm my presence in reality. Which, lying without qualm, he does."

"Whatever I may have said that could have implied the contrary...you know that falsehood won't last forever."

Pen-Pen shrugged. "So long as she lives long enough to make it past the endgame, my capacity for caring is somewhat diminished...and the mask of a deceiver is one that the boy is accustomed to wearing, as lamentable as it is." Ignoring the interloper's frown, he continued, "Misato's attempts at interrogating me — comparing me to Strega and Tohru Adachi in the process, which was just rude — are aborted early, thanks to the Reaper's untimely appearance; I return her to reality via one of Jose's portals, narrowly escaping before the Reaper arrives. Likewise, Shinji is pulled through a watery portal by Ryoji Kaji's Shadow...into a very strange realm, lying in-between in a manner similar to yet distinct from that of the Velvet Room...and it's in this space where Shinji meets Marie, Avatar of Arael, face-to-face." The penguin ignored Teddie's abrupt wail about 'Marie-chaaaaan~!'. "It is there where he learns about the disappearance of 'God' from his Throne...the struggle between ADAM, LILITH, and others for the Throne itself...the end of the War in Heaven, and the rise of the Usurper...their long and dreaded reign as the One Who Sits Upon the Throne, over countless timelines...the efforts of the Angels to break free, via their various manifestations, such as Nyx, Izanami-no-Mikoto, and Yaldabaoth...and, more importantly, the reality that the Velvet Room is another player on the board...and Kaji's Shadow, daredevil that he is, hands over a card for the Melon Patch...sneakily informing him of the identities of three former Wild Cards: Arisato, Narukami, and Amamiya." Pen-Pen chuckled at the illustration of Shinji's flabbergasted face. "Needless to say...it was a lot of information for the poor lad. And gaining the bond of the Hanged Man on top of it? Truly a busy and momentous day."

Glancing further onward, the interloper remarked, "A shame that it wasn't the end for him."

"Indeed," murmured Pen-Pen, looking at another drawing within the book: this time, it featured a cutout of Misato and Shinji on their phones, with the woman looking enraged and the boy looking flummoxed. "Finding out that he met Kaji's Shadow, Misato is rather insistent the boy tells her about everything that he witnessed that day; denying her, she is rather angered, to the point their bond...reverses, shall we say; out of frustration, she hangs up. Before he has any time to process what had just happened, PILATE demands an answer to her prior question about the blatant reference to reality's JET ALONE project; the boy's answers are jeered to some degree by PILATE, who notes his apparent hypocrisies with regards to how he is willing to accept more pain when it comes to Gendo Ikari...yet would deny Misato the same opportunity when it comes to Ryoji Kaji. All told, the boy returns to his dorm with a dejected and almost defeated demeanor...and yet, a letter is waiting for him: written by his old custodian, inviting him for a summer vacation in Okayama Prefecture. The contents of that letter, alas, will not be unveiled until later...which leaves the matter of the day ending with Minako Arisato, stirring in response to a new assignment."

The interloper grimaced. "Such a euphemistic way of putting it."

"Reality is rarely euphemistic about anything." Pen-Pen turned the page. "July the 28th. As the students of Hakone Academy celebrate the end of the current term, Principal Lorenz has a distinct warning for the student body regarding the Evangelion-users and their treatment thereof; Shinji confronts the principal afterwards, learning that Keel has a very low opinion of Strega."

"'Repugnant', hmm?" said the interloper, gazing at the dialogue on the page. "What an interesting turn..."

"If only Gendo Ikari were as pleasant, hmm?" murmured Pen-Pen. "But Shinji is barely able to show his gratitude before he receives word that Misato has been hospitalized...courtesy of a girl capable of wielding multiple Personas."

The interloper stared quietly at the illustration of Rei Ayanami and Lilith standing in front of an unconscious Katsuragi; the blunette was facing a red-eyed girl in black and the death-faced Persona known as Thanatos.

"It's thanks to Ayanami's interference that Misato was rescued; as Misato recuperates, she and Shinji have a brief heart-to-heart, coming to terms regarding their difficulties from the prior day; Rei, meanwhile, demands answers from the other three Wild Cards, gaining insight into the assailant's identity. It is here where she learns of Minako Arisato's existence...and comes to the epiphany about their possible connection with the Usurper."

