Artwork by the amazing

The Wingless Man
A Heaven & Earth tale
By LonelyRider

James LightningSword stood towering over his five foot eight mother in the gorgeous rose garden, a soft breeze rustled the fragrant blooms on the white arbor behind them. Nearby, James' big golden horse-head harp shimmered even in the cloudy light of that spring day. Anna, James' mother, adjusted the collar on his green tunic she'd bought him; she'd dressed him up for this harp concert he'd eagerly invited her to. He smiled warmly at her, giving a blushing grin, as always, very fond of his dear mother.
"Oh...such a shame about your beautiful wings, child. You still look handsome in this outfit, though. When are Lonely and your friends arriving?"
"Oh, should be real soon, ma. You know, funny you should mention my ol' wings, my back is itching and aching so bad! Silly, huh?" James joked, Anna made a disapproving noise and spun him around like he was a boy though he towered over her, lifting up his shirt and feeling two big bulges over where his old angel wings had once grown from his broad back.
"We ought to get you to a healer. They aren't red. They do feel very big though, and firm." Anna poked one lightly.
"Ow!" James winced, giving his mom a sheepish, apolegetic grin. Her innate angelic healing activated seeing her child's pain and she laid her hands on the bumps; they actually grew, but he sighed with relief.
"Ahh...that's better, the itching is dying down. Thanks, mom!" James said, hugging her gently but tightly, she laughed and gave his cheek a caress and pinched it, baby-talking him fondly.
"That's better, my big strong sturdy Jamesy? My handsome boy." She cooed fondly, adjusting his shirt collar.
"I love you, ma." James admitted shyly, eating up the attention from her, he was blushing and rubbing his thick black hair, she rubbed noses with him and they closed their eyes and chuckled happily. He pulled her into another hug with gentle gusto, and she wrapped her wings around her larger son.
Hidden away beyond the garden, James' dark spellcaster father Abaddon spied on them, so jealous he was literally gagging; but he wouldn't dare admit it, even to himself. He watched Anna dote on James some more, adjusting his outfit still; he let her, eating it up.
"Look at that, disgusting coddling. It's a miracle the boy is straight the way she babies him. Dressing him up like he's a 7 foot doll. Revolting." Abaddon sneered, leaning on his ornate magic staff, his crow compainion on his shoulder watching silently; he adjusted his own ebony wings behind him. Abaddon had always been jealous of the closeness between mother and son, although he didn't realize the irony that it was his abandonment of them that had caused it. Abaddon watched some more, tapping his fingers on the orb of his bird claw staff in annoyance; James was showing his mother the horse-head harp his best friend Savera had gifted he'd be playing for them that day in the garden. Abaddon started to mock them quietly to his crow, who cocked his head, hopping about.
"Oooh look James, you can play the harp like a pretty little fairy! Dress up nice for me! Hang out with females all day! Eat quiche and bon bons and tie a frilly apron on you nice and lovely! What a good boy you are!"
"Raaak, what a good boy!" Abaddon's crow companion, NightTalon, croaked back.
"That is enough, any more of this gay shit I'm going to throw up. I'm not done with that boy. My circle and I will make a real man out of him yet, you'll see. He still looks up to ME, NightTalon. I'll just have to correct this sissy nonsense. I know just who to ask, as a matter of fact. Enjoy your little fairy concert, all of you. Come, bird. Let us find someone to toy with." Abaddon laughed darkly, his crow joined him, a harsh cackle that echoed around the green space, Abaddon grinned at his clever pet and wrapping them in his huge ebony wings, he was gone in a surge of fire.
