Summary: When Romsca died in Pearls of Lutra, it looked like she had become a Reformed Vermin. Does that mean she goes to the Happy Place where only good woodlanders get to go? Well, yes, sort of...but before that, she has to become...a guardian angel first...

Disclaimer: Toboe LoneWolf does not own Redwall, any rodent of any kind, or Brian Jacques, who is doing quite fine in England, let me tell you.

Toboe LoneWolf: Heyla! I'm back! And yes, another one of my wacky ideas. They come and go at weirdest times. I must apologize beforehand for the terrible accent usage; I am not a great writer at accented dialogue like Brian Jacques. So please excuse my terrible seabeast accent, wot?

Guardian Angel Romsca

Prologue: You're Dead

All vermin know that when you die, it ain't a pretty place.

So Romsca was not very optimistic when she found herself in that proverbial tunnel and saw the light at the end.

Might as well meet me old mates, Romsca thought, floating or whatever it was. 'S not like I'll ever see that abbey place again. Huh, a thought like that...

So when Romsca emerged from the tunnel, a short little mouse in a white tunic standing in front of pearly gates with fluffy white clouds was not what she expected. Romsca looked down at herself to find that she was in similar attire.

"What in Hellgates is this?"

The mouse smiled. "Hello, Romsca."

"Er, 'ello...'ey, how'd ye know me name?"

The mouse smiled. "Well, you're the first ever of the likes of you that ever made it here. Figured I'd better welcome you here." He grimaced. "Well, sort of."

"Eh?"

The mouse shook himself. "Making a mess of things, am I? Let me introduce myself. I'm Martin." He paused. "Martin the Warrior."

Romsca stared at him. "Really? I ain't 'eard of you..."

"...I'm dead."

Romsca scratched her head. Okay, so a lot of mousey types were dead. Come to think of it, she'd done a lot of that herself. "...And you're standin' here 'cause..."

Martin sighed. "Well, you know that usually, searats and corsairs like you usually don't make it here. They go to Hellgates." He pointed down with his paw. "But you're the first. And quite frankly, we don't know what to make of you."

"Eh?"

"So, in consensus we've come up with this. You're to become a...guardian angel of sorts. Contrary to belief, we don't like it when somebeast goes to Hellgates. It's Judgement," Martin shrugged, "but we don't get pleasure of knowing that somebeast is in there. So, since you're the first, you're to...lead others like yourself. Show them that they don't have become corsairs and fight and kill and terrorize the seas."

Romsca stared at Martin. "Yer sayin' that I'm gonna be an angel?"

"Yes."

"With them wings an' all?"

Martin winced. "Well, in time. You have to earn them first, but—"

"I don't believe it." Romsca stated flatly. "Me mum always said I'm a goin' to Hellgates, an' a seabeast can't change their ways, an' anyways I ain't one of 'em angel-types, all clean and pretty, I'd scare all yer kids and—whose are ye, anyway? How'd I know ye ain't makin' this stuff up an' I'm just dreamin—"

"I'm telling the truth." Martin glared.

Romsca pointed a paw. "Oh? Then proves it!"

Martin rolled his eyes. He held out his paws. Suddenly, the sky turned dark, lightning flashed and thunder reverberated in the heavens. Martin's eyes grew black and huge white wings manifested from his back, unfurled. Romsca threw herself down into gray thunderclouds and stuffed her ears as the entire world boomed with Martin's words,

"I AM THAT IS!"

And a chorus behind him sang, "HALLELUJAH!"

Then the clouds receded, a rainbow appeared, and chirping doves flew across the sky. Martin raised an eyebrow as Romsca peeked up.

"Now do you believe?"

Romsca banged her head against the clouds, which wasn't very effective. Alright, so she wasn't hallucinating, she was most definitely dead, and she was going to be a...guardian angel.

Oh, the irony if her mates could see her now...

Romsca stood up and rubbed her ears, trying to get the sense of hearing back.

"Alright then, I believe ye."

And bing! Romsca felt a certain illuminating object hovering over her head. Looking up, Romsca saw a golden halo.

Romsca looked at Martin in accusation.

Martin smiled. "Right then. You've been inducted to be the first ever Corsair Guardian Angel." He reached out a paw, which Romsca took with hesitation. "Now come. You're about to go through on-job training."

Romsca was still trying to get used to this Thing over her head, and didn't quite catch onto what Martin just said until they were floating over Redwall Abbey.

"Wait a sec, training?"