Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Neon Genesis Evangelion: Wings of the Seraphim ❯ 03-Power Incarnate ( Chapter 3 )

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Wings of the Seraphim

by Alexei Seranov

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Disclaimer: I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion. Don't sue, I'm a poor Jew.

"Blahblah" is Dialogue.

'Blahblah' is Thought.

<Blahblah> is Telepathic Dialogue.

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CHAPTER 3:

Power Incarnate

All over the great city of Neo-Tokyo-3, light began to shine from over the crests of the mountains and hillocks that surrounded it. As the sun's rays traveled inexorably westward, they shone upon many things: homes, apartments, offices, schools, to name a few. The light was always warming, bringing life back to the city's inhabitants, ushering in the new day. Through windows the light glowed, placing its warm fingers upon the people inside, many whom were enjoying the oblivion of sleep. This day had started like any other, another day in the regimen and schedule for people of the world-renowned "Fortress City." However, it was not likely to remain normal, as was proven by the sudden ruckus being emitted from the Katsuragi/Ikari/Langley household. "BAKA-HENTAI!!!!!" A resounding thud, and then all was silent again in the small apartment.

"Oww…" Shinji lay impotently, upside down, his face pressed into the crease of the wall and the floor of Asuka's room. Had he been able to look behind him, he would have noticed her enraged glare, angry posture, or even the deep blush that covered her face. As it was, he had been awakened from a very enjoyable slumber by a great hurt. Shinji slowly lifted himself up, confused as to why his door was on the wrong side of the bedroom. Looking around with a questioning countenance and half-closed eyes, the boy suddenly came upon a very irate-looking Asuka Sohryu. "Uhh… morning Asuka… what's going on?" As she began to stalk towards him, he desperately tried to remember what had happened. Why is my door on the other side of the room? Why is Asuka so mad? Why… uh oh… this isn't my room… As realization came to the boy's muddled mind, his eyes shot open and the events of the previous night returned with a vengeance.

"IDIOT! I'M GONNA KILL YOU! HOW DARE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME?!?!" Her eyes practically ablaze, the young Second Child tramped towards the Third. With thoughts of causing the young boy before her large amounts of pain running rampant in her brain, the events of the previous night, including Shinji's bravery and compassion, were the last things she had consideration of.

"ASUKA! I didn't do anything! You were having a… OWW!" A sharp blow to the side of his head knocked him back, but he did not falter for long, "nightmare! I came in to," A kick to his chest, followed by another pained statement, "Check and see if," The slaps and kicks rained down again, "You were okay!" The blows finally tapered off, and the Second stared at the Third incredulously.

"Ohh… oh yeah… I forgot. But still! You shouldn't be in my room! It's indecent! And besides, I wake up with you holding me, what am I supposed to think?!?!" The incensed visage was gone, replaced by a slightly indignant one. Her arms rested at her sides, instead of ready to attack, and all things considered, Shinji felt it was safe to let his guard down. Sitting himself on the floor, the adolescent savior of the world stare up at Asuka with a mildly tired look. "Well? You gonna sit there and stare, or are you gonna start talking?" Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she glances at the alarm clock out of the corner of her eye. Seeing that they still have time, she decides not to pound the boy for sitting there, almost zoned out. After all, he is staring at the great Asuka Sohryu. No mere boy can withstand my beauty! With a mental chuckle, she looks him in the eyes.

"Well, I don't know what you're supposed to think. But, come on, when have I ever known what you think at all?" His gaze never wavered, and Asuka began to become unnerved. Shinji had never been able to look her in they eyes like that before, and now she was sure that he'd have no problem just gazing into the windows of her soul all day long. Fidgeting slightly under the intense look in his blue eyes, Asuka snorted lightly, hopefully giving him the message she wanted to convey. He seemed to smile a little more, and mentally, he chuckled at the small victory. "Alrighty, then. You can have the shower first. I'll make breakfast." With that, Shinji stood and left for the apartment's small kitchen to prepare the usual, leaving Asuka confused and pondering the change he had experienced.

When the hell did the Idiot get a spine? Oh well… He's not so bad this way, at least…Grabbing her clothes for the day, a slight blush adorning her face, she leaves the room for other places in the house. Once she had closed the door to the bathroom, everything stood still for a few blissful seconds. Then, the body of Misato Katsuragi slowly sneaked out, her face spread into the most gleeful smile the halls of the apartment had ever seen.

