Celestial Crisis

by Leo E. Ndelle

“I’ll make you a deal, young brother,” Maziel said. “How about we take care of our fallen brethren and then I’ll see what I can do about linking you up with Palubiel? Do we have accord?”

  Kaziel’s eyes lit up with unbridled hope at the impossible.

  “You would do that for me, Maziel Sir?” Kaziel asked.

  “On my honor,” Maziel replied.

  “Thank you, sir!” Kaziel beamed and straightened his shoulders.

  Maziel appreciated the young angel’s resolve and renewed spunk.

  “Let’s get to work then,” Maziel said. “By the way, I like your name. I might change my name to yours eventually.”

  The two of them laughed and resumed summoning flames to consume the headless bodies of their fallen brethren.

  ***

  Michael personally oversaw the incarceration of the rebellion. He retained his flaming form as a reminder to the rebellion who was archangel supreme. He wanted to deal a psychological blow on top of their humiliating defeat. Luciel was by his side, bound and on her knees. The leader of the rebellion was at his mercy and so was the rebellion. Luciel was burning with defiance as she met the gazes of her followers. They had lost, for now; but all was not lost. However, it was hard for many of her followers to share in her resolve when she was down on her knees next to someone who was much more superior than she was.

  “Throw her in with the rest!” Michael ordered.

  Two younglings affirmed the order and took Luciel by the arm.

  “Wait!” Michael ordered.

  He walked towards Luciel and met her gaze of defiance.

  “You should have let Raphael end me,” Luciel said. “As long as I am alive, my followers will rise again.”

  Michael scoffed and flared. Every angel and archangel present, including his followers, flinched at the sudden flaring of his body. He inched closer to Luciel.

  “When I’m done with you, Luciel,” Michael seethed. “You’ll wish you were never spawned. THAT is my promise to you!”

  Michael straightened himself. He was satisfied with the look of shock, fear and horror he saw in Luciel’s eyes.

  “Lock her up!” Michael commanded.

  Michael teleported to Celestia and summoned Raphael.

  “Assemble everyone!” Michael ordered.

  Raphael summoned the rest of Michael’s followers.

  “My brothers and sisters,” Michael spoke via Celestial frequency for all who can tune in to the frequency to hear. “We have suffered immensely from this senseless war led by Luciel. Our victory has come at an immeasurable cost. We will not celebrate this moment. Instead, we will take some time to grieve for our fallen brethren and to honor their memories.

  “Luciel, her generals and every single one of her followers will be judged and sentenced accordingly! On my honor as Archangel Supreme of Celestia, this is my promise to you all!”

  There was a brief moment of applause followed by a painful silence.

  “Let us each take a moment to mourn for our loved ones who did not make it,” Michael continued. “We all need to. Dismissed!”

  Michael teleported to his domain and dismissed the flames on his body. He left strict instructions to be left alone until the period of mourning was over. A lot was on his mind. Could he have prevented the war? If he ended Luciel, could things have been different? If yes, could they have been better or worse? Could his act have spurred the rebellion even more or could it have prevented the rebellion? So many questions, so many emotions and he had only one answer: pain. For all who stood by him, all who let themselves be corrupted by Luciel’s selfish ambitions, all who fell, younglings and archangels on both sides, for the war; Michael took the blame for everything.

  While free will is free will and everyone made their choice, Michael believed his leadership was a failure and it was this failure that had culminated in the war. He had nothing but good intentions. But good intentions do not always suffice, do they now? Mother once told him. The war, the guilt, the aftermath of everything… Was this the fallout of all his good intentions? And will it ever stop?

  “Will ‘what’ ever stop?” Michael asked himself out loud.

  The pain? The guilt? The rebellion? The… darkness? Michael summoned his wings and flapped them twice before dismissing them. He had opened up to the darkness for a moment. He had tasted the sweetness, the seduction and yes, the power of the darkness! Michael closed his eyes as the memory of the moment flooded his being. He felt that memory become alive in his essence and knew he had to shut it down immediately, which he did. It was clear that Luciel had not yet tasted the full power of the darkness, but she had had a glimpse of it. Hence, the improved fighting skills during their last stand. And what if she finally gets a full experience of that power? Now THAT was the biggest threat.

