Heaven, the wondrous realm of the holy and pure, was as beautiful as always. In the center of this realm was a Holy City. In this city stood seven great palaces, each dedicated to one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues. Beside each palace were two smaller ones. These were for the generals of the Heavenly Virtues. To the left of the Palace of Wisdom, there stood a smaller palace. This was the Palace of Healing, dedicated to the Virtue of Healing, Hariel. In this Palace is a certain angel that needs healing....
"Well, here is the good news. You're healed! You can leave in perfect peace!" says a beautiful female angel. She is plump and curvy, with bronze-tinted skin, wavy brown hair, chubby cheeks, and warm brown eyes. She wears a simple white robe and has a green halo with a soft glow and four wings, the sign of an Archangel. She stands before another Archangel, Gabriel. "Hariel, I can tell you're hiding something," Gabriel says to Hariel, the Angel of Healing. "What do you mean? I said you are fine! And if I say you're fine you are!" Hariel says with a small frown. "Hariel, really?" Gabriel says, raising a brow and lounging back into his chair. Hariel raised a brow right back at him and says, "Remind me, Messenger, of which one of us is the Angel of Healing?" she says, her tone dripping with sass. "Yes, yes, you are the oh so magnificent Angel of Healing! All can attest to the fact that outside the Almighty you are the greatest healer. But I'm not asking if I've been healed, I'm asking you to tell me whatever it is that you are hiding. Please," Gabriel pleads. Hariel looks at him and her expression softens. "I you didn't want you to get worried, but since you insist..." Hariel opens her palm and an image appears. She stretches out her hand and the image spreads out between her and Gabriel. It is an image of Gabriel's bare back, and right at the center, between his wings, is a scar. Oddly enough, the scar is shaped like a certain flower. Gabriel flinches at the sight. It takes him a moment to calm down.
"I tried my best, but no matter what I do, I can't seem to make it disappear. I've never seen a scar I can't heal! It worries me. I am sorry I couldn't get rid of it. I know it upsets you and—" Gabriel cuts her off. "Oh Hariel, I am fine, really! You have done a wonderful job as usual. I am not distressed about the scar, strange as it may be. It is just...you know what, never mind. It will take some time for me to adapt to it, that's all. You needn't be worried," Gabriel reassures her. "Are you sure?" Hariel asks. "I am certain. The scar doesn't make you any less of an angel. After all, you are THE Angel of Healing. You are the one who answers the call when anyone prays for healing! Few can match up to that," Hariel laughs. "Lord bless you Gabriel, you always know what to say. You and Lumiel were alike in that way." Gabriel's expression shifts briefly, then returns to normal. Hariel notices this change. "Gabriel, you can't say you still don't want to talk about him. You need to move on. It's not good for your mental health." Gabriel forces a smile. "Your advice is appreciated Hariel, it always is. But I think it's time for me to go," Hariel becomes concerned. "Gabriel?" "Hariel PLEASE! Let us drop this conversation," Gabriel snaps back. He takes a deep breath and abruptly stands up. "I'll be taking my leave." "I'm sorry for yelling," Hariel observes. Gabriel sounds sorry, but his tone says otherwise. She watches in silence as Gabriel flies out of the Palace. 'Looks like the scars Lumiel left are not just physical,' Hariel thinks to herself and sighs.
+ + +
Gabriel flies across Heaven's golden skies. He flies faster than the wind and quicker than light. His speed is so reckless that it's beyond what any person can grasp. He flies with no specific direction in mind. He hopes if he flies fast enough, he can escape the pain of his inner turmoil. But the scar on his back seems to throb endlessly, mocking his attempts. In a fit of rage and confusion, he landed, or more aptly crashed into a mountain. The landing was far from graceful. Its impact almost destroys the mountain. As Gabriel lays in the rubble, he mutters to himself "Stupid, treacherous, ungrateful, infuriating... UGH!" Gabriel smashes his fist into the mountain, destroying what's left of it. He takes a large, deep breath and tries to calm himself. He tried, and failed, to keep the tears at bay. "I'm such a fool. To think I actually thought...that I was actually considering...." another sigh. 'I despise my lamenting heart, and how much it longs for the past,' he thinks to himself.
"Well, what a sight! The ever-composed, kind, and gentle Gabriel, the Divine Messenger, reduced to this?" Gabriel stayed still. He knew the speaker just by his voice. "Leave me be, Michael." Yes, the voice belongs to none other than Michael, the mightiest angel and Virtue of Justice. Michael chuckles. "What will the rest of Heaven have to say about this? I can't help but wonder," Michael says as he stretches out his hand to Gabriel. "The rest of Heaven will say nothing of this because they will know nothing of this, understand?" Gabriel takes Michael's hand and stands up, unharmed. He speaks flatly, like the poor mountain that suffered his rage.
