Taylor sat on the floor before Michael. She yawned and tried to stifle it. Michael chuckled. "I think its getting late for you. You have a party tomorrow, right?" Her eyes brightened up.
"Oh yeah! I still have to pick out a nice outfit, then there's the swim suit I need to choose, and the shoes..." she yawned again. Her eyes drooped. She began to sway; she fell to the right - Michael scooped her up in his arms. He took her gently across the room and set her carefully onto her bed.
He lay a hand on hers. "I've learned a few tricks here in this existence. I'm so glad Greg passed on the knowledge," he whispered. Michael closed his eyes and willed his power to his right hand. He grabbed a nearby blanket slowly, struggling to keep his hold. He drew it over Taylor, who twitched at the touch. Michael smiled.
"I have to go soon. But first," his attention shifted to her closet.
---
Taylor sat up in bed suddenly. A cold breeze drifted in from her window. She threw her feet off the edge of the bed and stood on the carpet, closing her arms around her body to keep warm. The curtains fluttered and brushed against her face. She reached a hand to the window pane and closed it gently. She jumped into bed - her gaze rested on the dresser across from her. A pink skirt, black leggings, and a pink and black shirt lay in a neat order for her. Next to it was a swimsuit. On the floor beside the dresser was a pair of pink shoes with a bow at the edge. She smiled.
---
A congregation of over fifty Soul Angels stood in lines before the Compass. Greg stood before them all, pacing back and forth. His eyes scanned the rows of angels, eying each one personally, taking in their expressions. Most were calm and collected; some betrayed a sense of apprehension and concern. Greg held a steely mien to take the charge of his authority to its fullest. He looked to the sky as Michael began his descent. The Peacemaker dropped to a stand next to him with a smile.
Greg nodded. He faced the crowd. "Brethren! There is no need for any kind of speech or pep talk," he began. He cleared his throat and bowed his head. "There's only one... no, two things we need to know when we're out there. The City of Guardians is full of innocent Hearties. None shall be harmed. We aim to destroy the Council and Daniel. Those who oppose us will fall." Soul Angels in the ranks began to fidget uneasily. One coughed. Greg sighed. "I know that all of you wish for the better days. The days when we were all friends. The days before war and strife took us - the days where the first of us were brothers." Greg sniffed.
"Those days will soon be here. We must reawaken the greater sense instilled in the Heart Angels. Destroy the corrupt that is the Council, and they shall see the light! The Hearties will realize their mistakes. They will come back to us as friends once more." His voice was full of excitement. It was infectious, and mumbling and whispering buzzed. "The second thing we must remember," he said in a low tone. The audience quieted. "Peter shall not accept failure."
Silence echoed.
"Now fly, brethren! Take to the skies! Let our strike be swift and true!" Soul Angels bounded into the dark sky. The moon light lit their path for them; a stream of wings and flesh flowed onward to the City of Guardians. Greg held Michael's shoulder to stop his flight.
"Your armor is in the Compass." Greg leaped into the sky, following the last of the Soul Angels. A figure walked up to Michael - Ryan. He smiled.
"Go on and get a feel for your equipment. I'll show you the way to the City of Guardians once you're ready." He saluted Michael crisply. The Peacemaker bounded through the Compass' walls, finding himself in the Southern end. He walked closer to the grandfather clock, catching a glimpse of the time - 11:35. It was almost midnight.
The armor hung from a hook attached to the ceiling. Michael reached up and took a silver helmet in his hands. It had one horizontal slit across the middle for one to see through. The helmet was round in shape and basic; it covered the entire face except for the eyes to see. Metallic wings were on either side of the headgear for design. They were sharp at the edge and seemed to glow with power. He placed it onto his head - it fit perfectly.
Michael grabbed what looked like a belt. He examined it closely; it was indeed a belt. Overlapping plates hung off of the strip of leather to protect the lower body. A layer of metal arced underneath the belt to protect the crotch. He stepped into it, clamping the belt tightly around his waist. The metal protected his entire pelvis. Michael found metal boots nearby; he slipped his feet into them. They conformed around his shin up to his knee. Each part of the armor set was a dark silver and black. Michael began to run to leave the Compass, but tripped over an object.
He rolled over and examined what had caused his fall. He got to his feet and stooped down to pick it up. It was a large blade that took him two hands to hold. He gripped the handle steadily, observing the flat edge that ended in a triangle at the top. He found a sheath for it nearby and inserted it into the case. He strapped the sheath to his chest for easier access. He had not forgotten Peter's blade that hung at his side.
Michael ran out of the building to see Ryan. He nodded, and Ryan checked out his gear. He too wore armor of the same design, but was equipped with a shield and no weapon. "Alright. The armor is lightweight and should not alter your flight. Follow me, oh Peacemaker," he mocked. Ryan flapped his wings and hovered in the air for a second. Michael did the same, steadying himself and adjusting to the armor. Ryan rushed off into moon, and Michael followed.
"How do we get to their city?" Michael yelled over the rushing wind. Ryan looked back.
"Around Midnight, the entrance to the City of Guardians opens. The entrance shows up around the moon. The moonlight shows the way." They flew steadily on for a few minutes. Ryan began to slow. "We are near," he announced. He glanced from side to side.
Michael caught sight of it first. The faint outline of a door shimmered against the dark contrast of the night sky. He hovered over to it, and gripped the outline of a handle. He flung the door wide; light blinded him. He covered his face with a hand, and Ryan urged him on. He entered the door, blinded by an even brighter flash of light.
---
Greg spotted the pair. The other warriors were resting and chatting amongst themselves, often casting quick looks at the City of Guardians. He walked close to Michael, who was obviously in shock by the magnitude of the city. Buildings reaching over hundreds of feet scaled the area, surrounded by smaller structures. Floating, large orbs hung in the air - they were obviously buildings made as a lookout or made for sightseeing. Michael's jaw dropped; colors seemed to come alive here in this city. They shimmered and twinkled here and there. No building was the same color for long. At first it was blue, then purple, then blue and purple, and...
Greg snapped his fingers. Michael came back to reality. "So... this is the place?" Greg nodded. Ryan laughed.
"Surprised, eh? We all were. Both the Hearties and the SA's created this place by their own energy, with their own hands. To think that we would be cast out of our own creation was disorienting." Ryan laughed again. "But what fun is building something when you can destroy instead?" Michael smiled.
Greg coughed. "I am assigning twenty Soul Angels to guard the exit. The remaining thirty will be split up into three groups of ten. Ryan, Tracy, and I shall lead those groups. You, Michael, will be in mine. We will strike the center throne room - wherever it is. Ryan should know since he planned the layout of this place. He shall attack the Head Council's regalia, and Tracy shall wreck havoc on their barracks. Ryan, please spread the word." Ryan nodded and left to do as such.
Greg turned to Michael. "In the center throne room is Daniel. I have no doubt that this will be the toughest fortification to break. You can go with any other group or stay back here, if you wish..." A hint of disappointment was in his voice.
Michael shook his head. "I'm willing to go alone, if I have to! I'll take on a hundred Hearties - I have the utter most faith that we will succeed!" He smiled.
Greg smiled back. "It seems to me that you're becoming more like Peter with each passing moment." He laughed and closed his blind eyes. "Let's hope that you won't have to take on that many all by yourself. I have the strangest feeling about it..."
Michael laughed even louder this time. "I don't. Weird, right?"
