Michael stood at the ready in then front of the line. He wished he could escape his role as the general of the Host of Heaven, that he wasn't the one leading this battle. The gleam of heavens towers behind caused a shadow to fall on him. his sword was at the ready and beside him was his sister Zophiel and his brother Zadkiel standing in the rust colored dirt of this place, this hell.

On the other side of the barren field were angels. Fallen angels, with barely a trace of the glory of Heaven left in them. They were left in ruin and folly, once beautify colored wings were now ashen and stained with their brothers blood. No longer brother, no longer angels of mercy and grace. They were demons to be taken down and cast out of the holy kingdom.

"Are you okay sir? Zophiel asked snapping Michael out his thoughts. Her bright eyes were full of worry.

"I'm fine" Micheal answered stiffly. Zadkiel shot a look to Zophiel a look Micheal could not read.

"Zophiel go check in with the other scouts and report back."

"Yes sir!" as quick as lighting she flew off on wings of shining silver that clashed with the harsh red and orange of the sky. As he watched her fly off Michael's mind drifted off to a memory.

…...

Michael hid in a bush as the younger angels began to search for him. He giggled each time one of them nearly found him and then walked away. They would soon figure out his spell.

"Hello" a small voice cooed. Startled Michael turned around to find a small fledgling with silver wings behind him.

"Hello little one" he whispered ,"What are you doing?"

The young angel looked around as if she was in danger then leaned in with her hands cupped around her mouth and Michael leaned in to hear "I'm hiding from Gabriel"

'So that's it' Michael thought 'She a messenger ,that's why she was so quick to sneak' and why she was here. He loved his brother but sometimes Gabriel scared him with antics too.

"Well" Michael said "i think your safe your here" the Little angel sighed in relief.

"Not that safe" a voice boomed above them. They both wined and looked up to find an angel with golden wings above them "Zophiel you should be running thought drills with the others"

"oh come on" Michael smiled "Give the child a brake, she's little and her wings still have fluff on them!"

Gabriel gave a sigh of frustration "Michael deal with your soldiers and I'll deal with my messengers"

Michael looked around as the younger angels began to crowd around . They didn't need to see big brother smack down right now...

A blade came down on Michael's thigh. The sting of the blade was sharp but he held a cry of pain and swung at the brother... 'No not brother, enemy' he thought. He brought down his sword on the other angels temperate green wing. he did not rise.

"Michael ahead!" Rehel, an angel of blue wings, cried. The holy standard bearer looked ahead and fell frozen with fear... and disparage.

A mighty dragon came from the East with flames around his side and coming from his mouth. It thrashed against angels from both sides as he swiftly moved onto the battle field. It was coming toward Michael.

"He's going for Michael!" Midel called over the roar. Michael looked to him confused at the observation. Why would the dragon come for him? A hand clamped on his arm before he had time to ask. Zadkiel pulled him out of the path of the dragon as it's tail crashed down no the place where Michael had been standing.

"Michael!" Zophiel raised her sword and struck the dragon and quickly darted away "Get out of here!" her cry ended as she was smacked to the ground.

"Zophiel!" Midel screamed as his sister laid on the floor of heaven broken and bleeding.

Michael again felt a tug on his arm and once again landed not to far from the dragons tail.

The dragon tuned and faced Michael its eyes... he knew those eyes..

…...

"Gabriel, a fight between you and Michael?" Lucifer walked up the two "That's a tragedy waiting to happen" the younger angels laughed and clamored to their favorite brother. Michael smiled and Gabriel scowled.

"The child must learn her place in Heaven," Lucifer looked coyly at his older brother

"Why don't we let her decide her place?" All angels looked at him in confusion, he merely leaned down to the girls level and signaled for her to come forward. The child hesitated, all would before God's most perfect angel, but stepped forward till she was at arms length.

He put his hands on her shoulders and brought her closer "whats your name fledgling?"

"Zophiel" she answered quietly

"Well zophiel, do you like being a messenger?" he asked softly. The young angel shook her head

"why?"

