+ + + = Time skip.
X X X = Flashback
'' '' = Spoken word/ Dialogue/ Monologue.
' ' = Internal thoughts.
* *= Action/ Sound effects
._ _ _= Cut to another scene.
I = Italics means emphasis was put on it.
Heaven. A brilliant, illustrious, and magnificent world filled with wonders untold. Created in the shadow of the Almighty, the realm is as infinite in scope as its Creator's glory. A four-winged figure clad in white robes soars through the golden skies. The figure has blazing red hair, bright blue eyes, and a white halo. These features stand out against the sky's golden hue.
"I hope I'm not too late," the figure mumbles to himself, quickening his pace.
He soon arrives before a pavilion floating in the sky. The pavilion is a stunning sight—it has a golden roof and pillars made of clear crystal. Creeping vines, full of beautiful flowers, wrap around the pillars. The same vines hang from the roof, falling around the pavilion like a head of vine-like hair.
In the pavilion stands another angel. This one has silver hair that reaches his waist, golden eyes, and a stronger, muscular build. He wears a silver robe and a golden belt. Flecks of silver and gold light shine from his six wings and golden halo.
"So, you finally deem me worthy of your presence, eh? Forgive me if I'm wasting your oh-so-precious time," the six-winged figure says with a smile.
"Apologies, Lumiel, my friend. I got caught up in the gorgeous majesty of our Father's creation. I didn't mean to leave you lonely," the four-winged one says with a sense of regret.
"Oh Gabriel, you've spent all your existence here! Yes, the realm is infinite, but it's not full of surprises. What here haven't you seen?" Lumiel says with playful exasperation.
'What haven't I seen?' he thinks to himself.
"I've seen it all, and I'll never tire of it," Gabriel says. He picks a flower from a hanging vine and stares at it in wonder.
Lumiel chuckles and grabs the flower.
"Hey! Lumiel, kindly return that," Gabriel says, reaching for it.
Lumiel laughs and pins the flower to Gabriel's chest.
"Never change, Gabriel," he says. "Now come along, we have something to attend to."
Lumiel spreads his six wings and flies off. Gabriel adjusts the flower pinned to his chest and follows after him.
Every now and then, all the millions of angels in Heaven come together. They gather before the throne of the Almighty to sing praises to their Father. Seventy-two angels lead the divine choir. This time, the selection includes both Lumiel and Gabriel.
Lumiel and Gabriel soar over green fields, thick forests, sparkling lakes, and twisting rivers. They finally land before the Throne of Grace. Millions of angels surround the throne. Above them, seventy-two podiums form a '^' shape. At the topmost podium is the Almighty's favorite angel: the MorningStar, Lucifer. He always leads the choir. The others rotate roles frequently to ensure everyone has a turn.
"Ugh, it's him," Lumiel says, to Gabriel's confusion.
"What do you mean? The MorningStar? I do not find fault in his behavior, so whatever is the matter?" Gabriel asks.
"I don't know. It's just... he rubs me the wrong way. With all his arrogance and— I mean, look at him!"
Lumiel raises his voice and points at Lucifer, catching the attention of some angels. Gabriel rushes to grab Lumiel's hand and places it down.
"I've told you countless times that it's rude to do that! I'm not sure what issues you have with MorningStar, or why he 'rubs you the wrong way,' but we should set that aside for now. What say you, my friend?" Gabriel says in a calm tone.
"Oh, very well. I suppose you're right, as usual. Come, let's get into position. We have a choir to lead," Lumiel says as he unfurls his wings.
As he takes off, Gabriel shakes his head and follows after him. Soon, the divine voices of the choir fill the air as they sing praises to the Almighty.
+ + +
Heaven, the glorious, wondrous realm of the divine, is in chaos. Its golden skies have turned red with the blood of countless angels. The once peaceful world now brims with bloodlust. The MorningStar, Heaven's top angel, has turned against his Father. He is now fighting Him and His creation.
No one truly knows why, and none but he knows how he managed to convince so many angels to join his ranks.
The war has peaked. The strongest angels, Seraphim Michael and Lucifer, are locked in a fierce battle. Their clash sends shockwaves through Heaven.
Archangel Gabriel is guiding a group of lower-ranking Powers to safety on the battlefield.
"Do not worry, my brethren. We are almost at the sanctuary! And as long as I draw breath, no harm will come to you!" Gabriel says, his tone filled with reassurance.
Angels clad in dark armor and masks that absorb all light suddenly surround Gabriel and his crew. These angels wield weapons ablaze with dark angelic fire. They ready their weapons and charge. But Gabriel is long since ready for their assault.
As the dark angels charge, Gabriel crosses his arms and forms a ring of fire between them. Then he stretches out his hands, and a massive ring of golden flame spreads out. Before the dark angels can react, the flames incinerate them.
"We forge on, my brethren! I see the sanctuary!" says Gabriel.
