Disclaimer: I own nothing but the Archangels don't sue me! I also don't own the song My Immortal by Evanescence

Just outside the moon's orbit, a large, city sized, spherical, smooth surfaced object silently made its way toward earth. It slowed and took orbit around the moon.

Inside the object a group of twelve began to converse in an unknown language.

'The time has come.'

'Yes.'

'The Trinity has been located.'

'The Angels are here as well.'

'It means little.'

'Are we sure he is the Trinity?'

'His physical and mental strength is weak.'

'His true strength is merely suppressed by his depression and in need to be honed and extracted.'

'The Angels can be used to train the Trinity upon his awakening.'

'Indeed.'

'The time has come…'

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION

POWER OF THE SPIRIT

Chapter 0:1

You're My Best Friend

Shinji Ikari and Asuka Langley Sohyru silently made walked down the hallway of the NERV hospital. Most would find it shocking that this pair of Evangelion Pilots could get along let alone walk down the same hallway without one or the other insulting or getting on the other's nerves, but in light of the recent events -the death of Kaji Ryouji and the crippling injury of the Forth child and close friend to Shinji Touji Suzahara- teasing didn't really seem appropriate.

The two knocked before entering one of the many hospital rooms, and Hikari Horaki looked up and smiled weakly at her two friends. "Hey," she whispered, nodding to the soundly sleeping Touji.

"Hey, Hikari-chan," Asuka said as she and Shinji gave a small friendly bow.

"How is he?" Shinji asked softly as the two entered the room to sit on the small couch beside Hikari, who was seated at Touji's bedside.

"He has his good times and his bad," Hikari said sadly, stroking the back of his only remaining hand.

"I'm sorry," Shinji stated quickly, lowering his head. "I'll be going now, bye, Hikari." He then quickly ran out before Asuka could berate his apology.

Shinji ran outside the hospital before sitting down unceremoniously on a bench on the sidewalk.

He sat in silence, but wasn't surprised when a voice spoke from beside him, "Ok, so what's the problem this time, Baka?"

"You know it's only a matter of time before I hurt or even kill you and Rei and Misato, right?" Shinji stated not looking up.

He let out a sigh, but fell off the bench when he received a hard smack up the back of his head. "You are as stupid as you look, Third Child," Asuka said looking down her nose at the recovering teen.

"I'm not stupid," Shinji retorted, climbing back to his feet, "It's a fact, I'm a danger to myself and everyone around me."

"Yeah, I know you are, God of all Bakas," Asuka said sitting down on the bench smirking up at her fellow Eva pilot. "But there is no way you could hurt me, Shinji, for two reasons."

"And those reason are, Sohyru?" Shinji replied, hoping to for once get the upper hand on the Second Child in a fight for once, "What makes you think I can't hurt you?"

"Number one," Asuka said raising her forefinger, "You haven't the spine to stand up to me, Shinji-kun," she said in a mock-sweet voice. "And number two," she stated, raising her bird finger to flip the Third Child off, "You can't possibly be better then the Great Asuka Langley Sohyru!"

"Number one," Shinji stated, mimicking her first move, and smiling at the fact he caught the German girl off guard, "I'm not as spineless as you think, Asuka-chan," he then raised his bird finger flipping the girl off, "And number two, your over confidence is your weakness." Shinji expected her to be fuming, but was surprised to see her chuckling, "What?"

"Do I have to show you how to do everything, Shinji?" Asuka laughed loudly.

"What I do wrong?" Shinji asked cocking his head to the side, reviewing the last few actions in his mind to see a mistake.

"Come here," She said grabbing his hand, and pulling him down on the bench beside her, "You were doing it all wrong!"

She then gripped Shinji's hand in her own, and began to move his fingers to where they were both now unknowingly yet properly flipping off an old couple.

"There you go," Asuka smiled at the Third Child, "Now you've learned something."

"Asuka, you notice something?" Shinji said, blushing slightly, earning a 'hmm' from the German girl, who once again looking down her nose at him. "We're almost acting like friends," he continued unsurely.

