Alright folks this is it. The final chapter in what has been, in my opinion, a decent story. I hope you've enjoyed it, and I want to say now that I do appreciate all the reviews and messages I have gotten since the beginning of the story, and Razgriz, if your still reading this story, thank you for your input, but at the time I wasn't planning on making massive changes to this story. Perhaps if you can find the time you could be a beta reader for another story I will be starting later this year.

Disclaimer in Ch 1.

22.3

Shinji looked around; he didn't know what had happened.

One minute he was in his Eva, standing before Master. The next thing he knew he was standing in an open field, the wind blowing the wild flowers around him gently.

"Where did you go? Get out here now!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.

Master shimmered into view several yards in front of him. "You said that you would do whatever it takes, correct?" the man said.

Shinji nodded his head, "Yeah, even if it means fighting you." He stated.

Master chuckled "Trust me that will not be necessary. I just want to see if you have what it takes to reclaim what was lost to you. Let us take a look back and see exactly what it is you are choosing here." Just as Master raised his hand Shinji stopped him.

"Wait, where are we? What is this place?" he asked.

Master raised an eyebrow then glanced around, "Oh, this place? Well, you see, in order to reason with you the way I am, I had to artificially start Third Impact. At this point in time everyone on earth is combining into one being, their souls at least. Your decision here will determine what happens to all these people." As he continued his movements the scenery around them changed to the flight deck of a massive carrier.

I think you can do much better than me

After all the lies that I made you believe

They watched as Misato, Toji, Kensuke, and Shinji crossed the flight deck from the helicopter to the bridge.

"Why are you showing me this?" Shinji asked to the man standing next to him.

"To see which path you shall choose." The pair continued to watch as Asuka made her appearance and the resulting slaps.

Shinji couldn't help but chuckle as he was really the only one that didn't look. With a snap of his fingers Master again changed the scene.

They were now standing across the street from the group that attacked the children days before the angel fight. Shinji winced as Asuka was kicked in the knee.

Guilt kicks in and I start to see

The edge of the bed

Where your nightgown used to be

Shinji couldn't help but cringe as he watched his violent attack on the boys.

Master watched his reactions with intrigue.

Another snap and the scene changed again, this time they were standing in the mall, watching the two children walk around.

Shinji remembered this day, it was the day that he hinted that Asuka was something more than just a comrade to him.

They were then fast-forwarded to the time in the swimming pool, and how she had tried to teach him how to swim.

I told myself I won't miss you

But I remember

What if feels like beside you

Shinji could still feel the warmth of her body as she held him close so that he would not drown, and his embarrassment that his body reacted the way it did.

They now stood in the kitchen later that night, it was the first time Shinji had actually asked her out, and of course she said yes.

He also relived those moments before the mission, when he confessed his love for the young woman.

I really miss your hair in my face

And the way your innocence tastes

And I think you should know this

You deserve much better than me

Now they stood on the mats of the training room deep within NERV.

Shinji quickly looked around and watched as Joe had actually appeared from a shadowy doorway.

"No wonder I never saw him before." He muttered.

Master nodded before speaking "Yes, he was sent to test the strength of your powers at this point."

They watched as the fight ensued, and of course the quick ending as the alarms sounded.

Master once again snapped his fingers; they were now standing in the void that was the twelfth angel.

Instead of two Eva's though they could see the actual pilots of the mecha.

While looking through your old box of notes

I found those pictures I took

That you were looking for

Just as the units powered down, the two spectators were standing atop a building outside the angel.

They watched as Unit One broke out of the being, carrying Unit Two like a delicate object towards a recovery elevator.

Shinji was starting to have a hard time watching these events.

"Why are you doing this again?" he asked, Master just continued to watch and snap his fingers at what seemed to be important intervals.

If there's one memory I don't want to lose

That time at the mall

You and me in the dressing room

Shinji watched achingly as several moments of near intimacy between the two flashed before him.

They never did get the alone time they had wanted; he had promised her that they would have that time later.

Another snap and the two were floating in the sky above Asuka as she fought Bardiel.

Winning one moment and coming within inches of dying the next, Shinji couldn't help but lurch forward as the watched her plug begin its launch towards the enemy.

But I remembered

What it feels like beside you

I really miss your hair in my face

And the way your innocence tastes

And I think you should know this

You deserve much better than me

Another snap and Shinji was once again in the halls of NERV headquarters, but this memory was more recent than he cared to remember.

