Tale of the Fallen
It was sunset in the angel Kingdom. The fiery chariot painted the roads and houses with every color from blood red to soft orange. Angels walked and flew on roads back and forth, carrying messages to higher angels who were holed up in their studies, too bothered to come out and enjoy the sunshine. Behind a clump of bushes a teenager with tri colored hair watched a woman with six wings. She had pale hair that was a silvery as moonlight, and softer than rose petals. Her lips were full and delicate, with the slightest hint of color that made them glow. She studied a scroll and wrote something down. Atem watched the Archangel Lilly avidly, his rich, royal purple eyes clouded with love. He loved her. The way she moved and the way she talked. He ran into her on purpose so he could talk to her. He sighed softly. How he wished he could confess his feelings. The only person who knew how he felt was his brother. He kept on telling him to just go up and say how he felt, but he knew that this angel had made a vow to never marry. If he confessed his feelings he could be accused of tempting an archangel. The penalty for that was falling. He shivered at the thought. Falling, he didn't want to fall. For that he could keep his feelings secret.
"Looking at someone?" He stayed still, and then abruptly turned and grabbed his little brother. Yugi laughed and tried to get out of his brothers grasp. Atem gave him a hard rub with his knuckles then released him.
"You're not supposed to be here." He said.
"Neither are you." Yugi joked. "Looking at her again?"
"What are you going to make out of it? Huh? Huh?! What are you going to make out of it?!" He rubbed his knuckles into his hair again. What neither of them noticed was a Judgment Angel was watching them. He had always been jealous of Atem and his position among the other angels. He had been looking for a way to cause Atem to fall and now he finally had one. Atem was a messenger angel for one of the highest archangels in the court. He was said to be very wise and very kind. Many talked highly of him, this made Corel mad. Before Atem had come he had been the top angel. Now he was second in everyone's hearts. He resolved to fix this as soon as possible, by any means possible. The next day he walked into the judgement court.
"Corel. What a pleasant surprise. To what do we owe the honor of having you grace our presence." Corel bowed his head, pretending to be sad.
"I'm afraid it's with grave news that I come here." He smirked internally as he watched the members of the court lean in. "Atem has tempted an archangel."
The next day Atem was seized and a few days later a trial was held. Atem was shoved into the courtroom with his wings tied in chains. His robes that declared him a messenger angel had been taken and replaced with the simple gown that all accused wore. The band of truth was upon his forehead. It was golden and had a teardrop in it's center where a large gem had been placed. If he told a lie it would reveal it. He saw his family looking at him in horror.
"Angel Atem, you are before the angel court for accusations of tempting an archangel. Do you deny this?" He stood before the court proudly. He would not let himself be reduced to tears or begs like so many others.
"Yes." The angel who was overlooking their case peered at him.
"You realize that the court will not believe you?"
"Yes." The angel who was conducting the trial looked at him.
"I sympathize for you Atem. The court can be unforgiving." He looked at his notes. "Now, The angel who turned you in claims that you have an attachment to this archangel. Is this true?"
"Yes." A gasp ran through the court. "It is true that I loved an archangel but I never told her about my feelings. I knew she had made a vow never to marry and I did not want to tempt her. I watched her yes. I talked to her yes. But I never told her how I felt." The jewel on the band of truth glowed blue. He jury murmured to itself. Blue, it meant he was telling the truth. The judgment angel began to panic. Under his breath he muttered a spell. Atem screamed as the spell started to affect the band. It started to electrocute him as the band fought against the spell. Finally the judgment angel overpowered the band and changed the color. The jury gasped and glared at him angrily. Atem tried to look at the band. He could feel the heat coming from the band glowing red.
"NO!!!" Atem looked around. Yugi was struggling to get to him. "No! Atem never revealed his feelings! I watched him! He would talk to the archangel! But I never saw him confess! I swear!" The jury talked about what the boy had said. The angel who was conducting the trial looked at Yugi then at him.
"Ten minute break for the jury to make their decision." Everyone got up. The angel got down and put a hand on his shoulder. "Atem…good luck kid." He patted his shoulder. His family came up. Before anyone could say anything he held up his hand.
"Listen…If I fall…Then I want you to know that I love you all…And I hope to see you again…one day." He looked at his brother. "I promise that I will never fall under Satan's rule." The jury began to file back in. His family began to panic.
"Atem! They can't do this!"
"We won't let you fall!"
"Please! I'll fall with you!"
"NO!!" Atem shouted. "No. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you fell." He touched his brother's cheek gently. "Yugi…I will see you again…I promise." He faced the jury whose faces were hard. The angel sighed then said.
"Has the jury reached its decision?" A male angel stood up.
"We have." He took a deep breath. "In the case of the Angel Atem we find him…..Guilty." His mother burst into tears. The judge looked down.
"Very well…Atem…You know the law….The penalty of tempting an archangel is falling….You have three days." Atem sighed and was led out of the courtroom. Three days later his family gathered at the cliff of fallen. Atem's wings were free again. Atem was dressed back in his messenger clothes, a final acknowledgement that he had been part of their race before he was banished. He stood at the edge of the cliff. He looked at his family. The archangel Gabriel read a script. When it was finished Atem's eyes grew blank. He looked at his family one last time then stepped off the cliff. His last thought was of Yugi. And what would happen to him.