"I couldn't even bear with it for five minutes, let alone whole lifetimes..." murmured Teddie's hand puppet.

"July the 29th. In the midst of a dream, Rei confirms with Elizabeth that Minako is in fact a pawn of the Usurper...not that Shinji will have context for any of this, as he awakens. Kaworu and Phanuel seem to reflect upon this revelation, of memories reclaimed...but, that seems rather trifling, compared to the meeting between Shinji and Gendo, where the boy asks for permission to leave for the Aida District during the summer break. Though he obtains his father's permission...Shinji, more importantly, learns that his father is aware of the One Who Sits Upon the Throne. Yet, his animus is still for Shinji alone...because of an event long ago, where the boy 'threw it all away'...and though he looks forward to the time when Shinji finally remembers, Gendo can only bitterly ruminate on the similarities between father and son."

"A very telling point: unless the tree grows upon a hill, or there is a gardener to carry the fruit away...the apple doesn't fall far from where it grows."

"Later, at Neo Hagakure, Shinji invites Hikari, Toji, Kensuke, Kaworu, and Mana to join him on his summer trip; Hikari turns him down due to her sister returning home for the break, whereas Kaworu's time is already taken by the upcoming boxing tournament...but Kensuke, Toji, and Mana are free. A quick phone call to Mayumi to lessen the lopsided ratio of the sexes puts the Class Rep's mind at ease...and, as far as the chaperone is concerned, Ren Amamiya steps up to serve that role with aplomb...whilst subtly hinting at the possibility of schooling Shinji in the ways of the Wild Card. With lunch taken care of, Shinji opts for a mission with Goro Akechi-"

"Hey, you skipped the part where Mana-chan learned about harems!" protested Teddie's hand puppet.

The interloper and Pen-Pen slapped the bear upside the head, eliciting a pained grunt from the blue ursa. "That's no way for a gentleman to act over such silliness. As I was saying: Shinji goes on a mission with Akechi, where they are tasked with subjugating and serving a judicial notice to the Shadow of a court clerk by the name of Maiko Oohashi. There's no doubt about their success...yet, although her motives are rooted in good sentiments, it provides an opportunity for Akechi to give a lesson, about the nature of authority, of the reasons why one wields power, and of the limits binding one's capacity to change things...as he ponders these things, Shinji ends the day by venturing into the Velvet Room, where he and Sokila both comfort each other; after the girl falls asleep, Shinji wonders about whether he's even capable of fighting someone like the Usurper...but given the Velvet Room's existence, the defiance of the Angels, and humanity's capacity for change, such a task is far from impossible, or so Igor counsels."

"Wise words."

"July the 30th. Shinji meets Rei at the LeNoir Café for a morning drink; Rei turns down his offer to go on the summer trip before she inquiries about the earth-shattering revelations he's learned. She is...unwilling, to speak of that time, given the outcome of those days. Yet, despite the daunting nature of the battles awaiting Shinji, she still has faith in him...even though she doesn't have faith in herself. As she departs, her mind drifts back to a memory of a life long gone, from the last days of the War in Heaven...recounting her first meeting with one Naoya Toudou."

"How come I haven't seen him? Shouldn't he be on sensei's team?" wondered Teddie, his hand puppet flailing about.

The interloper and the penguin were momentarily silent. Pen-Pen continued on without answering. "We turn to an awkward meeting between Kensuke and his father, setting the seeds for a relationship to be mended between father and son...meanwhile, thanks to some aggressive negotiations from Ryuji Sakamoto and Misato Katsuragi, Sae Niijima is convinced to allow Toji and Mana to accompany Shinji on his vacation. As for Mayumi, well...we see her household, where she unknowingly struggles with a sensation that will not become known in full until the 14th of August...but she nevertheless gets approval to go on vacation as well from parents who aren't all there. Speaking of parents, Shinji — once more in The Tube™ — has an illuminating discussion with Ritsuko about mothers, and the unwillingness of the living to let go of the dead..."

The interloper smiled sadly. "I wonder if she is aware of her own hypocrisy?"