"Excellent… all is going according to the scenario… MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!" Smiling evilly, she allows the malicious, yet innocent laugh settle down to an amused chuckle, and proceeds to put on her I-am-hung-over-and-I-want-you-to-BACK-OFF face. Misato heads to the kitchen, ready to start the day like any other…

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School was per the norm. Sensei had been lecturing on gravitation, before spiraling into a story on Second Impact. As usual, Rei Ayanami was watching the world outside the window, not paying the lesson attention. The day appears abnormally... peaceful. Could this be why Ikari-kun and Sohryu are not engaged in a dispute? Rei's quiet mind did all it could to solve this dilemma, dissecting and pondering and questioning it. Pilots Ikari and Sohryu almost never got along, but through their reflections in the window, the First Child could easily witness them stealing nervous glimpses of the other when, she assumed, they thought the other wasn't looking. This is most unusual. I shall inform the Commander after testing. Content with this knowledge, the enigmatic Ayanami returned to gazing peacefully out the window.

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"God! I'm glad to be outta there. How 'bout you Shin-man?" Touji Suzahara, designated Fourth Child, as usual, had slept through class, despite the fact that he was under the watchful eye of Class Representative Hikari Horaki. He was awake and chipper, an evident difference between the Third and Fourth Children. Shinji seemed totally preoccupied, barely even looking from the path in front of him, leading to the roof of the school. The Stooges were known to congregate there for meals, and as it was lunch time, that's where they were headed. Touji, assuming Shinji was just in one of his deep-thinking sessions, began talking animatedly with Kensuke, while the Third simply went through the motions. His face held a blank look and an empty gaze, but his mental processes were moving a million miles a minute. Why can't I get her outta my head? Damnit, she's crazy and hates me! Why the hell do I keep thinking about her?! Damnit, screw this! I'm just gonna try to concentrate on something else. Yea… that'll work. A method to resolve his problem found, the young Ikari returns to the land of the living, to hear Touji and Kensuke finishing off an argument just as they reach their usual spot. "So, Shin-man. How's it feel to be back?"

"It's hard. I have a shitload of work to make up, and Sensei just keeps drawling on about the Goddamned Second Impact. I swear that you, Rei, Asuka and I probably know more about it than he does. It's not fair man. It's just not cool."

"I hear that Shinji. Damn! You pilots probably know more about what's going on in the world than that old blowhard." Kensuke joined in the conversation; apparently he'd given the subject some thought. "I mean, come on! How many times can you tell the same story over again? It's not even like we prompt him. He just starts rambling! Oh well… let's eat!" Each opening their food, they began to wolf down the contents. Shinji with his homemade lunch, Kensuke with his cafeteria-bought one, and Touji with his bento.

"'Ey Touji? Where'd you get the bento?" The Pilot of Eva Unit 01 threw a wink to Kensuke, who began to smile like only he could.

"Yeah Touji? We all know you buy lunch usually…" The boy pushed his spectacles up on his nose, causing them to glint evilly. Touji began to develop a tic on his left temple.

"Shaddup. Drop it or I drop you…" The boy nodded menacingly towards the edge of the roof. "Besides, it ain't none of your business." As the other two boys paled considerably, the smile returned to the tallest one's face. "So get eatin', and calm it with the questions." They were all far too eager to do so, and continued to do so, unaware of the person watching them from afar…

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Why do I keep thinking about him? He's scrawny and an idiot, and he pervs on me every chance he gets! But… NO! I will NOT think about the Idiot that way! As Asuka battled with herself and eyed the Stooges, she had no idea how close her and Shinji's thought patterns were. Even if she did know, chances are she would still put up a fight. She always repressed things that she didn't want to feel: Pain, sorrow, hope, happiness, and more or less everything but the urge to pilot. I pilot an Evangelion. I am of the elite corps that defends this stupid planet. I don't need anyone else to be the best. Even if… NO! I don't need him, and I don't need ANYBODY! Turning away in a huff, she set her sights on her lunch… which Shinji had made. Snorting and turning in a new direction, she found it free of objects that reminded her of Shinji. Mumbling quietly, Asuka bit out, "…especially a dork like him…"

"Asuka? Are you okay?" The query from her best friend snapped the Second from her angry reverie, and brought her back to the world of the aware. "Asuka? ARE, YOU, OKAY?" Asuka gave Hikari a momentarily stupefied gaze, before switching to a dazzling, albeit fake, smile.

"Yeah. I'm fine Hikari. Don't worry." Although the smile and the enthusiastically worded reply would have been enough for others, Hikari Horaki was a tad bit brighter than most. And, with her bond with Touji strengthening, her courage was building as well. So much so, as she would actually defy the "Great Asuka Langley Sohryu."

