Hey look, a final chapter! It took me a lot longer than I thought to finish it, but it's about the length I figured it would be. Thanks to anyone who's read this much! Please review, tell me what you thought! Also, I think I'm going to write another Disney AU. I was planning on writing Sabriel Beauty and the Beast, but apparently, another person beat me to that, so I might to Johnlock Beauty and the Beast. Or Sabriel Little Mermaid. Or do you guys have any requests? I want to do something with Mulan or Hercules. Send me requests, if you want to, I'm willing to write for Avengers, Supernatural, Doctor Who/Torchwood, Good Omens, or Sherlock.
The entire plaza was in an uproar at what had just transpired. Never before had anyone escaped from their execution, or at least not anyone that could be remembered. Michael was already taking action, calling to his soldiers, "Seize the cathedral! The Bishop shall learn that not even the Lord can stand in the way of justice!"
Soldiers set to work, attempting to batter down the door as Castiel finally got the other hand free. He rushed down the tower into the church, coming upon Sam just as Dean collapsed, pulling Sam down, too. Castiel rushed to them, managing to catch Dean's head so that it didn't crack against the hard stone floor.
Sam looked at Castiel and was about to speak, but the continued banging against the door was a staccato reminder of the imminent danger.
"Up in the tower," Sam said. "Quickly."
Castiel nodded and picked up Dean easily, hurrying up the stairs with Sam on his heels. Sam cleared the few bits of rubbish off the bed before Castiel set Dean on the bed, as gently as he could. The banging continued, and Sam gave him a serious look.
"They'll be here soon. I should go, maybe I can stall them."
Castiel nodded and Sam gave both him and Dean a sad look before rushing from the room. When he was alone again, he turned back to Dean, kneeling beside him.
"We've done it, Dean," he said quietly. "You can wake up now. You're safe."
There was no response.
"Dean?" he was slightly more frantic, shaking his shoulders. "Oh, no." Tears began to stream down his face and he looked up to see Michael taking measured steps across the room. "You killed him!" he exploded.
"It was my duty, Castiel!" Michael replied, but there was a hint of regret in his tone. A twisted emotion, especially coming from such a warped individual. Castiel had never been able to fully see it before, but he could recognize it now. There wasn't anything right about Michael. He was evil, pure and simple. "And now it's done, and you can forgive me. Your suffering has come to an end, and things can return to normal."
There was a small spot of light and Castiel pulled out of reach just as Michael's dagger came down, where his heart had been moments before. Castiel rushed Michael, forcing him to the ground and managing to knock the blade from his hands.
"Castiel, listen to me!" Michael insisted, seeing the murderous glint in the hunchback's eyes.
"No, master, it's your turn to listen," Cas spat. "You lied to me. My entire life, you lied to me. Told me the world is dark, that is' cruel and evil and empty, but you can't lie to me anymore. The only thing I know that's cruel and evil and empty is you. Why should I let you live?"
"Because you're not me," Michael replied, voice remarkably even.
Castiel made a grab for the knife, pressing it to Michael's throat, pricking a bit of blood from the taught flesh. "Are you willing to bet your life on that?"
"Cas!" a deep voice exclaimed.
"Dean!" Castiel cried in relief, looking up from Michael.
"He lives," Michael murmured, taking the moment of distraction to push Castiel away and get back to his feet, grabbing for his sword and Dean. He held the sword to Dean's neck and backed them onto the balcony.
Castiel followed them out, moving cautiously, aware of how close the thin blade was to Dean's throat.
"Let him go, please!" Castiel plead. "I'll do anything."
Michael perked up at that. "Anything? Really?"
"Yes, m-master." He hated how his voice shook on the word, but even more, he hated how the word sounded on his lips. "We can go back to how it was. I won't disobey again."
Michael let out a laugh. "I should have known you'd give up for this swine." Hw dropped the sword and released Dean, beginning to step around him without regard for the man's actions. "Now I'm going to do what I should have done twenty years ago." He raised the sword, just to be hit in the head with the fist of a large gypsy man.
Dean glared at Michael and Castiel gasped in shock as the judge stumbled backward, overbalanced against the banister, and fell.
Castiel let out a shout and rushed to the edge, unable to grasp what had just happened, reaching out into space for the man whose life had just ended. He let out a sob. It wasn't sadness, and there were no tears. He slid to the ground and felt Dean's arms around him.
"It had to be done," Dean murmured. "I'm sorry, Cas."
Castiel nodded, closing his eyes and focusing on Dean's warmth while the other man continued purring the words, "It's over," as if assuring himself just as much as Castiel.
~X~
"So here is a riddle you never can guess!" sing the bells of Notre Dame. "What makes a monster and what makes a man?