"The day ends with dinner at Jazz Jingisukan, where Ren Amamiya and Goro Akechi speak frankly about the former's upcoming stint as a chaperone; Ren confides in Akechi that part of his motive is a need to get out of Tokyo-3, and away from so many familiar faces. As they speak, it is made clear that they operate in different spheres, knowing certain things but not others." Pen-Pen looked intently at the interloper before continuing. "A brief recollection of the prior timeline emerges...of a choice made whose meaning was rendered both less and more important with the passage of time..."

"I wonder how Dr. Maruki would react, if he knew to what extent the Usurper's hand allowed him to succeed in the last timeline..."

"As Ren bids farewell to Shimaru Shido — Akechi's 'real' name in this timeline — both boys ponder their current circumstances, and the trials that undoubtedly lie ahead...thus does the page turn to July the 31st: the beginning of a fateful summer road trip."

Pen-Pen relayed the events of that day — of Ryuji introducing his old subordinates Junpei Iori and Ken Amada as additional chaperones; of Ren Amamiya driving Shinji, Toji, Kensuke, Mana, and Mayumi in HiAce van, with Ryuji leading the way on motorbike, and Junpei and Ken following in a literal DeLorean; of Misato finding out by implication that Ryoji Kaji knew of Mister P's existence; of Shuzo Ubukata's leaking of Shinji and Mana's departure from Tokyo-3, the unfortunate portents of that action, and his mysterious demise at Gendo Ikari's hands; of the first leg of the road trip, and all the various exploits of the Hakone Caravan at Hamamatsu and Cape Irago — before closing the book. "Thus the curtain closes on the month of July, 2015."

"A momentous month," murmured the interloper. "The question is...what now?"

Pen-Pen looked intently at the interloper, letting the sound of waves provide a serene ambience...before, without warning, he said, "Teddie, could you please leave? I need some...privacy."

"Aw, do I have to-?"

"I insist. Keep your nose out in the Metaverse for anything unusual."

Teddie harrumphed. "Fine, I get it. I'll just go and be cool all by myself!" The bear pocketed his hand puppet before waddling away, disappearing beyond the edge of the shore.

The moment Teddie vanished, everything faded away: the setting sun, the crimson waters, the weathered sand, the melancholy tune; Pen-Pen now sat at a table in front of the interloper, amidst the void. "The state of the world is in flux, as ever...but we are nearing quite a few crossroads." Pen-Pen, manifesting a deck of cards, shuffled them quietly. "Both in the mundane, and in the extreme."

"Indeed. There are many things to keep track of..."

"I could recap the month of August, if you desire."

"I think I'll be fine," remarked the interloper with a smile.

Pen-Pen laid down several cards, face-up. "The Usurper's direct attention is on Minako Arisato, as her battle against Phanuel rages on...but for how much longer, I can only hazard a guess," he said, tapping the image of a redhead crying tears of blood. "With their passive capacity directed otherwise towards restraining ADAM, this is a period where the world is surprisingly free of surveillance...hence why, I assume, certain parties are feeling more adventurous."

"You among them, I would hope?"

"It all depends on the risk...and the reward." Tapping a card depicting broken pawns, he continued, "Strega. They seek to implement the will of the Angels...whatever that may be. Takaya Sakaki is the unquestioned leader; Jin Shirato is bound to him by a persistent loyalty; Sho Minazuki is motivated more by his own nihilism more than anything else, alas...and the two newest members, Musashi and Keita...are simply being led along, uncaring for possible alternatives...what is the ultimate plan, now that they've begun striking at the MAGI outside of Japan? All it will do is motivate the other governments of the world, unrestrained as they are by the Ghosts and Acolytes, to focus their attention to a greater extent..."

"A very good question. I suppose it all depends on what the Angels themselves desire..."

Pen-Pen nodded, tapping a card featuring a deathly skull. "Zeruel...the Angel of Might, and the acting head of the Angels. What is his desire? He will inevitably face Shinji Ikari again...but by what means? Given the stakes involved in this timeline, I thought he would have been more overt, by this point..."

"...I suppose we can only wait and see, for when he decides to act."

The penguin moved onto the next card, depicting a lost zealot, reaching for the heavens. "Shuji Ikutsuki. Enraptured by a hidden design...and his Prometheans, empowered by the flesh of fallen Angels, will now be making an appearance the world over. For good, or for ill? We can only wait and see." He then tapped another card, featuring a Hanged Man that had broken free of his noose. "All on top of various Shadows that have broken free in the wake of the Great Northern Tower's fall; a symbol of humanity's own darkness, now running amok, and running wild..."

