Prophecy Broken
Summary: Sam and Dean enroll in Anti Apocalypse University. Castiel is their instructor.
Pairings: Castiel/Hannah/Castielle/Hana, Sam/Eileen, Dean/Jo, Charlie/Anna, Kevin/Garth
Warnings: Apocalypse, religious lore, and lots of violence
Prologue
350 million years ago
“Castiel?” Castiel smiled when he heard Hannah’s angelic voice in his mind. As he stood on the shores of the ocean, gazing out at the endless waves, he felt her presence.
“Shh,” Castiel warned as she came closer. “It’s going to happen soon. I’ve been waiting for so long. Do you think it will be different this time?”
“I think so,” Hannah replied as she came to stand beside him. He glanced at her as she looked around. “Castielle and Hana are late; if they don’t get here soon, they are going to miss it.”
Castiel sighed. “Castielle was training with Gabriel again,” he replied. “They probably lost track of time, you know how he is.” Sometimes Castiel envied his twin sister. She had been lucky enough to be sorted into Gabriel’s ranks, and the youngest archangel marched to the beat of his own drum.
“Hey!” Castiel turned to see Hana hurrying towards them. “Did I miss it?”
“No,” Hannah told her twin brother. “Where were you?”
Hana sighed, a look of distress crossing his face. At least from what Castiel could see, because of course, none of the angels who had gathered here on this ocean had a vessel to possess. That wouldn’t be possible for many millions of years. But it wasn’t necessary, as they were all angels.
“I was training with Lucifer,” Hana explained as he walked up. “Sometimes, I wonder if I was given to the right archangel. The way Lucifer talks, it makes me wonder.”
“Well, don’t let anyone hear you talk like that,” Hannah warned. “You don’t want anyone to think you are rebellious.”
Castiel sighed. Being rebellious was about the worst thing you could do as an angel. Heaven expected strict obedience. It worried him because he couldn’t always chase away the rebellious thoughts in his own head. He never dared to tell anyone, and he would never dare act on those thoughts. But, when it came to Earth, he only wanted what was best for this world. After all, it was so beautiful. The other angels saw it as a tool, nothing of much worth. But Castiel, Hannah, and their siblings saw the truth, and that’s why the four of them had all gathered here on the shores of this ocean to witness the most remarkable event either of them could have hoped for.
“Hey, I’m here!” Castielle rushed over to join her brother and her closest friends. Castiel raised a brow at her scoldingly.
“Gabriel,” was all she said. Castiel rolled his eyes. He should have known.
“Hey,” Hannah got all of their attention, and they turned towards the shores. “Look.” As they all watched, there was a splash a few feet away. A little creature seemed to be moving closer and closer to the shore.
It seemed shy at first as it moved to the shore. It bounced about in the waves. Castiel doubted it could see them, or even if it would be concerned if it could. Still, neither of them dared to move a muscle. Or even breathe. No one wanted to risk ruining this event.
The little fish tried a few times. Tried to haul itself out of the waves, by its tiny, primitive little legs. But each time, it would sink into the sand and get swallowed up by the sea again. But each time, it kept going.
“It is resilient,” Castielle commented as she knelt down in the sand. “Come on,” she urged. “You can do it.”
“Sister,” Castiel warned. “No interference. It has to do this by itself.” Castielle reluctantly moved back to give the tiny fish some space. They all watched in anticipation. Castiel couldn’t help but notice that none of the other angels had any interest in being here. They all knew this was happening; they’d been talking about it for eons. Yet when the momentous day had finally arrived, none of them could be bothered to come down here and watch.
And then, just like that, right before their eyes, it happened. The little fish leaped up onto the sandy shores and began crawling towards them. They all moved back as it heaved out onto dry land, leaving the ocean behind.
“I can’t believe it,” Hannah exclaimed as she glanced at Castiel. “It’s so beautiful… do you think… it will be the one?”
