In which the author has a particular fondness for Harry-is-Lucifer stories, but thinks he could be better suited to a different archangel. This story has no pairings. Harry is Michael. :D

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. Genesis 1:3

A spark was lit. A single brilliant spark in the endless universe. He came into form as a being unrecognizable, the first Creation after the destruction wrought by Leviathan upon this land. He was not of Earth though. No, he was of Heaven. Gigantic and unfathomable, his vast black wings could grow to stretch across the Garden of Heaven. Increasing its beauty with the millions of glowing lights along his feathers.

He was to be a warrior of God. Tasked to protect Heaven and Earth from any threat that may come, though there were none now. Full and burning with righteous might and always eager to please his Father, he paroled the Earth, admiring it's many creatures. He was an angel, the first of many.

And God named his first archangel.

"Michael."

His first days were a blur, being guided by his Father around the Earth. Flying through it's skies and discovering its mysteries. Then came his happiest day. He was getting a brother! Little Michael jumped and spun, wings fluttering in joy. He sang his rejoices, and danced his praises.

When the new being was finally brought into Heaven, it was the most beautiful thing Michael had ever seen. He adored it immediately and vowed to protect his new brother while they defended Earth together. The tiny fledgling squirmed in his Father's grasp, but relaxed when he was handed to Michael's awaiting arms. Small wings spread out behind the newest, all the colors of the most beautiful sunsets displayed his feathers. Bright reds and blushing pinks, vibrant oranges and soothing yellows.

Michael doted over his brother; teaching him to fly and fight, skipping patrols to play with him, and curling up with him in the garden at night to point out the constellations in the grand sky, the same lights reflected in Michael's own wings. His brother was more beautiful than any of the others, the Morningstar. Perfected from Michael's earlier form, and made to resemble their great Father. God loved his brother more, that was true. Michael didn't mind, he loved his brother more too.

And God named his second archangel.

"Lucifer"

Both he and Lucifer were giddy for their next brother. They spent time speculating on what his wings would appear like, whether they would be stars like Michael's, or sunsets like Lucifer's. In the end, they were both wrong. As they stared down at the small bundle, they could see his multicolored brown wings. The many earthy colors of his father's healthiest soil, complete with vines and flowers spreading across them.

He was quieter than Michael and Lucifer, more serious. He would watch the two of them tussle and spar, studying the many intricacies of the garden. Watering it's many plants, and caring for it's creatures. Michael taught him to fly and together all three swooped through the skies daily.

And God named his third Archangel.

"Raphael."

They heard this would be the last of them. The archangels, leaders of God's army and all the lower angels. All three of them buzzed with excitement. Though Michael and Raphael were calmer than Lucifer, who tore through the Garden with unparalleled zeal. When he held their youngest brother, Michael had to constantly hover over him, lest he accidentally drop the little fledgling.

Michael taught the youngest to fly and spar, as he had taught all of them. Though Lucifer helped a great deal now that he was older. He groomed his new brother's wings constantly, as they always seemed in disarray. Feathers the colors of all the precious stones on Earth, with primaries and secondaries that looked as if they had been dipped in pure gold. They lacked the subtle beauty of Lucifer's, and were quite flashy for Michael's' tastes, but he loved them all the same.

And god named his last archangel.

"Gabriel."

Years past, they all grew and changed. Michael became more serious, standing tall and ordering around the new seraphs and lesser angels. Raphael became studious, threw himself into lore and literature. Gabriel turned into a skillful jester, entertaining the young ones and bringing cheer wherever he bounded. And Lucifer...Lucifer was rebellious and crass. Always pushing Michael's buttons while he was on duty, distracting him and causing the older brother to snap and chastise him. They were a mostly happy family, save for that one bit of tension.

Humans were the cataclysm that broke years of built up irritation into unforgiving anger. Michael had disliked the way his brother did things for years; Lucifer never listened to their father. He didn't understand how his brother could be so defiant. Michael was the perfect soldier, leading with a strong and balanced hand. Where Lucifer was all over the place, never quite committing and slacking off many of his duties. Just because he was the favorite, did not mean he could act in such a way! He had a duty, they all did! Michael contained his anger, told himself things would get better for all that time.

