The Darkness was strong, and very powerful. The Archangels were beginning to lose hope that they would ever win. It didn't help that their father seemed to be missing in action.

That is why, when God sent out the message to return to heaven, the Archangels were very happy. Albeit a little pissed that their Father decided to show up now that their losing.

~Archangels~

"Come on Balthazar and Lucifer! Hurry up!" Gabriel called to his big brothers, who were falling behind. "Dad says it's important that we be there to meet him with the others!" he says, before rushing up the hill eager to see his father.

All the Archangels were heading to the Garden of heaven to help with what their father named 'The Beginning of the End'. Their father was finally going to help them with defeating the Darkness.

When they reached the center of the Garden, they all gathered around the large stone table that God had set up. If only for the purpose of telling all his children his plan simultaneously.

"Children," God's booming voice called. "This Darkness has returned from it's hiding. And it has called war upon us. Many of you have been to battle with this, thing, and I am proud of all of you for doing your job and keeping it away from heaven.

"But, I can tell that some of you are not very pleased with my disappearance, as you wish to call it. So, I will show you what I had been doing. But only if you'll let me." He paused there, waiting for an objection that would not come. Then he nodded and snapped his fingers lightly. An image appeared over the table, of a Dark place that none there recognized. They could see a symbol that appeared multiple times around this place as well.

"This is what I have created while I was away. It is a cage, a prison for the Darkness. But, I cannot lock it until the entirety of the best is inside So I also created these," He then snaps his fingers once more, and two balls of light appear on the table.

"These balls of light, when activated, will banish all the darkness in their reach to the prison. It can only be activated by me or an Archangel who has mixed their grace into it. I have chosen Balthazar and Lucifer to take them to battle, for they are the brightest and second brightest of all the Archangels. Do you all agree?" The mass of Archangels nodded and mumbled in agreement. God then turned to Balthazar,

"You must meld your graces to it so you can activate it on will. With that, Balthazar, the brightest Archangel, agree to the honor of using these to defeat the Darkness?"

"Yes Father," Balthazar says with a nod of his head. God smiles adoringly at his brightest and turns to his second brightest, Lucifer.

"And do you Lucifer, the second brightest and most cunning, agree to hve the honor of helping your brother with banishing the darkness?"

Lucifer flinches slightly at the 'second brightest' comment, but nods his head 'Yes' in answer.

"It is decided then. You will all return to the war tomorrow, in the places you were before, except Lucifer and Balthazar. Those two will head for the center to let off their weapons. Everyone else, I want you to fight as hard as you can and keep it distracted. If this works, we will be free of the Darkness very soon."

The Archangels nodded their heads and went off to rest and gather strength for the next day's fight.

~Archangels~

Gabriel was fighting his way through the Darkness, intent on keeping it as distracted as possible, even with his tiring strength. Lucifer and Balthazar should be in place soon. The blasts of light should be going off any second now.

Just as Gabriel was beginning to lose hope that their brightest had made it alive, a bright blast illuminated everything, disappearing as quickly as it came, with one quarter of the Darkness taken with it. Soon afterwrds, Lucifer joined the fray with his blade. THat was good, but where was Balthazar? His light blast should have followed directly after Lucifer's. And yet, nothing.

Gabriel started t fight harder and move his way towards where Balthazar was supposed to be. He knew he should stay back with the group, but he couldn't just leave Balthazar. Especially if he was in trouble. He fought with renewed vigour as he reached the area his big brother was supposed to be and found it empty.

He continued his way forwards, hoping to find his brother alive.

"Balthazar!" He called out. He listened for a response. He didn't receive one. "Balthazar!" he shouted as loud as he could, "Balthazar, where are you?!"

He heard a grunt off to his left and followed the noise. When he arrived he saw Balthazar. Sword in hand fighting desperately against the Darkness. His light still hooked onto his belt.

Gabriel practically shook with relief at the sight of his brother veey muh alive. He then charged forwards and joined his big brother.

"Gabriel! You are not supposed to be here!" Balthazar says in surprise.

"What, I'm not allowed to join in? I'm not allowed to help you?"

"Of course your allowed to help! But your supposed- on your right! Get it!-" he interrupts himself to warn Gabriel, "Your supposed to be helping me by helping in the distraction," he exclaims.

"I am helping with the distraction! It's obvious that it knows your over here, so I'm helping distract it here so you can light this place up!"

"Fine! But I'm warning you, if you get hurt I will never forgive myself or you!"

"Likewise big brother! It's our job to protect each other; right?"

"Right- Gabriel! Look out!" Balthazar shouts. Gabriel turns around just in time to watch Balthazar jump in front of him and take the hit, that would have been fatal to Gabriel, for him. At the same time, Balthazar let loose the light and grace mixture and banishes the darkness from the area, to its prison.

"Balthazar!" Gabriel shouts as he's surrounded by light and his brothers limp body.

~Archangel~

"Daddy! Daddy! I did it! I did it! I beat Luci! Did you see it Daddy?" Gabriel says, jumping up and down excitedly after a long day of training.

God chuckles softly. "Yes, I saw Gabriel," he sighs. His boys were growing up. He wished he could be there more.

"Balthazar" he calls out to his fourth eldest.

"Yes Father?"

"I would like you to join me later in the great hall, when I am ready, if that is all right with you?" the boys father asks him. God smiles at the hope and joy rising in his brightest eyes. Balthazar was always so eager and perfect.

"But before then, you need to work on your left hook a little more with Michael. It's a little sloppy." God says teasingly.

Balthazar rolls his eyes in response and then goes off to find Michael. Gabriel is about to go off to play when his father stops him.

"Gabriel." God calls out to him, "would you walk with me for a bit?"

"Of course Daddy" Gabriel answers. And then he reaches up and grabs his Father's hand.

That's how they go, walking hand in hand through the garden of heaven. Talking about training and flying and maybe what God will make next.

During their talk, Gabriel somehow manages to get his father to promise him that, if God does indeed make some more things, Gabriel should be allowed to help make one. God promises, but only after making sure Gabriel knows of this happens, he has to let the others do so as well.

After walking and talking for a while, God sees Lucifer and Balthazar and Michael and a few other archangels playing together.

He also notices Gabriel's look of longing to join. So, when Gabriel lifts his little face, golden eyes wide and pleading, God doesn't hesitate to send him off to play.

As God watches, he smiles happily. He loves to watch his children laugh and play. When Michael looks up at their father and beckons him to join though, God is pleasantly surprised.

God joins in his children's games and laughs with them. He knows he was busy and not with his children nearly enough, but it was times like these that he was happy to be with his children.


so that was the next chapter. Hope or wasn't to bad...

Thank you Luci/Guest, Lisa and Sora for the reviews!