As they near the sanctuary, they dodge battling angels. The dark angels launch a continuous attack, but the barrier Gabriel makes holds strong. He strikes back with fire and lightning.
Soon, they arrive before the gates of the sanctuary, and Gabriel ushers his crew inside.
But just as the final angel enters, massive balls of dark fire besiege the sanctuary. These fireballs are bigger than most angels. They break through the barrier and burn the weapons stored inside. The angels prepare for battle—but in an instant, a flash of light cuts through them all.
Gabriel watches in horror as the slain angels crumble to dust.
"Wha—" Before he can finish, a terrible sense of danger strikes him. He builds a barrier around himself, but pain hits him with terrible force.
The world blurs. He flies through the air and hits the ground with a thud. Everything goes dark for a brief moment before he catches his bearings.
He feels searing pain in his chest. Glancing down, he sees a massive wound—just inches from his heart. The barrier has barely redirected the blow. He lies in a crater, in a pool of his own blood.
Someone has attacked him. He has nearly been pierced through the heart. The impact launches him miles from the sanctuary. He has survived by a narrow margin.
As he struggles to rise, dark fire erupts around him, forming a ring. The flames become a barrier, trapping him. That's when he sees his assailant.
He wears dark armor and a full black mask like the others—but unlike them, he has six wings.
"A... a... S-Seraph? He *cough* managed to get one of you too? Even one of you would betray us?" Gabriel says, getting to his feet.
His wounds begun to heal. He reaches out his hand and summons a flaming sword.
"You were one of the privileged few closest to our Father. Yet you have the AUDACITY to betray Him and turn away—"
Suddenly, his attacker lunges with a spear. Gabriel blocks it. Sparks fly as the blazing sword clashes with the weapon. His foe presses harder. Gabriel's knees buckle, but he holds.
"I may not be your match, and I could fall, but you are not leaving without some scars," Gabriel growls.
His enemy says nothing. He cloaks his fist in flames and strikes Gabriel's wound. Gabriel screams. The attacker seizes the moment, grabbing his throat and slamming him into the fiery barrier. Gabriel's wings burn.
"Argh!" he cries out.
A burst of lightning surges from his body, stunning the attacker. As the spear comes again, Gabriel strikes back—driving his sword forward.
But his foe's armor is protected by a barrier. The sword has no effect.
Gabriel growls and unleashes a wave of fire. The blast pushes the enemy back, momentarily blinding him. Gabriel rushes in and strikes with a powerful swing, shattering his foe's mask.
Then he freezes.
As the mask crumbles, Gabriel stares in horror.
"Lumiel?" Gabriel says in shock. "But how—"
A shockwave ripples through the battlefield as a fiery fist slams into Gabriel's face, launching him backward. A spear pierces his stomach before he can react. Lumiel yanks the chain attached to it, spinning Gabriel and slamming him into the wall of fire. Then he hurls him upward.
Lumiel leaps into the air, grabs Gabriel by the neck, and slams him down. A massive crater forms.
Lumiel stands above the broken Gabriel. His once warm golden eyes are now cold and pitch black.
"Lu-*cough*-miel..." Gabriel chokes out.
Lumiel stares blankly at him. Then, with a sickening squelch, he pulls the spear from Gabriel's stomach. Blood pours out. Lumiel raises the spear.
Just before he can strike, he pauses. His expression softens.
"Gabriel? Is that you?"
Before Gabriel can respond, a white spear pierces Lumiel's heart.
Lumiel looks at the wound in disbelief before losing consciousness. Gabriel sees him lifted by the spear and cast from Heaven.
His rescuer descends—it is Tahariel, a Seraph and one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues of Purity.
"By Jehovah! Gabriel! Are you alright? We need to get you to Hariel, now!" Tahariel says, beginning to heal his wounds.
Victory cries echo through Heaven. Lucifer has been cast out. Michael has managed to seize the upper hand. Soon, all of Lucifer's followers are exiled to an unknown universe.
But Gabriel pays no attention to any of that.
All he can think is:
"Why?"
+ + +
Earth—a brilliant, luscious world teeming with life. It has been a few millennia since the fall of man, and countless years since the fall of Lucifer.
In a village by the River Tigris, a young man grits his teeth. He glares at an older man and a young woman close to his age. His face shows intense hatred. The older man is romancing the lady, who giggles at his advances.
The young man sneers, then walks away, muttering curses. The older man is his brother—and the woman is one they both fancy.
That night, the young man returns to her house. He seduces her, and they spend the evening in each other's embrace.
The next morning, the elder brother arrives. He finds them together. The younger brother sneers. A fight breaks out. Blood is spilled that day.
From afar, an invisible, hooded figure watches in amusement.
"Humans are such interesting, foolish creatures," he says to no one.
This is Asmodeus, of the Seven Deadly Sins—the Sin of Lust.
Asmodeus looks to the sky with his cold, black eyes.
"Gabriel would agree. I wonder if he misses me."
He shakes his head and vanishes. After all, he has more unsuspecting humans to tempt.