The battle of Yalebelle proved to be a crucial moment that Shinji's gathering did not anticipate to occur. Given the numbers they had and the enemy they were faced with, there were few who could argue they could have done any better. The Castle Heart was still silent as it waited to communicate with Shinji upon his return.

Ritsuko came to determine this was the case as she finally gave up on trying to communicate with it and sat resigned near the steps of Shinji's vacant throne. She never thought she would find herself in servitude of another man that held ambitions to correct the status of the world he lived in. It seemed even more unlikely that it would be the famously reluctant son of that same man.

She thought she would leave herself in a state of contemplation when it came to this scenario but was reminded of the one individual she could still provide her trust in as Maya observed, "You're still keeping yourself away from everyone else."

While Ritsuko could say she was pleased to know Maya was still concerned for her well-being, she still had an issue with their current situation as she recalled, "We were supposed to be finding a better life for ourselves. That's what we were looking for when we took up the job to face Shinji. I don't understand how we could let ourselves come to this."

Maya could tell Ritsuko regretted how things had turned out as she tried to approach her assuring, "We managed to find a life where our lives are in danger. That's something isn't it?"

Ritsuko did not accept this reasoning as she placed a hand on her stomach asking, "And what did we receive in return? Shinji thinks he easily added us to his harem. After... that..."

Maya realized what Ritsuko was referring to as she saw her attempt to explain what she had gone through. Even in this new world she was reluctant to admit that she had essentially been raped. It was even more humiliating when she remembered who she was referring to.

There were not many times Maya actually met with Shinji in the world she came from. Even what little she knew a out him was enough for her to tell he had changed from the sort of child he used to be. She found herself making the same evaluation of the other Eva pilots and whatever respective psychological issues they might have had. The changes were recognizably improved compared to their previous situation but the situation for both her and Ritsuko was at best debatable.

Comforting her seemed to be an uphill battle at best but Maya did her best suggesting, "He's not here right now. In moments like this we can at least enjoy where we are."

The sincerity behind Maya's attempt to comfort her kept any derision or even cold logic from being the foundation of Ritsuko's response as she asked, "That is the circular nature of living isn't it? Trying to find fleeting moments of joy in the face of the greater inevitablity it all ends. Right now death does not seem so frightening considering whatvwe will be going through."

The sense of nihilism behind Ritsuko's observation caught Maya's curiosity making her observe, "You sound certain we will all be killed sooner than we might imagine."

Ritsuko confirmed this was indeed her assumption by proposing the possible outcomes, "One of the heroes could kill us or the empire could very well invade and manage to stop Shinji. If he won though... Then what will happen to us after that? Are we somehow going to be anything other than just decoration for his amusement before he gets to us?"

All of the possible outcomes were indeed frightening to Maya now that they were described. There were very few ways she could imagine she could argue against any of the scenarios that were presented to her. What little sense of hope she had from braving the Angels for a better future for themselves was at best a distant memory.

These thoughts and many more were circulating their way through Ritsuko's mind. After working under her for as long as she did, Maya knew she was ill equiped to rationalize and discuss what her superior was making sense of. She also knew neither of them would be able to free themselves if they continued to remain in their pondering state.

Maya finally mustered the courage to answer for what she was going through by assuring, "This wasn't the life I was expecting either. If anything it seems like we might have a chance to live how we never got to when we were with NERV."

This rationale caused Ritsuko to look up before turning to her asking, "You think there is anything here resembling a sense of normalcy we can gain from thi"

Thinking back to what she did know about the First Child personally "Maybe Shinji will be able to make a better world for us if we trust him. Maybe he is still that child at heart and just hoping he can help others like he hoped for before."

Ritsuko wanted to argue against the possibility but remembered one of the foremost accusations Mayumi made against her, Maya, and Misato upon capturing them. How he truly wanted to earn the respect of others even in an environment as harsh and dire as the one he lived in. So much that it barely suppressed a side of Misato that was now completely torn asunder in this new world.

Reasoning kept her from seeing the possibility of a more pleasant life as she resigned herself, "I don't even feel like we have a choice anymore. But maybe that has always been the case for us."

She could see a real concern behind Ritsuko's resignation before Maya suggested, "We might not have any choice in what we're living through. I like to think that maybe he could be better if we repay his kindness in return."

It seemed too simplistic to be possible but Ritsuko could not help addressing Maya's hope, "You believe it can be that simple? He has the title of overlord but you think he cares about how well people treat him personally?"

