Once More with Feeling

Once More with Feeling is a Neon Genesis Evangelion(TV Series) fanfiction published on by author. It is in progress.

Plot
The story starts at the end of the TV Series / End of Evangelion movie during the 'Third Impact' where the protagonist, Shinji Ikari, has been 'complemented' into the 'sea of LCL'. But as the controlling person of the process, he is given a choice by the catalysts of the Third Impact, his fellow Eva pilot Rei Ayanami and the Second Angel Lilith, after he rejects this single person being as a lie, asking for a chance to live his life as a single person.

Either misunderstanding or understanding Shinji better then he knows, Lilith/Rei send him 'back' to the start of the TV series, during the Third Angels attack on Tokyo-3. With full knowledge of what has happened and what is yet to come, Shinji decides, for the sake of those he loves, to pilot the Evangelion one more time and find a way to prevent the future he had seen, from coming to pass. Which in turn places him directly in the path of his Father, Gendo Ikari, his backers in SEELE and the Angels themselves.

Major Characters
Shinji Ikari The protagonist of the fanfic, Shinji has been sent back in time into 'the body' of his past self with full knowledge of what happened to him the 'first time' around. After surviving the Third Impact at the core of the process, he has returned with something of a confidence and drive to prevent it from ever happening 'in the first place'. His foreknowledge of the Angels along with being a fully trained Eva pilot from the outset leads to a significant reduction in the (initial) threat of the Angels as well as increasing levels of suspicion over his astonishing 'natural talent', tempered by his explanations and realized value to the Evangelion project.

Misato Katsuragi Shinji's guardian who died to save his life during the JSSDF invasion of Tokyo-3 in the End of Evangelion, Misato is again freely welcoming of Shinji's presence in her house and life, the two quickly becoming close, partially due to Shinji's established comfort with Misato's eccentricities and zest for life, though the memory of Misato dying in his arms personified by the one item he brought back with him from the future, her blood stained cross from the Third Impact, becomes a driving force for him to change the outcome of the future.

Rei Ayamani The First Child and pilot of Evangelion Unit Zero, Shinji this time is fully aware of her being a clone of his mother spliced with the DNA of the Second Angel from the outset. Considering her his sister, he is dedicated to helping her get out from under his Fathers thumb and helping her live, slowly working to change the way she views herself as an expandable clone in a series of clones, to a unique and precious individual...with some unintended consequences.

Asuka Langley Soryu The Second Child and pilot of Evangelion Unit Two, Shiji's realized feelings of love for Asuka from his 'First Life' are a major driving force in their interactions upon her arrival in Tokyo-3, having seen into the depths of her mind during the Third Impact. A great deal of guilt drives his actions towards her subconsciously, after he 'left her' to face her death against the Mass Production Evangelions, due to his highly depressed state at the time. Asuka is initially greatly jealous of Shinji's much higher Synchronization ratio and combat record when she first meets him, then confounded when every insult and attack she launches at him has little to no effect. However she also finds a great deal of empathy with him, shortly after they meet; Shinji using an opportunity to tell her of his Mothers 'death' in Unit One -Asuka having lost her own mother in an almost identical accident- and as a consequence, finding a common ground with Shinji in the shared pain of their loss.

Gendo Ikari Shinji's father and arguably primary antagonist, Gendo has dedicated the last decade of his life to brining back his 'dead' wife and Shinji's Mother 'Yui' through a controlled Third Impact, placing his son now directly in his path. While Shinji retains a great deal of knowledge of his fathers goals, Gendo is cunning, ruthless and intelligent; Shinji's attempts to counter Gendo's moves have yet to draw a response, but it may only be a matter of time.

Ryoji Kaji Misato's former lover and Asuka's former guardian, the NERV Special Inspector was sent by SEELE to keep tabs on Gendo, not knowing that Gendo and Kaji had come to an arrangement to work together against the 'old men'. In reality however, Kaji is actually working for neither of them, allied with the Japanese Government in an attempt to ascertain the truth behind NERV and SEELE, their long term goals and the truth behind the Angel attacks. It is a mission made both more simple and more complex with Shinji Ikari's revelations.

Status
The fanfic is in progress. To this date, 13 chapters have been written comprising over 200,000 words.