+ + + = 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 was as infinite in scope as its Creator's glory. A four-winged figure clad in white robes soared through the golden skies. The figure had blazing red hair, bright blue eyes, and a white halo. These features stood out against the sky's golden hue.
"I hope I'm not too late," the figure mumbled to himself, quickening his pace.
He soon arrived before a pavilion floating in the sky. The pavilion was a stunning sight—it had a golden roof and pillars made of clear crystal. Creeping vines, full of beautiful flowers, wrapped around the pillars. The same vines hung from the roof, falling around the pavilion like a head of vine-like hair.
In the pavilion stood another angel. This one had silver hair that reached his waist, golden eyes, and a stronger, muscular build. He wore a silver robe and a golden belt. Flecks of silver and gold light shone 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 said with a smile.
"Apologies, Lumiel, my friend. I got caught up in the gorgeous majesty of our Father's creation. I hadn't meant to leave you feeling lonely," the four-winged one said 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 said with playful exasperation.
'What haven't I seen?' he thought to himself.
"I've seen it all, and I'll never tire of it," Gabriel said. He picked a flower from a hanging vine and stared at it in wonder.
Lumiel chuckled and grabbed the flower.
"Hey! Lumiel, kindly return that," Gabriel said, reaching for it.
Lumiel laughed and pinned the flower to Gabriel's chest.
"Never change, Gabriel," he said. "Now come along, we have something to attend to."
Lumiel spread his six wings and flew off. Gabriel adjusted the flower pinned to his chest and followed after him.
Every now and then, all the millions of angels in Heaven would come together. They gathered before the throne of the Almighty to sing praises to their Father. Seventy-two angels would lead the divine choir. This time, the selection included both Lumiel and Gabriel.
Lumiel and Gabriel soared over green fields, thick forests, sparkling lakes, and twisting rivers. They finally landed before the Throne of Grace. Millions of angels surrounded the throne. Above them, seventy-two podiums formed a '^' shape. At the topmost podium was the Almighty's favorite angel: the MorningStar, Lucifer. He always led the choir. The others rotated roles frequently to ensure everyone had a turn.
"Ugh, it's him," Lumiel said, to Gabriel's confusion.
"What do you mean? The MorningStar? I do not find fault in his behavior, so whatever is the matter?" Gabriel asked.
"I don't know. It's just... he rubs me the wrong way. With all his arrogance and— I mean, look at him!"
Lumiel raised his voice and pointed at Lucifer, catching the attention of some angels. Gabriel rushed to grab Lumiel's hand and placed 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 said 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 said as he unfurled his wings.
As he took off, Gabriel shook his head and followed after him. Soon, the divine voices of the choir filled the air as they sang 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 was 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 said, his tone filled with reassurance.
Angels clad in dark armor and masks that absorbed all light suddenly surrounded Gabriel and his crew. These angels wielded weapons ablaze with dark angelic fire. They readied their weapons and charged. But Gabriel was long since ready for their assault.
As the dark angels charged, Gabriel crossed his arms and formed a ring of fire between them. Then he stretched out his hands, and a massive ring of golden flame spread out. Before the dark angels could react, the flames incinerated them.
"We forge on, my brethren! I see the sanctuary!" said Gabriel.
As they neared the sanctuary, they dodged battling angels. The dark angels launched a continuous attack, but the barrier Gabriel made held strong. He struck back with fire and lightning.
Soon, they arrived before the gates of the sanctuary, and Gabriel ushered his crew inside.
But just as the final angel entered, massive balls of dark fire besieged the sanctuary. These fireballs were bigger than most angels. They broke through the barrier and burned the weapons stored inside. The angels prepared for battle—but in an instant, a flash of light cut through them all.
Gabriel watched in horror as the slain angels crumbled to dust.
"Wha—" Before he could finish, a terrible sense of danger struck him. He had built a barrier around himself, but pain hit him with terrible force.
The world blurred. He flew through the air and hit the ground with a thud. Everything went dark for a brief moment before he caught his bearings.
