I would like to thank all of you for the reviews! Special thanks go out to Sandra, Kay, ANNA, joselyn, Lovely work, and Tina! You're all awesome. :)
And I apologize for the lack of Cas. If you're wondering where he and the rest of the angels are, don't worry. I'm planning on one more chapter, and they'll be in it. Anybody besides me think a baby Cas would be adorable? :D
"What do you mean He won't help?" Gabriel stares at Michael incredulously and he flails his arms around, obviously panicked. "He has to help! They're rebelling! We're talking about a war, Michael!"
"I know," Michael snaps, annoyance coloring his voice. "He told me that He will not get involved in this. It is up to us."
Gabriel looks away from his brother, gaze drawn down to Eden. He can't help but feel resentment at their creation. "What will we do?" he asks quietly, returning his gaze to Michael. His elder brother's features are resolute, and Gabriel recognizes that he plans to look at this from a commander's point of view, not that of a brother's.
"God bestowed upon me the responsibility to protect Heaven. If that means we must be at war with each other, so be it. I will not fail." His pure white wings unfold as he straightens. "Call together the army, Gabriel. We will fight." He takes to the air, and with a heavy heart Gabriel follows, one thought on the forefront of his mind.
He could never, ever, be like Michael.
000
Lucifer surveys his gathering of rebel angels, pleased at the faces he sees before him. Belial, Astaroth, Sariel, Asmodeous, Leviathan, Sonneillon and countless others who have sided with him.
If only he had one more.
Lucifer is unsure of what to think of Seraphiel's reaction. He did understand his brother's hesitance; only a fool would think that words could turn the faithful seraph against the wishes of their Father.
But Lucifer has more to offer than words.
The two of them have had centuries upon centuries of companionship, their relationship growing stronger as Seraphiel aged. Lucifer was the first angel that Seraphiel linked to, the first that he trusted. And whether or not Lucifer realized it at the time, Seraphiel was not the only one affected by their friendship. Lucifer found opportunity in Seraphiel. He was young and eager, and Lucifer found himself teaching his younger brother, guiding him and molding him into the angel that he is now. It's taken an infinite amount of time, but everything that Seraphiel is, everything that he's accomplished, it's because of Lucifer. Lucifer showed him what it really meant to love their Father, how to really sing, and he soaked it up like a sponge and it wasn't long before he was leading other angels twice his age in song. The Morning Star took Seraphiel under his wing and from that moment on the young angel had shone. He was Lucifer's star pupil, his only pupil, his friend, and everyone in Heaven knew it.
Yes, Lucifer has much, much more to offer than words. He has a bond.
Their bond.
All he has to do is wait until Seraphiel realizes it. In the meantime, Michael is his biggest concern right now. Lucifer has no doubt that his brother is assembling the army and relocating the non-warrior angels and the fledglings. In a few hours, the battle would begin. Lucifer has no qualms about going against Michael, only the circumstances under which it has to happen. They should not be waging war over a matter such as this. Not because of them. The wingless, graceless, helpless creatures of dirt that their Father created with the ridiculous order to serve them. This is all their fault. Michael should not have done what he did. He shouldn't have given himself to Man, shouldn't have kneeled at their feet as he kneeled before God. Michael was the only angel created in the likeness of the Lord, they should bow to him. If only he wasn't so obedient to their Father's every word, perhaps Michael could have seen how wrong he looked on one knee before Man, his head bowed, his massive and glorious wings splayed on the dirt to either side of him, brushing against ground that wasn't fit enough for the archangel's boots, let alone the white and powerful appendages that carry him through Heaven. It tore something apart in Lucifer to see his elder brother like that. Michael is above Man. He is the strongest angel in all of Heaven, the first angel created, the defender of God and His throne. He alone is Heaven's greatest weapon.
Lucifer supposes he himself is the threat, then.
That fact doesn't bother him. He's doing this for Michael. He's doing this for Heaven. For their Father. But even so, Seraphiel's words still linger in the back of his mind.
Michael would never kill him…would he?
000
Contrary to popular belief, there is more to Michael than stern stares and following God's orders. He has the capacity to think for himself, but he chooses not to, because he is content with carrying out his Father's wishes, as all angels should be. This...disobedience, it has never happened before. There were never any complaints in Heaven, no angel would ever think of defying God. Michael still doesn't understand how Lucifer could cause all of this, why he wan't happy with their father, but Michael will still carry out his orders. He was created to serve their Lord and protect Heaven, and that is what he plans to do. Even if…even if it means he must face Lucifer. His little brother.
