Guardians of Eden Prologue Part 1
Ro' Ban looked out his bay window, expecting the large view of the beach miles under the cliffs that reached for the sky. Black clouds rolled in from the horizon.
His brow furrowed in thought. The ice in the crystal cup he held twinkled with sound as he attempted to gather the last of the dark liquid on his tongue.
"Where'd you go?" the naked woman called for him from his silk sheets. She was thin, with dark skin and soft brown eyes. Her curly hair nearly consumed the pillow she laid on. Points of her long ears peeked out from her hair occasionally, reminding him she was only temporary.
Ro' Ban had met her at his party earlier in the Dining Hall. He left the doors of his castle open to those who did not live inside them when it got too cold or the weather seemed to be in a mood, as it had seemed that morning.
The usual soft grey of the rain clouds that would come by in the mornings were wicked and black but left as soon as they showed. His scouts had come in late and reported that two twisters in the Meadows to the south were playing with each other.
That was unusual for Ro' Ban to hear as typically the Dancing Meadows to the south had perfect warm weather and was part of the Southern Elven Kingdom.
"Why were you in the Southern Elven Kingdom?" He asked the scouts. They had dark blue almost black leather armor covering their bodies, and even in the armor he could see them shaking, afraid to answer him.
"We saw smoke in the distance and thought it was important to investigate as it was so close to the border." The one in the back spoke up.
"In the Forest connecting to the Meadows? No one should be living there and we have an alliance with the Elves." Ro' Ban mused openly.
"Except that little bit of smoke engulfed the Forest and was heading to the meadow." The leader responded, giving the guy in the back rough glances.
"How did we not see that?" Ro' Ban asked.
"A creature, similar to you in fact, my Lord. It came from the sky shimmering with giant blue scales. The boys and I decided it had to be a male with how large he was. Bigger than you even!" A third scout chimed in excitedly.
"He had so many heads too. He used his massive wings to just," a fourth scout had been leaning against the hallway wall opposite of Ro' Bans bedroom door. He turned his head toward the candle on the wall near his head and blew it out, leaving them in darkness.
Ro' Ban had angrily dismissed them. They were unworthy of his anger as they had only brought him a message. He would deal with their fragile emotions later.
"I have something I forgot to take care of. Go back to sleep," His eyes stayed peeled on the new purple lightning bolts playing on the surface of the wild crashing waves, the beach now gone from sight. He shook his head and rubbed his face trying to break free from his thoughts.
Remembering his glass was empty he set it down on the table nearest to him as he wandered to his wardrobe. The woman snuck out of the room as he opened the doors to decide what was appropriate to wear. The quiet clinking of glass and ice behind him caught his attention.
Ro' Ban turned around to find a small creature with orange fur and darker orange stripes. She blinked at him, her blue eyes showed annoyance while impatiently flicking her tail. Balue was mainly bipedal and only reached Ro' Bans waist, as a result of an Elven father and Cat Shifter mother. She held a crystal glass with a dark liquid in one hand and his clothes in the other.
"Your Highness," She purred, swirling her shoulders at him as she slinked closer, taking eye contact as an invitation.
"You're too pleased to be woken in the middle of the night," His voice Stern, concentrated.
"You, of all Kings know, curiosity killed the cat." She slinked around him as he put his clothes on catching the crystal glass as Ro' Ban consumed the liquid inside and discarded it.
"I am in no mood for games, Balue. "
Balue smiled as she followed Ro' Ban out of the room, making sure to greet everyone and tell them to go inside as she followed him to the front doors of the castle, passing through the throne room where the villagers had been brought to from the storm.
They passed through the large wooden gate. Soldiers murmuring about how bad the storm is and theorizing what such an omen ment. Balue had to stop herself from getting too excited about the conversation around her. Ro' Ban tried not to listen to the murmurs and keep his composure even though his hands shook and his chest felt tight.
The rain came down on their heads hard. Too hard for Balue to tag along.
"Be careful out there, Sir! Pick your battles!" She shouted through the rain.
Ro' Ban stopped ahead of her and looked up at the clouds. "Balue enough with the jests," he sighed.
"I apologize, I know this is a hard time for you, her being a baby and all now, it's got to be weird."
"Even under command you still cannot stop with the jokes, huh?" He shook his head at her as he transformed into his wyvern form.
His form was large enough to peek his head over the walls of Siridiah and see across the homes. His scales were almost as dark as the sky above twinkling with the stars that once were.
