Elsa, Mulan, Shang and Mulan exit the hall of Justice, leaving the purest of their ranks mulling over the events of the battle and what to do of the Fallen brought back from it.
"This is certainly a strange circumstance, isn't it?" Mulan muses.
"The fact that another demon downed our worst foe for us to take in, or the fact that we were actually able to get the beast into custody at all?" Merida asks, glancing over in confusion.
"Both." Mulan says. "I always imagined Red Sunshine would go down by it's soul being forced into the light by our rank of elites, not pulled in for judgement by archangels barely powerful enough to keep the thing at bay."
"Funny," Shang says, contemplative, "I was taken off guard more by the demon's behaviour. It might be because it was among the high ranking angels previously, but I've never met a Fallen who's retained so much of it's angelic values – no matter how skewed those values have become."
Elsa listens to the three chat in silence, mentally preparing herself for the task given to her by her superiors. Even if the beast is residing in a weakened form, Elsa isn't keen on becoming the thing's guard. It probably has something to do with the beast trying to make her Fall and beating her half to death.
"You should probably go, Els." Mulan says, a mild hint of concern in her voice. "If you need help, call one of us. We'll be by your side instantly."
"If that thing even sneezes at me wrong I'll open a link to you." Elsa confirms, knowing better than to try controlling an elite demon on her own. Anna may be stripped of it's ability to access demonic energy, but highest ranks of hell—especially the Fallen—don't need that to control someone.
Without another word, Elsa teleports to limbo – a dimension lingering between Earth and heaven. Ever since its formation, limbo has had an area cordoned off for heaven's purposes; used for cases such as Anna – un-pure beings needing to face judgement but are unable to transverse in the spiritual holy grounds. If the angels wanted they could plunk Anna into heaven, but the energy would purify the demon instantly. That, and the risk is too great to even chance.
She would say her steps echo as she makes her way through the halls, but the truth is that sound is inconsequential here. There are no sounds, no smell and nothing truly solid – not even your own form. Inside each of the cells when they're activated is a whole different story, but they still hold that eerie weightlessness of being not completely whole. It's been known to drive some people insane. Elsa has the feeling Anna won't be one of them.
Elsa opens Anna's cell, the differing pressures equalizing to that of the hall like a spaceship opening an airlock into space. Anna looks up, it's solid form wavering as the nonexistence outside the cell swipes in with all the subtly of a freight train. Elsa shuts the door, sits in the chair on the other side of the room—opposite the demon—and waits for the room to re-solidify itself.
Anna frowns and rolls it's shoulders uncomfortably as it's form condenses again, obviously uncomfortable with the feeling. Elsa doesn't blame the beast – not even angels like traversing here longer than necessary.
They sit in silence for a good five minutes, surprising Elsa. Demons—even the Fallen—are known for goading or pleading upon given the opportunity, but Anna seems mostly content keeping to itself. It's more unsettling than one might think, because the demon isn't silent without purpose – it's silent and completely aware, always analyzing the objects around it.
After yet another examining once over, Anna hums quietly. "You must be more higher ranking than I thought to be assigned to me. I've been trying to taste your energy to see by just how much, but nothing here has any flavour." It gives Elsa a close lipped smile that doesn't reach it's eyes. "Just one more sign we're in no place natural." The beast frowns, it's eyes flicking to the door. "I hate limbo." It murmurs. "Freakiest place I've ever been to; even as an angel I tried to avoid coming here. Gave me the creeps."
Elsa smiles faintly, lips closed, but doesn't answer. Anna glances to her out of the corner of it's eye, a calculated edge sparking in it.
"Why you?" It asks, not moving a muscle. Set on edge, Elsa opens communication with Mulan, just in case. She can feel the other archangel's worry on the other end but ignores it, knowing that the other woman will find out soon enough. "Justice has elites trained to deal with things like me." Anna continues, and Mulan goes silent – listening. "Your order leaves nothing to risk, meaning they'd have no reason to assign you . . . unless you're more powerful than you let on."
Elsa sighs softly through her nose and leans back in her chair, feeling relaxed and protected with Mulan as her safety net if things go wrong. "My power is what you saw in the field; nothing more, nothing less. I've only been assigned to you because of the combined wills of Harmony and Truth. Even Justice would have been pressed to refuse that." Anna quirks an eyebrow; the only muscle in it's body it allows to move.
"And pray tell, sweet thing, why those two disciplines would give a damn in Justice jurisdiction?"
Elsa frowns. "Every discipline has a say in the others; it's how we operate as a team. You should know this." Anna scowls, malicious.
"Angels." It spits, cursing the title. "Always so fucking difficult." Elsa shrugs.
"You only receive what you give yourself, and angels are incapable of returning your current behaviour. If you want us to respond to you, you have to properly behave towards us. If you give us respect, we will give it back; otherwise we'll go silent, and leave you alone and abandoned until you come around and apologize."
"I'm a demon." Anna spits, degrading itself. "How could I possibly give you the precious emotions of light you require to even acknowledge my existence?"
"I'm acknowledging you now." Elsa reminds the beast.