"I think you're lying, Asuka. I can see it." Giving the red-haired pilot a disapproving frown, she waited for its proven power to crack Asuka's shell. Asuka's years-strong shell wasn't so willing to crack, however.

"I said nothing's wrong Hikari. Don't worry about it. Why don't you go back to slobbering over your Stooge?" Asuka's voice was laced with a mild amount of venom, as the barb was meant to sting, not injure the poor girl.

"Damnit Asuka! I'm your best friend! Why do you have to hide these things from me?" The pigtailed girl's outburst left Asuka stunned. She had never raised her voice to her before. "Why won't you tell me?" Hikari had a pleading face on, and Asuka could just barely keep herself from pouring her guts out then and there.

"I… I can't tell you here…" Asuka's face softened greatly. "…But I will." I hope I can trust her…

"Thanks Asuka. That's all I'm asking." The smile reclaimed, Hikari chuckled inwardly at the victory. Maybe I can get her to open up more… I hope so. Things back to some semblance of normal, lunch continued on…

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"SHIEST! That was so boring. I'm so glad we can go home now!" A bored look on her face, Asuka and the normal crew wander towards their respective homes.

"Yeah, me too Asuka. Another minute of Second Impact lecture and I may go insane." Shinji had a similarly bored countenance, and his feet dragged slightly as he walked.

"I'm gonna have to agree with the Demon. Forget Angels, Sensei's gonna bore us all to death." Touji seemed better off, but he had slept through the lecture, so he had an excuse.

"What'd you call me, you Neanderthal?" Asuka's eyes flashed dangerously. Touji decided not to heed the warning.

"I called you a Demon. What's wrong, mein Fuhrer? Having trouble understanding Japanese? Try switching back to Kraut." The blow delivered, Shinji began to cower in the back, while Hikari simply sighed.

"You… YOU IDIOT!" And the chase began. For nearly fifteen minutes, Asuka chased the jock up and down the street, while Shinji stared at the ground and Hikari shook her head. Kensuke's apartment was on the other side of town, so he had gone his separate way earlier. When the group finally began to walk again, Touji was up some bruises, and Asuka was calm once again. All in all, it was the average walk home. Soon, Touji departed down the street he lived on, and Hikari soon after. This left the Second and Third Children alone to make their way back to Misato's apartment. As they made their way there, silence floated between the two. Neither could find anything to talk to the other about, and it was something expected between them. Then came the klaxons' blare. "Shiest! An Angel! Come on!" Reacting on instinct, Asuka grabbed a slightly frightened Shinji by the arm and began to bolt back towards NERV HQ. However, before they had gotten very far, Misato's Renault Alpine came screaming up from behind, sliding to a stop next to the Children.

"Come on! Let's go!" As each pilot hopped into the vehicle, the Major waited no longer than the closing of the doors to rocket off towards the Geofront. Again, the trip was made without a word, only the sounds of tires squealing in protest against the pavement cutting through the air. Practically only hitting the break before screeching to a halt in the car train, Misato floored it the whole way. This is not the time for us to be slow! The speed justified in her mind, Misato simply had to calm the two youngsters in the rear of her car. "We needed to get here fast! Would you rather I not bend the rules slightly, and we get here just in time to witness the end of the world?"

"Oh, I'm sure breaking EVERY speed law EVER passed was justified. As if!" Asuka harrumphed to punctuate this. "Let's just get there so I can get into my Eva. I'm gonna show the Idiot here some real piloting!"

"Fine with me. If we're lucky, Asuka'll just rip this thing a new one, and we can go home." Shinji sounded unusually energized for one about to go into battle. It was a far cry from the first time he had been introduced to the Giant Purple People Eater. But it made no difference. He would get into Unit 01 and await orders, the same as every other time he needed to take the purple and neon green Biomechanical mecha into battle. I really do hope she kicks this Angel's ass. I don't wanna spend too much time in the LCL… it still smells like blood.

"We'll see, kids. We don't know anything about this Angel yet." The rest of the time in the car passed in a blur. Soon enough, each Child was suiting up in their respective locker rooms, and Misato was commanding on the bridge in Central Dogma. Minutes later, the youthful saviors of Earth were seated into their Evangelions and synched up. "Alright, Asuka, it's already at the surface. We're gonna send you up on point. We believe attacking with ranged weapons is best, until we are aware of its capabilities."

"Roger. Let's do this!" Even though the video link wasn't on, Misato could picture Asuka with a set jaw and a determined glint in her eye.