"Of course we are, Baka," Asuka snorted, "You think I wouldn't tease you as much as I do if I didn't like you? A-as a friend of course!" she said, adding the last bit quickly.

"Of course," Shinji said meekly with a small smile, leading the two Eva pilots fell into silence, before Shinji's cell phone rang.

"H-hello?" Shinji answered the phone quickly.

"Shinji! Is Asuka with you?" Major Misato Katsuragi, guardian of both Shinji and Asuka, asked urgently.

"Yes, she's right here beside me," Shinji said, glancing the now fully alert Asuka. "What's wrong?"

"We've detected an Angel," Misato said strangely, "Get back here quick!"

---

Evangelion Units 00, 01, and 02 moved through the mountainous region around Tokyo-3 as silently as possible. All three looking for any signs of the Angel Magi, the NERV supercomputer, detected.

"This is boring!" Asuka whined from the entry plug of Eva Unit 02, "The radar must have screwed up, Misato, there's nothing out here!"

"I must agree with Sohyru," Rei Ayanami said emotionlessly from the entry plug of Unit 00. "There is no sign of an Angel, or any signs of attack."

"Wait, what's that?" Shinji said spotting what looked like a small creek.

"It's a creek, Baka," Asuka pointed out, "You never seen water out of a sink before or something?"

"Is water supposed to be red?" Shinji asked, silencing the redhead.

"Eva Units, proceed with caution," Misato said over the communications system, not liking how this was looking at all.

All three pilots nodded to her over the screens, and began to slowly follow the path of blood.

All three followed the blood trail over a hill, and the sight itself made all three stop dead in their tracks, and Asuka to began to gag and attempt to keep from throwing up.

"It … looks like it's been … dismantled …" Shinji stated, feeling sick himself at the gory sight of the Angel scattered all over the top of the hill. "I thought only Evangelions could fight Angels, Misato?"

"I did too …" Misato said silently, before clearing her throat, "Units return to base, a clean up crew is on the way to pick up the … remains. Misato out."

Shinji watched Rei and Asuka quickly retreat, but took notice of three patterns painted in red. "Hey, Misato, look at this," Shinji said over the com system.

"I wonder …" Misato mused, narrowing her eyes on the three patterns. "Ritsuko? What do you make of it?"

"Courage. Power. Love." Commander Gendo Ikari stated from the entrance to the command center. "It's Ancient Hebrew symbols. Ancient legend that a Champion Trinity will come to defend or destroy mankind, marked by unsurpassed courage, power and love."

"Any more information on it? Could this Champion Trinity be responsible for the destruction of this Angel?" Misato asked turning to the cold father of Shinji Ikari.

"That information is classified," Gendo stated turning his back, "Keep the Eva Units on stand by." He ordered before exiting the command center.

---

Asuka snored softly from a bench in the lounge outside the command center of Central Dogma, while Rei and Shinji sat patiently to find out what would happen next.

"Well …" Misato said entering the lounge, "All you can do now is sit tight until something happens."

"Surprise, surprise," Asuka groaned opening one eye to look at the Major.

Misato sighed, then noticed a very serious expression on Shinji's face, "Something the matter, Shinji-kun?"

"I … don't know," Shinji said, shaking his head, earning the attention of both Rei and Asuka both, "Just I feel like something bad is going to happen soon."

Shinji then stood to his feet and turned to Misato, "Thanks for everything, Misato," Shinji said forebodingly before pulling the shocked Misato into a hug. As quickly as the hug came, it ended and Shinji released the surprised Masato and walked toward the exit. "Thanks for everything. I'll be in 01's Entry Plug," He said again walking out of the lounge.

"What was … that about?" Asuka asked the obvious question while the three young women just stared at the now closed door.

---

Loud sirens blared through the base as Misato dashed into the command center, "What's the situation?"

"We've got twelve unknowns approaching from the atmosphere," Maya Ibuki stated, "They read similar to an Angel, but their power readings are off the scale!"

"Can the Evas fight them?" Misato asked, in her 'commander mode'.

"Fight yes," Ritsuko stated, "Win … the numbers don't make it seem promising …"

"We've no choice," Misato said, running a nervous hand through her dark hair before looking back up at the screen, "Launch all Evangelion Units!"

