Gabriel rose, his wings beating, the shine of him dulled by the darkness Babylon was producing. Black eyes spied him, and blacker wings blew wind in his direction, sending the would-be Archangel toppling backward. But soon he caught his balance and flew for her, filled with Holy vengeance, filled with rage and anger. His sword raised, he sliced through her Darkness, and the beast shrieked with agony, watching as the strand of Darkness dissolved, fading away into nothing.
And so the battle continued, for what seemed like ages, as Gabriel and Babylon, Day and Night, battled one another. For years they fought, until finally the Darkness had been worn down, and Babylon was at the mercy of Gabriel, who held his sword high above him, ready to cast the final blow.
"I, Gabriel, Archangel of Heaven, banish you, Babylon, to - to..."
And his hands trembled. As the beast looked up at him, hate and rage in its eyes, Gabriel's hands shook and tears welled in his eyes. What had he done? What had he turned her into? What had Babylon become because of him? What had this quest for redemption cost him - cost them both? He hung his head and closed his eyes, the tears billowing down his cheeks as he whispered the end of his sentence and swung the sword down, tearing through Babylon and her Darkness, the sound like screeching metal.
And the Darkness billowed. It swirled around her, mingled with Holy Flame, lifting the Trickster's body and pulling it down. Gabriel watched, watched as the Darkness broke slightly, and in its clutches he saw those green eyes, watched as a pale hand reached for him, listened as the soft scream of his name faded into oblivion as she was carried to fill her sentence.
And Gabriel stared at that spot, even as the sun returned, as the buildings were mended, the image of her hand reaching for his help and the scream of his name burned into his mind like the Holy fire that now coursed through his veins. The fire surrounded him, lifting him, changing him. Grace filled him, changed him. The red specks of his golden wings vanished, and another golden pair appeared. He felt his halo hang above his head, felt himself bond to the flaming sword in his hands. And it was done. He returned to the ground, no longer a Trickster, but an Archangel, a warrior and leader of Heaven.
The Archangels came to him, congratulating him, welcoming him. "You banished the beast to Hell, right Gabriel?" one of them asked, "To the Cage, where such filth belongs?" Gabriel paused, then gave a solemn nod. And the answer satisfied the Archangel enough, because he went on to celebrating.
"The Tricksters... They're redeemed, right?" Gabriel said finally, "As you promised?"
Their celebrating stopped, and the eldest looked at Gabriel silently. "We did, indeed, promise their redemption," he said, slowly, "But the she-Trickster turned on us, after we had offered such kindness and hospitality." Gabriel opened his mouth, but the Archangel held up his hand to stop him. "Be silent. Because of her behavior, I'm afraid there will be no redemption of the Trickster species. But what does that matter to you, Brother Gabriel? They are no longer your concern."
Again, he felt anger welling up inside him. He wanted to take it all back. Take back every second of the past thousand or so years. Take back the pain and the agony and the wrong done against Babylon. He wanted to turn back time and forget the offer all together. But he couldn't. The deal was done. And there was nothing he could do.
So Gabriel simply nodded, his six golden wings shimmering in the light of the eternal sun.
But Gabriel knew something they didn't. He knew that, no matter what, you could never take the trick from the Trickster. So Gabriel had, indeed, banished Babylon from Heaven. She would never be allowed to return to the golden cities or the eternal sunlight. But he had not banished her to Hell, or to the Cage. He had spared her the atrocities that he had learned of in his studies. Instead, Gabriel had banished her somewhere special. Somewhere he could see her every night, and beg his forgiveness. Beg for mercy. Beg for her love once again. Where he could care for her, and tend to her, and speak with her without the intrusive eyes of Archangels watching over him. A place where Angels in general feared to tread.
He banished her into the Moon.
And every night, he would sing her to sleep. He would sit in a field of her favorite flowers and sing to her. And some say, you can still hear him singing. Even after all these years, Gabriel's voice echoes in the wind during the full moons, is heard in the waves, in the fields of flowers. It's heard in the tinkling of bells, in the softness of rain, just in case his Moon Princess can ever escape, in case she ever returns to Earth, she will always be reminded of him, and his misery, and his sorrow. With hope that maybe, just maybe, one day... She would forgive him.
Fate has been cruel and order unkind
How can I have sent you away?
The blame was my own; the punishment, yours
The harmony's silent today
But into the stillness I'll bring you a song
And I will your company keep
Till your tired eyes and my lullabies
Have carried you softly to sleep
Once did a Trickster who shone like the sun
Look out on his kingdom and sigh
He smiled and said, "Surely, there is nobody
So lovely and so well beloved as I!"
So great was his reign and so brilliant his glory
That long was the shadow he cast
Which fell dark upon the young Trickster he loved
And grew only darker as days and nights passed
Lullay moon princess, goodnight sister mine
And rest now in moonlight's embrace
Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth
Through cloud, and through sky, and through space
Carry the peace and the coolness of night
And carry my sorrow in kind
Babylon, you're loved so much more than you know
Forgive me for being so blind
Soon did that Trickster take notice that others
Did not give his sister her due
And neither had he loved her as she deserved
He watched as his sister's unhappiness grew
But such is the way of the limelight, it sweetly
Takes hold of the mind of its host
And that foolish Trickster did nothing to stop
The destruction of one who had needed him most
Lullay moon princess, goodnight sister mine
And rest now in moonlight's embrace
Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth
Through cloud, and through sky, and through space
Carry the peace and the coolness of night
And carry my sorrow in kind
Babylon, you're loved so much more than you know
May troubles be far from your mind
And forgive me for being so blind
The years now before us
Fearful and unknown
I never imagined
I'd face them on my own
May these thousand winters
Swiftly pass, I pray
I love you; I miss you
All these miles away
May all your dreams be sweet tonight
Safe upon your bed of moonlight
And know not of sadness, pain, or care
And when I dream, I'll fly away and meet you there
Sleep...