Record That

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN EVANGELION, NOR ANY OF THE SONGS! DON'T SUE ME!

Chapter 19: Calling

All he could do was run. Though, he didn't know what exactly he was running for. It wasn't until he looked to his left, when the boy realized who he was running alongside. As Shinji took in the panicked look of Asuka, shouting for someone in the distance. He noticed a child, talking to the white figures that had tormented them from before.

In a flash, the two had a hold of the child and began running away. Though the white figures didn't leave. They were still watching, floating all around them. Shinji and Asuka tried to look away. Yet, the child couldn't help but look at all of them, confused.

Their laughs were the stuff of nightmares. With one familiar voice telling them:

"You're too boring for us now. How about you three just…disappear."

Pain. There was so much pain. Shinji didn't know where it started or how it ended. It just suddenly happened, then it stopped. When it was over, he couldn't even feel certain parts of his body. Were they even there anymore? Though his eyes could still work, and he could even move his head. So, he tried looking around to see where he was now.

He was lying on his stomach, head first in a ditch. No, more like a crater, and at the center was another one of those white beings. However, its face was red from being covered in red substances and the source of it was close by. Laying on the ground next to the being, were the mutilated corpses of Asuka and the child.

Their eyes wide open, whatever expressions that remained of their faces were of pain and horror. There were so many bite marks across them. Perhaps it wasn't just one being that did this, but the one currently here was taking more of its fill. And as it made a sound of smacking its lips, and licking the last morsels of flesh on its mouth. Shinji…screamed.

When he did so, it was the first time that the boy had seen one of those beings in pain. And it was also the first time that he would see them die. The scream caused its head to explode and body to fall to the ground. Its body was still glimmering white and shining in the moonlight.

Perhaps it was the insanity in the head or adrenaline flowing through the boy's veins. Yet, in a strange sense of irony. Shinji felt the urge to eat the being the same way it had taken chunks out of his loved ones. So, he crawled over with what limbs he had left. His right arm is barely able to support his weight.

Except, once there, he grabbed the body and sank his teeth into the pure white flesh. It tasted sickly sweet, and Shinji almost threw up. Yet, he forced down a swallow. At least one to make the last sense of pride he thought he'd ever feel flow through him. Though, with the consumption of that white flesh. He felt as if his new life had been breathed into him.

New bones began to reform where he had lost them, along with flesh to cover it. Despite the horrible taste, Shinji couldn't help but consume more of it. The strength he was gaining from this thing was immaculate. A feeling he had never felt before. He needed more and he needed it now. Though, after a while, there was nothing left but the alien shaped bones.

The boy was able to stand again, his body radiated light as he felt the new strength flow through him. Yet, the thirst for power still lingered. He needed more, and with his new eye sight, he was able to find where little bits of remnants of the beings were. They laid upon the mangled corpses of Asuka and the child.

Their child. This scene started to look familiar to the boy. He knew what was about to happen, yet his eyes wouldn't close to look away. Nor could he force himself to stop. Then, with every step, he saw a memory. Ones that showed him everything that led to this point. Not the events from his arrival in Tokyo-3 to the Third Impact. They were more focused on his life afterwards.

After his first step, the memories showed him and Asuka wandering the wasteland scrounging for food. The second step showed the next morning, both of them hungry and tired. The third step showed them yelling at each other and literally going for each other's throats again. The fourth showed them noticing a doomsday shelter nearby. The fifth showed them eating away like feral animals.

This went on for what felt like ages. He watched as they got older, based themselves out of that shelter. Were able to find resources and slowly built a life out of the remains of the city. Though, for each great event in their lives, there was always arguing. Especially when she got pregnant.

The memories after that were of nothing but anger and misery. Even after the child was born. Even after they named him, which for some reason he could not remember the name of. His own child, and he couldn't even remember his name. No matter what memory or feeling, they all seemed miserable and undesirable.

Making for when he was finally standing above their corpses. It made Shinji all the more understanding of why they were dead. What caused this situation to play out the way it did. Along with making their corpses, all the more appetizing. What's wrong with consuming them after they're dead? Especially after they caused him so much pain.