Balue chose to soak in the moment every time she saw Ro' Ban change. Wyverns were a myth to the people of Siridiah, more so to the people of Ecesis.
Ro' Ban stretched his body out standing on his front legs and extending his wings fully.
Balue watched the dark blue drake slither into the storm. She turned around to look at the growing line into the castle, took a deep breath before skipping back into the castle.
Aurora could hear the clanking of metal as Michael stormed his way through her friends, her sisters. Those who were sworn to protect her and she lay there helpless as she pushed the twins from her womb. Uriel and Raphael never looking up from under the blanket that separated her and her babies.
"We're almost done, just push one more time," Uriel soothed her with his voice. His eyes twinkled with excitement.
Thunder shook the Heavens and lightning cracked through the windows, infecting technology all around them. Disabling Gabriel, and allowing Michael the opening he was looking for. Uriel and Raphael attempted to stabilize themselves and Aurora as the first baby crowned.
Michael snapped open his wings and projected his voice, commanding everyone subconsciously to freeze. A heavy blue glow surrounded him as he projected his light outwards in a desperate attempt to gain control of the situation.
Aurora looked up tears streaming down her face at her father. The pain from childbirth weighing heavier on her as she was unable to move.
"Not again," she whispered.
"If I were a simpler man, Aurora, I would forgive you." He spoke, forcing everyone to listen as he telepathically projected into the others, even those who were not present.
"Michael, do not do what I think you're going to do," Uriel warned through the telepathic link Michael had set up. "It will only set us up for failure."
"You do this, child, and you will be banished," Michael warned.
"It's too late to stop now Michael, what do you expect us all to do? Leave her to die?" Raphael spoke.
His light dimmed as he tucked his wings behind him. His dark skin and deep brown eyes uncovered by the light. Aurora almost felt safe, seeing her real father.
"Look what you caused the last time," His voice softly almost a whisper. "I cannot lose you."
Michaels concentration broke as the ground started shaking. He rushed to the window looking down Tower Seven to the clouds below.
A black shadow of a figure stalked the base of the tower. Smoke fell from around it as is paced almost wolf like. Michael recognized who it was immediately, he made eye contact with Uriel, scared to explain the beast below. Michael released Uriel, Raphael and Aurora from their holds.
"I will keep it busy while you finish. Only under the agreement that I will raise those children and no one else." Uriel nodded his head in desperation.
Michael pushed his light outwards again as he opened the window and jumped from the tower down to the clouds. He met the beast face to face as he landed. His presence announcing his displeasure.
The beast laughed softly, keeping it's attention to the tower. Michael, unsure of how to proceed with the beast, remembered a motion his late granddaughter had used once before to take it down.
Mimicking that motion on one hand, two fingers straight, he pointed them to his own heart and with the other hand he pointed toward the clouds below him. He furrowed his brows with concentration as he prayed for the graces that she once held.
Michael swept the hand pointed at the clouds to the face of the beast as he attacked the tower. He snapped the other hand, pointed at his heart to the clouds and prayed harder.
Lightning shot from the clouds in a twisted dark purple, extending through Michaels body as it collided with the beasts head, turning Michael into it's new target.
Michael thanked the lightning as he felt it use him as a host. He let more bolts of lightning hit the beast as it reached out with it's giant wolf like mouth to swallow him whole.
The black beast roared between attacks. It's dark leathery wings were the only thing Michael could make out of the shadows that cloaked it's body. Screams from above him as the babies took their first breath and cried out shaking the Heavens.
The sound from the babies carried through the kingdom of Heaven disabling the beast. This allowed Michael a chance to check on Aurora. The lightning leaving Michael as he approached the window.
Michael turned towards Aurora. She was hunched over holding two babies. She was crying and kissing their heads.
One with pale skin, red horns that reached upwards parallel from each other, and no wings. The babys eyes were tightly closed as she slumbered in her mother's arms unaware of the dangers around her.
The other had dark skin, the baby's eyes weren't to be mistaken even in the low lighting of the room at night. The soft red glow of the baby's eyes reflected minisculely off of Auroras skin. Aware of everything going on, taking everything in.
Michael suffered, he remembered the old Dwarven sages he had spoken to a few years back and how they had warned him of this night.
"Aren't they beautiful?" Uriel asked from the other side of the room.