He loves his brother.
It goes further than the love that all angels have for their siblings because it is very easy for them to love each other and still dislike another angel. They are connected, but it is their choice to build upon that or not. Michael and Lucifer's bond goes deeper than that, much deeper. There is no line of separation between them. Their souls are in tune to each other's in the most intimate of ways, and Michael isn't sure if he is willing to break that, even for the sake of Heaven. The Lord has given him orders to cast any angel who does not seek His forgiveness away from Heaven.
Michael desperately hopes that Lucifer will comply.
But he knows his brother, and he knows that Lucifer will not stand down on this subject. He has an understanding of why Lucifer is doing this, but he never thought he would take it this far. Lucifer is a proud creature, and he has a right to be. He is God's favored archangel, the purest and brightest, the Morning Star. He shines brilliantly, and all of Heaven is brighter when he rejoices.
Michael did not know that he would turn out like this. Arrogant and power hungry, willing to defy God and wage war against Heaven. He was created to be pure, and neither Michael nor God know where this blackness that now taints his grace has come from. He was not created with it. Michael feels the taint in Lucifer's grace with his own and it's wrong and sinful, which calls for the most severe of punishments. Michael doesn't want to cause harm to his brother, but no one else can stand up to Lucifer.
It has to be him. He has to kill his little brother.
"Michael, all of the non-warrior angels have been moved. The army is awaiting commands."
A tone of seriousness replaces Gabriel's usual lightness, his grace is heavy and dark with sorrow for what will happen, and Michael hates how this war is going to affect him. Gabriel loves every angel, every single one. No one is considered expendable to him. This war…it will break him.
"The army will be split into four divisions. You will lead the archers in first, and on your signal the next wave will be sent to flank you, led by Ariel. Seraphiel will lead his angels and attack from the opposite side when the battle is well underway."
"And what about you?"
"I will be leading my group around and attack them from behind. If all goes well, we should be able to box them in."
"And Seraphiel is willing to fight?"
"I gave him no choice."
The two brothers are silent as the stand side by side, surveying the area that will serve as their battleground. Gabriel is not happy with the thought of loosing so many of his siblings. He doesn't even want to think about Lucifer. They were all happy before. Everything was perfect. Why does it have to turn out this way?
"You're not going to kill him, are you?"
Gabriel's question hangs in the air for a moment, and something inside the messenger angel clenches at the thought of Lucifer falling to Michael's sword. It sounds so wrong. Michael shouldn't have to do that. He shouldn't have to kill their brother. But when Michael answers, his voice is as solid and steady as it has always been.
"I will do what is best for Heaven."
Gabriel leaves to relay Michael's orders to the army. Michael prays.
000
Seraphiel flies quickly, making sure to cloak himself as he speeds toward Lucifer. The Morning Star is alone and Seraphiel is glad.
"Ah, Seraphiel. Have you changed your mind?"
"No."
"No?"
Seraphiel is calm as he stares down his brother. There is something dark in Lucifer's soul. Something evil. Seraphiel is still willing to try.
"You must come back with me, brother. Please. We can still stop this."
Lucifer tilts his head, staring at Seraphiel intently.
"I do not want to stop this. I am doing this for Heaven. Why can't you see that?"
"Because it is wrong! You are wrong, Lucifer, and I do not want to see you hurt because of it. Please, come back with me. Michael will understand. Everything will go back to normal." Seraphiel stares at his brother imploringly, hoping with everything that he is that Lucifer will just stop. He wants his brother back. He wants his family back. But Lucifer's eyes are cold and unfamiliar, his grace almost unrecognizable.
"It will never be normal, not with Man here. Father made a mistake when He chose them over me. I have made sure that He realizes that." Lucifer looks smug, and apprehension fills Seraphiel's senses.
"What did you do?"
Lucifer smiles coldly and shrugs. "I may have…led Eve astray a little. It seems Man is not as smart as they are believed to be."
Lucifer laughs and Seraphiel gets away from him as fast as he can.
The Morning Star is lost.
When Seraphiel approaches the army the magnitude of the situation becomes a little more real. They are about to fight their own kind. Their family. The other angels seem to be realizing this too. None of them look prepared for what is about to happen.
"Hey, bro. How are you holding up?" Gabriel's grace slides against Seraphiel's by way of greeting, warm and familiar. It calms the younger angel a little.