He watched himself fly down the hallways, taking out squad after squad of soldiers as they tried to slow down his progress in reaching the Second Child.

He quietly gripped his right hand and was praying that Master would not take them where he knew this was going.

Master placed a hand on Shinji's right shoulder and snapped his fingers again.

The bed I'm lying in is getting colder

Wish I never would've said it's over

And I can't pretend… I won't think about you when I'm older

Cause we never really had our closure

This can't be the end

They now stood in that god awful room, the wind from the destroyed window blew the curtains around.

Shinji could only watch himself as he leaned over the woman he loved as she drew her last breaths.

I really miss your hair in my face

And the way your innocence tastes

And I think you should know this

You deserve much better than me

They watched as he stood and started towards the door, his powers now back in full effect.

They also watched as time stopped as Joe and Master walked in from the darkness.

Shinji gritted his teeth, "You knew…. You knew she was going to die and you did nothing?" He drew his fist back and took a swing at Master, but his fist was blocked by the man's right hand.

With a quick flex of his muscles Master had the young boy on his knees, "I did, but you would not have survived the rest of this day if I had saved her. You both would have died, and the earth would have died with you." Master then nodded to where his other self stood next to the woman and leaned down, touching her left bicep.

"Look familiar?" The man asked Shinji as they watched the tattoo form on her skin.

"You…. You gave her the tattoo after she died?" he asked.

Master nodded "I did, all for this very reason." Shinji looked perplexed, and released the tension in his body, signaling for Master to let go.

"You see, while Third Impact brings everyone together, it also allows one to create their own perfect world, a world with no pain, only happiness and pleasure. The only problem is that the person that creates this world is the only real person in the world; everyone else in it with them is actually nothing more than a figment of their own imagination."

Shinji hung on every word the man said, as if the reasoning behind everything was hidden in his words.

"Meaning I could have a world without Angel's and Eva's, one with her, but it would be a fake world?"

Master nodded, "You would only think you were happy, but in your mind you would always remember that it was all fake, and that the real Asuka you know is actually dead and gone. This would eventually drive you over the edge of insanity, as your conscious and sub-conscious minds started to conflict more and more."

Shinji looked down into his hands as the tears began to fall.

My hands are searching for you

My arms are outstretched towards you

I feel you on my fingertips

My tongue dances behind my lips for you

"Asuka, where are you?" Shinji asked as he continued to look into his palms as if the answer he were looking for were somewhere in them.

He hit the ground, crying uncontrollably. The power within him began to surge, and the flames of his soul began to appear around him, his cries of sorrow became cries of rage and the flames exploded around him.

This fire rising through my being

Burning I'm not used to seeing you

I'm alive, I'm alive

Shinji threw his head back and screamed shaking the void of white he was in.

Suddenly Shinji could feel a very familiar presence around him, something else was near him, he could feel a change in the area around him, and everything was becoming hazy.

I can feel you all around me

Thickening the air I'm breathing

Holding on to what I'm feeling

Savoring this heart that's healing

Shinji rose to his feet and watched as Master smiled before fading from view, the haze now to thick to see through.

He turned in circles trying to locate the source of this feeling.

He could feel two hands gently grab his waist and slowly move forward, slowly rubbing and sliding to his stomach and up to his chest.

My hands float up above me

And you whisper you love me

And I begin to fade

Into our secret place

He closed his eyes and the familiar female voice whispered into his ear.

"I love you Shinji." As he opened his eyes again, he was standing on the hill overlooking Tokyo-3.

This was her favorite spot, something about the way the sun shimmered off the massive buildings that brought a smile to her face.

Shinji could hear a soft violin playing music somewhere; he knew the song after just three notes.

It was a song that she used to love to play, though he could never get the notes right for his cello.

The music makes me sway

The angels singing say we are alone with you

I am alone and they are too with you

I'm alive, I'm alive

Shinji brought his hand up to the place on his chest where he could feel the pressure of someone touching him.

He leaned his head back, and felt a soft pillow of hair press into the back of his scalp as the owner leaned forward, putting her cheek against his back.

"Oh Asuka, I'm so sorry I failed you." He said as the tears threatened to fall again.

He heard a whisper on the wind, "It's not your fault, and I will always love you." It said.