She thought a moment before answering "because all i do is fly, and i do like flying and I'm really good at it but i don't think its i want to do all the time"

"I see, well would you be interested in being a healer under Raphael?" she shook her head again

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to see my brother and sisters hurt all the time, i don't like seeing them hurt"

"Then how about the Choir under me?" the angel looked up with interest. The choir under Lucifer was a very special position. She shook her head no.

"Why?"

"Because i don't like singing and i wouldn't get to fly as much"

"Hmm, i see" he nodded "well then how about a solider under Michael?" she nodded.

Lucifer stood up and smiled toward Michael, golden eyes gleaming "Well then that settles it, Zophiel is now a solider and that's it!" he disappeared with out another word.

…...

Michael raised his sword and stopped the tail from crashing down.

The dragon roared in pain and stepped back.

Midel and Zadkiel looked on in relief. Their general was back. Michael swung his sword and hit the dragons side causing a rush of Ruby blood. "Lucifer" he called "Stop please, i don't want to hurt you! just stop, we don't have to fight"

His brother took no notice and raise a claw to grab Michael. He dodged and rolled to the left.

'He can't be serious?' but in the back of his head Michael knew. He knew his brother well and knew Lucifer wouldn't stop until he won or was defeated.

Michael quickly looked around and assessed the battle. His angels were wounded but winning against their fallen brethren. He saw hesitation, fear, and doubt. Doubt in their orders, in their Father, in themselves. The same doubt he had.

The others thought they had no doubt. Even with Heaven against them they fought hard never letting their feelings show. They had no concern for brother or comrade. They destroyed and they enjoyed it.

'This cannot be my family' Michael thought. He dodged another tail swipe and landed a blow on the dragons left leg.

The roar echoed on the battle field.

"Oh brother" Michael whispered more to himself then his brother "how did we come to this?"

…...

The call went all over Heaven. Every angel was to go to Eden but they did not know why. Then again when Father asked something you did not question you obeyed.

"Michael!" the shouter tackled him from behind nearly knocking him over. He turned to find a excited Zophiel practically bouncing with joy.

"Hello Zophiel" Michael gave her a hug and a quick peck on the cheek.

"whats this about Michael, do you know?"

"not a clue"

Zophiel smiled and shrugged her shoulders then dragged him to the others. As ordered all of Heaven was in attendance. The crowd of angels was barely contained by the garden. It was full of not only sweet smell flowers and strong trees, but not it contained angels of all choirs and colors of wings.

"Michael its father!" Zophiel whispered excitedly. True to her word their Father stood at the front of the crowd and held his hand up to show were to stay standing and not bow as they usually would.

"My children of Heaven" his voice was strong like a clap of thunder but softer then a droplet on a pond's surface "Today I bring you here to show you a new creature, a creature made in my image who will one day rule this Earth and one day join you in Heaven"

Whispers began to be heard over the crowd as a small creature came up beside their Father. it was small and looked frail. It was scared from working in the fields and to Michael looked nothing at all like their father.

"My wish is that you love him and his children as you love me"

"impossible" a voice sounded from the crowd. Michael looked to see Lucifer walking to the "

"Do you know that Morning Star?" Father asked

Lucifer nodded. He stood straight in front of father "yes" a collected gasp was heasrd from the host.

"Lucifer" Father whispered looking at his favorite son "I command you to bow before this creature to lessen your pride"

The host looked to Lucifer . He looked at the crowd searchingly , his gaze found Michael and he smiled.

"No"

…...

A claw came down on Michael's top wings

He screeched in pain. He tor his wings from under the claw. A mighty roar filled the battle field as two silver swords cut into the dragons wings. Zophiel and Midel were thrown back from the dragon and into the battle.

The dragon swiped at Michael again and hit. The force took him to the end of the battle field. He stopped before the cliff. The heat from the pit scorched his face and wings. He lifted his sword as the dragon rampaged toward lifted his sword and aimed it at the creature's chest.

…...

The host looked in horror at what had been said.

Michael felt his hand snatched tightly. Zophiel was shaking with fear.

Michael looked ot his father his face filled with rage and sadness, and disappointment.

Father raised his hand "You sadden me my son" he turned to the rest of the host " do you agree with him?"

