This children, is what happens when you get hooked on Supernatural, make Cas your favorite character, absolutely fall in love with the 'Angel Family' fandom, and then listen to the entire 'Prince of Egypt' soundtrack nonstop.
This is my very first REAL SPN fic (no the one shot doesn't count since I just retold one scene from an episode) so I'm curious to see what you think! Also I wanted to give you guys something to munch on while I finish 'Digitalia' (DAMN MY INSPIRATION FOR DYING SO MUCH ON THAT STORY!).
So I hope you think this beginning is intriguing enough for me to post the next part! Also, a few notes in this AU.
1. Lucifer never fell; Crowley is the technical 'Devil' in this. Why? Cause Lucifer is TOO DAMN LOVABLE to be Satan! Seriously, how can you NOT love Luci? I don't care if he hates humanity; he's a sweetheart!
2. Vessels don't exist. The angels look like their vessels already like all the fanart you see. Mostly because I hate reading too much into the mechanics of this world and doing the whole 'true form' thing would defeat the purpose of this story so DON'T QUESTION ME!
3. I'm gonna go with the whole angel aging system that 1 Angel year= 100 human years for purposes that benefit this story.
Got it? Okay! I'm sure you guys are smart enough to figure the rest out! Enjoy!
With the sting of the whip on my shoulder.
With the salt of my sweat on my brow.
Elohim, God on high, can you hear your people cry?
Help us now, this dark hour!
Balthazar covered his ears as explosions rang out through the ancient city. Gabriel held the young angel along with his sister Anael tightly as they were huddled in the corner of the abandoned stone hut they were hiding in. Michael and Lucifer were keeping a sharp eye out the window in case any Demons showed their faces.
Michael wanted to go out and take them on, but he knew that it would be hopeless. The numbers were too great, even with Lucifer fighting alongside him he would fall; the last thing he wanted was to go to Purgatory and leave his younger siblings alone.
It all started with a war that doomed Heaven from the start. The Demons, led by their king Crowley, mounted a full out assault on the gates of Heaven. Armed with stolen Angel Blades they easily took down Heaven's first line of defense and were hungry for Angel blood. None of the angels had been prepared for the strike.
The four archangels turned to their Father for guidance, but God was nowhere to be seen. Michael sent Lucifer and Gabriel to gather the fledglings together while he and Raphael tried to hold them off. Despite their efforts, the Demons managed to fight their way to Heaven's weapons; Heaven's hope for a fight was now in the custody of Hell.
The numbers in Demons were too great even for the two archangels; many of their soldiers had already been taken prisoner. It was only a matter of seconds before he and Raphael were cornered; using their last resort, they flew away from the battle to a safer corner of Heaven where they met up with Gabriel, Lucifer and the six fledglings they had taken with them. The rest of the fledglings were in the custody of other Angels.
Michael knew they had to take the fight away from Heaven; the last thing he wanted was for his Father's domain to be ravaged by the forces of Hell. With a final command, he ordered the remaining Angels to fly to Earth where the fighting would continue.
Raphael and Zachariah took three of the fledglings, Uriel, Samandriel, and Rachel, with them so they would have a better chance of survival. There was no way they could escape with six little seraphs trailing behind them. The Angels all flew to an ancient city in Egypt where the fighting had been continuing to this moment.
Michael and Lucifer watched out the window as their brothers and sisters fought valiantly only to be captured by those filthy Demons. Lucifer pounded the wall with his fist, "I can't stand just doing nothing!" he hissed angrily.
"They would easily outnumber us and you know it," Michael responded trying to keep his own feeling of helplessness in check.
Anael looked at Gabriel tearfully, "Are we going to die Gaby?" she asked, her eyes filled with hopelessness.
Gabriel smiled sadly as he stroked her red hair, "I don't know kiddo…I don't know," he said softly. Michael and Lucifer looked sadly at their baby siblings; the last thing they wanted for them was to see the heat of battle at such a young age.
"We should do something," Lucifer spoke up, "We could send the young ones away; hide them somewhere safe," He started but Michael shook his head.
"They're too young and this world is too large; they would never survive alone," he said.