"But really, Gabriel? Throwing tantrums? That is very unlike you. Here I thought I was the one who threw the tantrums," Michael said, trying to use humor to mask his concern. "Oh, spare me of your so-called humor, Michael. I barely dented a mountain. You leave valleys and deserts in your wake. The Council banned you from the mortal realm for a reason," says Gabriel in a sassy tone. 'Wow, he's really... moody. Oh, Lumiel, you bastard! Look what you've done to him!" Michael thinks to himself. He forces a smile and says, "Well, I can't help being a force of nature. I am the righteous fury of the Almighty incarnate, after all." Gabriel gives Michael an unimpressed stare. "Oh, excuse me if I forgot that; I've only heard it hundreds of times, after all," Michael winces. "Sarcasm is not a good look on you, dear brother," Gabriel just rolls his eyes. "Like I said earlier, Michael, leave me be."
Michael frowns a bit and grabs Gabriel and violently shakes him a bit. Gabriel tries to break his grip, but it is too strong. "Michael! Enough! Stop!" Gabriel yells. After shaking him for a while longer, Michael releases him. Gabriel then flies out of Michael's range. "Whatever was that for?!" he yells. "I was trying to snap you out of whatever spell that traitor put on you! I'm not as skilled with words as I am with my blade, unlike Raphael and Sariel. So I thought—" "You thought shaking would make me feel better? Honestly, Michael!" Gabriel's outburst cuts Michael off. "I thought shaking you would make you realize how strange you are being! Destroying mountains? The Gabriel I know loves Heaven's beauty far too much to do such a thing!" Michael snaps back. "Well I, I..." Gabriel sighs, feeling defeated. "I suppose you are right." Gabriel snaps his fingers. Time rewinds, and the mountain rises again, reclaiming its former glory. Gabriel sighs and sits on the edge of the cliff. "I've just been feeling out of sorts... or something along those lines. You'd think after all these years, I'd manage my emotions. But..." *a tear falls down his face* "It just gets harder with time," Gabriel says, feeling sad. Michael sits next to him, unsure of what to say. After a while, he places a hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "How... exactly do you feel?" says Gabriel. "I feel... sad, betrayed and... angry. So, so... angry! At him, at the situation, at myself, for daring to believe he'd changed. And most of all, I'm angry that after all these millennia, I don't even know WHY! Why did he throw away everything he had? Why did he throw away everything we had..." Gabriel grumbles to himself. A sad smile blooms on Michael's face. "I know that feeling, Gabriel," Michael says, recalling a figure from his past. "The sting of betrayal, it never really disappears. Especially when it's from someone close to you. Others will not fully understand why it hurts you so much. Yes, this person meant a lot to you, and you were close friends, but others will still ask: 'Why aren't you over it?' All they can do is tell you to get over it, to move on. But these others, they don't know what it feels like to lose someone so close. They don't understand. They've never had someone that close to them. So in the end, no one understands you and you end up feeling so..." "Trapped,"
Gabriel interjects. Michael smiles again. "Yes, trapped in your confused, overly emotional mind," Gabriel chuckles at that. "It's almost like we aren't talking about me anymore," Michael laughs. "Hmm, maybe," Michael says as he stares at the horizon, all sorts of thoughts running through his mind. Two figures in particular keep flashing across his mind. Michael shakes his head to clear his thoughts. "But that's neither here nor there. What I suggest is to take all that anger, all those emotions, and channel them into power. Turn your frustration into strength. Use it to come back tougher and more ruthless. Then, when you see that bastard again *smash fist into the cliff*, do yourself a favor and take him out of your life. Something tells me it will make you feel much better," Michael says with a gleam in his eyes.
Gabriel stares at Michael silently for a few moments, then sighs. Then, he smiles. "You have my gratitude, Michael. I will...take what you said into careful consideration," Michael smiles, relieved. He was going to say more, but then the six-winged badge he wears on his chest flashes with light. Michael sighs and lightly taps it. When he does, a small translucent image of a female angel appears. "Lord Michael! You are urgently needed by the rest of the Council!" the image says. "Can't it wait? I have something to do!" said Michael, annoyed. "No, it can't, Michael! Get yourself here now!" another heavier, more baritone voice comes from the six-winged badge. The female angel looked alarmed by the voice. Michael, recognizing the owner of the voice, sighs. "I'm on my way," he then double taps the badge, ending the call. "Duty calls, I'm assuming?" Gabriel asks. "Yes, the rest of the Council wants to see me for some reason. But don't worry, I'll get back to you another time," Michael says, unfurling his wings. "Don't fret over me, Michael, I'll be fine, I assure you," Gabriel says. "You had better not destroy any more mountains in my absence," said Michael humorously. "No promises," responded Gabriel. Michael laughs and takes off. Gabriel watches him go, his fake smile dropping from his face. Ever since the Fall of Lucifer, the Almighty distanced himself from the angels. Even the Seraphim, angels closest to the Almighty, did not see him anymore. Only the 7 Heavenly Virtues, the most esteemed of the Seraphim, get to see him. But even that is only once in a while. These seven angels formed a council now known as the Council of Seraphim. Michael is the figurehead and thus the de facto ruler of Heaven. But with great power comes many responsibilities, and Michael is now endlessly busy. "Well, I might as well go and find something productive to do," Gabriel says as he unfurls his wings and takes off.