Hearing Maya's answer came off as a completely naive assumption but Ritsuko could not make herself interrupt as she answered, "He had more than one opportunity to kill us if he wanted to. He never struck me as the sort of child who would believe killing someone was a mercy."

Ritsuko was still far from being able to agree with this assumption as she found herself making another conclusion, "Perhaps his aspirations truly are childlike. In the most sincere way they could be."

Maya found herself going along with the conclusion agreeing, "In a way we are living out a child's fantasy. Maybe it's also the best chance he has for living a happy life he never thought possible before."

Ritsuko looked up to the ceiling admitting, "I never thought about considering the feelings of a child before. Now I have one in me."

Seeing Ritsuko in such a state of resignation made Maya remember what she was going through as well. The Castle Heart did state that both of them and Misato already had babies in them that were only two months into being fully formed. Much to their displeasure, it was only one more thing to add to their list of quandaries.

The two realized they could discuss for hours the true nature of what it was like to be caught in what should not have been more than an outlandish thought experiment. What sense of rationality there was from their old world was at best holding on by a thread. Trying to bend their new homeworld to their favor was disheartening action of futility.

Both a simple desire to think back to simpler times and a desire to help Ritsuko take her mind off things made Maya take the one action she could immediately think of that would make this moment easier for both of them. She brought her hands to Ritsuko's shoulders before turning her to face her and brought her lips to hers. Even Maya could tell it was a last resort to change the subject of anything as she tried to give Ritsuko something to think about other than the current moment.

Ritsuko was not so immediately taken out of the moment as she parted from Maya asking, "Well… relying on certainties is at least a temporary solution…"

Maya smiled at what she hoped was a more accepting side of Ritsuko as she agreed, "Perhaps this is why Misato relied on her personal indulgences so much. At least that is one reason I would assume."

Thinking back to those simpler times made Ritsuko think of what brought the two of them to this scenario as she commented, "If we are going off of my earlier evaluation of this being a child's realized fantasy, I suppose we might not be too far from Shinji's particular age range."

This suggestion made Maya giggle before asking, "Well, if we want to stay on his good side, maybe we should try to appeal to that side of him?"

For the first time in several hours, the two women found themselves in agreement over what they could live through. Both Maya and Ritsuko brought their lips together in a passionate kiss before bringing their arms around one another and falling to the floor beneath them. They were unable to find a more comfortable surface to lay on but the floor below served as a sufficient substitute for what they were planning.

Bringing her left hand under her cleavage, Ritsuko dug under what little was keeping Maya dressed before exposing her naked body to the cool castle air. She received the same treatment before the two women brought their hands to their respective waists and began to complete removing their clothes. Both were now completely naked with only the air to separate them from one another. A fact they were both prepared to immediately change.

The two women brought themselves back into the passionate kiss they had with one another before as they took hold of one another. It was a union both Maya and Ritsuko had a few times in their previous world that was only written off as rumors many other times. Given where they were now, both women could see the one advantage they had now in this world where they were unconcerned with the judgment of onlookers.

Coming to the conclusion she just made gave way to a sense of liberation Ritsuko could only imagine a few times before. Even what possible fears she could muster were not enough to deter the number of possibilities she could conceive. If there was going to be any happiness in this new life of hers, she found herself resorting to what was possibly the oldest method of human alleviation.

Neither party concerned themselves with the nature of their situation any further as they brought their hands down to pelvic areas. Ritsuko felt Maya immediately trace a finger down to her own clitoris while she used several of her fingers to brush along the lips of her vagina. It was a pair of different methods but the two women moaned into one another as they moved their fingers in unison for the mutual end goal they were searching for.

Their current method proved to be difficult to use as their bodies were currently kept from brushing against one another. Such a conundrum not only kept them from achieving their mutual climax but deprived both of them the chance to feel every area of their bodies as well. It did not take long for both women to finally part from one another as they tried to find the first nonverbal way of expressing their current depravation.

Ritsuko's next immediate action was to roll Maya onto her back before bringing themselves back into a kiss. This even gave her a brief sense of pleasure knowing she was accomplishing something she had not seen in the castle ever since arriving. She found herself amazed that even all of the lesbian orgies that were held before did not seem to be widely practiced. It was just one observation she was able to make before she finally allowed herself to be lost completely in the next moment.

Ritsuko pressed her breasts and belly against Maya before rubbing her vagina against hers. This motion gave way to a familiar sensation that both women felt several times before in previous encounters. Even prior experience was not enough to prepare them for what they had just begun to feel as they completely pressed their bodies against one another.

