Chapter Text
Kinzel wasn’t sure what to make of her Archangel. The long, flowing blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and a cheerfully smiling face painted a picture of a happy go-lucky sort of girl… the fact she looked younger than her was not a factor in her thoughts, no… just…
“I’m not too scary, am i?” Archangel Flonne asked with a laugh. “Don’t worry, I won't bite! It’s nice to meet you Miss…” She looked down at her papers “I-I’m sorry do you have a last name?”
“It’s not important.” Kinzel replied with a frown. “I don’t like being reminded of my past if it’s alright, Ma’am.”
“Oh, my apologies!” Flonne continued. “Well, you see Miss Kinzel, we have a small problem with a prinny from your world.”
“That’s got an Archangel’s attention?” Kinzel sat up straight, looking her Archangel in the eyes. “And from… My world…”
“You see, she was involved in a lot of trouble.” Flonne explained. “She's got a lot of debt to pay off, more than most prinnies. Now that wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but she’s been very difficult; starting fights, trying to rebel against her instructors, attempting an assassination on the Seraph, that sort of thing."
Kinzel rolled her eyes. “Let me guess, the Trainers are messing up? They haven’t been telling me about the failures lately. They think they have the cushiest jobs up here.”
“Now Now, they’re trying their hardest. The only reason she’s here is because it wouldn’t be a punishment if she was in the netherworld, but that makes her tricky, so we need your expertise.” Flonne continued, looking at her fellow Celestial Hostess with a smile. “Her name is Cinder Fall.”
—-
Cinder was not happy.
Well, that was underselling it, but really to Miss Souffle, it was anger. She looked like a young woman, with black glasses and stupid hat on straw-blonde hair. Cinder naturally hated her, and that was made apparent repeatedly to the young ‘Prinny Instructor’.
She hated being in this tiny room, surrounded by dimwitted fools.
She hated being told what to do, to be condemned to a fate of meager servitude to these… ‘Angels’.
And perhaps most of all, she hated being trapped in this STUPID PENGUIN SUIT! The only thing she had to confirm that she was a human once was her hair which somehow poked from the suit-body. It was as if the gods were mocking her by giving her a glimpse of who she once was.
“Now, I know it might confuse you as to why you’re here; Some of you are determined to go to the netherworld. Not sure why; It’s not really ‘hell’ after all.” Souffle began her lecture. “But that wouldn’t be a fitting punishment for many of you; Celestia is a place that you NEED, as much as deserve. Here you can do good deeds and hard work to pay off your sins. Once that’s over, you can pass on to Heaven… or reincarnate under the Red Moon.”
Cinder’s new eyes looked at the angel. It was better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven. She could carve a place for herself there… she was certain Salem was doing just that, hell suited the both of them just fine.
“I know it’s hard, but reminder; you’re just prinnies. It doesn’t matter how strong you were in life in your world, or what you did, the Celestial Hosts have seen worse and there's no escape without our permission." She smiled then. "So, you should do your best! No matter how much you need to work off, you can do it. Everyone deserves a chance at redemption, even you."
She had heard this speech before. When she entered this place after Ruby Rose killed her. It was an odd feeling to think that she had been killed: that simple minded fool had stopped her, those silver eyes stared at her, pitying her.
And she knew she had to have won in the end; These things that called themselves angels had said that at times the virtuous could join their ranks. They were cagey about the details (or laughed her off) but she had seen or thought she saw some of her victims there…
It meant she left a mark, and that was enough in its own way.
A knock on the door to the training room broke her from her thoughts. Miss Souffle opened the door to see the newcomer.
She looked angry, actually that was downplaying it; she looked like her face was stuck in a strange scowl that had never known what it was like to not be bothered by something. Her hair was white and stopped at her shoulders. She reminded Cinder of old Atlesian propaganda of the stern-faced officer, her amber eyes boring into Cinder specifically.
“Oh Hello Miss Kenzel to what-”
She ignored the Prinny instructor as she pushed her way past desks and prinnies alike to grab Cinder by the flipper. “Since I'm the only one who can actually do her job right, I'll be taking her for remedial instruction.”