Shinji leaned in, hungry, drooling for more power. Except, he reached his hand to grab Asuka's shoulder, or at least what was left of it. His saliva dribbled onto it.

The scene suddenly became all too familiar to the boy. He slowly turned his hand over to notice the fluid sticking to his palm. It was at this that he froze. For what felt like hours, he just stayed there. Shivering, questioning everything in existence. Wondering if he should keep on living.

Life was pointless, if it always ended in this kind of horror.

What happened next occurred in a blur of red, but what simply started as putting a hand up to his head and trying to pull out some hair. Resulted in him nearly pulling his own head off. The strength Shinji had gained allowed him to cause great damage to himself. Breaking his neck when he pulled his head, yet he was still breathing.

It was in this pain that he realized that he wanted to cause more. His cries pierced the stars, calling more Ancestrals to come and see what was causing it. What they found, horrified even them. The boy was broken beyond what could be considered to be alive. They all thought he couldn't see them with how much he destroyed his body.

Yet, when one unfortunate soul got too close. He lashed out and took a bite out of it. Just one bite was able to restore his face. Which had been nothing but a skull and an exposed brain. The boy then looked at his new victims and realized that if he wanted his punishment to continue. He would need to consume as many as possible.

Some tried to retreat, yet his scream managed to incapacitate them. Not fully kill them, that only seemed to work for the first Ancestral. Though, it didn't take Shinji long, after years of getting stronger and feeding on their corpses. That he realized his voice was stronger when he was more emotional.

And thus….

Shinji's eyes were bleeding at the sights he had just witnessed. It was as if his eyes couldn't blink for five years straight. He immediately looked away when he had the chance, and closed his eyes much to his relief. And he did not want to open them until the pain fully went away. Which never seemed to quite fully happen, despite the relief of finally being able to close them.

Though, he could still see something, a bright yellow object in the dark. Vaguely human-like shape, though slightly mangled and lying on the ground. While looking at it, his head started to hurt as well. As he was filled with the urge to do something, to walk forward and take a hold of his destiny.

Though it didn't happen until he heard someone else walking forward into the same room as him. He was about to ask who it was, but he was interrupted by the stranger pressing their lips against his. It was forceful, in a way that felt as if this was going to be their last….or only kiss.

Following that, was another stranger, who also proceeded to kiss Shinji. This time more lightly, thus lasting only for a second. Where the last one lasted for at least five. Shinji tried to reach out to grab on to one of them. Though they moved away too quickly. He tried opening his eyes, though they were in too much pain.

Again, he was about to ask who they were. Until, yet again, he was interrupted by another stranger. Whose presence felt so familiar and welcoming. When this stranger came up to him, they didn't simply kiss him. They wrapped their arms around him and gave him a deep kiss that lasted for minutes.

If Shinji wasn't in so much shock, he would have reached out to them. The stranger even took notice of that. Because when they pulled away, they giggled, which unmistakably sounded like a girl. To which she whispered.

"Baka." And laughed some more.

She walked away, leaving Shinji standing there stunned and alone. Though he could tell that they hadn't moved very far. They simply moved to somewhere close by, the four of them now surrounding the glowing body. It was here that the boy took some steps forward, and bumped into something.

It was an instrument, a guitar, but not a normal guitar. It only had four strings. The other band members started tuning up their own instruments. And it was here that Shinji fully took in his destiny. Or what was at least shot into his brain by the Reflection. So, he wrapped the strap around himself and tuned it as well.

One would assume that a boy like him would be disappointed that he wasn't on lead guitar. Though he was pretty comfortable not taking center stage. Allowing whomever of the two strangers had lead guitar to take on the duty of being head of the situation. And besides, the bass kind of reminded him of his cello.

For a minute or so, Shinji and the rest tuned up their instruments. Until he got another headache, that gave him the orders to play a certain tune.

(The Call Of Ktulu - Metallica)

(0:00 to 0:05)

The wind began to blow, chilling Shinji. Making the strings he was laying his hands on harder to touch. Though, the wind felt nostalgic in a way. It personified the loneliness he had felt for such a long time.

However, Shinji knew he wasn't completely alone. There were the strangers nearby, who weren't as affected by the weather. Or at least appeared not be, it's hard to tell with your eyes closed.