The host shuffled in a murmur. No one could answer but they all thought the same thing 'How could their Father think the Morning Star would bow to this creature? The creature was small and frail and looked afraid of the angels.

Their father knew this. His face revealed his pain "is there among you who can obey their father?"

The host shuffled but none stood up. Lucifer looked toward the man and smiled smugly while the creature looked in confusion.

Moved to pity Zophiel began to step up to her Father but she realized she was alone. when she looked around Michael was gone, he was walking to their Father. The host looked in disbelief as he stepped toward the creature. Lucifer lost his smile and gaped at his brother. Father smiled.

Michael put his sword down in front of the creature who seemed shocked. Gracefully and with dignity Michael bowed low to the man. He stayed as that for a moment then with as much grace as he bowed he stood and faced the Host.

The host stood silent. Zophiel began to feel the oppressive silence. Suddenly a burst of cheers and shuts rang from the crowd.

one by one angels come forward bowed to the creature and embraced Michael, kissing him on the cheek. Zophiel looked at Zakdiel, she saw a familiar look of pride on his face.

While all this was going on Michael met his brothers eyes, Lucifer was silently fuming.

…...

The creature came crashing into Michael.

He barely had time to dodge before it hit the edge. At that moment Michael knew what to do. He just wished he didn't have to.

"Brother please i don't want to hurt you anymore, i don't want to watch our family fall apart." the Dragon was still scathing "We can stop this brother, please!"

It was useless as the dragon swiped in air trying to catch Michael off guard.

"Michael pull back!" Midel cried, his blue wings were stained with the blood of his brothers. It was a brother how caused all of this. How could he do this, make us fight one another? He looked to the dragon

"Brother please, I don't want to hurt you anymore!"

…...

Michael's head was still buzzing from the adrenalin from this afternoon. He still didnt understand why he bowed.

"Michael!" a desperate cry rang through Heaven's halls. The standard bearer turned to find a pair of white wings coming toward him and nearly knocking him over. Lucifer's face was covered in tears.

"Michael please don't let father send me away, PLEASE!" he clung tight to Michael's armor.

'He's scared' Michael had never seen his brother so frighten, no one thougtht the Morning Star could be so frighten. "Where is father sending you away to?"

Lucifer eyes widen in terror "He's sending me away to Earth as a human! He says I need a lesson in humility"

Michael did agree on the lesson in humility but to send him to Earth? Heaven without the Lucifer as unthinkable. Who would lead the choir, the morning prayers, how could the most beautiful of them be stranded on Earth? What was his father doing? "I'll try to talk to father but i think it would be best if you yourself apologized to him and bow before Adam as a gesture of goodwill."

Lucifer's tears ceased and his stared went icy. "Adam!" he rough;ly pushed Michael away "That speck of living dust no better than a monkey! I am the Morning Star, the Brightest of the Host, why should i bow to him, he should bow to..."

Michael's gazed harden. He swiftly grabbed his brother firmly by his shoulders and pushed him to the wall. Lucifer froze in surprise. "Lucifer that is enough! Your is blinding your judgement!" he removed his hands "You do need to learn humility"

Lucifer stared at Michael in disbelief then regained his composer "It seems I was wrong about you brother" he turned to leave "Just as you are wrong about me"

…...

Michael stepped hard on the dragon's chest. It groaned beneath his foot.

It's wings were torn to shreds by angels blades, scares littered its body, and blood stained its scales. the dragon whimpered and looked up at Micheal.

For a moment he almost let him go, he almost lifted his foot, he almost disobeyed his father. He held fast and pushed down harder on his brother. He lifted his sword and raised the point to the sky of Heaven and brought the gold handle down on his brothers head without a moments hesitation.

the beast went crashing down into the fierily pit, the flames lapping at it hungrily almost as if they knew this day was coming. It swiped its tail taking the fallen angels with it down in to the abyss..

The pit was now full of of the fallen demons began to seal it self up happy with its haul.

Michael stood at the cliff with his army at his back. They stared at their general awaiting orders, a speech of victory and loss, something to break the silence of realization that was now crashing upon them but their leader was silent.

As the last echos of a roar were heard from the depths of the sealed pit Michael fell to his knees and wept.