"This is very difficult. I do not want to fight them."
Gabriel nods, understanding clearly apparent in his soft brown eyes. "I know."
A trumpet sounds, signaling the approach of the rebel angels. Gabriel grips Seraphiel's shoulder and presses their foreheads together. "Be careful, okay?" Seraphiel nods and Gabriel takes to the air, his archers behind him.
The Great War has begun.
As Gabriel draws closer to the other angels, he is met with so many familiar faces that he almost stops, the urge to turn around strong. Instead he raises his sword high and at his command arrows tipped in holy fire rain down upon the enemy. His brothers and sisters. He darts down, and with every angel who falls to his sword a piece of him withers away and dies. By the time he signals for Ariel to follow up he is weary not from battle, but from grief.
The battle is fierce, both sides fighting strongly for what they stand for. It is a clash of beliefs, a war birthed from a tear in loyalty.
Well out of the way of the fight, Seraphiel awaits Ariel's signal. The warriors behind him are restless, as is he. He does not wish to fight, but not doing so would only make matters worse. So when Ariel finally signals for him Seraphiel spreads his fiery wings and descends upon the battle, his warriors behind him. There are so many recognizable faces, but Seraphiel draws his sword and fights, undeterred. He sees Zadkiel, locked in combat with another angel. Zadkiel drives his sword through the angel's chest and she disappears in a flash of light. The two brother's gazes lock. Then Zadkiel's eyes widen and his features contort into a pained expression as he drops his weapon and falls to his knees. A sword is thrust up from his back and through his chest, and his eyes never break contact with Seraphiel's. He manages a faint, sad smile and Seraphiel feels him send one last message through the connection of their grace.
Keep singing.
A bright light consumes Zadkiel and Seraphiel stares at the empty space where his brother once stood, not fully comprehending what happened because he was right there a second ago and now he's not and an aching pain is left behind where the connection of their grace once was.
Seraphiel looks up into the eyes of Sonneillon, who is smirking at him, the sword that took Zadkiel's life twirling in his hands.
"Oops. Were you two friends?" A cruel laugh escapes Sonneillon at the expression of open devastation from Seraphiel. The young seraph stares numbly at the spot where Zadkiel perished only seconds ago.
That was his brother. His friend.
Seraphiel turns his gaze to the smirking angel before him and a terrible fury he's never felt before overtakes him. He lunges forward with a snarl of rage, only to be slammed into from the side. He barely recognizes the cold eyes of Belial before an eruption of pain explodes inside of him.
000
Gabriel weaves throughout the battle, wishing with everything that he is that this would end. These are his all his siblings that surround him, yet he is supposed to kill some for the sake of the others. He mourns for the ones that have already fallen and for the countless others that will follow.
A blinding pain rips through his grace suddenly, the force of it enough to stop him immediately. He rises up quickly to remove himself from danger and realizes what the powerful sensation was.
Seraphiel.
Gabriel flies over the battle, desperately looking for any sign of his brother, panic rising steadily at the thought of loosing him. A flicker of orange catches his eyes and he dives down, maneuvering through the fighting angels as he comes upon his brother. Seraphiel is wounded severely, and the rebel angels have realized it as they gang up on him from all sides.
None of them stood a chance against the wrath of Gabriel.
Seraphiel is weak and sags in Gabriel's grip as the archangel lifts them up with his powerful wings, easily supporting their combined weight. There is a gaping tear in Seraphiel's grace, his essence fading away steadily.
"Hey, you're going to be okay. I'll take you to Raphael and he'll fix you up. You'll be good as new." Gabriel continues to talk to Seraphiel softly as they make their way to Raphael's private chamber. It's full of injured angels when they get there, but they all part to let Gabriel through. He carefully sets Seraphiel down before Raphael, leaning down to rest his hand on the side of the wounded seraph's neck. "Who did this to you?"
Seraphiel grimaces and clutches where the angel's blade sunk into him. "Belial," he finally says. Gabriel nods stiffly, letting his anger wash over him. He pats Seraphiel on his shoulder and leaves in a blaze of golden light.
Belial does not last long on the end of an archangel's fury. He is cast down, just as a streak of glorious light descends from above, closing the rebel angels in and sealing their fates.
Michael stands before the angels, his group of warriors behind him, and it is easy to see that the rebel angels are outnumbered. Another light descends from above, a light that was once the purest in all of Heaven. Lucifer stands before Michael, and for a moment the battle ceases, frozen in time as the two white winged angels stare each other down, the most powerful forces in Heaven.