  Is that what you think, Michael? Mother asked him once. That Luciel is the reason behind the rebellion? Maybe Luciel was right. Michael should have let Raphael end her! And then what? Another will rise in her stead. Luciel was the leader of the rebellion, but she was not the rebellion. The rebellion was not a creature. It was a mindset, albeit one that manifests according to the esoteric signature of a creature. And in that moment, Michael had his epiphany. He may not be able to defeat the rebellion, but he can certainly contain the fallouts of the rebellion.

  Several moments went by and Celestia was still in mourning. Finally, Michael decided to end the period of mourning.

  “Summon everyone!” Michael said to Raphael through telepathy. “And a special platform for judgement.”

  “With pleasure, Michael!” Raphael replied via telepathy.

  “When you’re done, I want you, Gabriel and Uriel in my domain,” Michael added. “I have something for you three.”

  “As you wish, Michael!” Raphael replied.

  Raphael was loving this new version of Michael, especially since Michael was letting Celestia know who the second-in-command was. Or was it vice archangel supreme? Either way, Raphael was loving it, though he’d never showed it.

  Finally, it was the moment of judgment. A special platform had been built for the occasion on the grounds where the war took place. The rebellion was brought to the center of the platform. They were unchained, except for Luciel, Zukael and Malichiel. Michael sat on a throne that hovered in midair. Raphael sat to his right and Uriel to his left. Gabriel hovered a few feet ahead. Security in Celestia was tight and on high alert. They knew what they had to do in case the rebellion wanted to try something stupid. Two words: ‘no mercy’. Michael’s camp silently prayed for the rebellion to do just that.

  “Brothers and sisters of Celestia,” Gabriel said. “We know why we are here. Let’s go straight to the point.”

  Gabriel allowed a moment to go by as the crowd booed at the rebellion.

  “I will now hand over the forum to Michael,” Gabriel said and summoned a seat next to Raphael.

  Michael turned towards Uriel and nodded. Uriel nodded back but remained in her seat when she began speaking. The vermin that was the rebellion did not merit any iota of respect from her.

  “You have all been charged and found guilty of treason and pointless mass ending of existences!”

  Uriel addressed Luciel’s camp, but her eyes remained trained on Luciel.

  Luciel stared back at her defiantly. She was on her knees, bound in chains of light, but her were eyes full of anger, hatred and a ravenous thirst for vengeance.

  “You all will be punished severely,” Uriel continued and leaned forward. “As for you, Luciel,” Uriel sneered at Luciel’s name.

  She really wished she could turn around and spit on the ground.

  “We have something very special for you and Zukael!”

  Uriel leaned back in her seat before she turned and nodded towards Michael. Michael nodded back at her. He then turned and nodded towards Raphael, who returned his nod.

  “All of you in your rebellion, except Luciel and Zukael, are hereby sentenced to spend the rest of your existences in the Realm of Hel
l!” Raphael said.

  An uproar of protests immediately ensued from Luciel’s camp. However, when Michael’s camp trained their weapons towards the rebellion, a deathly silence instantly smothered their protests.

  The Realm of Hell was the ugliest and filthiest realm in the Dimension of Lemuria. It was dubbed the ‘Cesspool of Lemuria’ by the creatures of Celestia; a most befitting title. Hell Realm was home to all the rejects, bottom feeders, criminals and all-what-not from various realms within Lemuria, and sometimes from realms outside of Lemuria. Hell Realm was the laughing stock of all the realms in Lemuria and this realm was going to be home for the rebellion.

  “And that’s not all,” Raphael leaned in his seat. “Because you so fervently wished to change your status quo, you will no longer be referred to as angels or archangels. You do not deserve such an honor, being the scum that you are!”

  As soon as he said those words, the bracelet on the wrist of every archangel from the rebellion fell off and disappeared as soon as it hit the ground. A glyph which read ‘rebel’ was inscribed on the foreheads of Luciel and her followers. More murmurs and protests spread across the rebellion but they quickly died off when Raphael resumed his sentencing.

