BASED ON ERIC KRIPKE'S "SUPERNATURAL". ALL COPYRIGHTED CHARACTERS AND STORYLINES BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS.
This is the first part of a special edition, concerning archangel Michael's retun to heaven.
Introducing David Conrad as Michael.
To anyone out there still reading this story, I am humbled by your attention. Thank you for reading and let me know if you like it so far. Like I said before, your opinion matters to me. Thank you again!
S02E17: THE RETURN (PART I)
Every angel on Earth received word that an official statement will soon be transmitted to all of them. Their general has something very important to announce as the leaders of the garrisons pass the information on. All over the world, celestials gather in front of a screen, TV, computer, abandoned movie theatre and so on, ready to hear from Cas himself.
Usually, an angelic transmitted statement is very rare. Michael despised this type of revealing information although he once used it to uncover a small conspiracy against him. And between angels, everything that must be known is passed down through telepathy from the dominions upstairs. So, the news of its organization causes the angels to be a little on edge. "Is there something wrong?" appears on everyone's lips. If there is, they would have been notified by now.
In heaven, the statement will take place at the balcony above the main entrance of the Command Section. An angel forms a rectangle with his fingers, allegedly the camera. Behind him, the employees of the lowest floors of the building are staring at the balcony filled with virtues. At any moment, Cas will appear and address every angel both in heaven and on Earth.
Cas is nervously watching at the balcony doors. He is afraid of everyone's reaction to what he has to say. But he can't back down. He must trust them like he did when letting them choose between rebellion and family. How else can he expect for him to be trusted back? Ellen approaches him and grabs his hand, encouraging him to go along. From her eyes, he turns to the door knob, and rotating it slowly, opens it. At his sight, Adriel, who was already outside, approaches the beautifully sculpted balustrade, entering in the visual field of the crowd. A glassy light is formed between the fingers of the camera angel, meaning that he is transmitting. The image is sent to every garrison on Earth.
The board member announces: "Angels … the General of the Host of Heaven … Castiel!"
Adriel steps down, being replaced by Cas in the sound of clapping hands. Looking into the eyes of every celestial in the crowd, he realizes they expect from him nothing but good news. He takes a deep breath and squeezes the upper side of the balustrade. He begins:
"My beloved brothers and sisters … We've went through a difficult period. A period that was passed with your wisdom in making the right choice. No matter what happens, I will always trust you when making a decision. That is why …" he stops, rethinking on whether he should say it or not. "That is why I, in this moment, I am going to make the following announcement. I am proud, honored beyond limit to present to you, the return of our lost brother and former general…" After he finishes saying general, a man dressed in a beautiful black tuxedo, short hair and blue eyes appears out of thin air beside him. "… archangel Michael!"
Upon witnessing Michael, Adriel, who was reading a paper, wraps it up and shoves it in his mouth. The virtues stretch their vessels' eyelids to maximum as the crowd starts cheering and applauding. Behind the glass doors of the balcony, Selaphiel feels that his jaw is about to fall while Noria, out of shock, looses herself and kisses Raphael. Ellen can't help but smile at everyone's reaction. Deep down however, like her lover, she too is afraid of the consequences. Because now that Michael has returned, who knows how many will rebel again to reinstate the archangel as general. The last heavenly crisis will seem like child's play if that happens. Two words keep repeating themselves in Cas's mind: civil war. No! He must have faith in his siblings. No matter what. Even Michael warned him about possible negative consequences but his will still couldn't be moved.
Cas steps down, leaving Michael alone at the balustrade. "It's … it is so good to be back" he says as everyone chants his name. Just then, he finds himself frozen by a feeling he can't quite identify yet. Fear? Anxiety? Stage fright? Getting cold feet when about to talk to the Host is not one of his characteristics. Whatever it is, it installs itself upon his vessel's face, making it pale. He lifts his hand and waves in the cheering of every angel in front of him. Afterwards, he quickly steps down while the camera angel ends his transmission. Michael takes a look at Adriel who is stuck in the same position as before: with his mouth filled by a piece of paper.
An impressive reception has been organized for Michael's return at the 24th floor, in all 4 towers. The cubicles in the center have all been removed, replaced by tables. A few virtues have been transformed into waiters to serve the delicacies and liquors. Four cupids for each tower entertain the angels with calming harp ballads. Everyone is waiting for the archangel to join them.