The three Evangelions quickly took combat positions as the twelve enemies approached before coming to land before the three ready Evas. Each looked like mid-evil knights with four broad angelic wings with the exception of what appeared to be the leader, with blood red armor and bat-like wings.

The leader nodded to two of his underlings, who then seemed to vanish in to thin air. A moment later they appeared behind Unit 00 and Unit 02, grabbing them by the back of the head, and face planting them into the ground. They then stomped on the mid back of the Evangelions sending pain coercing through Asuka and Rei's bodies. The demons reached down and gripped the connecting cables at the bio-machines' backs, and forcefully disconnected the two Evas' main power supply.

The two lackeys quickly grabbed the two weakened Evas by their arms and held them to their feet, their grip and their fading power restricting their movements completely.

"Asuka! Rei!" Shinji called, turning to try to help them. Unit 01 was cut off by one of the group elbowing him in the chest. Then another punched the Evangelion in the side of the head. Then another kicked him in the back. But Shinji refused to let the Eva fall.

"Let me go!" Asuka yelled, jerking on the controls wildly, trying futilely to get the Eva free.

The battered 01 staggered but remained on its feet, continuing to fight back at its attackers as best it could.

'Very nice, Pilot Ikari,' a voice spoke in Shinji's mind as the red enemy stepped forward, 'you are every bit as brave and powerful as I expected you to be.'

"How … how am I hearing you?" Shinji asked nervously.

'I am beyond you, mortal,' the red demonic monster stated, stepping toward the slowly back stepping Eva.

"What are you doing, Baka-Shinji?" Asuka shouted at the seemingly cowering Evangelion, "Stand up and fight!"

"Who are you?" Shinji asked, drawing a knife from 01's shoulder.

"My name cannot be pronounced by your mortal tongue, Pilot Ikari, but I believe I am known on your world as Lucifer."

"The devil?" Shinji's eyes widened as he brought up the knife in a fighting stance.

'Join me, and I will make it so you will never suffer loneliness again, my young friend,' Lucifer stated, stretching out his hand to the Eva.

Shinji stayed completely still, letting Lucifer's words echo through his mind. 'No more loneliness, could he do that for me?' he thought as he stared at the red armored hand, when a voice cut through his thoughts.

"Shinji, what the hell are you doing?!?" Asuka shouted over the communications system, "Kick his ass like you always do!"

"I refuse," Shinji said bringing his knife back up.

'So be it,' Lucifer said before in one split second, fluid motion brought his clawed hand up, slicing the off the arm of 01 that was holding the knife at the elbow.

Shinji cried out in pain, gripping his arm and stepping away from his attacker.

Before Shinji could recover from the painful feedback from the Eva, the monster attacked again, this time clawing across the Eva's face, literally cutting half of the bio-machine's jaw slack.

Eva Unit 01 fell to the ground in pain, as the beast grabbed one of its legs, and placed its foot on the Evangelions thin torso, 'You wish to be lonely for the remainder of your days, Pilot Ikari?' Lucifer asked gripping the ankle. 'I will not give you long suffering.' He said as he jerked the leg from the socket separating it from the Eva's body. Shinji's screams were making everyone, Pilot or support flinch.

"Shinji … no …" Asuka whimpered, still fighting to free herself so she could save her friend but the enemy held her firmly.

"EJECT THE PLUG!" Misato screamed in a panicked tone from the command center, while the support crew tried desperately to make the ejection system on the Eva eject the Entry Plug.

"We … we can't!" Maya stated growing pale, "something's cutting off our signal."

"Shinji-kun, just hang in there," Misato prayed, watching the monitor "Please, just … don't you dare die on me too …"

Lucifer's left clawed gantlet began to glow before shifting shape to what looked like a large canon, 'Now, it is time to lose.'

He pressed the canon to the injured 01's chest before gathering energy.

"NO YOU BASTARD!!" Asuka yelled, eyes widening in horror, "Let him go! He's a weakling! Fight someone who can fight back! LEAVE MY BAKA ALONE!!!"