"The sage warned us of them." Michael responded.
"The sage knows nothing but stories. If you listen closely to their prophecies they are simply retelling old stories." Uriel advised. He of all the Arches knew how easily Michaels mind could connect dots that weren't there.
"I cannot raise these monsters. They will be our downfall, Uriel." Michael whispered in defeat.
Shouting from the stairs took Uriel away from the conversation. He walked over to the now closed door only to have it thrown into his face as a large man ran through.
He was red with a crown of horns. pitch black hair fell roughly over his face as if he hadn't cut it in a long time. Michael had noticed he was greying, an odd thing to see on a Demon. He stood taller and more powerful than Michael. His piercing blue eyes only focused on Aurora and the babies.
The man wore clothing alien to the Heavens. The black clothing slimmed his body but made it look as if it was one piece of clothing. A bright gold strip of fabric peaked from under his dark coat and his shoes were polished.
"You have been banned from Heaven, Lucifer." Uriel groaned as he closed the door again.
"Would you ban a man from seeing the birth of his own children, Great Arc of Wisdom and Compassion?"
"Personally no, but this is why I am not the Chosen Leader." Uriel quipped back as he took a seat on the chair nearest to him.
"You talk as if my father is not in the room with us," Aurora warned. Lucifer turned to look at Michael.
Uriel chuckled to himself as he felt the tension in the room increase. Both men staring each other down waiting for the other to attack.
"It's a bit quiet isn't it Lucifer?" Michael asked carefully. Rage building up in his chest.
He had been unsure who the father of the children had been. He of course had his speculation, all that he thought were taken care of. Hearing Lucifer say he was the cause of all this was too much for Michael to take.
Lucifer made eye contact with Aurora, both scared but sure of what they had to do. Gently he took the child with the red horns from her cradling the child's delicate head. He looked down into the baby's now open eyes the purple shining brightly at him as she smiled and reached for his horns.
Lucifer only had one love and in that moment he now had three. The emotions rushed through him as his eyes began to water.
"I was thinking Diya would be her name." Aurora whispered to him as she joined him marveling at their children. "This one will be Windi," She giggled as she gently touched the now sleeping child's nose.
Lucifer reached out jeweled finger to brush the soft cheek of Windi. He looked back up at Michael, feeling the weight of parenthood, understanding in that moment where Michael was coming from.
"I'm never going to hurt them, Michael. I promise."
"You're a traitor, you cannot be redeemed for the damages you have caused to your own people. Let alone the torture you keep putting my daughter through." Michael responded.
Lucifer saw Michaels shadow change and move outside of Michaels own movements. He held Diya and Aurora closer to him. Aurora noticed the sudden fear from Lucifer. She held Windi closer trying to will more energy for the fight that was about to ensue.
"Lucifer is not the enemy in this moment Michael you must read further into the situation." Uriel warned, using his private link with Michael to encourage him to turn around and face the once shadow behind him.
"Good boy, son." a deep voice filled the room. Dread settled in as if it were home and left everyone but Aurora frozen with fear.
"It's time for the family to come home now." The shadow man reached a hand out to Lucifer. Aurora shook her head at Lucifer and handed him Windi.
"Pheo, you are not welcome here." She warned as she extended her white wings. brown spots speckled her wings like that of a baby deer.
"I am where war is, my dear" He purred at her as he reached to stroke her cheek. Michael used a wing to dissipate the shadowy hand reaching for his daughter.
Uriel sighed in defeat as Aurora's eyes widened. Michael was unaware of the invitation he had just given to Pheo.
The shadows swirled around Michael threatening and trying to find an entrance. Michael pushed his light out as far as he could. Illuminating the room only slightly. Pheo laughing louder with every attempt Michael made.
Lucifer stood up and pushed the children into Aurora's arms. He rushed across the room toward Michael aiming for his torso as his shoulder collided and he was able to wrap his arms around the center of Michael, tackling him through the window and toward the clouds below.
The familiar embrace of darkness filled Lucifer's head leaving him trapped in darkness as he felt his father take control.
Michael finding the light once again felt the rush of air as he fell to the clouds. He shifted his weight forcing him on top of the fall, as he summoned his staff. Rage filled his chest before he pushed it out and replaced it with serenity and justice.
Bright blue Lightning struck Lucifer's body slamming them both into the clouds below leaving Michael unharmed.
