Fleeting Memories, Distant Future (UsedtobeHMC writing contest entry)

Raphael

concentration.

unbroken, undivided concentration.

this is required for the act of creation.

especially for something as valuable as stars.

the Archangel Raphael focuses as he cups his two pale hands, willing and adding brilliant hues of color to the creation enveloped in his ethereal hands. vibrant reds, blues, silvers, all mixing in unique and interesting patterns within the vapors in the angel's hands.

once the mass of gas and light was to the archangel's liking, he unfurled the large white wings- with a tint of red- adorning his back, instinctively curling them forward in a protective manner around the newly formed celestial body. Raphael smiled, delicately holding the new nebula as he jumps up, making space in the sky for the nebula before gingerly placing it within the black night sky. There was still so much space to fill with these brilliant pieces of matter Raphael held so dear to him.

The archangel looked to all his galaxies and nebula with such care and devotion, his auburn hair sparkling with specks of light as he got lost, looking at all his creations. enough so, that he almost missed the low, yet confident voice calling his name.

"Raphael?"

the red-headed angel in question gave one last fleeting glance to 'his' universe before turning. He gave the white-haired angel a once over, nodding in acknowledgment.

"Yes, what do you need of me?"

"Gabriel requests you join him. the almighty is calling for you"

Raphael smiles with glee, his wings fluttering a little as he hears the news. "That's excellent, The angel says, excitement lacing his voice. he almost launched away from his position before a thought came to his head.

"what's your name, angel?"

The white-haired angel seemed to recoil, almost like he had asked the unexpected. Raphael covered a smile as the other angel recovered, was it that surprising to ask for one's name?

"Aziraphale, uh" The angel stalled, "Principality of the Eastern Gate"

Raphael's eyes widened. this angel was a protector of god's precious soon-to-be creations. what was he doing being Gabrial's messenger? the archangel scoffed, putting his hands on his hips.

"I'm going to have a word with Gabe" The archangel mutters under his breath, smiling at the angel. "It's very nice to meet you, angel of the eastern gate" a joking tone escaped the aforementioned archangels lips. this caused the other angel to smile.

"And me to you. say....." Aziraphale paused, figuring out his words. "are you the only one to create stars?" he mused, looking up to Raphael's newly formed creations with slight wonder. "I've always admired them, never knew who exactly made them though, other than you"

Raphael laughed lightly. "No, Gabriel, Uriel, Michael, they can all do it too and have done before. the Eagle nebula was all Gabriel, for example, The angel gestured upwards to the expanse of space above them. "however, I take pride in it more than they do. Thus, I've created exponentially more. not to brag or anything" He said jokingly, prying a smile and chuckle from Aziraphale.

Raphael and Aziraphale stood there, giggling at each other for several earth minutes before Raphael sighed, shaking his head.

"I really must be off now, angel"

"You're an angel too Raphael"

"term of endearment, my dear" Raphael smiled, causing a slight rush of color to the other angel's face.

"Of course, I'll leave you to go"

The two angels bid each other farewell as Raphael spread his light salmon-colored wings, taking off from the expanse of space to meet with Gabriel. The muscles in his back contracting and relaxing with each flap, letting his hair fly behind him.

and, with a snap, suddenly he was falling. The screaming of his comrades around him as they all drop like sulfur raindrops in a bloodied sky. The pain in his body restricting him from escaping, not to mention his bloodied back which once had wings. The archangel tried desperately to evade the fall, regretting ever choosing the side of Lucifer over his brother, Gabriel's side. 

They all fell, further than the clouds, further than the ground, straight into a pit of boiling sulfur. with a scream, Raphael felt his ethereal body being changed and morphed. his eyes burned with the change, his back ached with the the growth of black wings.

The fallen archangel grasped around for any sort of solid ground, feeling his descent into the sulfur flowing through the feathers of his newly formed wings. eventually, he found the edges of the. With haste, he grasped onto the solid rock, pulling himself up, rolling onto solid land as he coughed up the gross liquid.

for an amount of time, the newly-fallen demon laid on his back, before crying. Surprised that his tears still worked, he cried for what seemed like hours, cradling his injuries and reminiscing over the loss of his home for the rest of eternity. 

eventually, he got hardly pulled up but one of his less empathetic comrades told him to shut up pushed him into the deeper parts of hell. He was gawked at with eyes filled with anguish and hate; for good reason too. the rest of the newly-fallen demons no longer had their wings. reduced to mere bones if lucky, deep scars if not.

As Raphael- is that even him anymore?- stumbled through the crows, he caught a glimpse of himself through a reflective stone and was horrified. the only thing that we were able to recognize himself by was his firey red hair. Snake-like eyes, pale skin, black wings. nothing like the archangel who created millions of stars. who was to take that job now...? Gabriel? Uriel?

 "You need to choose second names. we shall no longer go by our holy names, as those are the ones given to us by the one that has forsaken us, if not, one shall be given to you" A voice boomed. Raphael probably knew who it belonged to, but was in too much shock to give it a second thought.

a second name? no, not a second name, a new name.

when Raphael finally caught his footing, he pulled at his red locks, trying to cope with everything. He never wanted to join them and the rebellion, just listened to the wrong people. asked the wrong questions. for god- can he even use that word?- for someone's sake, he didn't even have a chance to fight back. The last angelic face he saw being Gabriel's disappointed one. oh no, what was Gabriel even thinking? sure, he was a hard ass, but he was a brother to Raphael.

"Crawley" a voice spoke behind him.

Raphael, still in shock, spun around to face another demon.

"i- uh- pardon?"

"that's your name," the demon said, before walking off without explanation

oh. had he taken too long?

how long was Raphael standing there? He looked around, noticing a stark lack of demons compared to a minute- hour- however long he has been standing there ago. it was like an empty desert, with some dead and/or dying angels- the ones who hadn't made it- scattered around. the sight made Raphael sick.

"HoLY SHIT-" Raph- Crawley said, as a voice entered his head suddenly.

"Go to the surface, cause some trouble"