All mentions of Tiesen, Gaelen, Chale, and Rika belong to the wonderful mind of silver ruffian.

Dean and Sam Winchester, back at it once more. Somehow, after Dean returned from his little escapade into the future, he finally got why Sam had done what he had done. At least, that's what he kept telling himself. Ari kept looking at him like he was nuts, like he was off on another tangent. But they got back to work. Dean never told her what he saw in regards to her on his little trip through the time-space continuum. Somehow, he thought that she didn't want to know.

Demons, symbols... every day melded into another. They fought witches, demons, insane demi-gods. She learned from the best, now that she finally understood her purpose. Michael didn't care about her anymore. He gave her this duty to make sure that Sam stayed on track and away from Lucifer, and that Dean would somehow choose the 'right' path and become his vessel. She was simply a middle man, the go between for the Winchesters and the Host.

Castiel was still around, but he despised her for keeping Afriel around inside of her. Sometimes, the rage that Afriel felt on her behalf, the anger at everyone for betraying her and casting her out, was all that kept her sane when he was around. He made it clear to her that their relationship was on hiatus until Afriel left the picture permanently. For Ari, that was okay. She had considered their relationship over since her Fall.

Out of all of their adventures over the next few months, the most painful one for Ari was when the entity known as the Trickster came around and sent the brothers and her into TV-land. She recognized him immediately for what he truly was, but she let the brothers figure it out on their own. Her long-lost brother Gabriel was toying with her. Tears wanted to come down her face, but her anger at him overrode that. She was truly filled with the wrath of God when she tore him a new one for abandoning her like that. Out of all of her brothers, after Michael and Lucifer, she was closest to Gabriel. When he just up and left the Citadal like that, it tore a hole in her that never healed. When she left with the brothers, her heart was locked away once more as Gabriel stood there in the abandoned warehouse where they had trapped him.

Their most recent adventure took them to a Supernatural convention for avid fans. Ari simply rolled her eyes and headed over to the bar. She wasn't part of their universe. Hell, humans weren't supposed to know that angels even existed. Sure, they prayed to them for guidance, for help, even for mercy, but they were none of that. They were simply soldiers that did whatever their Father told them to do. What was the point of protecting this place? Human kind had sent this world to pot long before now. This place used to be beautiful, but why was it so hard for humans to understand that?

Demons, humans... none of it mattered. She sipped her way through half a bottle of whiskey, trying to blend in with the crowd as the fans masqueraded around as hunters trying to solve a case. What a joke. Personally, she was insulted by the way that the Winchester Gospel was ridiculed like this. But when this hunt turned out to be real, she stayed with the prophet and protected the innocents, just like her father would have wanted her to do. Personally, she would have loved to throw them to the dogs, let the humans rot.

Well, a good thing came out of the stupid convention. They had found the location of the Colt. This was the only thing that could kill Lucifer, or so the humans thought. Ari couldn't stand the thought of killing her brother, even if he was fallen. But then, so was she. She might still be connected to Heaven by way of Michael, might be on this Earth for a purpose, but she was fallen nonetheless when she disobeyed Zachariah/Phanuel. The warrior's brand on her arm meant nothing in the long run.

Ari stayed with Bobby while they tracked down the Colt from a demon, Lilith's right hand man. Dean, Sam, and another hunter by the name of Jo Harvelle got it. Amazingly, even some of the demons were scared of Lucifer; at least, this Crowley one was. He had guessed the final plan. Lucifer didn't care who won. He just wanted everything to go back: he wanted the angels to rule again, with him in charge. The final showdown was to take place in Carthage, Missouri.

Afri filled her in on the importance of the place, but Ari didn't share it with the boys. It was where Gaelen's body was buried. Gaelen... the Horseman of Death. One of the four entities in Hell or Heaven that actually gave a damn about her, as both a fallen angel and as a demon. He and his brothers convinced Alastair, once she was fully converted, into sharing her with them. In turn, they talked with her, trying to give her something to hold on in Hell besides the next soul to torture. Afri might have laughed the first couple of times, but Gaelen, Tiesen, Rika, and Chale actually liked simply talking, not fighting or maiming. Sure, that was their job, but there were other things in life besides the next kill.

In order for Gaelen to resurrect, someone has to sacrifice quite a few human souls on the night of the new moon while speaking the ritual words. It was quite a potent spell; only someone of massive power could perform it and not die in the process. She and Lucifer were two of a very few candidates.

Well, Ari looked at the news around Carthage, and it turned out that half the town was missing and presumed dead, all with in the last two weeks. If that wasn't a big enough calling card, then Lucifer really needed to work on his subtlety. Her mind began to wander as she thought of her brothers before she lit up a cigarette. A new vice, but it helped her to make her heart hurt less. God, she'd been played from the start. Maybe she was on the wrong side.