Lucifer's body convulsed for a few seconds before his bones could be heard snapping and rearranging inside of him. Black smoke expelled from him as his skin darkened and his eyes became voids. Black fur grew out of him and his horns grew triple in size.
Michael watched in horror as black leathery wings exploded from Lucifer's back and his body became that of a monster.
"War." the Beast spoke "Is mine."
Michael pointed his staff at it before unleashing a flurry of lightning bolts challenging the beast to a fight. Aurora and Uriel watched from the window above.
"What's your plan?" Uriel asked gently. Aurora looked over to find him in his Angelic state.
"Siridiah," She withheld the full plan worried at how Uriel would react.
"Exactly on plan?" Uriel asked, letting her know he was also in on the larger plan.
Aurora floated to the window sill to try and find an easy exit while Michael fought the beast below.
"I can make us an exit if you need one, Goose." Uriel offered. She looked back at him surprised to hear the affectionate name her father called her as a child. The same safe word she had opted to use during the plan.
"We're going to need a safe one directly to the River in front of the walls. The Sirens have granted safe passage already. I should be fine to cross it once I reach the banks of the river." Uriel nodded as he listened to her. Concentrating on the area she was going to need.
"Arch two to control, open gate six for passage of pelican three." Aurora heard Uriel through the Angelic link they all shared.
"Gate Six is down for maintenance." A female voice responded.
"Arch 1 is temporarily unavailable, I am now in command. Maintenance is not more important than the safety of Gold Leader and Nephilym." He demanded
"Understood, commander, opening Gate Six."
Uriel's light faded and nodded to Aurora. She held the children to her chest closer before stepping off the ledge of the window and snapping her wings open to keep her from falling.
Uriel waved from the window to her pointing at the forming hole in the clouds near them and away from the ongoing fight below them.
Michael felt the massive claws of the beast slam him into the base of the tower. Radio chatter keeping him from fading. He had to ensure Aurora was safe.
Michael pushed his light outward as he commanded the heavens again. "Aurora, Valkyrie leader and daughter of Saint Michael, The High Arch, you have committed treason upon your kingdom. "
Aurora looked behind her at her father in horror as she clutched her babies to her chest. Uriel pleaded into the telepathic connection, his pleas falling on deaf ears. Even The beast backed off Michael, intrigued at his next move. Everyone in the kingdom was still frozen and forced to watch.
"You are hereby banished from heaven,"
"Papa stop!" Aurora cried out.
"Stripped of your angelic powers," Tears streamed down his face as he spoke.
"Michael!" The beast roared "Leave her alone!"
Michael smirked as he slowly pulled his body from the rubble. Using the last of his energy to make his way to Aurora as if nothing had happened prior.
"Michaels golden child? His perfect angel?" The beast laughed.
"The children," Michael demanded. "We had an agreement.
"You refused to listen to me when I warned everyone of him!" She hissed.
"That's why I need you to give me the children. I can protect us." He held out a hand to her pleading.
"No," She answered. Michaels hand dropped to his side as his pleading demeanor quickly changed and became stoic again.
His eyes glowed brighter as Gabriel rushed to his side. His mechanical body showed no emotions. Aurora looked at Gabriel pleading with her eyes.
When she blinked again Gabriel stood in front of her holding both children. Betrayal filled her up as she watched Gabriel walk calmly back to Michael and hand him the children.
"See? it's over now, we can go home." Michael smiled.
"No," Aurora responded before rushing to take the babies from him.
Michael, caught off guard, fell to his back as Aurora swept his feet out from under him. Windi rolled away in a fit of giggles as he clutched Diya closer to his own chest.
Aurora scrambled to catch Windi as she rolled dangerously toward the open hole in the clouds. Barely catching the child as she rolled off the ledge. Aurora laid on her stomach choking back tears from the pain she had once forgotten about.
Gabriel grabbed her wings and flipped her to face him."This is where we part, goose." His mechanical voice softer this time.
Aurora swallowed her fear and nodded at him as Michael pushed him aside before giving him Diya. Gabriel left in a flash leaving her with Michael alone. The beast nowhere to be found.
"You will be stripped of all your power. Forced to live a mortal life with the creatures below." Michael warned. "You cannot come home."
"If home is where my children will be condemned for existing, then it is no home of mine." Aurora stood up clutching Windi behind her away from Michaels eyes.
