Prologue
When God spoke the heavens into existence, he also created the angels—strong, loyal and obedient creatures. There were many, so God made an archangel to lead them. His name was Michael, and he was a true warrior who put his Father's will above all else. Michael would never doubt nor deviate from the path God made for him.
Still, there were several legions of angels and Michael needed assistance in leading them all. So God made a second archangel, Raphael. Like his brother, he was a great warrior. Unlike his brother, he relished the fight above all and frequently ignored the orders to first attempt a peaceful resolution to a dispute.
The two archangels delighted in enforcing the will of God and smiting the wicked. They reveled in protecting God's creations and strove to keep the demons away.
The angels were fierce and though protecting humanity was their ultimate responsibility, the newest of God's creations were quite terrified of their protectors. God decided that more leadership was needed and less warriors. He needed an archangel who would not only protect humanity, but give them a face they could love and trust as well.
Lucifer was beautiful and very different from his brothers. The very sight of him awed the garrisons. His words could bring tears of sadness to the happiest, and smiles to the most down trodden. While Lucifer loved his Father and brothers, he did not care for God's most favored creation. He was jealous of these 'lesser' beings, and despaired that God would have the angels bow to them. Lucifer was very discerning about who deserved his gifts and spent many hours arguing against the protection of humanity.
It was obvious that Lucifer would not be willing to play the role God needed him to, so he decided to make one more archangel.
God filled this new being with human love and compassion. He delighted more in Gabriel than he had in the others. At first, God kept him near at all times. He made sure that Gabriel understood what love was and that everyone deserved it. He impressed the importance of humanity and that they should be loved the most of all.
The other archangels were bothered that God kept them from their youngest brother and were jealous of the attention he received. They called him the "most beloved angel" of God. The Father heard their whispers and finally presented Gabriel to his brothers. Lucifer, the most jealous, took control of Gabriel first. He meant to torment him, use his pretty words to cut his happiness. Instead, he accidentally taught Gabriel how to laugh and bring joy to others through humor. He loved Gabriel easily and any jealousy fled at the sound of his little brother's laughter.
Michael and Raphael were usually on the receiving end of Gabriel and Lucifer's mischief, but the tinkling gales of the youngest archangel's laughter coupled with the pure joy of glorious Lucifer had them quickly shrugging off any grievances.
When his brothers had deemed him ready to begin his work, they returned him to the Father. God told Gabriel that he was to be His messenger, the mouth of God to humanity. He would be sent time and time again to Earth with messages of hope and guidance to the children of God.
As Gabriel had learned to love humanity from his first day of existence, God gave him a special gift: his own human form. Every other angel had to have a vessel to host them if they were to interact with humanity, and they would first have to attain permission of the vessel. The youngest archangel would never require the services of a vessel. Gabriel was humbled and thanked his Father for such a gift, promising to be the best messenger he could be.
Of his three brothers, Gabriel had expected Lucifer to be the one most jealous of his special gift. Lucifer hadn't been bothered though. He despised humanity and as more time went on he made it less and less of a secret.
Michael had been happy for him and, as Gabriel was not a warrior, promised at least one garrison to accompany and protect him on all of his journeys. Raphael had been the jealous one, though he was honest about it and his irritation was at the limits placed on him by their Father, not at Gabriel.
Time went on and Gabriel was happy. He loved the humans, attempting to calm their fears and delivering his Father's messages of hope.
And then one day, it all fell apart.
God summoned Gabriel to the throne room like he always did when a message needed to be delivered. As soon as he appeared Gabriel could sense the sad weariness in his Father.
"Gabriel, will you always love my children and look after them?" he asked.
"Of course, Father," Gabriel answered.
God sighed, and then summoned the other archangels. Lucifer did not arrive alone. He had four garrisons with him. Angels that had accompanied Gabriel on many Earthly missions now stood behind Lucifer glaring at God.
Gabriel huddled behind his Father's throne watching in horror as his world crumbled around him. Michael wrestled Lucifer down to hell and locked him in a cage, Raphael tracked down every angel in Lucifer's garrisons, removing their wings and throwing them down onto the Earth.
Gabriel tried and failed to drown out the cries of the people on Earth as the fallen began to unleash their wrath on them. The cries of the younger angels followed as they rushed to Gabriel for answers and comfort.
Gabriel looked to his Father for help, but God was gone.