The Pony Who Would Be King {Supernatural x MLP}

Everypony who’s ever seen Heaven knows that it isn’t just one place. It’s many.

Everypony has their own version of heaven. Each soul generates its own paradise. I seem to favor the eternal Tuesday afternoon of an autistic pony who drowned in a bathtub in 1953.

It may not be everyone’s paradise, but it’s mine.

Castiel looked around at his surroundings. It was odd to be back here after so long. This paradise - he wasn’t sure he even had one anymore. It was sort of comforting.

“You’re alive.”

Cass turned to see a white mare. Her mane was a chocolate brown. She was flanked by several other angels. She carried the mark of Celestia on her flank, and a horn that Cass envied was planted on her head. He wasn’t ashamed to admit he missed his horn, he was just ashamed to admit that he hated his fellow angels for still having theirs.

“Yes,” Castiel said at last.

Rachel squinted and tilted her head. “Castiel, we saw Nightmare Moon destroy you.”

“Well, I came back,” Castiel said, stretching his wings as emphasis.

“But Nightmare Moon?” Rachel went on. “Michael?”

“They’re gone.”

“It was Celestia, wasn’t it?”

“No,” Castiel replied firmly. “It was the Winchesters. They stopped the apocalypse.”

“But our mother brought you back,” Rachel pressed. “That must mean something. She wants you to lead us, Castiel.”

“No,” Cass repeated. “Nopony leads us anymore. We’re all free to make our own choices now. We no longer have to follow orders.”

Rachel’s ears fell back. The thought seemed to bring her discomfort. “What does Celestia want?”

“Celestia wants you to have freedom,” Cass replied confidently.

Rachel and the other angels looked at each other uncertainly, several shifting from hoof-to-hoof. “But what does she want us to do with it?”

It was hard to give her an answer. If I knew then what I know now, I would’ve said, “Freedom is a rope. Celestia wants you to hang yourself with it.”

The first few weeks I was back in Heaven were difficult. I can’t say I was surprised. I had been deemed a traitor. Of course ponies would be hesitant to rely on me again.

I didn’t understand why I was allowed back, why I was brought back at all.

Yes, it had been my brother who had broken my horn and rebranded my flank, covering the mark of Celestia all angels have and replacing it with the mark of Nightmare Moon. But he said it had been the will of Mother.

Perhaps I was a fool to believe that.

Explaining freedom to angels is like teaching fish poetry. I may as well have ripped them out of the sea and left them to flop around on the deck. It would have been just as effective.

And then there was Raphael…

Castiel looked around the unfamiliar surroundings.

“You came,” said a taunting voice. “I appreciate the courage that takes.”

A golden-crisp stallion stood before Cass. Cass narrowed his gaze. His brother still carried his horn, his mark, and his wings were still like clouds.

All things he had robbed Castiel of.

“Whose Heaven is this?”

“Sonata’s. I’m borrowing it.”

“I still question her admittance here.”

“Yeah, well, you don’t make the choices around here.”

Castiel’s ears fell back against his skull. “What do you want?” he demanded.

Raphael raised his head, determination plastered across his face. “I've called for a full assembly of the Holy Host. You'll kneel before me and pledge allegiance to the flag, understood?”

“And what flag is that?”

“Me, Castiel. Pledge allegiance to me.”

Castiel bristled. “Are you joking?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Raphael shot back.

Castiel paced around his brother, circling him like a predator. “Pledging my allegiance to you would go against everything I stand for.”

“And what do you stand for, Castiel?” Raphael taunted. “The Winchesters?”

“I stand for freedom,” Cass growled, slowing and stopping beside his brother. “And I will not give mine up to bow before you.”

“You rebelled,” his brother reminded him. “Against Celestia, Heaven, and me. Now you can atone. We'll start by freeing Nightmare Moon and Michael from their cage. And then we'll get our show back on the road.”

Castiel stared at his brother in horror. He took a step back, his eyes widening. “Raphael… no. The Apocalypse doesn't have to be fought!”

“Of course it does,” Raphael said calmly. “It's Celestia’s will.”

“How can you say that?!” Castiel cried.

“Because it’s what I want.”

Castiel shook his head. “Well the other angels won’t let you.”

“Only make statements you can back up, brother,” Raphael said, his voice strong. “You know better than anypony. They're soldiers. They weren't built for freedom. They were built to follow.”

“I wasn’t,” Cass snarled. “I will stop you myself.”

Raphael raised a brow, seemingly amused. “Really? You?”

Raphael’s horn began to glow. A bright light blinded Cass. As he winced and turned away from the light, a strong blast of magic struck him.

Castiel weakly pushed himself up. He was back in his Heaven, but he wasn’t unharmed here. He could feel blood running down his face. He tentatively reached up to his face. When he pulled a shaky hoof away, he saw the blood.

“You bow tomorrow, Castiel.”

Cass turned his head to see his brother. He towered over him, his shadow covering Cass. “Or you and anyone else you know will die.”

I can’t say my brother’s actions surprised me. But they certainly threw me into quite the situation.

I was not about to give up my freedom, not after centuries of not knowing it. And I certainly wasn’t going to let my brother bring on the apocalypse. Not after my friends did everything to stop it.

I didn’t care that he had taken my horn.

I didn’t care that he had changed my mark.

He could’ve taken my wings, and I still would’ve defied him.

The apocalypse would kill everypony. If no other angels were going to do anything, then I had to. I was Equestria’s only hope.

Though I often can’t tell if my choices were truly made for Equestria, or the Winchesters, or myself.