"I imagine Shinji Ikari and his fellows will run into at least one."

Pen-Pen snorted. "In a sense, they have." He tapped the last card, which depicting a jester with a bag of popcorn and a bloody knife. "Tohru Adachi. A wild card in and of himself. What game is he seeking to play? What are the rules...and are they only in his own mind?" He then glanced to another card, showing an imposing statue of a bald man with glasses. "From that icon of chaos, we turn to a model of authoritarian order: Masayoshi Shido. In a matter of weeks, he's gone from being subordinate to Kyoto's Governor to being the President of the new Japanese Confederation...and though the various Prefectures will likely try and test the waters as to what sort of arrangements they can make with the other nations of the world, habit and force of personality alone may make him a very formidable figure, indeed...but as friend? Foe? Or neither?"

"His presence has certainly been a vexing one...but in the grand scheme of things, is he not a mere figurehead, compared to him?"

Pen-Pen chuckled, gesturing towards the last card: depicting a humanoid devil, wrapped in a hermit's cloak...whose shadow nonetheless covered everything, as though he were the emperor of the world. "Gendo Ikari...is he truly motivated by only spite? I can only wonder...if the boy can break through to him."

The interloper smiled cherubically. "Never say never...but it is a formidable array of forces that our fellows must navigate through...forces that are often working together, or at cross purposes."

"Life's tricky that way." Pen-Pen put down the deck of cards, sliding it towards the interloper. "But what do you think can help make a difference, to help make a bridge over these chaotic waters?"

The interloper smiled, drawing a card; it depicted a handgun, a pair of glasses, a domino mask, and a shackled crow. "We cannot afford such strong pieces to get rusty, can we?"

"...you know about the rules that govern this world," murmured the penguin. "Your boy is one thing: he never established a contract. But the other three? The very act of reaching for their power will trigger a resonance with the Velvet Room...and that resonance will unlock all of their metaphysical bonds. They will be as beacons in the sight of the Usurper."

"A cunning alert system, indeed: they may not yet possess the power to break into the Velvet Room of their own volition...but are not Fools supposed to go where Angels fear to tread?"

Pen-Pen frowned, suddenly feeling an idea emanate from the interloper. "...what are you getting at...?"

"There is a reason I felt confident enough to seek you out, in this dream-that's-not-a-dream," murmured the interloper. "Though it is a subtle means of communicating, it is inherently lacking in means of defense...which means the Usurper, if they were to catch wind of us, would easily snatch us up. And yet..."

"Their attention is divided, at the moment..."

"Imagine, if you will: anything can theoretically happen, in a dream...but without a means of actualizing it, a dream remains just that. What if the principle could be applied in a more roundabout manner, giving those old heroes a place where they can let loose to their heart's content...a place where Shinji Ikari would be able to practice, without holding back...?"

Pen-Pen thought...and pondered...and suddenly grinned. "You're a right bloody genius...but I'll have to be quick about it."

The interloper smiled, rising to his feet. "Then I suppose I should be off, then...I think he's about to wake up."

"Farewell to you then, my lad...it's always a pleasure speaking with you. But do try and not show up without an invitation next time, hm?"

Smiling, the interloper said nothing as he withdrew...

xxxx

/Meanwhile, in the Real World/

...and quietly gazed upon Goro Akechi. "Having a bad dream?"

Goro Akechi jolted out of his bed, impulsively wiping at the sweat on his brow. "...I thought it felt strangely...empty..."

The quiet stranger smiled serenely. "I wanted to give you some space. Is this not what you wanted?"

"...I suppose I've gotten used to your presence."

"A very touching admission!"

Akechi scowled, impulsively slamming a pillow over his head.

"Don't rub it in."

"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul...by the way, Mister P says hello."

"...say what now-?"

"Let's wait until morning. There's a possible proposition in the works that might make you quite happy..."

"A likely story."

"Sometimes, it's the most unlikely of stories that bring the most joy..."

Thus did a boy and the stranger within his head let the night pass away, in tired yet contemplative silence...

xxxx

END OF JULY RECAP

xxxx

Author's Note: And so we move onto the next stage of the narrative.

Fitting, that the main plot could be divided between Pre-Asuka and Post-Asuka. :V