"Hello, Michael."
Michael's visage is stoic as he observes his brother. "Father has told me that if you ask for His forgiveness it will be given to you. All of you." Lucifer chuckles darkly, gazing at Michael with angered amusement.
"Always the obedient little soldier, aren't you? Well, I am not. I see our Father's error, but you, you believe He can do no wrong. But He is wrong, and you are too blinded to see it. He has chosen them over us, Michael. He has turned His back on you, the archangel He created in His likeness. You are nothing more than a good soldier to Him. Join me, brother, and you can be so much more."
Not a sound is heard as the angels await Michael's response.
For the first time, Gabriel observes, Michael's voice isn't solid and steady as it has always been.
"I…I do not understand why you feel you must do this. You are my brother, Lucifer, and it pains me to see what you have become." Michael stops, his wings arched towards Lucifer as if he wishes to shield to him. From what, Gabriel doesn't know. He supposes it is in Michael's nature to protect, even if the problem lies within. "I love you, and I will always love you, but I will stop you from tearing Heaven apart if I must. Please. Do not force my hand."
It's the closest Michael will ever get to begging, and it is no surprise that it is for Lucifer. If the Morning Star is affected by Michael's words, he does not show it. Instead he draws his sword, and Michael's features harden as he follows suit. They fly towards each other, archangel against archangel, brother against brother, and all of Heaven feels the first clash of their blades. The battle resumes, Michael and Lucifer in the center. More angels are dying, though even more are being cast down from Heaven. They fall one by one, and soon only two of the rebel angels remain.
"Surrender, Lucifer! You have lost; there is no need to continue." Michael forces Lucifer back with his blade and leaps back himself. Lucifer snarls, refusing to back down.
"I will keep fighting!" He lunges toward Michael and the two are once again locked in battle. The angels that are left watch as the archangels continue their fight. One angel slinks away from the battle unseen, disappearing from sight.
"Lucifer, I do not want to hurt you. Stop." Michael arcs his sword down, but Lucifer swiftly dodges and uses his wings to push off the ground. Michael follows, taking their fight to the air. They fly gracefully, ducking and rolling around each other, a horrible travesty of a dance. Then Michael lunges forward suddenly, catching Lucifer in a brief moment of weakness, and his sword sinks into the Morning Star's stomach. His green eyes lock onto Lucifer's, whose are just as wide and surprised as his. In that minute moment in time, all the rage and hate is stripped from Lucifer and he's left bare before Michael, a younger brother gazing into the eyes of the oldest as he grips Michael's forearm hard and chokes. Michael looks down at his sword, lodged to the hilt inside his brother, and he yanks his hand away as if scalded by hellfire.
What has he done? Must he lose everything for the sake of Heaven?
The moment ends and Lucifer falls from the sky and lands with a sickening thud on his side, Michael's sword still protruding from his stomach. A hush settles over the angels, all eyes on Michael as he floats down slowly to Lucifer.
From Raphael's chamber Seraphiel cries out in agony as a pain he has never experienced rips through his grace, scorching his insides like the blackest of hellfire. Raphael tries to force him back down but Seraphiel struggles, realizing in his pain induced haze that it's Lucifer that has caused this terrible ache inside him.
He doesn't want to lose another brother.
He stands shakily, ignoring Raphael's orders to lie back down, and he steps outside and spreads his wings, sheer will driving him back to the battlefield. When he gets there the sight that greets him makes him feel as if his soul is being sliced in half.
Michael stands above Lucifer, his sword raised, aimed at the Morning Star's chest. Lucifer is looking up at him with fear for the first time in his life; Seraphiel can feel it in his grace, the frenzied rush of emotion that he thought Lucifer was incapable of. Michael's massive wings arch around them, shielding them both from the other angel's view, and he steels himself for what he is about to do. He closes his eyes, and then freezes when he feels a tug on his grace.
Michael looks up to see Seraphiel directly ahead, his expression one of a pain so raw that the archangel lowers his sword a fraction of an inch. Seraphiel is the only angel that can see Lucifer due to the position of Michael's wings. His golden eyes are frozen on Lucifer, but he meets Michael's eyes and the archangel feels another twinge in his grace.
Please.
It's a plea from one brother to another, a plea for understanding and forgiveness on another's behalf.
It is the one plea that Michael will grant.
He nods and lowers his sword.
