Apocalypse World

Apocalypse World

Apocalypse World is an alternate universe, one in which the forces of Heaven and Hell are fighting in an eternal battle with humanity caught in the middle. It is connected to the normal world by a portal opened by the Nephilim son of Lucifer -- Jack.

Characteristics

With the Apocalypse having happened, the Earth has been transformed into a barren wasteland littered with the bodies of angels, demons, and humans. Large angel blade-like spikes can be seen protruding from the ground with bodies impaled on them, while the skies crackle with red lightning. Time appears to move differently, as when Castiel first steps through to the rift during the day, he finds himself on the apocalyptic landscape at night.

Demons also appear to have a physical form on the earthly plane and no longer require vessels, as evidenced when Castiel is attacked by a horned tempter demon. Angels also seem to be much more fierce and brutal warriors, as Bobby Singer told Sam and Dean that the only reason he didn't kill Castiel on sight was because "he wasn't wearing a necklace made out of baby ears."

Characters in Apocalypse World

• Bobby Singer - Still a hunter in the post-Apocalyptic wasteland. This Bobby Singer has a self-described "passion" for hunting angels, for which he uses bullets forged from discarded angel blades, with his trusty machine gun, "Rufus."
• Mary Campbell - Killed ten years prior to the present by Azazel. She was a hunter that ran with Bobby Singer, was known to tell the same story about the man she loved, John Winchester, with enough pints of moonshine in her.
• John Winchester - Has been dead for over 40 years, possibly due to Mary refusing to make the deal with Azazel to resurrect him in 1973, causing Sam and Dean to never be born.

Episodes

12.23 All Along the Watchtower

After Jack inadvertently causes a rift in space and time, Castiel crosses over to investigate. Once through he finds himself on a dark and barren landscape, and is soon attacked by a tempter demon, which is shot and killed by that universe's Bobby Singer.

Lucifer stands over Crowley's dead body on Apocalypse World.

When Sam and Dean learn about the rift they too, cross over with Castiel, where they meet with Bobby. Castiel and Bobby explain what happened in that universe -- Sam and Dean were never born on that world and thus never saved it from the Apocalypse. Soon after leaving, Sam, Dean, Castiel, and Crowley formulate a plan to trap Lucifer on the other side.

When Lucifer finally locates Kelly Kline's location, Sam and Dean lure him into the Apocalypse World, where Crowley has set up the ingredients for a ritual to close the rift, telling Sam he is missing only the final element: a sacrifice. As Dean attempts to keep Lucifer distracted by riddling him with angel blade bullets from Bobby's machine gun, Crowley intervenes before Lucifer can kill Dean. Lucifer tells Crowley that no matter what he tries, he will lose. Crowley turns to Sam and Dean and bids them a final "Bye, boys" before stabbing himself with an angel blade and completing the ritual. As the rift begins shrinking, Castiel comes marching through it, and with an angel blade in hand drives it into Lucifer as Sam and Dean make their escape. Castiel soon follows, but is almost immediately killed by Lucifer after stepping through. Lucifer then turns his attention to Sam and Dean. However, Mary arrives and begins beating him back with Enochian brass knuckles, until he falls backward into the rift, dragging Mary along with him. On the other side, Lucifer looks on in anger as the rift closes, trapping him along with Mary.

13.01 Lost and Found

Soon after being stranded, Mary attempts to flee from Lucifer, but doesn't make it far before Lucifer captures her.