I can feel you all around me

Thickening the air I'm breathing

Holding on to what I'm feeling

Savoring this heart that's healing

Shinji quickly turned around but the presence was no longer there.

"Where…. Where are you? Why can't I see you?" he asked and he continued to search for his love.

"I'm sorry Shinji, but you can't see what isn't alive." Said the voice with a tone that said she was crying.

This broke Shinji's heart and he hit his knees again, he would never be able to touch her again, never see her bright smile.

And so I cry

The light is white

And I see you

I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

There was a loud clap and bright light that temporarily blinded the boy.

As the light dimmed he looked up and could see the faint image of Asuka standing a short distance in front of him.

He quickly shot to his feet and took off running through the grass around him.

I can feel you all around me

Thickening the air I'm breathing

Holding on to what I'm feeling

Savoring this heart that's healing

As he reached her, he wrapped his arms around the girl and spun her around.

"Oh god, I miss you so much. I love you Asuka." He said through tears, Asuka smiled sadly and returned the hug as strong as she could.

"Shinji, you must go back to Master. This is not what you want. Take my hand and return to him."

Shinji shook his head; "NO!" he screamed "I won't leave you again."

It was now Asuka turn to cry, "Anta baka?" she asked "He told you none of this was real, nothing that you will see here will be real. I'm only here to help guide you back."

She slowly extended her hand out, "Please Shinji."

Take my hand, I give it to you

Now you owe me, all I am

You said you would never leave me

I believe you, I believe

Shinji took her hand, and was standing before Master once again.

"Why am I here?" he asked, wiping the tears away.

Master smiled "I am going to offer you a chance to change things. You see, right now you are as close to a god as you can get for a human. But continuing down this path, you will end up in the world I described earlier, all pleasure, no pain, but with the knowledge that it's fake."

Shinji nodded "So what can I do?" he asked.

Master nodded gently, "All you have to do is make a simple decision, you can either continue down this path, knowing what you know…. Or I can send you into the past, at the point you came to Tokyo-3 and you can relive all the events of the angel wars. The choice is up to you, but I must inform you that if you chose to go back, not only will your powers be fully under your control, you will also retain all of your memories from the past year."

Shinji brought his right arm up to his left bicep; Master nodded "That is the true power of that symbol."

Shinji thought for a moment, 'continue on in a fake world with the ones I love… or start that whole nightmare all over again.' Shinji continued to think as the mist once again crept up behind him, not enveloping him this time, just his back.

He could feel the pressure of someone pressing their chest into his back, and their arms wrapped around his chest.

I can feel you all around me

Thickening the air I'm breathing

Holding on to what I'm feeling

Savoring this heart that's healed

Shinji raised his head to meet Masters Gaze, and as he opened his mouth to speak everything fades to black.

A crowd boo's and hiss's from their seats and the man called Master steps up onto a massive stage, with a white screen behind him.

"Thank you for reading The Spar. This story was inspired by, well…. No reason other than someone close to me pushed me hard into completing this." He said.

With this Joe slowly fades into view, "Your goddamn right you asshole, it took you long enough." He said.

Master turned to him, "Hey, I got sidetracked damn it, I couldn't help .it…. besides how many stories have you been 'working' on since I started mine? Hmm?" he asked.

Joe started whistling and looking in random directions, "Okay, that may be, but goddamn it you did it again…. Wait, if this is the last chapter, what the fuck happened? Why are you doing this to me?" Joe screamed as he collapsed to the ground.

"Well…. Cause it leads the way for this." Master snapped his finger and everything goes black.

Re-Trial

In the middle of a deserted town, a lone boy stood at a payphone.

The boy looked down at the phone in his left hand, which kept repeating the same prerecorded message.

"Due to an emergency all circuits are busy. Please head to the nearest shelter for assistance." The message continued again.

The boy looked around and down at himself, he was wearing a pair of black steel toe boots, black jean shorts that came just below his knees, and a black muscle shirt that exposed his massive arms.

He slowly reached over with his right hand and touched his left bicep.

He could feel the outline of the cross and serpent, the points of the crown, and the gentle slope of the wings.

The boy lowered his right hand and looked straight ahead then spoke. "This time, I won't lose." He said as he dropped the phone.

Thats right folks, I've left potential for a sequal story... course that depends on wether I have the time and all that. Please R&R!

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KiaserKoh, A.K.A. The Master.