As soon as the words left the girls' mouth the canon fired, and with a bone-curling scream from Unit 01, the Evangelion jerked as blood and LCL exploded from the cracks in its armor. It finally fell limp on the ground in a large puddle of fluids.

"Shinji!" Maya yelled, "Unit … 0-01 … it's … it's … all readings … 0% …" She whimpered tears forming in her eyes, 'Pilots … oh thank God, Shinji's alive … barely …"

"SOMEONE GET OUT THERE AND GET HIM OUT! NOW!!!" Misato screamed, tears flowing freely, "GET HIM OUT NOW!!!!"

"We can't, Misato," Ritsuko stated just as worriedly as the Major, "The enemy's still present."

"MAJOR! THE ENEMY ISN'T DONE WITH HIM!" Maya screamed in horror, "It's … It's PULLING OUT THE ENTRY PLUG!!"

"No … Shinji-kun … no …" Misato whimpered backing away from the monitor, praying this was but a nightmare. "No, please God, not Shinji too, please God no …"

Back on the battlefield Rei remained deathly quiet watching the events, her own tears starting to form at the corners of her eyes for reasons she didn't understand. And beside her in Unit 02, Asuka was going into violent fits, trying desperately to make the powerless Unit 02 follow her commands to no avail, settling for just jerking on the controls and screaming intangibly.

"A-Asuka …" a voice came over the com, causing her to stop suddenly, "C-Calm down, ok … don't … don't get upset ok …" Shinji's bloodied face came over a static-filled window before her.

"Shinji, hang tight, I'll save you, I promise, just hang tight!" Asuka said quickly.

"It's … it's up to you now … save the world … f-from the angels …" Shinji coughed hoarsely.

"Don't talk like that, Baka!" Asuka shouted, fearfully instead of angrily. "You're going to come away with some scratches, just like your lucky ass always does!"

"Try … to be nice … to Rei … A-Asuka-chan …" Shinji said, ignoring Asuka's outbursts, "You … M-Misato … and Rei … take care of … each other … and … p-please don't forget me..."

"Shi… Shinji-kun …" Asuka whimpered, shaking her head.

"A-Asuka …" Shinji jerked slightly as Lucifer raised the separated Entry Plug over his head, holding it by both ends.

"I … I just want you to know …" Shinji closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, "Asuka, you're my best friend." He said before the window went static from lack of power to his plug.

"Shinji … come back … come back …" Asuka begged, tears flowing from her sky-blue eyes.

Asuka felt the world go in slow motion and her body go numb as Lucifer brought the plug down with all of his might across his knee. "SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJJJIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The voices of Asuka, Misato and even Rei screamed as the Entry Plug of Eva Unit 01 exploded on impact, spraying LCL and debris in all directions.

'It is done,' Lucifer said, still holding the broken remains of the Entry Plug in his dirty bloody hands. 'Take what we need, leave the rest.'

Maya watched is horrified wonder as the red demon and his underlings began to pick up the broken main torso of Unit 01 and various broken pieces of its armor, as well as pieces of the shattered Entry Plug. Then all twelve took to the air, letting the remaining to powerless Evangelions drop to the ground limp.

"Major, w-what are your orders?" Maya asked, turning back to see Misato with her back against the rear wall of the command center, her mouth open, moving up and down in silent screams as tears soaked her cheeks.

Ritsuko stood up quickly, "Send out two emergency crew to Unit 00 and 02," she ordered. "And …" She started, her emotions getting the best of her as well, "A-And a search and recover team for the remains of 01 and its pilot. Let … Let it go on record … I-Ikari Shinji d-died at 3:16 PM March the fifteenth, two thousand fifteen."

Back inside the Entry Plug of 02, the only sound was soft whimpers of a young, redheaded girl who was curled in the fetal position, only words that could be understood from the girl's sobs were: "mamma … Shinji … don't … don't leave me …"

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along!

When you cried, "I'd wipe away all of your tears!"
When you'd scream, "I'd fight away all of your fears!"
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me

All of me

To Be Continued …

Next Chapter: 0:2 Funeral For A Friend