The moment Michael steps out of the elevator, he is greeted with a flood of welcome backs. Every celestial shows itself eager to shake his hand and talk to him. However, there is one angel, a dominion named Vriel, who becomes Michael's shadow. Vriel explains that Cas left him to take care of the archangel's needs. He apologizes on the general and the board's behalf, using the excuse that they are busy with saving the world. Michael smiles: "Naturally… "
Obviously, the questionings soon follow. How did he survive? Why didn't he return to heaven sooner? What did he do after the Battle of Armageddon? How did he get a vessel? Almost every angel at the reception asks the same questions. Luckily Vriel refused all of them for him. He doesn't feel comfortable talking about the past because it reminds him of his mistakes. And every time they make their way topside, he finds it very hard to push them back down. Other than that, Michael is glad to be home again. He missed heaven so much.
He engages in conversation with everyone he can see, asking to be told how has things progressed with the Host. Although every angel discusses with him in a warmly manner, he can see in their eyes intimidation. It resembles the fear of his authority and presence when he was general. Discipline was a keyword in his vocabulary and he permitted no one to fall by the rule. Now, he witnesses the effects and compares them to his human co-workers' at Vladivostok harbor. They used to laugh and make fun of him nearly all the time. Sure he was their foreman and mocking him was inappropriate but that didn't mean they had no respect for him. This is another lesson he learned: leadership imposed by force doesn't guarantee respect or total loyalty.
Then comes the most pressing question of all, asked by a group of dominions. "If you'd be offered your old job back, would you take it?" Michael freezes. All five angels look at him with a very demanding stare, almost ordering him to answer. Suddenly, he remembers what he used to do when trying to escape awkward moments like this. He would go to his office and sit quietly there. For most angels, the Elysian Fields act as a place of escape but for him, his office was everything he needed, hiding for hours there and reading books. So why not go there now? Besides, he is curious to see what Castiel has done with it. So far, he enjoyed every change in the Command Section.
Michael asks to be excused while heading to the elevator. He makes his way through the angels but before he could reach the lift's doors, he is stopped by Percival, a principality with a rather overenthusiastic personality.
"How can I help you Percival?" Michael asks, rolling his eyes. He remembers having worked with him once. He couldn't get rid of him for an entire week.
"Well Michael, I want to get your opinion about some ideas I have for the administrative department. You see, I've managed to find several flaws and I believe that, with thorough analysis and statistical reconfiguration, we might be able to remediate any kind of error. Also, I discovered several leaky pipes …"
Michael looks desperately at the elevator doors, cursing in his mind that they are so far. Percival doesn't even allow his vessel to breathe as he rambles on and on about his theories. "Look" the archangel snaps, interrupting the other "Percival … tell you what. Why don't you write all of your ideas down and sometimes later, I'll take a look at them, all right?"
"Terrific! I'll go to my office and do exactly what you said" the principality confesses as he approaches the opening elevator doors and walks in. "I must not forget about the maintenance routines or the shift changes…" The doors close as Michael thinks: "There isn't enough paper in heaven…"
After a few seconds, he presses the button, calling the lift to him. It arrives. Upon entering, he sees Selaphiel. They are both heading up but the board member stops at the conference room floor. A disturbing silence is broken by the older archangel: "So, I've heard Castiel made you board member. Congratulations!"
"Thanks" Selaphiel shows gratitude but doesn't look at him.
"Too bad I didn't" Michael admits, making his brother feel unease. "But then again, I had a thing for self-centered morons back then."
Selaphiel remains silent. He remembers very well the huge fight they had. There was the matter of the rise of Lucifer followers after the climactic battle between God's first sons. Michael desired no more conflict in heaven and wanted to make an example out of a small group of traitors. Selaphiel stood against his decision, leading to an argument. After the deed was done, Selaphiel, being upset, chose to be sent to Earth to command a garrison. He couldn't hust walk away like Gabriel did and he didn't want to spend one more minute near Michael. The general accepted his proposal.
"What's it like?" Michael asks, referring to being a board member.
"Demanding," the younger one responds along with a nod "life changing."
"Good for you! Are you happy with it?" Michael inquires at which Selaphiel looks at him surprised. Since when does he care about other angels' feelings? Very uncommon to his older brother.
"In a way … yeah, I guess I am" Selaphiel says as the sound made by the stop of the elevator opens the doors and allows him to walk out.
"I'm really glad you're enjoying it!" Michael says while pressing the button to go to the general's office. His brother displays the same surprised expression, watching him leave. It's not that he said it, it's the way he said it. Michael said many things like this but he never meant it. Something is different with him. As for the oldest archangel, Selaphiel's cold attitude depressed him a bit. He knows the kind of relationship they had but it deeply hurts now. How could he treat his youngest brother like that? To discard him like a problem with such indifference. He knew coming back to heaven would be hard but he hasn't imagined it would be this painful…