Souffle would have commented on it, Cinder knew, but this one wanted to put up a fight so Souffle, predictably, just looked the other way as Cinder was dragged away. This had to be an opportunity she could use…
—
Meaver was an archer, apparently the way to tell was her massive drill-hair, but Pyrrha didn't know why that mattered. She let angels travel across the multiverse with her portal magic, apparently a family tradition or a guild thing depending on who you asked.
"Meaver! Good… morning?" Celestia was so bright, the closest to night and morning was when the sky was orange. Luckily Meaver seemed to respond with a smile to the question.
"Nice to see you today. How can I help you?"
"Medea gave me permission to try to speak with Jaune. So.. one portal to Remnant."
Meaver paused. "Pyrrha are you… are you sure? You're not the first one to want to visit a loved one but given the circumstances perhaps you should think this through."
"I… I've waited four years for this, maybe more." It was strange. At times it was as if she died that day, her wound still felt fresh even on her angelic body. Even in her training, she tried to convince Medea and Alouette to let her speak to them, to let them know about all of this.
"Pyrrha, Remnant doesn't generate a lot of faith. Your friends might not even be able to hear your voice." Meaver didn't speak loudly or out of anger. It was like a mother having to give a harsh truth. "Even if the Brothers respond to their summons there wouldn't be enough faith. I just don't want you to get your hopes up."
Pyrrha’s wings shifted on her back. They were never quite comfortable to her. “I suppose y-you might have a point but…” She sighed. “Sorry I…”
“Why don’t you try speaking to those other angels from your world?” Meaver suggested.
“I…” She hadn’t really. She just tried to find some routine and try to ignore the memories of fire. The worst, and last, day of her life would never leave her, even here. And there was someone else she didn’t want to see yet, someone who she would never be able to apologize enough to. “I’m not sure she’d like to see me.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that Penny’s the nicest angel up here, and that’s saying something.” Meaver gestures behind her as the portal opened to an… elementary school? “I’m sure she’d be happy to talk to you and if you’re still not sure, I’m sure you can speak with Medea or Aloutette. You’re not the only person who became an angel after death.”
Pyrrha took a moment to consider it… she had to face it eventually. She stepped through the portal. And as she found herself moving past the halls of school children, she almost passed Cinder Fall and Kinzel… Meaver closed the Portal then and watched the interesting pair with amusement; She’d almost feel bad for that Prinny if she knew on some level, they deserved it.
—
“Alright, let’s get something straight.”
Kinzel gently placed Cinder on the desk; the door was locked, and she was currently wearing a weight that made it hard to move. Cinder had to admit, Kinzel was clever at least, but not impossible to outsmart she just needed-
“I’ve read your file, Archangel Flonne herself told me about your disciplinary issues. You think you’re something don’t you?”
Cinder didn’t respond. Kinzel sat at her desk with the expression of a stern schoolteacher. “To be honest? I expected more.”
“More?”
Kinzel’s smile was laced with poison. “The only thing special about you is that you managed to fall upwards, even managed to get all the way to Celestia. I was expecting a real piece of work but you’re just basic evil. Everything you managed to get up to was because of other people; Salem, Watts, even the people against you. You’re not the first villain I had to set straight, kid.”
Cinder growled, Kinzel looked unimpressed. “You were just small fry., Someone else's pawn. Honestly, I would like to work on Salem’s case, but she’s elsewhere… Guess I’m stuck with her sidekick.”
“SIDEKICK?!”
“I don’t know the 'bad-guy' term for it.” Kinzel said half-apologetically. “Shame you had to kill so many good people; some of them are even working for the Seraph now, living happy lives. If you’re going to be evil, you’d think you’d at least do it because you’re successful but then again it looks like you’re not too bright either.”
“I WILL-”
“Do nothing,” Kinzel interrupted. “All that stuff? In the past. It doesn’t matter anymore. Even your Aura and Semblance mean nothing to the Celestial Hosts. All that matters right now is that your start working off that debt you have to the universe.”