"I'll stay with them," Gabriel volunteered but Michael shook his head again.
"It's too risky, all four of you would be easily spotted." He said.
Lucifer frowned, "But we can't just hide like cowards while our family is being slaughtered!"
"You think I don't know that?!" Michael yelled back.
Lucifer saw that even Michael's eyes were full of fear for their family's lives; they had never been in a battle this massive without their Father by their side. Already they could no longer feel the Graces of so many Angels including Raphael's and the fledglings he had with him; hope for victory was lost.
Lucifer sank to the ground in defeat and Michael tore his gaze away from Gabriel and the fledglings. There had to be some way to escape; even if only one of them could they had to try! Michael turned back to Gabriel as the youngest fledgling looked at him in confusion and slight fear.
Castiel: the last angel to have been created by the touch of God. Castiel was the youngest of them all and had no idea what horrors were going on right now and why; the fledgling was barely three years old in human years. A pit formed in Michael's stomach as a desperate idea came to his mind; an idea that would involve leaving the youngest of their kin in the hands of fate (not literally).
He barely got the words out of his mouth, "We can't hide, and we can't fight," he said before looking at Castiel's bright blue eyes, "But…we can give the youngest a chance."
Gabriel's eyes widened as he put the pieces together, "No…you can't mean…" he trailed off as he held the tiny fledgling tighter.
Lucifer turned to Michael in disbelief and rage, "You want to send him off to live with those brainless monkeys, with humans?!" he asked.
"They don't know of our existence; they will take care of him!" Michael argued but Lucifer shook his head.
"I will never see one of my brothers in the hands of those abortions!" he spat.
"Would you rather see him in the hands of a Demon?!" Michael shouted.
Lucifer was silent as Michael was right; between humans and Demons, Castiel had a better chance of survival with humans. Gabriel shook his head, "He's barely learned how to use his Grace; he'll have no idea how to control it unless an Angel is there to teach him!" he pointed out.
Michael nodded, "We'll seal his Grace in an object for him to keep; when the right time comes…he will learn how to receive and control it," He answered and took a deep breath, "Until the times comes…Castiel must live and grow among the humans; if we seal his Grace his body will become that of a human and age and function normally…his wings will be hidden and his Grace will not draw the Demons to him," Michael gazed at his sibling's faces, "I know it will be hard…but he is our only hope."
The other Angels looked at each other before their gaze turned to Castiel who was sitting quietly, still confused but smiling at his family. Castiel was such a bright and happy child; the image of him growing up being enslaved by a Demon was sickening. Lucifer ripped off one of the tattered curtains of the hut and gave it to Michael. Gabriel reluctantly handed Castiel to Michael who wrapped him tightly in the curtain. Gabriel stood up holding Balthazar and Anael's hands tightly.
Castiel looked at Michael, "Mikey, where we going?" he asked. Michael gave the fledgling a slight smile, "Someplace better little brother, I promise," he said.
Lucifer put a hand on Castiel's black hair, "Now listen carefully Cas; we need you to be quiet and stay still until we say so; can you do that?" he asked.
Castiel nodded, "Okay Luci," he whispered before snuggling into Michael's arms.
Michael nodded to his siblings, "Let's go."
Deliver us!
Hear our call! Deliver us!
Lord of all remember us here in this burning sand!
Deliver us!
There's a land you promised us!
Deliver us to the Promised Land!
The group peeked out the doorway; once they were sure the coast was free of Demons they ran down the street. They couldn't risk flying in case the Demons felt their Grace and gave chase. Gabriel kept an iron grip on his two charges as they ran as fast as they could out of the city. Narrowly escaping the sights of the Demons they reached the river that was a straight shot to the ocean; far away from all the materialized a large basket out of thin air, looking around a bit to make sure a Demon didn't sense his Grace, and Michael looked at Castiel.
"Can I talk now?" he asked innocently.
Michael smiled, "Yes you can; now let me put you in here," he said and gently placed the fledgling into the basket. The little Seraph struggled slightly from the tightly wrapped curtain until his arms were free and the curtain was a bit more comfy. The Angels all leaned over Castiel with sad smiles on their faces; for when Michael sealed his Grace, all of Castiel's memories of them would be sealed away. Three hundred years would be lost to him until he received his Grace once again.