(0:06 to 0:33)

The stranger to Shinji's left started playing a haunting and melodic guitar solo. The boy would've taken in the finer details of music. If it wasn't for the signs of the glowing mangled body starting to move. As at first it crawled with what looked like its arms. However, it simply stayed in place.

Not gaining any distance from Shinji, but still repeating the same motion. As if in a vain attempt to escape from something. The boy then thought that this looked strangely familiar, but to what he could not tell. He didn't have long to think about it either.

(0:34 to 1:00)

A second guitarist, this time to Shinji's left, joined in. Both changed the flow of their solos. As well as seemed to cause the glowing body to finally be able to stand up. After mutating and growing back certain limbs. Causing it to look familiar to a boy, just about as tall as Shinji.

Though it continued to bend in weird angels. As it danced, seemingly erratically to the music. Slowly trying to form a pattern and especially swinging its head all around. As if it were deliberately trying to bang it into something. Or….knowing the situation. Trying to take a bite out of anything that moved.

(1:01 to 1:24)

This is when Shinji cued in along with the drums, both playing along with their own melodic cues. Which seemed to calm down the glowing figure. Making it stand still and straight up. Then making it turn towards him. As it began to approach, it slowly grew taller. By the time it was close enough to touch him, the figure was nearly twenty feet tall.

Its limbs were unnaturally long, as its arms seemed to dangal and wave to the beat of the song. That's when Shinji decided to look down, and he noticed that the body had begun hovering. With even its legs wobbling down into unknowable depths. Making the body look like overly stretched puppets. It's long arms reaching out to try and wrap themselves around the boy.

(1:25 to 3:19)

The drummer then stopped simply banging on the cymbals. Right before a limb could land on the boy's body. The noise even seemed to summon the Ancestrals. Their bright white glowing skin made themselves apparent. Even with Shinji's eyes closed. Which gained the attention of the glowing figure. Who immediately took interest in it rather than the bass player. And the boy was forced to play an incredibly complex riff as the thing feasted.

Though, if it meant that he didn't have to go through what the Ancestrals were going through. Shinji would try to nail the riff every time in that case.

(1:32)

When Shinji played that part. Whatever room or realm they were in shook. And the figure's entire stomach opened up, bit down on and chewed the still living and screaming Ancestrals. Though Shinji didn't feel too bad, with the memory of Asuka and his future child dead by their hands.

(1:40)

The boy didn't mind doing it again. This time for one that seemed to have been fleeing. Though the long limbs easily beheaded it.

The being took its time with the next Ancestral it devoured. As the guitars seem to cover up it's chewing. Along with the drums summoning more Ancestrals. This time, however, they seemed to be there to try and kill it. They did seem to have the advantage with the being currently with its back turned to them as it fed.

However, it made a noise that sounded like it was laughing at them. Pride goes before the fall, and not even Shinji could predict what would happen with his next bass notes.

(2:01)

New limbs sprout out of its back and shoot at them. Impaling them both and seeming to suck their organs out. Leaving their skin to fall to the floor, the white color slowly fading away.

(2:08)

With another bass riff, the figure sprouted more limbs. This time to help crawl around like a spider. Which it did, though it stayed in place. At least from the point of view of Shinji. Who realized soon that he was moving with the figure. As it chased down another Ancestral.

The chase didn't seem to last a long time. With the figure being able to show off the it's new mobility and the ability to climb walls. Its moves matched perfectly with the pace of the music. Especially Shinji's bass, who felt that with every note. The low snarls from his instrument were actually coming from him.

Or from the figure itself.

(2:28)

The creature lunged at the Ancestral. Landing on top of it and starting to eat it whole. With each loud bite only being tolerable to the young boy. Because the music hid it at least a little.

(2:35)

It was at this bass riff that Shinji felt and saw something different. There was no new Ancestral that came into the realm for the figure to feed on. Meaning, that it was already there when Shinji had played that riff. It seemed to have been inside the Ancestral.

The Ancestral had been pregnant.

Even the figure was disturbed by the level of savagery that had been reduced too. Standing there after taking its fill for a little bit. Until it started swaying and roaring to the sound of the bass. Retracting its limbs and slimming down its body to try and make itself look more human.