"Then so be it," Michael stretched his arms with his wings fully. His open palms closing as he used his power to grab Auroras wings, she cried out in pain before dropping Windi through the open hole in the clouds.
"The fall of Lucifer has now become a legend but I will not let the people forget this moment and how I will not compromise their safety for anyone. Including my own blood."
Aurora screamed out as she felt her wings dislocate and sever from her body. Her vision blurred as she lost connection to the Angelic link she had once shared.
Blood dripped down her back from the large wounds that now cover her back in place of her wings. It felt warm and Aurora was terrified that she wouldn't make it.
"Come to me when you are ready to understand, Papa. Until then you will never be forgiven." She uttered to him as she fell through the opening.
Her powers surged looking for her body from her wings as she fell. Leaving streaks of teals, yellows and purples behind her.
Aurora didn't pay mind to the light show around her as she searched for Windi in the air, finding her only moments under her.
She stiffened her body and pointed herself toward Windi. Even without her wings she had no choice but to fall and land, whether or not she was going to survive the landing was up to the universe to decide.
The air rushed past her as lightning flickered around Windi playing with her, careful not to get too close. Aurora could hear the gleeful squeals echo through her head.
"By the goddesses of course she's having fun," Aurora murmured to herself as she reached out to grab Windis kicking foot.
Silence fell on both of them as black smoke swirled around Aurora's arm inching closer to Windi.
"Pheo, you won't have her," Aurora growled as lightning flashed around them dissapaiting what little shadows were left on Aurora.
Aurora focused her attention back to Windi to see the baby giggling as static danced around her skin, her eyes glowing brightly. Aurora grabbed the baby securing her to her torso, turning her back on the fall.
She briefly looked up at what was once her home. The hole in the clouds now closed as she free fell from the Heavens. Aurora relaxed more as she felt the adrenaline settle and her pain take over.
Unbeknownst to her, Ro' Ban was scouring the skies for any semblance of a clue of where the next Guardian was to appear.
"She never specified where she would appear upon reincarnation," He grumbled to himself. "This job is bullshit,"
He had noticed the heavy flickering of lightning in the distance and then the heavens opened up. Ro' Ban noticed the strange activity earlier in the behavior of the lightning but he had assumed that was due to the seals and spells laid around the kingdom.
He focused his eyes to the hole as he watched a woman toss a baby through it then jump herself. He marveled at the light display and the dramatics she put on while she fell. This was who he was looking for.
Ro' Ban tightened his muscles as he swung around to face the direction of Auroras fall. He sucked in air as he spread his wings wide then tightened them as he turned his body in tight circles to create a vortex.
Ro' Ban felt his body shift and change with each turn creating a vault for his energy to be stored for a quick expulsion. The stars escaped the sky and became one with Ro' Ban as he focused on his powers. Moving quickly between tears in reality as he expelled the energy he had accumulated in his cosmic vortex.
The jump had worked as he felt a woman's body fall past him. He turned towards her, opening his mouth as the stars were summoned once again. He opened his wings as he released blasts gently tearing into the viel near Aurora creating tears for her to slip through and back to slow her down as she came closer to the ground dangerously.
As his attempts to slow her failed he bolted for the ground barely catching Aurora and using his body to slow them to a safe stop. The ground broke up and created a crater where his body lay wrapped around Aurora and Windi.
Ro' Ban looked down at Aurora, the sleeping baby still clutched to her chest even in her unconscious state. He noticed blood dripping from her horn.
He was covered in blood as Auroras wounds hadn't healed from her disgrace. His heart hurt seeing her without her wings. Gently he moved her head with a claw to inspect the damage.
The horn that started from her temple, wrapping around to the back of her head connecting at the other temple, had been shattered in the back causing more blood.
He looked around, realizing they had landed in the gardens of Siridiah. The once lucious land that flowed with green speckled with bursts of color, now it was barren and dust. Only the World Tree stood, hibernating, and what equipment they were using to build the fountain he had just approved.
He forced his form back into his Luden body. His black hair draping over his shoulders and his clothes forming back as he picked Aurora up in his arms and carried her through the wooden doors.
Everyone's eyes were on him as he entered the Dining Hall that connected to the gardens. Bards were set up in groups singing joyously in light of the viscous storm outside. Balue was sitting in her spot next to the throne looking at a clipboard even with his presence she was unfazed by him.
"Balue, were going to have a long night." He announced. Her eyes sparkled as they jumped from Windi to Ro'Ban