He felt searing pain in his chest. Glancing down, he saw a massive wound—just inches from his heart. The barrier had barely redirected the blow. He lay in a crater, in a pool of his own blood.
Someone had attacked him. He had nearly been pierced through the heart. The impact launched him miles from the sanctuary. He had survived by a narrow margin.
As he struggled to rise, dark fire erupted around him, forming a ring. The flames became a barrier, trapping him. That's when he saw his assailant.
He wore dark armor and a full black mask like the others—but unlike them, he had six wings.
"A... a... S-Seraph? He cough managed to get one of you too? Even one of you would betray us?" Gabriel said, getting to his feet.
His wound had begun to heal. He reached out his hand and summoned a flaming sword.
"You were one of the few closest to our Father. Yet you had the AUDACITY to betray Him and turn away—"
Suddenly, his attacker lunged with a spear. Gabriel blocked it. Sparks flew as the blazing sword clashed with the weapon. His foe pressed harder. Gabriel's knees buckled, but he held.
"I may not be your match, and I could fall, but you are not leaving without some scars," Gabriel growled.
His enemy said nothing. He cloaked his fist in flames and struck Gabriel's wound. Gabriel screamed. The attacker seized the moment, grabbing his throat and slamming him into the fiery barrier. Gabriel's wings burned.
"Argh!" he cried out.
A burst of lightning surged from his body, stunning the attacker. As the spear came again, Gabriel struck back—driving his sword forward.
But his foe's armor was protected by a barrier. The sword had no effect.
Gabriel growled and unleashed a wave of fire. The blast pushed the enemy back, momentarily blinding him. Gabriel rushed in and struck with a powerful swing, shattering his foe's mask.
Then he froze.
As the mask crumbled, Gabriel stared in horror.
"Lumiel?" Gabriel said in shock. "But how—"
A shockwave struck the battlefield. A fiery fist slammed into Gabriel's face, launching him backward. A spear pierced his stomach before he could react. Lumiel yanked the chain attached to it, spinning Gabriel and slamming him into the wall of fire. Then he hurled him upward.
Lumiel leapt into the air, grabbed Gabriel by the neck, and slammed him down. A massive crater formed.
Lumiel stood above the broken Gabriel. His once warm golden eyes were now cold and pitch black.
"Lu-cough-miel..." Gabriel choked out.
Lumiel stared blankly at him. Then, with a sickening squelch, he pulled the spear from Gabriel's stomach. Blood poured out. Lumiel raised the spear.
Just before he could strike, he paused. His expression softened.
"Gabriel? Is that you?"
Before Gabriel could respond, a white spear pierced Lumiel's heart.
Lumiel looked at the wound in disbelief before losing consciousness. Gabriel saw him lifted by the spear and cast from Heaven.
His rescuer descended—it was 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 said, beginning to heal his wounds.
Victory cries echoed through Heaven. Lucifer had been cast out. Michael had managed to seize the upper hand. Soon, all of Lucifer's followers were exiled to an unknown universe.
But Gabriel paid no attention to any of that.
All he could think was:
"Why?"
+ + +
Earth—a brilliant, luscious world teeming with life. It had 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 gritted his teeth. He glared at an older man and a young woman close to his age. His face showed intense hatred. The older man was romancing the lady, who giggled at his advances.
The young man sneered, then walked away, muttering curses. The older man was his brother—and the woman was one they both fancied.
That night, the young man returned to her house. He seduced her, and they spent the evening in each other's embrace.
The next morning, the elder brother arrived. He found them together. The younger brother sneered. A fight broke out. Blood was spilled that day.
From afar, an invisible, hooded figure watched in amusement.
"Humans are such interesting, foolish creatures," he said to no one.
This was Asmodeus, of the Seven Deadly Sins—the Sin of Lust.
Asmodeus looked to the sky with his cold, black eyes.
"Gabriel would agree. I wonder if he misses me."
He shook his head and vanished. After all, he had more unsuspecting humans to tempt.