Chapter 1: A New Arrival

Have you ever wondered if anyone was watching over you from the great beyond? Who would guide you by your actions and teach right from wrong? The truth is that there are angels who watch over humans. They reside in Heaven and help us be the best versions of ourselves that we can possibly be. But at the same time that angels watch over humans, they also look out for each other and make sure they don't do things that angels aren't allowed to do. However, one angel would change the course of history by doing something that no angel would ever think of doing. This is her story. And it's where our story begins.

Now contrary to what some might believe, angels don't arrive in Heaven by ascending from their human bodies after they die. An angel is born after a human does a good deed and expects no reward in return. When a good deed is committed by a human, a soft, snow white feather emerges from their back and is carried on the wind into Heaven. The matriach of Heaven then transforms that feather into an angel.

Now where does our angel fall into this?

Her feather was created after a kind young man planted some sunflower seeds in his sick wife's garden. The feather emerged from his back and the wind carried it off into the sky. When it arrived in Heaven, it was caught by Blue Diamond; the matriach of angels who brought it to the Circle of Creation where the other angels were waiting. Blue Diamond placed the feather she collected in a bundle of blankets that was illuminated by a single sunbeam. Then, she summoned her magical powers and in a flash of light, a beautiful teenage girl emerged from the blankets.

The new angel had a petite, light-skinned (naked) body and short blue hair with royal blue eyes. Her feathery wings wriggled from under the blankets the angel was wrapped as if they were impatiently waiting to unfurl. The newly born angel looked around and saw other angels were staring at her completely awestruck.

"Hello." the other angels said to the new arrival. "Hi."

"H-h-hello." the new angel said meekly, holding on to her blankets.

Blue Diamond approached the young angel who flinched timidly as the stranger approached her.

"Hello there, little one." the angel matriach said to the new arrival she helped her stand up. "My name is Blue Diamond. Welcome to Heaven."

The new angel concealed some of her face within her blankets, still feeling shy around Blue Diamond and everybody else.

"Don't be afraid, my dear." the matriach told the young angel. "You're in a safe place. No one's going to hurt you."

The newly born angel revealed her face to the friendly stranger and then felt her wings wriggling from under the blankets again. She giggled from the way they tickled her skin.

Blue Diamond gave a light chuckle and said, "It looks like your wings are not as shy as you are. Let's give them some room to unfurl."

"I don't want anyone to see me naked." the new arrival said self-consciously as she hugged her blankets and blushed.

"Don't worry, child." the angel matriach assured her. "I will help you. Just close your eyes."

"Okay." said the young angel as she shut her eyes. Blue Diamond moved the new arrival's bangs and planted a kiss on her forehead. The angel was caught in a whirlwind of magic and she lost her grip on her blankets as they dropped to her sides.

"You can open your eyes now, my dear." Blue Diamond spoke as the whirlwind died down.

The young angel opened her eyes and saw that she was now clothed in a snow white dress, the skirt only reaching down to her ankles. A midnight blue sash wrapped around her waist and she had a pair of golden sandals on her feet and gold cuff like bracelets on her forearms. There was also a gold halo circling above her head. Her blue-tinted wings no longer being restrained, now had the freedom to spread themselves.

"Fellow angels." Blue Diamond spoke loudly. "Let us rejoice in welcoming the newest angel in Heaven, Lapis Lazuli."

All the other angels applauded and cheered. Lapis blushed, hugged herself, and looked down at her feet; still fearful of all the eyes that were looking at her. Blue Diamond noticed this and stepped aside to converse with one of the angels in the crowd. Then, the two of them went to join the new arrival's side.

"Lapis." the angel matriach told her. "There's somebody here I'd like you to meet. This is Rose Quartz and she's going to help take care of you."

The angel that was accompanying the matriach, Rose Quartz had a heavy build of bright peach skin with black eyes and long pink hair that descended into curly ringlets under her halo. She wore a white and pink ruffle-layered dress with gold swirl designs that hid her bare feet and her pink-tinted feathery wings looked like they wanted to give the young angel a hug.

"Hi." Lapis said, holding her hand out timidly. "I-i-it's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too." Rose Quartz chuckled as she shook the young angel's hand. "I feel so lucky that I get to be your caregiver."

"Caregiver?" the young angel echoed.

"Sometimes, we give young angels like yourself someone to guide them through Heaven." Blue Diamond explained. "And Rose will be here to help you with your timid nature."

The two older angels looked to the side and saw that the sun was going down, shades of orange and pink painting the sky.

"It's getting late." the angel matriach said. "Rose will take you to where you will be living so that you can turn in for the night. And then in the morning, she will take you on a tour of Heaven."

"Come along, Lapis." Rose Quartz spoke, gesturing the young angel.

Night had fallen over Rose's home and she guided Lapis who was dressed in a white nightgown to the bedroom made just for her and the new angel climbed into her fancy bed. The mattress and pillows were as soft as clouds and her blankets felt like freshly fallen snow.

"Feeling comfy?" the angel caregiver asked as she tucked Lapis in.

"Mhm." the young angel nodded sleepily.

"Sleep well, dear." Rose Quartz told her charge as she ran her fingers through her hair and kissed on her on the cheek. "You've got a big day tomorrow."

She turned out the light and left the bedroom as Lapis closed her eyes and drifted off to dreamland. There was an expansive and magical world that would be awaiting her tomorrow.