Introduction: Trial
It was the day of the fated Trial. All the Angels were gathering in a place that had not been used in over a thousand years: the Hall of Justice. Demons and devils came as well, for it was one of the only times they were allowed in Heaven.
The accused was an upper-class Archangel. She was an angel like no other. She had six, black feather wings and long black silky hair. Her hair she wore in a braid with a small chain attached to the end. On the end chain was a spiked cross. Her hair reached down her back between her six wings. Her eyes shinned with the red glow of fire seen through a cloud of smoke. Her attire usually included a long sleeved black shirt with ties down the sleeves, and black pants with black boots. The Archangel's name was Alex, but that name was going to be erased from the books if she was proven guilty.
Yawning, for it was early morning, the Angel Guardians walked into the Lord's Church and opened the chapel doors. The four Guardians walked down the isle, past the many rows of benches. There, at the head of the Church, laying on the steeple, a note and a black feather.
"She's gone," one of the Guardians grumbled as he read the note silently and picked up the black feather.
"Archangel Guardian Freon, what does the heretic have to say?" a Guardian to his left asked.
"First of all, Angel Guardian Joseph, Archangel Alex is not a heretic. Second, she says, 'The Trial of the Heavens is unnecessary and my name may be erased from the Heaven's Directives. I have chosen a name appropriate for my new life. I am Fallen, no longer Superior Archangel Alex. The status of Superior Archangel is no longer the status I deserve…'
"…Heaven is too good, so I cannot stay here. These rules are intoxicating and these laws are choking me. I need my freedom. I cannot go to Hell, for it will not hold the evil in my soul. Also, the place of the Demon Prince has rules and laws. I have studied them, and they, too, choke my freedom. The world of man is the only place where my freedom is real. The human world is where I banish myself to, for the crime I have committed can never be forgiven. I wish to be banished from Heaven and Hell, and to be confined to the Human World. If you have any objections, you can find me in the human world.
--Fallen, once known as Superior Archangel Alex"
The trial room was silent. Archangel Guardian Freon placed the black feather on God's desk and he laid the note next to it. As the Guardian sat back down on the first bench next to his troop, God cleared his throat.
"Archangel Guardian Freon, is this all that was found in the Chapel this morning?" the Divine One asked.
Freon stood, bowed and nodded. "Yes, Father. There was nothing else."
"I see…" God nodded to Freon. Freon bowed and sat down.
The Father stood from His throne behind His desk and motioned to the Council of Angels. They stood, and, with God leading, left.
The Superior Archangel Seraphim stood and motioned to all the Angels.
"The Lord our Father will speak with the Council and decide what action to take," the Seraphim announced.
Everyone knew to trust the Seraphim, for he and God had a telepathic connection, as did most of the Seraphims and the Left-hand of God, Gabriel.
"The Lord our Father conveys His love and says that we will continue the trial later. Back to your underhome Demons, and back to your studies and duties, Angels." And with that, the Seraphim disappeared, leaving only a gray feather where he had stood.
Fallen landed on the outskirts of a human village called Domrémy. It was the human year 1421 A.D. Fallen's red eyes glowed, as if it was past sunset. Her eyes examined the area, falling over every inch of land. Then, she saw the village. It was small, with huts and small buildings. There was a barn near the left side of the village. Fallen looked around and used her sensitive hearing on the village. She heard voices speaking some form of the human tongue.
It sounds a little like…French. It's a very good thing I took that class. Fallen mentally switched her mind translation system to French. She then made her wings disappear and a lone black feather remained in her braided hair. She looked around to make curtain that no one had been watching, then she walked toward the small village.
As she entered the village, many people looked up from their work. An older human male walked up to her.
"How can my village be of help to you, stranger?" he asked in French.
"I am new to this region and have no place to stay. I was forced from my home and village. I seek shelter, but have no money and no idea of how to build a small home," Fallen responded in French.
"Then you are welcome to stay at my humble home," the man smiled.
"I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Fallen d'Alene," Fallen lied.
"I am Jacques d'Arc. I am the leader of this village. You may stay at my home until you can build your own home here."
"That is very kind of you," Fallen smiled.
He led her into the village, and then into a good sized hut. Inside, two human females were working briskly. Then the door on the other side of the room swung open and a young human girl ran in. She ran toward the older woman in the room.
"Mama! I saw lady angel come down from the sky!" Then the girl looked and saw Fallen. She froze.
"Joan, what are you talking about? Angels can't come to Earth!" The woman laughed.
"But I saw a woman with wings!" Joan pointed at Fallen. "And she looks like her!"
The woman looked at Fallen and laughed. Fallen smiled pleasantly.
"Do I look like an Angel, young one?" Fallen smiled.
Joan smiled. "You did when you had wings. You're still very pretty!"
Fallen laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment."
The two adults looked at Fallen strangely. Fallen patted Joan on the head, and Jacques d'Arc saw the feather.
"That's a large feather, Fallen," Jacques said, reaching for it. "I'll get it out of you're hair."
Fallen whirled around, her spiked cross almost hitting Jacques's hand and Joan's head.
"I'm sorry, but could you not touch the feather. It was given to me by a special person," Fallen said
Jacques nodded. "Of course."
"Thank you," Fallen turned back to Joan.
"Fallen, did you have wings?" Joan asked.
Fallen sighed. "I can see there is no fooling you," Fallen smiled. She willed her six wings to appear and the humans stumbled back. Joan's mouth dropped opened and she looked at Fallen with wide eyes.
"I knew it!" Joan exclaimed. "You are an Angel!"
"Was," Fallen corrected.
"Was?" Jacques walked up behind Joan, placing his hands on her shoulders. "What do you mean?"
"I was a Superior Archangel. I've been one for a few hundred years now. But the rules of Heaven have choked me for over two thousand years, keeping me cooped up in Heaven. So, on purpose, I got myself kicked out of Heaven. My other choice was to go to Hell and work for Lucifer. I wasn't going to do that, 'cuz Hell has rules, too. Therefore, my only option was to live on Earth for the rest of my eternal life."
"Wow! A real Archangel!" Joan smiled. "Can I have on of your feathers?"
Fallen smiled. "If you promise to keep it with you at all times," she smiled. Joan nodded. She reached behind her, bringing her wings into an easier reach, and plucked out one of the larger feathers. She handed it to Joan. "Here, Joan. Remember, keep it with you. You might as well put it on a chain, and turn it into a necklace. That way, it'll stay with you always." She smiled again.
Joan took the feather and smiled. "Okay, I'll remember! I'll go make a necklace for it now!"
Joan ran off, into the other room.
Jacques smiled, looking after his daughter disappear into the other room. He then looked at Fallen.
"Maybe this is a blessing, so I'll take it as one. Would you kindly consider becoming Joan's Guardian?"
Fallen smiled. "It may be a step or two down from Superior Archangel, but I'd gladly be Joan's Archangel, Jacques d'Arc."