  “Wear your mark of shame and disgrace with whatever shred of dignity you have left!” Raphael added sarcastically. “Let it be a reminder for what you have become and for what you represent. Strip yourselves of your current names. You don’t deserve anything related to Celestia!”

  Raphael rose from his seat and floated towards Zukael, who was also on his knees and bound in chain of angel light. He loomed above Zukael and if looks could kill, Zukael’s glare would have burned the living essence out of Raphael.

  “And as for you,” Raphael said.

  “I will have your-” Zukael said but Raphael unleashed a good, right, back-handed slap across Zukael’s face.

  “The next time you speak when you are not supposed to will be your last, you filth,” Raphael warned.

  Zukael glared at Raphael and let out an expletive. Raphael slapped him again across the face.

  “I’m enjoying myself, you filth!” Raphael said. “But I don’t think your ego can take it anymore, can it?”

  Zukael glared at Raphael again but said nothing.

  “I have something very special for you,” Raphael said. “A very special mark. At the right moment, this mark will keep you banned from Lemuria for the rest of your existence. But first, you will enjoy your sojourn in Hell!”

  Raphael then placed his right index finger on Zukael’s forehead. The gesture seemed casual, even comical; but Zukael started screaming in pain. It was the kind of scream that was sweet melody to Raphael but struck fear and pity in the cores of Zukael’s sympathizers. Zukael felt it everywhere and nowhere at once. It burned in every esoteric fiber of his essence and there was nothing he could do about it. Raphael took immense pleasure watching Zukael suffer and wished Zukael’s suffering could go on forever.

  The mark was a glyph with a meaning that eluded everyone present except Raphael, Gabriel, Uriel and Michael. The mark was a curse that burned itself into Zukael’s essence and began a slow but irreversible esoteric metamorphosis. Alas, the pain ceased when the curse was complete. Zukael could tell something was different about himself. He looked at his chained hands and examined his body as if he could find an answer. There was none. Slowly, he raised his eyes and met Raphael’s gaze. Raphael smirked. Raphael then turned his attention towards Luciel and smiled wickedly before floating back to his seat. He turned and nodded towards Michael.

  Michael did not return the nod. He was zoomed in on Luciel and he stared her down with reckless dispassion. Luciel met his gaze and tried to hold it but could not. She averted her eyes. Michael stood up from his throne as flames spewed from his eyes. He walked slowly in midair towards Luciel and when he spoke, flames spewed from his mouth. Gasps of awe and fear filled the platform of judgment.

  “As for you,” Michael spoke in a deep, uncanny voice that no one had ever heard before. “The greatest oxymoron of Lemuria. You call yourself a bearer of light, but your core is filled with darkness! I hereby sentence you to an eternity of solitary confinement in a realm that matches what you represent; darkness! I alone will know the location of this realm and I alone will hold the key to your confinement. There, you will remain and ponder on your crimes, your failure and your defeat for all eternity!”

  Michael grabbed her by the chains and teleported away from the scene, leaving everyone gasping in confusion at what just happened. They appeared in a dark and desolate realm that Luciel was convinced only Michael had ever visited before. She had no way of relaying their location to her followers. Where would she start? Where was this place? There was not a trace of sentient life in the realm! Michael yanked her chain and floated towards somewhere in the void of the realm. He then placed his left hand on the mark below the back of his neck and in between his shoulder blades. The mark glowed and an impression of the mark remained on his left palm. Michael then held his left palm outwards until the empty space in front of him began to wobble slowly. Suddenly, a black vortex appeared and sucked the empty space into a dimension of nothingness. Michael then lowered his palm but the vortex remained in place.

  “How…” Luciel said but trailed off.