Neither Ritsuko nor Maya could describe what was happening, but they found the lips of their vaginas more sensitive than they could recall before. Not even all the previous work they had done just a little while ago made them think they were already near climax. Even recognizing this change was not enough to make them hesitate to immediately begin rubbing themselves against one another.

Both Maya and Ritsuko let out their own moans as they felt the lips of their vaginas brush against one another before establishing their rhythm. Ritsuko brought her hands to the sides of Maya's head as she did her best to deepen the kiss between them while grinding her vagina against hers. The few times she had done this before gave Ritsuko an idea of all the sensitive spots Maya had as they enjoyed the company of one another. This was just another instant where she could tell she was accomplishing what both of them wanted to achieve in such an intimate moment.

The bodies of the two women writhed on the floor in a single mass as they crushed their bodies against one another. All attempts at dominance were lost on Maya's part as she wrapped her arms around Ritsuko's back while gyrating her hips as best she could. It only took a few more movements before the two women truly lost themselves in the simply joy of being so close to one another.

Both of them knew they could not keep this going forever be it from outside forces or the very limits their bodies still had. Having this knowledge in the back of their minds made them both marvel at the fact they had been able to achieve the sort of feats they were accomplishing now. Neither of them could argue they had a sense of time to measure but just their feelings alone were able to tell they were both accomplishing a length of time that regular humans should not have been capable of.

Ritsuko hoped she would be able to find a way to examine herself with what had happened to both her and Maya if she could remove herself. Right now, neither one of the women were interested in separating from one another. Not when such an important moment of their affectionate display was at hand.

Both women picked up the speed of their gyrating as their respective moans echoed even more through the throne room. The sound of bodies colliding with one another as the one thing accompanying the unbridled sound of ecstasy that was being achieved. Nothing was stopping either of the women in their combined effort to finally achieve the mutual peak they had been searching for.

Only a few more grinds against one another was necessary before Ritsuko and Maya felt themselves no longer holding back their ultimate desire. Both of their bodies released a torrent of fluid at such a high feeling they were able to achieve. A warm and sticky puddle leaked from between the two bodies now that neither party was willing to separate from at the moment. All they did allow themselves was a final pair of moans before laying on the floor they occupied before parting their lips from one another.

For the first time in she could not remember how long, Ritsuko felt as though she was not completely miserable about her circumstances. She even felt as though she had one of the best session she had in recent memory. Even knowing this however was still enough to make her realize she had only achieved a bare minimum of what she was capable of. Being left out of such a fulfillment made her wish she had the strength to press herself against Maya again with the same sort of renewed vigor.

Maya tried to elicit some sort of hope from Ritsuko by asking, "Do you feel any better now? Like you have a reason to live again?"

Being reminded of the harsh realities she was living made Ritsuko admit, "You did manage to make me forget a few things for a while. This was better than where we were before."

The answer made Maya frown. Seeing this action made Ritsuko fearful in more ways than she could have imagined. One of the few instances where they were able to derive some kind of happiness seemed to be sullied by an outside factor they were unsure how they could manage.

Ritsuko was briefly relieved she did not need to think long before she heard Maya ask, "So… you don't think… You need Shinji? To make you feel right?"

Just another moment and Ritsuko realized she was not the only one who was feeling deprived of something from just doing this alone. It may have only been from being separated for so long or it may have been from another action taken against them entirely. The only thing either of them were able to tell was that her hope of alleviating her fears were temporary at best.

This realization gave way to a desperate attempt to make light of their situation by Ritsuko as she suggested, "I think we only need to get used to how things are. Then I think we'll be back to the way we were."

"These two sure do make a pair," a third voice suddenly observed.

Both Ritsuko and Maya found themselves taken aback as soon as they realized they were not isolated in the throne room. They had both shown themselves naked in front of Shinji before, but the simple surprise of their lovemaking being witnessed triggered an embarrassment response from them. Both this and the fear of what they would be enduring from another observation made it seem like their moment of respite would be brief. The two raised their faces in the direction of the two captors who found themselves interested in the show they had just seen.

Asuka admitted her presence by agreeing, "They sure do have a different idea of what it's like to have fun, that's for sure."

Maya brought a hand around her breasts asking, "Were you here watching us the whole time?"

Mari grinned at such a question, "We sure did. Just look what you even managed: you got the princess all wet here."