A little while later, James was giddy with excitement. Everyone he cared about was here; well, almost everyone. His excited smile faded as he thought to himself his father and young friend Natalie weren't there, sadness gnawing at him. His big hands sparked with his lightning magic. He waved at his anthro mule girlfriend Lonely watching him from a cozy pink blanket, she waved back, calling to him excitedly. Next to her his best friend Savera the lovely young harpy who'd gifted him his harp sat, then his mother Anna, Lonely's librarian anthro golden eagle mother Joan, James' faithful animal companions, his war dog, horse and gryphon sat quietly, well-treated and obedient for it. In the distance Lonely's old flame Sir Wisbey the dragon knight watched, being too well-mannered to interrupt, though he wished to join Lonely and Joan and pay his respects to James. He sat by his warhorse Titan, a mighty Fresian stallion.
"Right, this shall be a treat, old lad. I do wonder if he's any good?" Sir Wisbey mused in his British tongue, sipping a fine brew next to his fearless horse.
"Hello everyone! Thank you so much for coming! I uh...I hope you enjoy my performance today. A massive and special thank you to my best friend Savera for this beautiful gift, it's a pleasure to play for you all this afternoon. Ahh, ok, here goes!" James said loudly with warmth, nervously he summoned up his lightning magic, which helped him play with skill he didn't otherwise yet posses. Savera cast her own magic on his harp, growing beautiful thorns and roses upon it, and the crowd gasped softly. James began to play a gorgoues tune on the harp, his hands glowing with crackling lightning guiding them. The crowd was entranced; he closed his eyes and went within, thinking on everything amazing and frightening in his life. His loved one's faces were literally alight with the magic of his lightning.
From his high dark tower far away, Abaddon watched James playing his harp in his full-length magic mirror, red lightning crackling around it. Abaddon said nothing; in truth, he was moved by the boy's skill, but he wouldn't admit to such emotional things.
In the garden, Lonely clasped her hands in adoration at James as he played, Savera sat quietly, eyeing him intensely and looking beautiful as always. Anna looked proud and pleased and the animals sat peacefully yet on guard.
In the distance, Sir Wisbey swayed to the tune, his stallion knickering happily.
"I say...not bad, not bad at all, angel chap. Pity about those wings of his, though, eh Titan? I'll have to invite him to the tournament coming up, it'd be a right pleasure. Put up a good fight on that fierce brute of his. Perhaps he'd even like to battle me in my dragon form." Sir Wisbey mused, feeling the amulet he wore gifted from a mighty dragon king, that allowed him to transform into one himself. Sir Wisbey and his steed listened quietly, finally James finished his song and was met with polite applause, held-back for the formal atmosphere. Someone young he knew and missed ran towards him out of nowhere, and he gasped, his face lighting up. Lonely gasped, thrilled.
"Nat...Natalie?!" James cried, getting a hug from the girl; she and her mother had been secretly watching as well. He went to stroke her hair fondly and she ran away from him quickly as she'd come, not stopping as he called out her name; she was still dealing with her own troubles, and wasn't ready to embrace his friendship again.
"Nat...honey! Oh....Nat." James sighed, slumping, seeing she wasn't ready to talk to him. Lonely and Savera went to him and comforted him sweetly as everyone else shot him a pitying look.
"Natalie! That wasn't nice, you'll confuse him. Now look at him, he's all sad cause you didn't stay. Oh, come on, we need to get to the arena to sell this bread." Natalie's mother clucked unhappily at her, Natalie mounted her pony, which had been a gift from James, along with the armor and swords she wore.
"I don't care, mom. Let's go." Natalie replied, following behind her mother's wagon.
"Oh, such sass! We'll discuss that later, young lady. I have work to do. Yes, let's go." Natalie's mother shook the reins and her wagon lurched forward, Natalie following behind, but not before she gazed behind her at her big friend surrounded by others, some of which were watching her too.
In his tower, Abaddon felt his chin & mused out loud, NightTalon hopping on a wood perch nearby.
"Ahhh, the little brat." Abaddon thought, adjusting his black angel wings behind him. With a snarl and a wave of his robed arm he severed the vision, his seeing mirror going black as he quickly left the room in a flurry of velvet robes and feathers.