“The world gave me NOTHING, I’m not giving anything back.” Cinder could feel the heat of her Semblance; the power of the Maiden left her but this was still hers, and always would be.
“I used to think the same way.” Kinzel sighed. “We all have sob-stories kid, and no amount of crying and whining and hurting people is going to make us feel better. The only way out of this mess is to make a change. To grow up.”
Kinzel shrugged. “Worse people then you served their debts; like I said, your small fry. I daresay typical of the type of person who’d end up in those stupid suits. The universe is giving you a chance to be a start again; everyone has it and you’d be stupid to reject it. So… what do you say?”
—
“Sen-Sational class! Everyone gets a gold halo next to their picture today.”
The cheers of young angels as school were finally over was comparable to the joy of most children across the world. Penny had been in the school since she had died the second time; something about her ‘paperwork’ in Celestia meant she was supposed to be here as she was chronologically not as old as she ‘should’ have been. However, Miss Morgan was quick to find a temporary solution to it by appointing her as a teacher to the younger angels.
“Remember to have your parent’s signature so you can go on the field-trip to The Magical Monster Menagerie, I wouldn't want any of you to miss it.” Penny called out before they all left. Sitting down at her desk she spun around in her chair for a moment. She hoped they would. She never had more freedom up here…
The Kids liked her too. She had a body that could eat and drink and laugh with friends, but she felt that something was missing… She watched over Ruby from here; she just couldn’t help it going to the Observatory almost daily to see her succeed against Salem and make Remnant that much safer. She was happy with that, but she would be waiting a long, long time before she could see her friend in Celestia. Even the temptation of asking to go down to Remnant was dulled by her knowing that it was out of her hands; angels shouldn’t dwell on their past live too much, less they fall.
The Netherworlds apparently weren’t all that bad for demons; some of them even managed to talk with the Archangel and met with her superiors, but they were just… odd people. Like they wanted to be bad, but without being really evil. Least, far as she could tell.
“P-penny?”
Penny Polendia turned to the door to see Pyrrha Nikos. She hadn’t seen her since her first death; her hair was still the same; bright red and held in a ponytail with a gold circlet, but she wore the robes of someone in the Celestial host. Her wings were of a decent size as well. She had been here longer.
“Salutations Pyrrha! It’s nice to see you again.”
Penny watched Pyrrha’s face fall. “S-Same I… I just wish it was in better circumstances.”
“It’s alright it was an easy mistake to make.” Penny wasn’t any happier to think about it, but it wasn’t her fault. It was the past, it was all in the past. “May I ask why you came to see me?”
“I’m going to see Remnant soon and I… I just wanted to apologize for everything. I-”
Penny’s eyes widened. “Why? Did something go wrong?”
“No no, everything is fine I… I think.” Pyrrha looked a bit lightheaded, like one of Penny’s students who just realized they were going to fail a spelling test. “... I miss them.”
Penny smiled sadly. “I do too, but if we begin to interfere with Remnant’s affairs then-”
Pyrrha looked up, smiling. “W-well, that’s the thing; I'm allowed to talk to Jaune at least. I’m not sure why but apparently there’s some sort of… divine bureaucratic stuff with the Brothers?”
“Really?”
Pyrrha nodded. “I know. We can talk to Medea and the others if you want but-”
The formerly metal-girl had to fight tears in her eyes. “I-I need to. If this is true, then.”
—-
This place WAS hell. She might as well be back at the Glass Unicorn. Kinzel had tasked her to make the beds of every room in her apartment complex, and just to be sure she didn’t try to set the beds on fire she was watching her. Kinzel knew this would be humiliating in its own way to her, she had to.
Was this justice?
Was this what she deserved?
“Yes.” Kinzel replied as she just watched from a seat as Cinder looked down at her flippers. “This is exactly what you deserve.”
Cinder didn’t respond. She knew how response would be treated; this body was too fragile. One wrong move and not only would she explode but she’d probably have to clean it up. “And hurry up, you need to cook dinner.”
“Are you her?”
Kinzel tilted her head. “Who? You mean that Madame mentioned in your file? No.”