When Lucifer blatantly defied the order to love humans, that anger exploded. He didn't hesitate when his father told him to strike Lucifer down. This wasn't the brother he loved anymore, it was a twisted being of pride and sin. Michael saw no farther than that.

If Lucifer was Pride, the first archangel would always be Wrath. His anger new no bounds after Lucifer was gone, punishing the least of infractions, and casting sympathizers down left and right. Then, Lucifer twisted the human Lilith into a demon, and things only got worse for Michael. His brother was gone. The one he loved above all else, not that he would ever admit to it. He threw himself into duty, smiting demons and leading the armies of Heaven against it's first enemies.

Michael lost all eyes for what was once his family. Now, he was just the warrior of heaven, full of righteous fury. He didn't notice when Raphael grew cold, tasking another angel to take care of the Garden and following in his eldest brother's footsteps. Gone was all gentleness and emotion in either of them. Michael seeing it as a weakness in this war, and Raphael seeing it as the reason for Lucifer's fall.

Neither did they notice the wilting of their fourth brother. Gabriel went quiet and withdrawn, his usual exuberance and joy lost with all of his older brothers. The notorious pranks he played to keep up moral were also absent. Gabriel did his job as messenger, but all other times he was silent.

The war raged on, through the birth and death of a prophet. Humans remained oblivious to the battles, turning their ignorant eyes away in pursuit of their own happiness. Waging their own wars and destruction upon Earth. When his father finally locked Lucifer down in hell, the land was crawling with demons and the evil creatures of Eve.

When his father disappeared in his grief, Michael called for the retreat of the angels. In his mind, there was no need for angels fighting on Earth any longer. Unknowingly, he created a new class of humans who knew about and fought the supernatural, the Hunters. Because angels were no longer protecting the Earth, humans found their own way to protect themselves.

The biggest threat was neutralized, and Michel was content to leave the angels in Heaven until it returned. Until his brother returned. Because it had never been about humans, or even their father. No, it had always been Michael's uncontrolled rage at Lucifer's betrayal. Lucifer, whom he raised and cared for, who he thought would always stand at his side. He'd thrown his hurt into the fight, masking it with righteousness. He was no better than Lucifer in that regard. He would never love any being above his brother.

Gabriel left. No notice, nothing said. One day, he was just gone. Michael took the loss hardest of them all. How had he not seen it coming? Though, he knew exactly why...he'd been so caught up in his own feelings he'd failed his brother. Someone who he'd vowed to protect. Gabriel, who brought joy and laughter to their little family in the earlier days. Gabriel who looked up to him and Lucifer with adoring eyes.

The last brother Michael had, he discovered, wasn't even there. Raphael was distant and completely cold, not the quiet and kind young fledgling who watered the flowers. Raphael refused to talk anything but battle plans. For an apocalypse their father had queued for ages away!

Michael fell into despair. For the first time, he prayed to his father for something other than God's return.

"Please, Father, I beg. Let me - Let me fix the family that I-I've broken." The first archangel sobbed.

He couldn't believe what he done to his brothers. Not just the archangels, but all the angels has hurt with Lucifer's fall. Now they all believed that being close, being a family was forbidden and wrong. Michael couldn't begin to think of how to fix what he'd done. Guilt was a monster that clung to his head. How could he fix something when he'd been the one to break it in the first place?

He began to have blasphemous thought about the humans. If they dissipated maybe...maybe it would go back to the way it was before humanity. Warm and inviting and full of laughter and flight. With all his brothers and sisters communing together in the Garden, smiles on their faces. Grooming each other's wings and basking in the love of their family and their Father. Michael sent the same prayer again and again, begging his Father for an answer other than the destruction of His favorite creations.

And one day, God answered. The first archangel disappeared from Heaven.