(2:56)

Though when it's body fat wouldn't recede back into its body. The figure resorted to cutting it off, and forcing its skin to regenerate. Through one of the holes fell out the fetus. And once the do-it-yourself surgery was done with. The figure simply stood over the fetus, trying to remain silent. Yet growling and….crying.

(3:03)

That last cry seemed to pierce the heavens. Crying out as a signal for more Ancestrals to come and witness what had happened. So many came that their presence lit up the sky, sort of like stars. They were all not pleased at the sight that they beheld. They then attacked with high concentrated energy.

It wasn't clear what kept the figure intact, though whether be the music, the regeneration, or the Ancestrals simply being weak. In the end it didn't matter, because Shinji could feel the tenseness in the air. The attack didn't work. The figure had left itself open, it wanted to die. And these fools couldn't even pose a threat to it anymore.

(3:20 to 4:00)

The figure then began to grow immensely tall. Much like before where its limbs had grown too long. Though it increased its body size as well. Still, the horror of something so massive forming right in front of Shinji was apparent. One wrong step and the being could crush the boy.

Over the playing of the music, he could hear the audible gasps and screams of the Ancestrals. Their white colors were blotched out by the yellow figure. Though this didn't mean Shinji couldn't hear the tortured pains and cries coming from beyond. All of which Shinji tried to drown out with the sound of his instrument.

(4:00 to 4:55)

The rest of the band tried to help. Especially the solo guitarist, who started wailing on their instruments. Which seemed to fit well with what happened next. It started raining, at first it felt like just water. Though soon the droplets became much thicker and heavier. So much so that it became difficult for Shinji to focus on what he was playing.

Though it didn't take much imagination for what was falling. Like all the horror stories of demons had foretold. The slaughtering of the Ancestrals must have been so massive. That it was now literally raining blood, along with their body parts. It was here that Shinji was grateful that he was keeping his eyes closed. After all, he was already going blind from how bright the being was.

Having dead God's body parts falling on him, along with blood everywhere. Would be the most traumatizing thing anyone could see. Regardless of all the terrible things they supposedly did. Though, that would give them a good reason to fight back. That's when Shinji realized that Diligentia was somewhat in the right for wanting to kill the Reflection.

(4:56 to 6:09)

The figure started to move slowly forward. Ofcourse, Shinji and the band members seemed to move along with it. To them, it was if it was walking in place. Yet with the wind blowing past them, along with more body parts and blood raining down on them. Made it clear they were going somewhere.

Not only that, but more destruction was being caused. As it seemed that bigger body parts seemed to fly on past them. That, or rubble of some strange civilization that took odd shapes and sizes. It made it difficult to get out of the way. Though it didn't last long, as it seemed the figure continued to grow bigger and bigger.

(6:10 to 6:51)

The figure's had grown so big that its light now consumed everything. Shinji couldn't tell if he was inside or still observing it from the outside. It had become so bright that the outlines of the stranger's and their instruments were now shadows. Thanks to that, he could make the figure of his fellow musicians.

One guitarist had long flowing hair and a definite female silhouette. While the other guitarist had messy hair and definitely looked like a guy. The drummer had short hair, and could almost be mistaken for a boy. Yet it was something about the way they moved that cued Shinji into the fact that she was a girl. Though it wasn't just them who had silhouettes.

Growling along to Shinji's bass. Confusing the boy about if he was even playing. The silhouette of a dragon-like being slithered down from above. With more teeth than face, a snake body, with arms coming out to form giant claws. They helped the being move around as it looked at all of the band members.

(6:52 to 7:48)

When the being turned to Shinji, it took a liking to him. Then leaned in to take a bite. Its mouth was almost fully over taking him, when the figure made of light brought its fist down. Crushing the being and nearly killing it.

Though the dark being fought back and ripped the figure's hand off. Causing the figure to become smaller. Though the figure simply grew it's hand back and tried to crush the being again.

Back and forth they fought. Ripping each other's limbs off for the first thirty seconds. Then, when the figure was the size of the children again. It began to try and simply punch and stab the being to the beat of the song.

It only momentarily did any damage, as the being simply grew it back and then took another chunk out of the figure. Though it was much slower this time, and the being knew it just needed to land one more massive blow.

