Author's Notes: I'm starting to get the feeling that no one really cares about this story any more. Well, in that case, if I don't get any feedback for this soon, I might consider not updating this story anymore. Seriously, I feel like the time I thought was well spent on this story is becoming a waste of my time. If it was a matter of asking for reviews, then I'm sorry. Now I'll ask: Can someone please write a review? Or at least through the Chapters rather then skim through them? ... Okay... If this story isn't worth my reader's time, I'll focus my efforts solely on my Harvest Moon Fanfiction. Either way, I'll still offer my support for my fellow Riviera fans, so I'll be more than happy to read some of yours. Again, I'm sorry if I'm boring you...

Chapter 2

Ridicule. Embarrassment. Worthlessness.

This is but a sample of what she, a disgruntled angel with long blonde hair, dealt with since the fall of her noble heritage.

For awhile, the arrogant Malice's pride was based solely on the prestige of her family name. She easily looked down at the other angels because they were practically worthless compared to her.

But because of a mysterious incident some time ago, she had officially fallen from grace.

From that moment, the only chance she saw to regain honor was to prove herself in the Fighters' Trails and earn the power of the rumored ultimate prize:

The Black Wings and Diviner of the Grim Angels.

Her violent temperament and natural ability had made her a formidable foe to begin with. Some once gossiped that she was nearly guaranteed to overcome the trials; however, there was always one Angel that stood in his way. This angel constantly stood in her way. This angel always humiliated her whenever they met in sparring. This angel somehow outclassed her in nearly every category she held ample pride in. And all this frustration left a strong desire of vengeance within her.

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As that very day continued, young Malice sped solemnly through town, in desperate search of something. She wore a short-sleeved white skirt with golden lining, tragically degraded from its once ornate appearance by dirt and tears. Her bluish-white wings were folded as her shoulders were hunched. She continued to wander about as

the angels around her laughed and jeered at her newfound misfortune.

"Hey, "Miss Malice"! Didn't you once say you'd rid Proud Asgard of us unworthy urchins?"

"Does this finally mean you're gonna do us a favor for once and throw your pathetic self out of here?"

"You're nothing but a has-been!"

"A Nobody!"

"You're even getting your butt handed to you in trials!"

"Why was I ever afraid of her?"

The constant mockery forced a growl from the ill-tempered angel. Her bloodshot eyes tried desperately to look straight ahead to focus on her goal, but the open laughter grew louder and louder. Eventually, could no ignore them. The aggravated angel shot deadly glares around her, silencing everyone in her way. Only a few were left uttering amongst themselves, but they barely spoke above a whisper.

After a few moments of wading through her self-created peace, Malice finally reached an ornate fountain where a lone girl sat.

She had beautiful sky-blue hair fixed into two buns adorned with white roses at the side of her head, and two curls dangling near her ears. Her bright eyes shone a brilliant aquamarine as they narrowed with a hint of gentle grace. She wore a flowing white dress of silk that wrapped her body from the neck down. However, this innocent angel was fraught with fear and doubt, and the menacing presence behind her would certainly not improve this.

Malice gave a sadistic grin as soon as she found this angel girl.

"At last..." she thought in violent pleasure. "Perhaps now I can finally redeem myself, despite these bothersome peons..."

Her disturbing smile dropped with the weight of her overwhelming anger as soon as she marched towards the delicate angel.

"WHERE IS HE?" she demanded.

The trembling angel turned around, only to be overcome with paralyzing fear. She could not voice a proper response.

"I SAID, WHERE IS HE?" she demanded again.

After the second time, the angel maiden barely managed to open her mouth.

"H...he? D...Do you mean..." the angel uttered as she could only breathe out the name she intended to say.

"DAMN IT! YOU KNOW WHO I MEAN! I'M LOOKING FOR YOUR PAIN OF A BOYFRIEND!" she screamed.

"W...w-w-w-w-wha? H-h-he's not--"

"I COULD CARE LESS WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT HIM! WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS WHERE THAT MEDDLESOME PAIN YUAN IS!" she shouted.

"A-a-a-aaaaah... I-I'm sorry... I.. I don't know where he is right---"

Fed up with her lack of usefulness, Malice yanked the helpless Angel right from the spot and held her from the neck with both hands.

"TALK, DAMN YOU!"

The poor angel maiden struggled to breathe, and started to choke wordlessly.

"HOW DARE YOU DEFY ME? HE'S MADE ME SUFFER LIKE THIS DAY AFTER DAY! DO YOU UNDERSTAND? IT'S THAT BASTARD'S FAULT THAT I STILL LIVE THROUGH THIS POOR EXCUSE OF AN EXISTANCE! IT'S HIS FAULT THAT I'M LUMPED IN WITH ALL THE OTHER OUTCASTS OF OUR KIND! IT'S BECAUSE OF HIM THAT I'M EVEN MORE WORTHLESS THAN THE FORSAKEN THING THAT YOU ARE!" she shouted.

The maiden's eyes filled with tears as she was crippled under the merciless might of Malice. The stranglehold came severely close to choking her to death.