“Could have fooled me.”
“I can’t imagine that’s very hard.” Kinzel snorted. “No, I died a few years before you met her. Never had that kinda money either.” She smirked. “You’ll forgive me for taking advantage of having a prinny. Have a coworker who has her prinny do everything to help her work off her debts.”
Cinder placed a pillow perfectly on the bed. “Are you really an angel? This seems like something a demon would do.”
“Well ya know; the difference between me and a demon? Not that different really.” She smiled. “The main one? I’m doing this to help you. Even if I wasn’t here, watching you, you’d still have to do this. You have to earn forgiveness, kid. Just be happy i’m not forcing you to say ‘dood’ every other second.”
Cinder reached into her pouch… she could take this angel, she was sure. All she needed was the right moment.
“How long do I have to do this?” Cinder asked absent mindedly. She needed to get her nice and complacent first. Then after killing her, go to the portal place and then the world was hers once again… She was no one’s slave.
“Well, ain’t that an interesting question?” Kinzel paused. “I’d say… about thirty years?”
“Thirty Years!”
Cinder turned and almost threw a Machete at her from her pouch. Kinzel just moved her head to the right as it embedded into the wall. Thirty years of… DRUDGERY?!
“I’m being generous; it might take longer. You tried to destroy the world or aid in its destruction. Naturally that is gonna be a while.” She looked at the machete. “By the way, that’s not helping.”
“You… You…”
Something in Cinder snapped as she lunged towards the Angel her semblance still active, her anger clear She would-
With a single punch she was launched into the wall and the world went blank.
—
As Kinzel was dragging Cinder to the healer, she passed Penny and Pyrrha, who were on their way to see Medea, their ‘Dominion’; a sort of Lesser-Archangel from what they both understood. Strangely they managed to see her right away. Both were quite used at the Marble halls and painted friscos of angels, but because Medea was from their world, though long dead, they could see the Grimm painted, being slain by angels who taught early humanity not to fear the dark.
Pyrrha still didn’t understand how Celestia worked and had mostly given up. All she knew is that this place was the home to angels, both born and uplifted and that they served the divine of many worlds… and Remnant was apparently no exception. Medea looked to be in her early twenties; long blonde hair framed her face, with bright, silver-eyes beaming in a sisterly manner as the two entered. “I had a feeling you two would be here… I apologize for some deception there but i was really hoping to have the two of you together.”
“You could have just asked, Domina.” Pyrrha replied, causing Medea to laugh.
“No need to be so formal with me. Vulcanus is still somewhere in a flowerbed, so we can all be a little more free.”
“I have not heard of that name yet Miss Medea.” Penny said. She missed being able to have a memory that was almost instant, but she managed.
“He used to be the Archangel before me.”
Archangel Flonne shocked the two lesser angels, not sure if they should bow before her… however she looked so young, but so kindhearted and genuine, as if she was just interrupting a conversation on the side of the road.
“Sorry for scaring you, but this is a matter that needs my attention as well.” Flonne said before taking a place to Medea’s left. “Remnant only recently came to our attention; sure, souls from there came here and to the afterlife, but we couldn’t interfere for a long time. We managed to get in but as the world got colder with more grimm we had to leave it alone, and then the Brothers ordered it closed off from the multiverse.”
Pyrrha frowned. “But why?”
Medea sighed. “The Brothers committed a grave sin in destroying mankind the first time around. It seems that this was to cover the evidence from what we can tell… If they’re found, they will be taken to task.”
“They haven’t answered any summons from Remnant, but the Barrier was broken.” Flonne finished. “And with Salem gone Remnant needs guidance once again. Just because Salem is serving as a Prinny somewhere, doesn’t mean that Remnant will be fine if it doesn’t get help soon.”
Penny nodded. “So that’s why I was made an angel. You do not need to tell me twice, Miss Flonne.”
Medea shook her head, though with a smile. “You were both made angels because of your exceptional character. You still have duties here in Celestia but you are allowed to visit your friends. This task is open-ended in many ways, but you must understand that you have the choice here.”
