Trowa was... confused. Last time he checked, he did not often wear roman legionary armor. He also was well aware, that unless he was very mistaken, there was a large glowing orb sitting in front of his face. Now Trowa liked to think of himself as having self-control, but seeing oneself in roman legionary armor with an orb in your face is a severe affront to anyone's self-control. Then, as if those massive insanities where not enough, the sphere began to talk, it was the oddest moment in the young acrobat's life to date.
"Trowa, Angel of conquests, I am El-Elyon, the Most High One. I know you have many questions, and I will answer. Now, gaze into the Shechinah, and do not be afraid." The orb, which was of course Jehovah's avatar softly whispered.
Trowa watched in awe as the sphere shifted, revealing a battlefield, strewn with corpses, and the wearied armies of both sides fighting desperately to stay alive. Trowa was shocked when he realized he could, sense, if that was the correct word, two entities among the men. One shifted almost unceasingly about the field like a whirlwind, its energy was cold and crisp.
"Death..." the voice supplied to his unspoken question.
The other was entirely different; it oozed over the field as a whole, saturating it with a throbbing pulse. It was the feeling of determination and courage, Trowa reasoned, but why was it at a battlefield?
"That... is the aura of Arirael, the angel of physical combat and survival. You, Trowa, are that Angel. It is a heavy burden, to carry the emotions of so many on your shoulders. It is your power that tips fate in battle; it is you, and your aura which is the driving force behind all of the twists of fate in war. But you are also the angel of life. You are the preserver where as Azrael is the reaper." The voice echoed. As it spoke, searing pain shot through Trowa's form and he screamed in agony. Slowly the pain subsided, and he opened his eyes to see a mirror. Reflecting back at him, on his back was a set of crimson wings, falcon-like in shape, their feathers tipped in black. As he felt oblivion take him he heard the orb's parting words, "Be mindful of your power, angel of the sword!"
The endless expanse of sand burned into Quatre's eyes. He wasn't sure how he had gotten into this place, but he felt strangely familiar with it. It was hot, very hot, and he was clothed in a strange garment that looked vaguely like a cross between a roman armor and a monk's hooded robes. He did not remember seeing it from a distance, but he found himself in the square of a great city. Looking around him, he was soon riveted firmly on the massive edifice in the center of the city.
"Solomon's Temple?!" the young Arab gasped. And so it was! The temple gleamed in the mourning sun, and gave the city a very unusual feel. It was from that temple, that the orb came. Its incandescent glow slowly wiping the scene away. Soon, Quatre found himself face to... glow... with the orb, which after hovering, thrumming softly, began to speak.
"Serael, angel of politics and mental prowess, Quatre, listen well, for as the guardian of knowledge I am going to reveal to you much I have left hidden from your brothers Azrael, Cherubael, and Arirael.
Ages before this universe was spoken into existence, I was. I created many angels to serve as my attendants. However, one angel, by the name of Lucifer, was tainted by a black heart. Alas, but it had to be thus, for darkness was necessary for my great creation to come. But Lucifer, being proud, for he was my most trusted angel, coveted my throne. "Why must I submit to him?" he said, "For I am also powerful!" Even so, his power was nothing to me, and I suffered his unrest for a time. But, he sowed amongst the hosts the seeds of dissention, and at last set war upon my kingdom. A full third of them he rallied to his hopeless cause, and the battle smote the outer realms. For what men would call a millennia times ten, the battle raged in a stalemate. For although he had betrayed me, I saw him as no threat, and suffered only to keep him at bay.