"EVANGELION UNIT 02! LAUNCH!" As the red behemoth launched upwards, Misato prayed to whoever would listen that Asuka would be okay. She has to be okay. I don't know what would happen if I lost her… or what Shinji would do if he lost her…

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Inside Unit 02, Asuka was gripping the butterfly handles tightly. She had been too easily defeated the last time. She would prove her worth. She would show them all. She was the best. Especially the Idiot. I'll prove that I don't need his stupid protection. With a grin that held all her intentions, she braced for reaching the surface. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the giant red demon came crashing to a halt…

…To witness the Fourteenth Angel blast straight through twenty or more plates of solid armor, and begin its descent towards the Geofront. Misato's voice shouted over the comm. link, "GET UNIT 02 BACK DOWN HERE!" And Asuka's world fell out from under her. She was speedily dropping back down to the surface of NERV Headquarters, but her determination held strong. She reached the point from where she would make her attack slightly before the Angel came from the ceiling. Grabbing a pair of Pallet Rifles from a nearby supply depot, Asuka took aim. "Unit 02, spread your AT Field and attempt to use ranged attacks. We have no idea what this thing can really do."

"Gotcha!" Asuka gave an almost giddy reply, and depressed both triggers. A hail of lead and tracers flew towards the Fourteenth, a veritable stream of death, flying directly towards what passed for its face. However, even when projecting a full AT field, the explosive rounds simply exploded harmlessly against the armor of the giant misshapen beast. Not to be daunted, Asuka and her Eva dropped the rifles after they clicked dry. Grabbing twin rocket launchers, she began the barrage anew. Through all of this, the Angel maintained its leisurely pace. Rockets pound against its body and it doesn't even lift a finger to help itself. The rocket launchers finally empty, so a now infuriated Asuka hurls them at the enemy, hoping to do SOMETHING. Why… won't… you… DIE?!?!?! "Misato! It's not working! I need to go melee!"

"Negative! We still don't know what it can do! Asuka!" The girl in the biomechanical fiend wasn't finished yet. She wouldn't just turn tail and run like the Idiot and Wondergirl. She would stand and fight. This being so, she expertly removed the Progressive Blade from her Eva's shoulder fin, and set herself into a stance for battle. Waving the knife menacingly at the oddly-shaped Angel, Asuka prepared for its worst. However, what she didn't expect was for it to unravel what appeared to be arms, made of a thin sheet of metal. Recovering from the momentary distraction, she prepped herself for whatever assault it had in mind. As the Fourteenth finally reached the ground, the two massive constructs faced off. Each with eyes boring into the others, the two seemed straight out of an old American western.

"Misato! I'm going in!" With this, Evangelion Unit 02 charged headfirst at the cow-like monster. Then, like a flash, its arms flew out. Asuka, being the trained pilot she was, quickly dodged to the side. Only being clipped in the shoulder, Asuka grunted in pain, stabbing deeply into the Angel. Attempting to carve away at its face, Asuka used a double-handed grip to embed the blade to the hilt in the Angel's ugly face. Twisting the blade around, Asuka didn't realize until it was too late that the Angel was going to put her in a death grip. "Misato! This stupid Angel's got me pinned down! What do I do?!" Although she hated asking for help of any kind, Asuka knew that battle was a somewhat different story. With the Angel's arms wrapped tightly around her Eva, its arms practically glued to its sides, and the Progressive Knife sticking out of the bloody cavity that had been the Angel's face, Asuka found herself without options.

"Uhh… Try kicking it!" The idea was stupid, and the thought that it would help was just plain naïve, but there was little more she could do. So Asuka began to flail wildly with her feet. Although every blow connected with the Fourteenth's body, not a single dent was made. Apparently its face was the weakest point. It was a moot point now, however, as she couldn't reach it.

"DAMN THIS THING!" Just as she finished screaming at it, the Angel threw Asuka's Eva to the ground. With almost unfathomable speed, the red behemoth was back on its feet. But it was too late. A pair of arm blades were already within a yard of the Eva's arms, and all Asuka could do was brace for impact. And then the pain came. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! AHHH!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Grasping at her shoulders and screaming at the top of her lungs, Asuka vented a yell that held the pain of a million soldiers. Unit 02's arms fell flaccidly, hitting the ground with a loud crashing noise. As she continued to scream, she didn't notice the crashing noise that came right afterwards or the arm blade that was hell bent on decapitating the disabled Evangelion…

Nor did she notice the purple fist that blocked the path of that blade. "Don't worry Asuka. I'm here."