(7:49 to 8:28)

The figure grew its limbs to great sizes. And finally fully crushed its opponent to nothing more than a bloody pulp. Though the blood still moved. So when the figure fell over in exhaustion. The blood covered it, turning its bright yellow light to red.

Shinji couldn't do anything as the figure slowly became more beast-like. Slowly taking on the form of the Dragonic being. Though right at the last moment, with the pounding of the drums… It resisted the urge.

(8:29 to 8:53)

The figure stuck out its arms and spread the light to the dead bodies around him. All of which had been lying there, invisible to the boy with his eyes closed. Due to no light being emitted from them. However, through the figure's will they were given life.

And in the last seconds of the song. The figure floated into the air. It's light flashing onto the figures that it had once killed. One was a young mother and her child. The mother had the same long hair as the female guitarist.

(End)

The figure in its last moments was flashing constantly. It was almost seizure inducing, until it exploded into tiny little sparks. Though that wasn't right, this thing was of immense power. How did it only go out with such a small sputter? Not only that, it sounded like a light bulb being crushed.

Soon, darkness filled the air around Shinji. It was with this change of atmosphere that convinced the boy to open his eyes. It was hard for him to do at first, his eyes were still hurting. Though, the surroundings were easy to behold. It was just a dark waiting room with flickering lights.

He didn't know how he got here, or how he was standing up. The last thing he remembered was having the entire timeline of his life being shot into his head. Along with all the possibilities and outcomes appearing as well. It was such a strain on his brain that it knocked him out. Not only that, it severely weakened the Reflection as well.

'Was it over? Was the entire world destroyed?'

Shinji thought.

He then noticed a strange light coming out of a hole in the roof. It was here that Shinji realized how a landslide must have destroyed the place he was in. So, it didn't take Shinji too long to put it all together. This was where the Reflection must've put him in order for him to remain safe.

So, he began climbing out of what looked like a bunker. Soon, it became clear that the strange light was the moon. Then, Shinji could hear voices in the distance and they sounded like himself. They all argued about the correct thing to do here and how to proceed. Then, right as Shinji reached the surface and gazed upon the desolated city of Tokyo-3.

He heard a loud command that mentally pushed him back. It nearly even sent him flying back down into the bunker.

"BEGONE!"

Then, everything was silent, as Shinji gazed upon the destroyed and warped city. The giant laughing floating head on the edge of the atmosphere. Splitting off parts of itself into different variants and sending them down to Earth. As well as the center building in town where statues in the shape of EVAs had congregated.

That's when Shinji heard a low, deep, and guttural growl. Something that sounded like his bass guitar.

Hey, that was the new chapter. I originally wanted to make it longer. Though I don't really want to waste your guy's time by rushing things. Or cramming too much into a single chapter that could be better explained across two.

Though, expect the next chapter to be much longer than five thousand words. While I used an 80s metal song for this chapter. I took your vote to heart Mr. Guest, who seemed to be my only review who answered my question from last time. I'll be playing some good old fashioned 90s alt-metal. Which band, you might ask? That's for you to find out.

Now, two more things before I go. I'm a big Star Wars fan. And I've been pretty neutral on where Disney has taken the franchise recently. Some stuff is good, some stuff is bad. Though none of it was truly unwatchable. That was until the Acolyte. Which has officially broken me.

Much like Chris-Chan, Disney has made me look at what they wrote. Then made me think 'Fuck this! I can do better!' So, I want to try and write another story. One about Anakin standing up to Palpatine during that scene where he turns to the dark side. I could explain more, though it's easier to write it then explain it.

So, look forward to that in the times to come. And if you want the next chapter of this before that story comes out, let me know. This story is still the main project for me, while that Star Wars fanfiction will be a side project. And speaking of letting me know things. I know this sounds desperate, but I'm in another bad mood.

So please leave a review, I don't care what it is. Praise me, hate me, it doesn't matter. I just want to know that people out there are reading this. And that my efforts aren't in vain. I wouldn't mind if I never made a cent from my writing, but knowing that it's reaching people so that they may be entertained by it. Is much more important to me.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this. See you in the next chapter or story. Depending on which comes out first.