Mari took hold of Asuka's sides before bringing a hand down to her vagina. Indeed, she had found herself turned on by such a sexual act that she at best only had a few passing memories of hearing. Actually witnessing this act face to face turned out to be just one factor that managed to awaken an itch in her that she only felt a few times before. Having Mari's body pressed against her certainly did not do much to aid her current situation.

She did not even have a chance to protest anything Mari was doing as soon as Asuka felt a finger rub its way along the lips of her folds before being asked, "Ooh, you did get nice and wet. And just from watching too. Who knew these two were what you needed to make this happen?"

Asuka ground her teeth in response trying to keep herself from completely submitting to the sensations that were shooting through her spine before answering, "I… Shit… I'm not…"

Mari did not even allow her a chance to clarify as she taunted Asuka, "And I thought you had all of the hesitation worked out of your system already. You should already know by now this is hardly even close to cheating for either of us."

Receiving such a taunt made Asuka remind, "What… What about those two? How are we going to keep an eye on them?"

Mari leaned her lips to Asuka's neck dismissing, "They don't seem very interested right now if you ask me."

Returning her attention to Ritsuko and Maya, Asuka saw that the two new succubi were indeed more preoccupied with themselves than they were with whatever reaction their captors had in mind. It was all the excuse Mari needed to wrap her arms around Asuka in the moment she allowed her guard to be lowered completely. Before she knew it, Asuka found Mari locking her lips with hers before the two lowered themselves to the floor in a pair right next to Ritsuko and Maya. The four occupants did not make a concrete example of an orgy but enough to permit some variety despite their number.

Both Maya and Ritsuko were allowed to enjoy a more tender moment as they intended but Mari and Asuka were prepared for a different approach. Mari knew Asuka needed more than just suggestion to go along with anything as she prepared to make her next approach. Pressing her lips as hard against the other pair as hard as she could, Mari used her right hand to pull the back of Asuka's head to her and the other to press her body against hers.

The two tried to mimic what they saw earlier as Mari thrust her vagina down on Asuka's. Both girls gasped as soon as they felt their entrances rub against each other's. This started a repeated motion that made Mari separate from Asuka for a moment before colliding with her again. A clear view of the two folds of lips made the two vaginas appear as if they were sharing a series of deep kisses just like Asuka and Mari.

As soon as Mari slid her tongue into Asuka's mouth, Asuka felt herself becoming more aware of her situation. There were a few instances where she found herself wishing this was a position she could be sharing with Mari before this one. She also did not want to be left being on the bottom whenever it did happen.

What few inhibitions Asuka had left were tossed aside as she brought her hands up to take hold of Mari. The two girls rolled in the floor in what became a battle for dominance while pressing their bodies against one another as hard as they could. In all that time neither Asuka nor Mari could argue they managed to take ground from either side. Their vaginas continued to grind against one another in their attempt to come out on top of one another while Ritsuko and Maya were still left to themselves.

The older women were no longer a concern for either of the girls as Asuka made her next move to dominate Mari. She pinned her to the ground before taking hold of her right leg and placing it on her shoulder. Placing her hands on Mari's shoulders was the last motion Asuka made before thrusting her hips against hers. It was not the last time it would happen either as both girls ground themselves against one another in a repeated cycle.

Mari lost herself in the continued grinding against her folds before allowing herself to express her elevation at the experience. She allowed herself to smile while letting out a series of pants from the union. At the same time she also felt herself burning more than before as she felt Asuka grind her clitoris against hers.

The climax was making its way towards both of them and neither on was ready to give way. To make up for this, Asuka picked up the already rapid pace she was going in brushing herself against Mari. Only Mari's leg was what kept Asuka from forcing her body against hers like the first position they shared. It was also the last thing she was concerned about as well since her ultimate goal was brewing itself right beneath her.

The wet smacking sound of folds crushing against one another was accompanied by the gradually growing moans the four shared with one another. Asuka could hear Maya and Ritsuko reveling in their own exchange even as her own moans continued to build from the collision. All the pride of domination swimming to her head as she prepared for the ultimate release everyone would share.

It only took a few more thrusts on Asuka's part as she ground her folds before feeling a growing wetness in the area between her and Mari's pelvis'. She found herself growling at the growing intensity of her thrusts while doing everything she could to hold back her own climax. Both out of her intention to remain dominant over Mari along with just the intent to keep the squishing collisions going for as long as she could. Asuka's intent to as so great that she could not even tell if Mari had released her own ejaculation or not.