A racket from the kitchen told her that the brothers were back. Well... time to start hunting again. Castiel, on the other hand, had a different strategy. Let the humans get ready tonight, have a little fun. Tomorrow, they would worry about killing the Devil. Either way, it was a plan. Her eyes flashed black as she entered the kitchen and ditched the smoke.

Ellen immediately pointed a gun in her face at the sight of the black eyes. "Jesus, Ellen!" She knocked the gun aside as Dean, Sam, and Bobby came in to see what was going on. "Knock it off! It's me!"

"Damn right! What's with the black eyes, Ari?" At that, Ari rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Really?" She fingered one of the empty shell casings on the table between them. "You don't know?" Dean tried to tell her not to say anything, but she didn't give a rat's ass anymore. "Oh, you're not in the loop. Well, I'm Afriel, your darling angel's other half." She lit up the smoke again. "You know, comes from being in Hell for over a thousand years." Ellen and Jo's faces went white. "That's right! I forgot. Yeah, no... I just torture souls that betray me, right Cas?" Afri cocked her head as Ari emerged again.

"Forgive her, she's on edge tonight. So am I." She looked to Sam and Bobby, avoiding Dean's crestfallen gaze. "It's not every night that you're charged with protecting a human that wants to kill your oldest brother." She scoffed amidst the smoke. "Excuse me." She walked past the hunters and angel without even a look behind, walking out back to the junkyard. She could hear Ellen's voice raised and yelling at the boys, Dean trying to explain. She didn't care.

You know, Afriel spoke in her head. You can make your own choices. Michael doesn't care anymore, does he?

"No. He doesn't." Ari chuckled a bit. "He hasn't even checked up on me since Lucifer rose from the seals."

So why the hesitation, Ariel? Why are you still confused? Afri sounded honestly concerned.

"What do you care?"

I care because I'm a part of you. I hate it when you beat yourself up like this. It disturbs me. What more do you want?

"Brothers that care, for start. The Horsemen are awesome, but they're just friends, brothers-in-arms. I'm talking about my blood brothers, the angels that used to care about each other. Now Michael just wants to see Lucifer dead, not sealed away. And Lucifer, he just wants to see the world burn. I don't know anymore, Afri. What other side could I be on? Heaven or Hell... what a choice. Why is there no middle ground?"

There is, Ari. You just have to find it first. Afri sighed for a moment. You like the Horsemen, don't you? You understand their purposes.

"Yeah."

Well, ask one of them. You heard Tiesen back in River Pass. The five of us are keepers of the balance. You have to find a way to keep the balance between your brothers. Between the Light and the Dark. Even if that means fighting on a side that doesn't belong to either of them.

"What possible side could that be?"

Afri was getting frustrated now. You dunce! What have you and I been talking about for the last few minutes? Who is neutral in the Apocalypse? Who doesn't answer to Heaven or Hell?

She finally got it. "You know, Afriel, I don't what I'd do without you some days."

Well, moron, I'm not leaving any time soon. You made sure of that. A few days after the summoning of Raphael, Ari removed the pentacle tattoo from her shoulder and replaced it with a binding lock. She didn't want her dark mirror leaving. Besides, even if they did find out, I'd kill them for you.

Ari took out the Sword of Lucifer in one hand, and summoned Michael's sword in her other hand. She had learned that trick soon after her Fall; Michael should have learned to keep better track of his belongings, but that didn't matter now. It was the symbolism in her hands that was the matter of import right now. Two brothers, two swords. Both were hers, now. The choice was hers. It was always hers.

The next day, they all piled into the two cars and headed out to Missouri. Dean saw that Ari was quiet, not speaking a word. She just fiddled with the hilts of the swords that she carried around with her. Man, what had happened to her? Was something going on with her and Afriel? Was she going to snap and become a liability to him?

"Dean, you're hurting my head. Learn to shield your thoughts, would you?" She rubbed her temple as they all stopped and got out of the car. "We'll be fine." She began to look around, like she was seeing something they weren't. In that case, it was true. Invisible to the human's eyes were hundreds of Reapers. Hundreds. All of them standing, waiting. Waiting for Gaelen to arise. There hadn't been a gathering like this since before she was released from Hell. If it happened during her incarceration, she had no way of knowing.

She heard the 'click-click' of high heeled boots walking towards them. "There you are!" In an instant, both her swords were ready and her eyes blazed black as she looked on the minor demon in front of her. From what Dean had revealed through his unguarded mind, this was Meg, an old foe of theirs. "Shouldn't have come here, boys." She tossed a look at Afriel and laughed; it sounded quite forced, like it was the worst thing possible. "So, fulcrum, what side's it gonna be?" Dean, Sam, and the Harvelles looked at Afri with confusion, but their weapons were trained on the demon in front of them.

"I will choose the side that is neutral to both." Without warning, she sheathed both swords and light-zapped out of there, using the remnants of her strength. She left Dean and Sam be; they had their own battles to fight.