Pyrrha took a breath. “I can’t say no to this.”
Medea closed her eyes. “I figured as much. And you Penny?”
“As I said.” Penny said confidently with a smile. “I am, uh… Assistance-Ready?... though I need to return to the class; they were so looking forward to the field trip.”
Flonne’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, I remember! The Menagerie trip was always so much fun with miss Morgan!”
“On the topic-” Medea continued past her superior. “I would recommend you not overstay. Remnant is a human world after all so remember to be serious and represent Celestia as best you can. And don’t overstay too long.”
Medea smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Please… just make sure the world can recover. Salem might have left scars, but all things can heal.”
Pyrrha nodded… hopefully seeing Jaune would heal her own scars and lingering doubts.
—
Cinder woke up, though not in time to see Pyrrha and Penny pass the Cleric. Kinzel stood over her, passing one Hl to the other angel. That was how much any prinny was worth… that was how much SHE was worth.
This wasn't the first time she was sent here before, and every time, no matter how powerful she was or how much damage she caused it was always one Hl… but of course, she couldn’t do anything that really mattered. Cinder’s breath was cold as she looked across a sea of bright clouds, held by nothing but the marble architecture of the Celestia. She couldn’t hurt anyone up here…
Not for lack of trying.
“Alright so, if you’re gonna be like that.” Kinzel said as she dragged her away from there, past Meaver who waved her guests off. “We need to do something about your temper.”
Cinder wished she could grip her fists, but she no longer had them. All she wanted was a way out. “Hmm… I have to be honest, not sure how to do that.” Kinzel replied looking down. “Nothing wrong with having a will, but you need to put it to something productive.”
“I was productive.”
“Yeah sure whatever.” Kinzel Shrugged. “Evil ain’t productive.”
“You wouldn’t understand.” Cinder muttered. “I had all the power in the world-”
“But not enough.” Kinzel finished looking at the Prinny with something approaching understanding. “And the real thing is it wouldn’t be enough. The Multiverse is a big place; you think Salem is the worst thing out there?”
Cinder kept quiet for a moment, waiting for the Angel to elaborate, but she didn’t. “It doesn’t matter kid. Once you realize the only thing that matters who you are it all clicks. No one ever gained from hurting someone else.”
“Unless it’s experience points.”
“Shut up.” Kinzel glared at Meaver, who wisely obeyed.
“The point is, Cinder… did that power make you happy? Or anyone else that didn’t want to use you?”
Cinder didn’t answer. She just wanted this lecture over with.
“Alright alright… enough of me being serious, time to get back to work.” Cinder was returned to do menial work in the apartment complex, all while Meaver sighed in relief; She was under strict orders to make sure that Pyrrha and Penny didn’t met their murderer…
Of course, she wasn’t sure if she could mess that up; Flonne worked in mysterious ways.
—-
Jaune stood before the Statue to his fallen teammate. Nora and Ren joined him there but kept their distance. The Stone-form of their friend, long since passed away, but unforgotten didn’t emote.
“We did it.” Jaune didn’t sound victorious; emotions roiled inside of him. Salem was defeated, Remnant was saved, and she had been avenged and yet nothing could bring her back. It had been six months. He didn’t even know what else to say.
“Jaune?”
For a moment, Jaune thought he heard her voice; he had recordings of her sure but… it sounded like.
“J-Jaune, it’s me.”
He turned; Nora and Ren seemed to hear something too, Nora seemed to notice it first; eyes going wide as dinner-plates and pointing behind him. Even Ren looked spooked. Jaune turned again and Pyrrha Nikos and Penny Polendina stood by the statue. Both looked as they did as they were alive, more or less, except for two things: their clothes were odd, almost clergy-like outfits. That wasn’t the weird part though, that was their wings. Pyrrha’s were bigger, with long white feathers that look soft to the touch. Penny’s were smaller, but the feathers where much the same.
Jaune didn’t want to believe it; this. It couldn’t be true. It SHOULDN’T…
But for a brief moment, Pyrrha and Jaune’s eyes met, and Remnant would be forever changed.