It was then that Malice felt a searing force across her back. She gently let the Angel maiden slip from her grasp before turning to face her offender.

"YOU!" she shouted.

Standing right before her was Yuan, wielding a practice sword in hand. His ruby eyes glared back with a cold, bloody wrath.

"I suggest you step away from Lazuli..." he uttered in a low, threatening voice.

"Yuan..." she growled."You're not getting away from me again... I will have that much-deserved rematch..."

Yuan looked unmoved by his ravenous adversary. His eyes narrowed as his aura of wrath dissipated slightly.

"How far into madness are you willing to descend until you reach your ambition?" he asked seriously. "Whatever the hell your gripe is, I believe it's just the two of us. What you did to Lazuli is inexcusable..."

"If she interferes with, she's just another obstacle in my way that needs to be crushed, much like the aggravating you've proven to be..." she explained grimly.

"I see..." Yuan confirmed. "I refuse to lie dead in a ditch for your pitiable sake, however. You haven't proven much worth by toting around your bitchy self, I suggest you straighten up if you wish to be seen by our prestigious Magi in a higher light. And another thing: I actually hate showing off in front of my the higher forces like this, but there is no way in the bowels of Hades am I going to let you or any other jackass crush my spirit just to escape this stupid competition. I've promised a few of my friends I'd go along with it for the sake of building my character..."

In the state she was in, Malice wasn't for listening to what she considered "meaningless details". The only things that she could comprehend were the various insults that littered his speech. "Arrogant bastard... you only think so highly of yourself because you can match Ledah. If he didn't even bother offering you his cheap help, I know you'd be nothing but a talent less hack with nothing..."

Remembering what's been recently going on with the Solitary Angel, Yuan wasn't up to discussing him any further. Still, the disturbing face of Malice, and her recent act sickened the ruby-eyed angel severely.

"Arrogant, yourself..." he growled. He then thrust his practice sword nearly an inch from a spot between her eyes with unbelievable speed. "Now tell me... just exactly what will it take to satiate your gluttonous ego?" he retorted.

Malice flinched at that instant, but her wounded pride only deepened her hatred. "I won't take this constant disgracing lying down. I WILL destroy you." she threatened as she glared through the fake sword nearly shoved at her head.

She then turned towards angel they called Lazuli and gave her a vicious scowl.

"It's worthless people like these that are always holding me down... if they just understood their place, I could easily restore the honor I deserve.." she thought.

Her violent gaze then escalated upon reaching deeper into her memories.

"This Forsaken One used to be beneath me in the eyes of my peers. In fact, she was practically my fitting servant before. And now... everyone actually dares see me as something lower then her... a filthy, soiled outsider who was more or less thrown at our gate by the simpering sprites of Riviera. They must hate her Cursed Blood as much as we do... the same cursed blood that ran through those sinners from Tetyth... and I'm considered lower then them... then this appalling thing they made..." she thought.

She started foaming at the mouth from the madness seeping out of her.

"How dare this thing enjoy her peace while I'm thrown out here to the dogs that constantly bite and scrape me... HOW DARE THIS WEAKLING LOOK DOWN UPON ME!" she thought.

She was on the verge of attacking Lazuli once more, until she was dealt yet another harsh blow to the shoulder.

"If you dare lay your hands on Lazuli again, I swear you'll be dead..." he uttered in his coldest voice yet.

Malice repressed the sheer terror threatening to overcome her as she carefully stepped away. This left her with burning fury as she turned from her retreat.

"I SWEAR THAT I'LL RESTORE MY FAMILY NAME! EVEN IF I HAVE TO CLAIM YOUR HEAD TO DO IT! DO YOU HEAR ME? I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD!" she threatened in a disturbing voice before she fled.

Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. "Lazuli, are you okay?" he asked in a softer voice.

Lazuli nodded silently as she clutched her throat.

"Thank goodness." Yuan answered as he faced her with a warm smile. "Listen, the fountain's healing properties should be able to fix your throat immediately. If it's still bothering, we'll get you to a healer right away." he assured.

Lazuli nodded again before taking a sip from the fountain. At the same time, Yuan turned his head to face the Malice march in disgust with further ridicule following not too far behind. Again, the ruby-eyed angel sighed.

"Pitiful fool." he thought in contempt. "Those thoughtless little... I still remember how it felt to be picked like when I was little, just because I happened to be... different from them. I would've hoped Malice could actually sympathize with us outsiders for once, but it appears she's too stubborn to let go of her pride. All of this only gives me another reason to hate her..."

He turned again towards his dear friend with feelings of concern.

"Are you feeling better now?" he asked.

Lazuli nodded. "Yes. And thank you..." she answered in a quiet voice.

"Good." Yuan grinned. "How about we head out to the field and relax for awhile? Considering the hectic day we had so far, it would probably be a good to calm our nerves." he suggested.

"Yes." Lazuli answered again. "That would be nice..."

And so, the pair of Angels headed towards the floral field of Asgard...

Preview:

Chapter 3- Angels of A Feather

"So, if you were to become a Grim Angel, what would you sacrifice to receive your diviner?"

"I... I would sacrifice my Fear! Then I could become brave and courageous!"