Neither of them were able to contemplate just how things were going as soon as they ground their hips against one another one final time that session. Asuka gritted her teeth as she held back a yell of elation at finally causing her vagina to erupt in a mighty series of bursts that flooded all over Mari. At long last the two girls managed to garnet the mutual release they had been waiting for as the feeling rushed to their heads at what they achieved.

Content with the aftermath, Asuka fell on top of Mari allowing her body to press against hers. The feeling of having dominated someone she saw as a rival on most matters brought its own sense of satisfaction just for being in this position. At least that was how she was willing to rationalize what she had just done.

Her first challenge to this assurance came as Mari giggled observing, "Seems like you wanted to do that for a long time princess."

Asuka shook herself awake as soon as she realized what Mari determined. Just hearing Mari take her current position as something little more than an issue being resolved was not the sort of recognition she was expecting. It also made her wonder what she had just neglected now that she was left in a sprawl on the floor right next to another pair that was previously engaged in their own session.

Trying to dismiss Mari's earlier observation made Asuka turn her head answering, "I was bored okay?"

This dismissal made Mari laugh before pointing out, "For just being bored you sure did put a lot into it. I came maybe a minute before you did. Then again I couldn't really tell."

There was no hiding things from people. This was a conclusion Asuka was being asked to handle ever since she had come into this fantasy world and embraced her new lifestyle. Her behavior in her previous world seemed to have little room in this one given her status as being part of a harem.

Placing a hand on her cheek, Asuka finally admitted, "Well, I always thought you were pretty hot. I didn't even think I was into girls before I met you."

Mari kissed Asuka's free cheek before suggesting, "I think if anything we're just being given a chance to live out what we were always holding back. You probably have more in common with the other girls than you might have thought before."

Asuka smiled at the idea before telling her, "Don't think this is going to get you any special privileges from me. We're all in this because of the man in charge."

Mari was pleased to see Asuka accept this much before agreeing, "Well Shinji has been taking up that mantle more willingly. Maybe this is the sort of thing he always deserved."

Such an observation brought out a series of questions that Asuka knew would ruin the current mood. It was not a concern for her in previous instances but she also found herself lacking the will to argue against it. Changes were occurring through the castle and it was not just from the many functionalities that were being added.

"What are you all doing?"

An interruption caught the attention of the two as Asuka looked up to see who entered the room. She found herself surprised to see Mayumi opened the door earlier to prepare the others to make their way in. It was only then she realized she was on the floor for many more to see.

Before Asuka had a chance to answer, Mari giggled before answering, "Just exploring ourselves and trying a new method the other Rei clones could entertain themselves with."

Resigned to accept she could not change the situation, Mayumi suggested, "If you plan on doing that again, at least do it somewhere Shinji can't be distracted. He has work to do."

Asuka realized this was the case asking, "That's right. He just got back from the forest didn't he?"

Mayumi confirmed, "And had to work himself a lot. More importantly we might not even be done with the Dwarf King yet."

Ritsuko and Maya stood up as soon as they heard there was more planning in store for the situation. It was one thing for them to leave themselves exposed in such a crucial area but another to only now realize what they should have already known. Neither of them could determine if they would have been any more or less embarrassed if they were the only ones in the room.

Maya tried to apologize for what was started earlier, "We'll let everyone who needs to be here stay here for this."

Shinji made his way to the throne denying, "Everyone is going to be need to hear this. If Goldo's army is what everyone says it is, we might need everyone to be ready for this."

It was not easy for either of them to listen to given their earlier experience. One of the few things Maya and Ritsuko could agree to was that Shinji would not give a warning he had any doubts for. Being trapped here was not an ideal situation at all but facing an entire army that wanted to kill them without a second thought was not a preferable option.

Asuka watched the others gather their clothes while she was left disappointed she could not continue what they were doing. She knew she could not call herself a lesbian, but her recent experience was new to her to say the least. If anything, she thought it would be a perfect chance to use such a technique of she was sharing the bed with another woman and Shinji some time later. Even remembering that much was still not enough to make her forget some of the things she confessed just a little while ago.

Mari placed a hand on her shoulder to remind her of this whispering, "Maybe when this is done, we can show this to some of the Rei clones. It might keep them under control better if they keep themselves occupied like this."

Asuka realized she did not have much time to consider the idea now that the others were preparing to strategize but smiled at the suggestion, "Might not be such a bad idea now that you mention it. Maybe some of the beefy ones can be a better challenge than you."