  Michael yanked at Luciel’s chains, pulling her to her feet. Luciel stood on her feet and met his eyes. He saw the pleading, the defiance, the regret and most of all, her love for him in her eyes. Luciel saw the anger, the pity and also his love for her in his eyes. Michael removed the chains that bound her wrists and feet together and they vanished the moment they hit the ground. He stripped Luciel of her garments. The naked form he had seen and enjoyed a countless number of times beckoned at him. Luciel took a step closer and, hoping against hope, she wordlessly asked for one last kiss before she was gone forever. Michael took a step closer and took her left waist. Their bodies burned and ached for each other’s. Luciel closed her eyes and parted her lips. Michael parted his lips as well and pulled her body even closer to his.

  Luciel could feel Michael’s lips getting closer to hers. She knew there was no hope for her; she knew Michael was not going to change his mind about her sentence. Still, she hoped for one more moment of loving with her lover and her wish was about to come true. Her core burned with the passion of a final kiss and even one final session of farewell bonding. She summoned her wings and flapped them several times as her body and essence burned in anticipation of….

  But then, Michael inclined his head away from her face. His lips brushed her left ear and placed his left hand on her chest, in between her breasts.

  “If I ever see you again, Luciel” Michael hissed, “I will end you!”

  The last thing Luciel saw before she was pushed into the vortex and before she was sucked into a dimension of nothingness was the look in Michael’s eyes that sealed the promise of his final words to her.

  Michael returned to the platform of judgement without Luciel. He floated to his throne, sat down on his throne and swept his gaze across the rebellion. He then turned and nodded towards Uriel and Uriel nodded back. Uriel faced the crowd and issued the final order.

  “Take them to Hell Realm!”

  And Celestia was more than excited to oblige as they led their enemies away.

  Michael, Raphael, Uriel and Gabriel sat at a round table in Michael’s domain.

  “What’s next for Celestia?” Gabriel asked.

  “We start by rebuilding,” Raphael replied. “From the ground up.”

  “I suggest we keep some of the destruction left behind from the war,” Uriel offered. “These would serve as reminders. Painful, but reminders nonetheless.”

  “And hopefully a deterrent,” Michael interjected. “The reminder part is easy. It’s the deterrent part that will be tough. Mindsets are mindsets and I believe the rebellion still has a following within Celestia.”

  “I’ll handle our security,” Raphael offered. “Both internal and external.”<
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  “Why am I not surprised,” Michael said with a weak smile.

  “Do you still want Palubiel to lead the watch at the border?” Uriel asked.

  “Yes, I do,” Raphael replied. “I trust she’s more than capable.”

  “That’s a huge compliment coming from you, Raph,” Gabriel said. “She’s a youngling archangel, but a flapping fine one too. If you weren’t attracted to her already, I would’ve made my move.”

  “Excuse me?” Raphael was taken aback by Gabriel’s words.

  “Really, Raph,” Uriel said. “Are you going to sit there and pretend you feel nothing for Palubiel?”

  “I feel no such thing for Palubiel,” Raphael replied vehemently.

  His reaction was almost convincing, but Uriel and Gabriel were not buying it.

  “Look, we’re not saying your judgement is clouded when it comes to her,” Uriel explained. “We actually agree with you that she’s remarkable; hence, why you’re so into her.”

  “I’ve heard enough,” Raphael said dismissively. “Back to business.”

  “I agree with Raphael,” Michael said. “I’ve also heard of enough and yes, you are smitten by this youngling.”

  Everyone erupted in laughter except for Raphael.

  “Alright now, back to business,” Michael said.

  “I’ll rewrite our educational curriculum,” Uriel offered. “The war and other things must never be forgotten.”

  Everyone nodded their approval. Michael wondered if by ‘other things’ Uriel was insinuating she knew about the prophecy of ‘The One’. If that was the case, how did she know about that prophecy? And if she did not know, should he tell her about the prophecy? All these were questions that would be answered later.

  “I’ll oversee the reconstruction process,” Gabriel said. “We still have Maziel on our side, right?”

  “We do,” Michael replied. “I’ll meet with him later. We must increase our numbers and the Spawn Sanctuary was untouched.”

  “They probably thought victory was a-given and that they would need the Zarark to increase their numbers,” Gabriel interjected.