She zoomed out into the woods of Jasper's Farm, where she felt the Horsemen coming together. She was so weak; that zap cost her dearly, but she refused to fall to the ground. She just wiped the blood away and looked around. "So, Afriel, you finally decided to join us." A voice came from behind her; just a basic demon. Before she could make a move, someone else spoke up for her.

"Unfortunately, they have a prior engagement with us." A sword slice through the air, and the demon was dead. She turned around, Ariel back in place, as she looked to the three men standing behind her dressed in black jeans and white t-shirts underneath black dusters. Tiesen was the one that held the bloody sword in his hands. "Well, well, Ari. It took you long enough." Moving in front of his brothers, he took her in his arms. "Welcome back."

"Thank you, brother." He leaned back and smiled. He had shed the guise of the River Pass business, showing his true form as the Horseman of War. Albeit dressed normally, his long white hair was braided down to his back. His golden-yellow eyes looked at her with gratitude. Instead of the slightly rotund shape of the businessman, Tiesen's body was wiry, lithe. He was the underdog in looks, but equal to the others in power.

"Chale." The Horseman of Pestilence walked forward and messed her hair with a brotherly smile on his face. Like his brother, he too was dressed normally, but his tanned complexion suited the golden-yellow eyes better. His shorn black hair suited him. After all, there was nothing that could stop him, just like there was nothing that could be done to stop a fear of a pestilence, especially one from the Dark Ages.

"Ari!" Rika was the cheeriest of them all, as well as the youngest. He had a hawkish look to his mulatto features, but the golden-yellow eyes stared out in nothing but joy that their missing sister-in-arms had returned to them. The Horseman of Famine had a wicked sense of humor.

"So, did Afri send you here, or did you come of your own free will?" Chale leaned against the tree, looking out into the clearing where the ritual to unleash the last of them was getting ready.

"I came here because now neither brother can use me against the other." All three of them nodded their heads. "Afri, though, wishes me to tell you guys that she thinks I'm a moron for not figuring it out earlier." At that, they all just laughed. "So, what's the plan?" All four of them looked out to the field where Gaelen's body was interred. Only a few more hours until midnight, then he would be free. At least, that was the goal if Lucifer got his way.

"We wait. Nothing more. Once Gaelen is released, we will become at our full power." She followed them as they walked to their cars. The four muscle cars were parked outside of a dilapidated barn, but they shone like new. "When that happens, then we can begin the Apocalypse." Chale leaned against the silver-grey Cougar. "But first, do you got a ride? We saw that little transpo earlier, and you can't be weak every time you travel with us."

Tiesen slapped his head. "Get a grip, brother. She'll ride with me." He grinned as she looked over the fire-red Mustang and grinned. "Right, Ari?"

Rika just rolled his eyes as he slid into the buttery leather seat of his midnight-black Camaro. "Your choice, Ari. Of course, you can always ride with Gaelen." He pointed over his shoulder to the white Barracuda. On its side was detailing work of a ghostly horseman. A little ostentatious for her taste, but hey, to each their own. At least they weren't riding horses. That would get them no respect in this day and age.

"I'll stick with you, Tiesen. But I'll drive Gaelen's car to his burial site for just tonight." That earned her a kiss on the forehead. The Ariel of before would have cringed at the thought of even being near three of the five most powerful supernatural entities in history. She would have hid Afri away, thought herself a freak. But now, after spending so much time with the humans, she was relaxed, enjoying herself. Afri was as much as part of her as Michael was. There was no shame in that, for everything had its place and its importance. Her importance to Michael was nothing compared to the joy she felt with her friends.

As she took off her jacket and stretched under the moonlight, she heard the soft laughter come to an abrupt end as she stepped into the moonlight. She didn't need to ask why they had stopped: she knew perfectly well. Chale stepped forward and peered at the brand on her arm. "A warrior of God, Ariel?" He addressed her by her full name. Oh, shit...

She shook her head. "It was simply a way for my brother to get me out of my ill-deserved punishment. Phanuel was pissed at me, now he can't touch me." They all looked at her and she nodded, taking off her shirt and crossing her arms in front of her breasts. They got a good lock at the scars, the brands. Chale was furious; all the plants around him began to die and the air grew musty. She covered myself right quick and shoved out her hands, letting them see all of the times that her fingers were broken and re-set. The air grew black as midnight approached. "My job was to protect the Winchester brothers, to make sure that Dean took his rightful place as Michael's vessel. My brother banished me from Heaven; I'm not a angel anymore, even if I still have my Grace. I will never be one of those bastards again, not of my choice at least." The anger in her voice caused all of them to take a step back. This most certainly wasn't the Ariel that they remembered. But frankly, they were all glad for it.

