Full summary: An angel and a devil, Heero and Duo, fight for the soul of mortals about to die. But what if things aren't what people have always believed? Now it's Quatre's turn and things conspire to be the toughest Trial either being has worked before.

Pairings: Eventual 2x1, possible 3x4 … and maybe a little others on the side XD

Disclaimer: If I owned it, would I need to write fanfiction? Obviously not. Also, this has homosexual as well as religious themes. If you can't handle either, please don't read. Flames will simply be laughed at

konpeitou: Right, so this is a story I actually started a long time ago. I got about half-way through it when I hit a massive case of writer's block and abandoned it for a long while. I've recently been working on it again. The thing is, contrary to my usual habit of only uploading stories I've finished, I'm not actually done with this one yet. I figure I'm far enough along that if I can get reviews and keep up the motivation I should be able to finish it before I catch up to my writing. So far I've already got around 17 chapters completed.

So, I give this to you in hopes that you will enjoy it, and if you would be so kind as to review it will greatly fuel my lazy muse.

Apocryphal Reality: Prologue

The area was rather dark and desolate, radiating emptiness despite what lie within. It was small yet never-ending all at once, giving one the illusion that they could walk forever and never reach the end. There were no walls, but instead it seemed as if one was surrounded by perpetual midnight, the northern lights shining for eternity amidst the darkness. An indigo beach spread on continuously to the side, silent waves like liquid mercury lapping at the dark shores. To the other side, as though taunting the waves, were lines of twisted parodies of trees; slender curving trunks the color of charcoal with cobalt-violet leaves as flowing as silk and as sharp as razor blades. A few fireflies wove themselves about lazily through the trees, briefly illuminating and adding to their haunting aura. The only sound to be heard in the area was the unseen sound of crystal wind chimes.

For an instant, the air seemed to ripple and the slim figure appeared on the beach, the waves washing up to greet it but falling short, rolling back in disappointment. The figure raised its arms above its head and stretched luxuriously, simultaneously spreading large leathery wings the color of obsidian, so dark they seemed to absorb light itself. With a sigh, the newcomer turned and moved slowly towards the stand of trees, which seemed to shiver in anticipation and welcome.

A few fireflies came out and hovered before the form, illuminating a pair of deep cobalt eyes set in a pale, heart-shaped face that was framed by wisps of honey-colored chestnut hair. A few more flew in quick circles around the figure's body, shedding enough light to show that the figure, although slender, was definitely male, before flying off again to play amongst the trees. With a small, tired smile, the boy lurched forward a few more steps and collapsed into the gentle embrace of a hammock, strong as steel but as thin and soft as ebon spider's silk.

"Ninmu kanryou," he muttered as he gave himself over to a much-needed nap.

The first thing he became aware of was something insistently prodding his left wing. The second thing was a familiar chipper voice calling his name repeatedly and demanding he wake up. Now.

Groaning, the boy turned his head and cracked one eye open to stare at the little demon girl that was now attempting to use a stick to prod him awake. With an annoyed flick of his wing he knocked the obnoxious hand away.

"I'm awake, I'm awake," he grumbled, rolling back to his side so that he was now facing her.

"Duo Duo! G'mooooorning!" the young girl chirped, practically bouncing in place. Duo refrained from pointing out that in his little niche, there was no such thing as morning; after all, he had told her before and it never seemed to make much difference.

"Oi, whaddya want Munchkin?"

The little demon puffed up her cheeks in annoyance at the nickname. "Don't call me Munchkin!"

"Whatever, Munchkin," Duo replied offhandedly and was rewarded with another show of chipmunk-cheeks from the girl. It was just too much fun to tease her, but Duo decided to be a little nice this time and let her off easy. "Fine fine, what do you need Ariel?"

Remembering now, she pulled out a rolled up strip of parchment. "You have another assignment," she informed him cheerfully.

Duo groaned and sat up straight in the hammock. "Again? But I just got back! I'm supposed to have a little bit of vacation after successful missions."

"Uhh, yeah. But…" the demon shifted nervously and Duo raised a slender eyebrow in amusement. "Master Lucifer specifically wanted you on this one… he even said that you can make up this missed time off next time."

The slender boy blinked repeatedly in surprise. Lucifer… was making a deal? With a subordinate? "Must be one hell of a case. What's so important about this one, anyway?" he wondered absent-mindedly, taking the parchment from the girl, who smiled secretively and leaned in closer.

"Wanna know what I heard, Duo?" she whispered. Curiosity piqued, Duo nodded. "Seems like it isn't so much the case that Master Lucifer is concerned about, but the angel running the Trial. 'Guess he's a real strange one or something," Ariel abruptly pulled back and grinned. "But you didn't hear it from me. Good luck Duo!" With a little wave, she disappeared from Duo's personal niche.

Alone again, the slender boy flopped back onto his hammock and began leafing through the assignment sheets. "Quatre Raberba Winner, 17 years old, youngest and only male in a family of… whoa! 29! Wow, that's a lot of sisters… poor guy. Hmm, due to begin Angel Trials yada yada…" Duo sighed and dropped the sheets onto the dark sand. "Doesn't really seem to be anything special about this one. Quatre… why does that name sound familiar? Oh well, nap time!" Dismissing it all, Duo promptly turned his attention to getting back to his interrupted sleep.

"This must be the place," Duo said to no one in particular, staring down at the rather large estate and whistling in surprise. "Nice place," he admitted as he Shifted, disappearing from the air and reappearing inside the boy's room. The room was empty, but the lights were on and a book was open on the large oak desk. Duo walked over and read a little bit. "'War and Peace'? And the kid's halfway through the book already! Man, doesn't he have a life?"

"For now, yes." a voice answered his rhetorical question, strong and somewhat deep.

Duo turned in surprise to see his competition for the Trial, a young angel about his own age but otherwise an almost polar opposite to the dark devil. The angel was dressed simply in jeans and a white tank top, his uniform white feathered wings folded precisely against his slender back. His hair was short and stood out in unruly spikes, as opposed to Duo's own tidy mane, and the devil couldn't seem to figure out if the cropped locks were dark brown or moss green. His eyes were also blue, but a darker prussian rather than his own cobalt, and Duo shivered in a mixture of pleasure and excitement at the look of power in those dark orbs. Propping one of his arms on his hip, he couldn't help but smile appreciably.

"But then, that's why we're both here, isn't it."

konpeitou: Short chapter, I know and I apologize. I'd blame it on the fact it's a prologue, but I think the first few chapters are rather short. I will endeavor to make this up by updating sooner following short chapters so there is less wait for more Please read and review, it would do much for my faltering muse and I would like to know what people think. Thank you!