Gabriel stroked his brother's hair, "Castiel, you're going to go away for a little while," he said.
Castiel looked confused, "Where'm I goin' Gaby?" he asked and tried to sit up, but Gabriel pushed him gently back down.
"You're going someplace far away without us, so we won't be with you for a while." He answered.
Castiel's look of confusion was replaced with sadness and slight fear, "Why? Can Balthy and Anna come with me?" he asked looking at the two young fledglings.
Lucifer shook his head, "They can't come with you, it's too dangerous." He said.
Michael nodded, "We need you to be strong; we'll come see you as fast as we can, we promise," he said holding Castiel's small hand. Castiel nodded and Balthazar placed something around his neck. It was a bronze necklace with a single wing on it facing the left.
"This will help you remember us," Balthazar said holding up his own necklace which contained a wing facing the right side covered with Enochian symbols, "As long as you wear this we'll always remember each other," he said.
Castiel smiled, "I won't forget you Balthy; I won't forget any of you." he said sweetly which only made the pain greater for the older Angels. The sound of yells could be heard in the distance and the Angel's knew that it was time. Michael placed two fingers on Castiel's forehead; the fledgling began to feel drowsy as Gabriel and Lucifer leaned closely to him.
"Good-bye Cas." Gabriel whispered before planting a kiss on his forehead, allowing a few tears to slip from his eyes.
Lucifer placed a hand on his small cheek, "Be strong; find us and deliver us from evil." he whispered.
Balthazar and Anael watched sadly as Castiel slowly drifted off to sleep and let go of Michael's hand, as if he had just taken his final breath. His tiny wings wilted completely and vanished from sight. Michael lifted his fingers away from Castiel's forehead before placing them on the necklace. A white light came from the necklace and Michael's fingers as Castiel's Grace was stored inside the piece of jewelry.
Michael also carved Castiel's name among the Enochian symbols into the bronze wing with a wave of his finger, "Never forget who you are little brother; we'll be waiting for you." He whispered before placing the lid of the basket tightly on the basket.
Anael and Balthazar watched from the river bank as Michael, Lucifer, and Gabriel waded into the river with the basket containing Castiel. They placed it in the water; with a firm nod to one another, they let go and the basket began to slowly drift away with the current.
'Father…if you're still out there,' Michael thought, "please…guide our brother to a place where he can be safe.'
The three archangels made their way out of the water with heavy hearts just as Demons surrounded them. Balthazar and Anael buried their faces in Gabriel's robe as they stared at the Demons with hatred. The circle of Demons parted slightly as a female Demon with blonde hair walked towards them with a twisted smile on her face.
"Lilith," Lucifer growled.
"Mind your manners now, we don't want any mess to clean up," said Demon replied as the Demons around her raised their Angle Blades slightly. Lilith stepped forwards, "Now, come along quietly and we'll introduce you to a nice little cell in the Pit; Crowley hopes you'll enjoy your stay."
Meanwhile, completely unknown to the forces of Hell, Castiel lay sound asleep in his basket as it exited from the river to the ocean, the currents gently rocking him.
The basket would float across the ocean for days until washing up on the shore where a woman named Amelia Novak would be walking, her baby daughter Claire in a stroller.
She would find the basket, open it, and Castiel would awaken, his blue eyes empty of memories of his true family.
Deliver us!
Send a shepherd to shepherd us,
And deliver us to the Promise Land!
Deliver us to the Promise Land!
Deliver us!
Yep. Even here God is the ultimate dead-beat dad. Seriously, at this point in the show, I think God really IS dead! Dude! Get down on Earth and control your bat-shit crazy kids! And bring Gabriel, Balthazar and Samandriel back! Cas is the only DECENT Angel left! Get off your ass God!
Oh, and don't ask me how the Grace thing works. I think we're better off not questioning it. If the show doesn't explain how it works, why should this story or any other SPN fanfic for that matter?
Anyway, I hope this prologue was good enough for you! 'Deliver Us' fits so damn well doesn't it?
Review and tell what you think!