Shinji's voice sounded sincere, but Asuka knew that she had been beaten again. I am no good; I couldn't even stop this stupid Angel. Every time, I need Baka-Shinji to pull my ass out of the fire. What use am I? 'The Invincible Shinji' would keep everyone safe. No one needs Asuka Sohryu… she's just a useless girl who can't even pilot her Eva right… "Idiot… why didn't you just let me die?" A lone tear covered the distance between her eye and the top of her chin before it dissolved in the LCL.

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But Shinji didn't notice. He was too busy giving the Angel back the pain it had caused Asuka, and then some. The eyes of the Evangelion went white, and its jaw unhinged once again. It was a Berserker. "YOU HURT ASUKA! I'LL KILL YOU!!!" The Giant Purple People Eater grabbed Asuka's discarded Prog Knife from the face of its enemy, and proceeded to hack into its core. When a layer of plating covered the red orb, the Eva became more furious. In a rage, it barely even noticed as the left arm was blown off by a Crucifix-blast. "YOU'LL DIE!!!" Slamming the Fourteenth Angel face first into the Geofront's soil, Shinji began to smash the back of its head with his Eva's oversized hand. He was caught unaware by the blades, which led to the Angel managing to throw him off. Hitting the ground with a thump, Eva Unit 01 lay stunned for a mere second before it was clamoring for its feet. Then the razor arm came again. Judging well, the Eva flipped out of the way, but the umbilical cable was cut. Growling angrily, Shinji was certainly not acting like himself.

"Shinji! What's going on? Can you read me? SHINJI!" Misato's worried voice was a buzzing in his ears. The five-minute countdown was only on the fringes of his awareness. All that mattered was protecting Asuka… and he had failed. So he would do the next best thing: He'd rip the Angel limb from limb. For minutes on end, the two giant beasts fought, slamming each other into the ground, the walls of the Geofront, and everywhere else. Then…

…the Eva ran out of power. The misshapen Angel began to pound on the Eva's chest, until it reached its target: The core of Evangelion Unit 01. Blow after blow, strike after strike, the Angel came closer and closer to destroying what his brethren had failed to destroy. He would be the strongest, the Destroyer. This puny Lilim weapon was no match for its divine power. But little did it know that the Evangelion was trying its hardest to get back up. "MOTHER! HELP ME!!! MOVE THIS THING!!! I NEED TO KILL THIS ANGEL! IT MUST DIE!!!"

…and with that, he was gone. The Evangelion stood once again, and broke free from its bindings. An arm blade came to deliver the final blow to a cracking and dulling orb, but was intercepted by the Eva's right hand. Pulling sharply, the arm gave way, coming off in the Giant Purple People Eater's grip. Throwing it to the ground, the Eva roared: a dark, monstrous sound screamed forth from its throat. The Eva held up its stump of an arm, still looking straight at where the face of the Fourteenth had been, and growled. From the stump, a new arm bubbled forth, emitting a bright glow. Materializing, the arm flexed a few times. The Angel, sensing defeat, launched another attack with its arm blade, which was cut in half as the Berserk Evangelion used its AT Field to split the arm right down the middle, and also carving a deep gash in its body. Falling forward, the Eva began to stalk towards the fallen Angel on all four limbs. Leaning back, the Eva crouched over the now horribly-mangled monster. Ramming one hand deep into the Angel, the Eva grabbed onto something, and pulled with all its considerable might. Wrenching it free, the Eva held the stolen organ for the entire world to see. Hefting it to chest-level, it let go, leaving the orb floating in midair. Grabbing a chest panel in each hand, the Eva ripped its hands away, exposing its muscled chest. Looking directly into the orb, its eyes began to glow brighter, until a flash, and the orb was implanted into its chest. Roaring, three pairs of large, energy-composed wings emerged from Evangelion Unit 01's back: it was no longer just free…

It was a Seraph.

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AUTHOR'S NOTES:

HAH! Didn't see that coming did ya? Here's Chapter 03 of Wings of the Seraphim. It's got some action, some angst, and a little bit of everything else. Took a little longer than I expected, but it's a little longer to compensate. I hope you guys enjoy it. Remember, Read and Review! I write mainly for myself, so no reviews and I KEEP IT TO MYSELF! You don't want that, do you? That's right! You think I write better than I do! So if you want the next chapter, leave a little review for me! Remember, I love you guys in a fully platonic manner! Until next time!

Ja matane,

Alexei Seranov

P.S.: Again, big ups to my prereaders, ChiRho and TekkaDark! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! :D