"Well, now you have your chance with us." Tiesen clapped her shoulder with his broad hand. She took out her swords and laid them on her shoulders so that they crossed behind her neck. Now, it was back to the waiting.

Finally, the Witching Hour drew near. There was maybe fifteen minutes until midnight. The three Horsemen and Ari watched by the edge of the forest. Their cars were waiting for them; Ari drove Gaelen's Barracuda next to Rika's Camaro and turned it off to avoid alerting the others. All four of them had swords at the ready, waiting for the end of the ritual to come. Just then, the Winchesters barged onto the scene.

This was the first time that she had seen Lu's new skin. Frankly, the guy was really quite plain. Perfect for Lucifer to slip among the mortals undetected. For all that he preached angelic superiority, he definitely agreed that humans had their uses. However, the vessel was beginning to die. Even from where she was in the trees, she could see the burns on his vessel's face where Lucifer was just becoming too much for the poor guy. Oh well... sacrifices were a necessity when in war.

Ari bit her lip as she watched Dean take a shot at Lucifer with the Colt, blowing a clean little hole into the side of his head. Tiesen chuckled lowly. Boy, that was entertaining; it was especially joyful to see their brothers' faces as Lucifer got back up off the ground. He placed his hand against his head and glared at Dean. "Where did you get that?" He shoved Dean into a tree and turned back to Sam. "Now, where were we?" He grinned a bit and leaned on the shovel in his hands as his head healed up within seconds. "Don't feel too bad, Sam. There's only five things in all of the creation that that gun can't kill, and I just happen to be one of them. But if you give me a minute," he turned back to digging, "I'm almost done." He shoved in two scoops of dirt before leaning on the shovel again. "You know, I don't suppose you'd just say 'yes' here and now? End this whole tiresome discussion? That's crazy, right?"

Sam stood up when he ascertained that Dean was still alive. "It's never gonna happen!" His fists began to curl up; Ari could see the anger just rippling off him.

"Oh, I don't know, Sam. I think it will." Lucifer returned to his digging. "I think it'll happen soon: within six months. And I think it'll happen... in Detroit." Lucifer seemed all smug.

But Sam wasn't buying it. "You listen to me, you son of a bitch. I'm gonna kill you myself, you understand me? I'm going to rip your heart out!" Ari was surprised that he didn't just demon up right now and take him out.

Lucifer, however, was still happy. "That's good, Sam. You keeping fanning that fire in your belly. All that pent-up rage. I'm gonna need it." Sam took a few deep breaths, forced himself to calm down. Ari turned to the Horsemen, who nodded their heads. Show time. As one, they emerged from the forest and walked up to the edge of the pit, past Sam and Dean, past Lucifer.

"Ariel?" Lucifer was confused at this point. "Baby sister? What are you doing here?" He saw his sword in her hand, but her face was calm as she completely ignored him. Each of the Horseman and her took a side, began chanting in Old Enochian. She turned to the congregated demons there. They all turned their black-eyed gaze to her as she let Afriel loose.

"Repeat after me. We offer up our lives, blood, souls to complete this tribute." As one, every single of the demons spoke the words, killing them instantly. She turned to Lucifer, that look of shock still on his face. "Thanks, big brother, for doing this for me. Now, excuse me. I'll take it from here." She took a grip on his shirt and threw him across the pit to land on the other side. As midnight struck, the ground trembled and opened. Ari smiled as she and her brothers-in-arms walked forward to the front of the pit, heedless of the bodies that had dropped like flies.

A man walked out of the pit. An African-American cock-diesel giant stood before them all. His shaved head shone in the moonlight as his black-brown eyes opened before normalizing into golden-brown. He cracked his neck, moaning softly as he stretched out his long-stiff form. As he did so, he donned the same clothes as the others.

"Welcome back, Gaelen." He turned his head down to the ground, walking out of the pit slowly. He peered at her for a moment.

"Afriel?" His voice was deep, deeper than any bass of the heavenly choirs. He looked around, taking in the open field and the brothers standing by the edge.

"No, brother. Ariel is back, but she and I are one." She could only just imagine the look on the Winchesters' faces as Gaelen wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "We both want to take you up on your earlier offer." Before she was released from Hell, Gaelen and his brothers extended her the offer to join them, but before she could've answered, she was hauled out of there.

"Ari?" Dean finally spoke up; she felt Castiel come onto the field now. "What are you doing?"

She looked over at Dean, nothing on her face as Gaelen let her go. It must have been quite a sight, her standing with the Horsemen like that, but she was fine with that. "Dean, I'm choosing a side." She looked at Castiel and scoffed. "A side that I know I can count on." With that, all five of them walked past them, jumped into the cars and zapped out of there.

Castiel looked forlorn as she walked past him without a second glance. For all that he hated Afriel, Ariel was still his mate. Sam shook his head and Dean looked up to the heavens. What had she unleashed?