Tainted Wings: Epilogue

"What are you reading father?" Asked an eight-year-old Sora, his big blue eyes stared up at his father who smiled gently at him. He picked Sora up sitting him comfortably on his lap, allowing the young boy a better look at the book.

"I'm reading about different types of Angels, and the history behind them. See?" Aero said as he pointed out a sketch to Sora. As Sora's eyes ran over the picture of the beautiful creature, he felt something deep inside him stir.

"What are Angels? I mean what do they do?" Sora asked his father curiously his eyes tracing, memorizing the drawing. Aero cleared his throat as he thought to himself.

"According to the book Angels are holy beings that heaven sent down to be guardians of the humans. It's said at one time Angels walked the earth after heaven sent them down to protect the humans from the darkness that threatened to consume the earth." Aero flipped the page and Sora followed as he pointed to a passage in the book.

"Darkness? So the Angels were sent to protect us from the darkness?" Sora slowly read through the passage, it was in a different language. A language that Aero had been teaching Sora to read, so he was only able to understand bits and pieces.

"That's right. There are said to be warrior Angels that protected not only the humans, but the Angels. They are called Archangels, heaven sent them to earth after Fallen Angels threatened to take over." Aero continued his hand sliding over the page as he explained to his young son.

"Fallen Angels, there the ones heaven banished because they broke the laws right? I remember reading that somewhere in one of the books you gave me." Sora said as he turned in Aero's lap to face him. He bright blue eyes like Sora, his hair a mess of dirty blonde spikes.

"Correct again Sora. In History of Angels it is said that the Fallen Angels become so upset, so angry that they want to destroy the one thing heaven cares most for. It's an unspoken truth that heaven favors the humans on earth more than the Angels that protect them." Aero frowned slightly as he spoke, Sora taking a similar expression.

"That's unfair. Why can't heaven love Angels and humans evenly? Like a parent loves siblings evenly? I'd hate to know that you or mother loved someone else more than you loved me." Sora placed his small hands in Aero's his heart aching for the Fallen Angels and their fate.

Aero smiled at Sora, squeezing Sora's hand affectionately. "Yes, but heaven does not think like you do Sora. Therefore, Archangels are given the power to protect the Angels, and the humans from the Fallen Angels. Jealousy can be a dangerous emotion sometimes." Aero ended the conversation as he set Sora down on the ground.

Aero stretched and noticed that Sora was looking at him, his eyes reflecting his troubled thoughts. Aero kneeled down by Sora placing his hand atop the young boys head. "How about you play a song for me?" Aero asked.

Sora's expression changed quickly to a warm smile as he headed for his piano in the corner of the room. Aero followed behind as Sora settled down on the bench his fingers gliding over the keys as through awakening the piano from a light sleep.

"Father?"

"Yes Sora?"

"What happened to the Angels? If were still here it means they protected us from the darkness, but did they go back to heaven?" Sora's small hands stood paused over the ivory keys of the piano.

"Yes they all went back to heaven, but its said if the darkness were ever to return, that so would the Angels." Aero answered in soothing voice. Sora sighed and turned to his father one last time his eyes reflecting a maturity that should not exist on a child. Aero was taken back by the look.

"You edited your answer. That's all right though; I'll learn the answer on my own one day when I'm older. I'm sure then I'll understand why things are the way they are. One thing I am sure of is that as long as heaven is prejudice in their love, history is sure to repeat itself." Sora turned around his hands returning to the keys.

In an instant the room was filled with a sad melody, that made Aero's heart bleed, and he watched as his son continued to play, twining the melody in and out of a harmony. "What is this song it's sad. Somehow it reminds me of someone crying." Aero spoke quietly.

Without pausing Sora spoke smoothly, "I made it just now, its called Fallen Angel, it reflects the pain of the Angels unrequited love of heaven. It expresses their love, their tears, and then their anger." Sora continued the song his hands moving swiftly across the keys. The song grew in tempo, crescendo, decrescendo, and then a loud crash of cords.

The song ended and Aero placed a comforting hand on Sora's shoulder. Sora could no longer hold back the overwhelming sadness that escaped him. Silent tears streamed down his cheeks, and his father picked him up in one movement holding him in a steady embrace.

Aero rocked the young boy cooing softly as the young boy calmed. Sora fought back his tears as he managed to ask a single broken question. "Do you think all Fallen Angels are bad?" Sora feared what his father might say, and at the same time he needed to hear the answer.

"No Sora I don't think all Fallen Angels are bad. Everyone makes mistakes, and as long as they are willing to make up for their mistakes, I don't see why anyone couldn't see them as good. It's the choice that matters when you come right down to it, you can either choose to be a good person, or a bad person. That goes for Angels as well, remember that Sora." Aero still held tightly to Sora his head buried against his chest.

"Yes Father, I'll remember that always." Sora managed a weak smile as his father continued to rock them back and forth.