"Father will not be so forgiving when He finds out what Man has done. It seems they are not as righteous as He thought." Lucifer's words are cold as he glares defiantly up at Michael, traces of fear gone, a perverse sense of joy taking its place and echoing within his eyes, unaware that his life has just been spared. Michael's features harden.
"You tricked Eve? Do you realize that because of you, Father has decided to cast them out of Eden? They can no longer gaze upon our glory without causing themselves harm."
"I did it for you, Michael. Things can be normal again."
Michael looks down at his brother, knowing that things will never be normal again.
He grips Lucifer's wings.
At the first tear in the brilliant feathers Lucifer screams, a horrid sound that fills Michael's ears and that will haunt him for the rest of his life. The angels surrounding them watch with varying levels of horror as Michael rips Lucifer's wings apart, not stopping even when the Morning Star begins to beg, his voice broken and desperate as he writhes in pain.
"Please! Michael, I beg of you! I surrender, just stop, please!"
Michael's features are hard and he's rigid as stone, not paying any attention to his brother's pleas for forgiveness. It's too late.
"Michael, please…" Lucifer trails off into a sob and twists towards Gabriel, attempting to throw himself at his younger brother and out of Michael's unyielding grip. "Gabriel, help me! Gabriel!"
Grief-stricken, the messenger archangel stares at Lucifer with pained brown eyes, anguish spilling over his features as his brother begs for his help. A harsh and choked sound tears itself from his throat as Lucifer claws at the ground in a futile attempt to drag himself closer to him. Lucifer's wings in Michael's grip tear even more as he continues pulling towards Gabriel, a wild desperation shining in his wide gray eyes.
"Gabriel! Please! I love you, I love you so much, please..."
Gabriel takes a step forward, halts, shakes his head and backs away, eyes never leaving Lucifer. His entire body is shaking as he stands there, a malestrom of emotions running across his features. Then he seems to deflate completely, as if whatever had given him life was sucked away without warning. Lucifer desperately calls his name again, still trying to reach him, and he uses what little grace is left in him to connect with Gabriel's. The action in itself is tragic; Lucifer's grace is so weak that Gabriel can hardly feel it, but it's more than Gabriel can take. He shakes his head again, looking from Michael to Lucifer with wide eyes, and he unfurls his wings, taking in Lucifer's devastated expression before dropping his eyes and fleeing from the scene, the animalistic cry of betrayal, rage, and shock from Lucifer echoing in his ears.
The light that once shone around Lucifer dims as Michael decimates his brother's wings and Lucifer's pleas rise in desperation, the pain unbearable.
"Father! Father, please, help me!"
"He will not listen to you, Lucifer. This is your punishment. You will be banished with the beings you despise, destined there for all of eternity. You..." Michael trails off and pauses, an unreadable expression forming across his features. Then he shakes his head and stares with a hard gaze down at Lucifer. "You are an abomination, Lucifer," he finally says. Lucifer stills, looking over his shoulder at Michael, hurt flashing clearly in his eyes as he stares up at his brother. His next words are soft enough for only Michael to hear, but they are pained and his expression shifts to one of resignation.
"I loved you once."
Michael says nothing, his hands still grasping Lucifer's wings tightly, but an almost imperceptible shudder wracks his powerful frame and his head lowers slightly, his wings folding in to press tightly against his back. Hours seem to pass as Michael stands above Lucifer with his head bowed.
Then he grips the arches of Lucifer's wings and snaps them in two, ripping them away from his little brother's back with a sickening crunch.
The Morning Star is no more.
Lucifer shrieks in unbridled anguish, and the pure and radiant light that was once shrouded around him like a blanket disappears. He's left broken and sobbing in a heap, his wings laid out before him. Slowly, Lucifer lifts his gaze and meets the golden eyes of Seraphiel, who has not uttered a sound, simply staring with a defeated expression marring his features. Anger takes over Lucifer's senses as he stares at the angel who had not strayed from his side for centuries.
Until now.
"I trusted you, Seraphiel!" Lucifer shouts, voice hoarse, "I taught you everything, I gave you everything! You will pay for this, you will all pay! Mark my words!"
Michael takes one last look at his brother, an untold grief in his emerald eyes, and he casts Lucifer down into the deepest pits of Hell and with him leave the last remnants of Heaven as it once was, a realm of love and peace.
:(
The next chapter will take a bit longer to get up. I'll be busy for the next few days, but I will post it as soon as possible.
Reviews make me feel all fuzzy inside.