“Yes,” he told her. He knew this was a particularly precious moment for Hannah. She was an earth angel. It had been her job, under Raphael’s tutelage, to prepare the organisms that lead to this. She had been on Earth almost continuously since the first microbes arrived, watching, observing, making sure everything was happening according to schedule.
Castiel watched the little fish roll about on the ground and smiled. “This is only the beginning.”
“I want us to see everything,” Hannah replied. “I don’t want to miss a single moment.”
Castiel only hoped things would go well from here. After all, things were going well. Heaven had worked side by side with the other gods and goddesses to create this remarkable place. And they worked together to mold it, cultivate it, and maintain it. And Castiel just knew that this little fish was going to be the beginning of something amazing.
65 million years ago
“Please, Raphael…” Hannah’s throat was raw from begging. But no matter what, it seemed that her archangel master didn’t care. “Please. Castiel didn’t mean to. Don’t punish them. They’re innocent. Please…”
“It’s not my call,” Raphael said as they all stood in the grassy meadow. “I’m sorry this has to be such a painful lesson for all of you. But you shouldn’t have let yourself get attached to these little things. They’re nothing in the end. And Castiel should have learned his place. Speaking against Michael like that? You all know the price.”
Hannah felt the tears well up in her eyes as she turned away from Raphael and spotted Castiel standing on the edge of the cliff. Swallowing hard, she slowly walked to stand beside him and gazed over the precipice, peering into the valley below.
A heard of brontosaurus grazed peacefully on the trees below. They had always been Hannah’s favorite. She had taken extra care in helping to create them. And even now, they were oblivious. They had no idea what was about to happen.
Hannah felt a hand on her shoulder, and she turned to Castiel, tears streaming from both of their eyes. “It’s my fault,” he said softly. “I’m so sorry, Hannah…”
Hannah couldn’t speak. She hurried to be in Castiel’s embrace. She knew it was happening and she couldn’t bear to watch. She didn’t need to see the flash of light streaking across the sky. She felt it. She buried her face in Castiel’s shoulder and sobbed as the asteroid plummeted into the Earth, destroying everything.
January 29th, 1979
John opened the door as Mary followed him in carrying the tiny bundle of blankets. Castiel, Hannah, and their siblings waited. They were invisible; of course, the couple had no idea they were being watched.
“Are you sure about this, Castiel?” Castielle asked as they followed John and Mary up the stairs into the nursery. “This child?”
“Yes,” Castiel answered. As they watched, Mary lay the little bundle inside the crib, and the two hovered over it, making gentle cooing noises. “Have you chosen yours?”
“Yes,” Hannah replied. “She’s due to arrive in a few years, but I’ve marked her mother.”
“You should get some rest,” John told Mary. “Looks like he’s going to sleep.”
“He’s perfect,” Mary said, a big smile on her face. Reluctantly, Mary followed John out, glancing back only to murmur. “Goodnight, Dean.”
Once alone, the four angels approached the crib. The baby gazed up at them. Castiel observed the tiny five-day-old infant.
“Have you all found yours?” Hannah asked, glancing at Castielle and Hana. Her expression was serious. “And… we’re sure we’re going through with this?”
“I think we have no choice, sister,” Hana replied. “Heaven doesn’t really care about Humans. They’re just pawns in these little power struggles. And we’re the ones who have been here through it all, caring for them.”
“Hana is right,” Castiel replied as he kept his gaze on the infant. “I’m not going to let Michael ruin it for us again. Even if he is my master.”
“I’m willing to accept the consequences,” Hannah replied as she reached over and took Castiel’s hand. “But… the archangels don’t ever have to know about this. Castiel, leave your mark.”
Castiel nodded and leaned forward, pressing a finger to the forehead of the baby. “Dean Winchester,” he said softly as the flash of angelic grace emitted from his finger. “I’ve chosen you. I will return for you when you grow up. And you will save the world.”