Then the time came for the great dance that is the universe to unfold, and I could abide his wars no longer. In a fury my wrath was unleashed, and Lucifer, now called Satan, was cast out of the holy realm. The enemy, for the time subdued I spoke forth the living world, and its nine shadows, I spoke also Into being its guardian angels, the twin angels of the will to survive, one the guardian of physical survival, the other of mental, the angel of death, and the angel of justice and order. To these I gave the task of sentinels to the great creation, mankind. Yet, even at this time of wonder, a shadow grew; Lucifer took the form of a great serpent and, preying upon the first woman's ignorance, brought a curse upon the great dance. Science calls it the law of entropy; everything is doomed now to die, until the remaking. From that day, I have battled against the dark one, giving my own blood as a man to sedate my own unbreakable commandments so that mankind might be with me. As for the Serpent, for cursed to forever walk in that form is Lucifer, he I sealed away behind a mystic portal, sealed with seven seals.
To break these seals requires the power of seven jewels of ancient power. These jewels are the souls of special human beings. For, although I damned the serpent, his part in the dance is not yet over, and he must be released when the time is right. SEELE has already three of the Jewels in the children Shinji, Asuka, and Rei. The other for are scattered across the globe. It is only a matter of time before they too are discovered.
Now however, your task is laid before you, place your hand upon the governments of man, and strive to get them to support the once bitter foes in their quest to stop SEELE. Now, let your power be revived!
Quatre jerked his head back as the tell-tale pain shot through his back. With a searing burst he felt his mind lose itself in its own darkness, only to be called back moments later. As he opened his eyes he, as Trowa was greeted with a mirror. He sat dumbfounded at his new appendages, a pair of strange wings, the looked somewhat owl-like in shape, broad and strong. As he fell back into a dreamless sleep he heard the orb say, "Be prepared for the challenge you face, angel of the Shield"
Wufei usually never dreamed. And when he did, it did not involve strange armor and scales, yet here he was, in what seemed to be Celtic armor, carrying a pair of hanging scales. To say he was confused was an understatement. Looking around him he saw that time seemed to pause around whatever he gazed upon. Almost involuntarily he gazed at a man being brought before a warlord, who drew his sword. "That is not just, the accused has not killed and thus does not deserve to be killed" ran through his mind almost without realization. To his surprise, the scales moved unbidden in his hands, and the warlord sheathed his sword. It was then that the young warrior noticed he was not alone. A glowing Orb, the Avatar of God, sat nestled between the branches of a low bush. Cautiously, Wufei approached the apparition, but stopped when it spoke.
"Justice and Honor: You have felt always drawn to these words, and yet you knew not why. You are Cherubael, the angel of judgment and justice. Where Azrael is the reaper, you are the thrasher. You divide the grain from the chaff."
Wufei stood and lifted the scales to eye level, a silent question running through his mind. As if in response, the scales shifted. And the voice continued to speak.
"You especially I warn to be cautious, for the fate of souls eternal rests in your judgments. I urge you to be patient and hear all sides of the dispute. Listen to the thoughts of your brethren. And at all times keep your eyes open for the taint of the dark one. Now, Awaken from your dream, Cherubael, the Stage is finally set, and the final dance is about to unfold. And I, El Elyon, the eternal one, see that the time of your great judgments is near."
Wufei, as Trowa and Quatre before him, felt a throbbing mind-thrashing pain course through his body, when the mirror appeared for him, he saw two green dragon wings hanging form his back. As he fell into blissful emptiness, the Elohiem gave one final command, "Be vigilant, angel of the Balance!"
With morning each of the three became aware that it had been more than a dream, they really did have wings! The words of God hung over their thoughts and one question remained unanswered: who was really controlling SEELE?
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A/N TIME!!!
Hello, there... Finally updated this fic, at 6:40 am, my time. I just want to thank everyone for their support, especially QoS, you have kept me going when I felt I shouldn't continue. For those who are interested... I want to remind you that my side fic Technical Angelics relies on you asking questions about Archangel. Surely there is something you want me to explain. --; Anyway, I would like to take this time to introduce everyone to the following idea: The next few chapters will feature direct quotes from the Bible, anyone offended by this should cease reading the fic. However, that would be a huge loss on your part. See you soon! ... ... ... I hope ...
Ja ne!