"Because you don't have a fucking choice!" Anna shouts, spittle flying from it's mouth. Elsa merely stares at the demon. Uncertainty flicks in Anna's eyes. "Uuh, hello?" It questions, trying to get a response. It doesn't get one. Anna's breath hitches, fear flashing in it's eyes. "Don't abandon me." It whispers, pushing itself to the edge of it's bed, pressing it's back into the corner and grabbing it's hair.
"Please, God, no." Anna moans, struck by an unfathomable emotional pain. "Don't abandon me again. Please don't leave me; I can't—" The demon sobs, slowly rocking back and forth. "I can't do this alone anymore." It says, it's voice cracking. "Please don't make me to this alone."
Wonder filters into Elsa's mind from her link with Mulan, but all Elsa feels is pity.
"Hey." The archangel breathes, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. She won't risk getting closer, not with how fickle Anna's emotional state tends to be. "I'm right here, okay? I'm not going to leave unless you make me."
Anna glances up, hope so fragile in it's teal eyes it makes Elsa's soul ache. The platinum blond smiles, showing the barest flash of white teeth. Anna visibly relaxes at the sight, it's hands falling from it's hair to reside in it's lap. Elsa leans back again, curiosity filling her.
"You want us to be with you and help you, yet you attack and taint us. Why is that? Do you hate us so much for what you claim we've done to you?" Elsa asks. Anna frowns, it's emotional guard reforming itself.
"It's not that I hate angels." Anna says, slowly. "I don't even hate the idea of heaven or the reality of it—the truth is just the opposite—but I hate what it's forced me to become." The demon meets Elsa's gaze with a bitter smile. "I was telling the truth when I said I didn't want to become this. I'll have you know I fought to the bitter end to try and stay an angel, even when my lack of wings said otherwise." It's smile flickers away, pain etching into it's eyes. "There are some things you just can't fight without help." It whispers, wincing in memory.
"I've never been proud of what I've become." Anna reaffirms. Elsa isn't sure which of them the demon's trying to convince. "All I've ever gotten was temporary satisfaction; a fickle feeling at the best of times. Like having an orgasm with a tainted afterglow that makes you feel used, but you keep going back for more and it, over time, makes you loathe yourself until you can't bear to recall who you once were. It hurts too much, knowing how deep of a grave you've dug for yourself." Anna lets it's head fall back against the wall and closes it's eyes. "So no, I don't hate heaven." It whispers, barely loud enough to hear. "I hate that I unknowingly threw it away and I hate that I changed into a person who would never be allowed back. Being angry, blaming and attacking heaven—and your kind, in turn—just . . . allows me to forget how much I miss it."
Over the connection Mulan encourages Elsa to seek more answers, but her tongue freezes on the roof of her mouth at the demon's tone. That isn't the tone of a Fallen-turned-demon, it's the tone of a newly Fallen weeping over their lost wings – their connection to heaven. An experience Elsa herself would have had to endure if she wasn't saved in time.
"What happened all those years ago?" Elsa asks, genuine concern leaking into her tone. Anna looks up, questioning. Elsa knows why – even though angels are genuine in everything they do, each discipline has personalities about them, and Justice isn't well known for gentle caring, even if they are capable of it.
"I'll tell you under one condition." Anna says, raising it's cuffed hands to run it's fingers through it's bangs. Elsa eyes the beast warily.
"What condition is that?" She asks. Anna meets her eye, a curious tilt to it's head.
"I want you to recognize that I'm not an 'it' or a 'thing'." The demon says, taking Elsa aback.
"Excuse me?" Elsa questions, unsure what to think. Anna gives a closed-lip, hollow smile.
"I know Justice angels refuse to assign genders to demons to detach themselves easier, essentially reducing us to furniture. Objects without souls." Anna says, leaning back against the wall, legs crossed in front of it. "Just because you take away your acknowledgement of our essence and our primary gender doesn't mean they no longer exist. Demons are the same are angels – we're both and neither gender at the same time, but have a preferred sex we tend to stick to when putting physical form to our souls. I, personally, am female. I'd prefer to be recognized as such."
Warning floods Elsa from her open link with Mulan, but it's hardly necessary. Elsa knows as well as any in Justice that there's a reason they regard demons as things, and if Elsa were to let go of that for even one demon, her effectiveness would be compromised. She's about to open her mouth to refuse, when the memory of Anna not outright killing or tainting her flickers through her mind. Mulan's warning grows stronger, and Elsa frowns.
"Why did Harmony and Truth specifically ask for me to guard you, even though I'd have no hope of containing you should you regain your link to demonic energy?" Elsa asks. Anna stares at her, confused at the topic change. Elsa frown deepens as Mulan's warning grows, and she severs the connection. "I assume you were among the highest ranks." Elsa clarifies. "Surely you would understand their reasoning."
Anna continues to stare at her until understanding flickers over it's features. "If I tell you, you'll see me as a person instead of a thing?"
Elsa meets the demon's gaze. "That depends on whether you tell the complete truth or lie by omission."
Anna huffs a surprised breath of air. "A Justice angel willing to compromise their effectiveness, for this?" It whispers, barely willing to believe it. It gazes at the archangel suspiciously, nostrils flaring. "Tell me your reasoning."
"Tell me yours." Elsa lobs back.
"I want to be treated like I deserve to be alive." Anna says, not missing a beat. "You?"
Elsa hums, taking a moment to think. "You didn't outright kill me." She admits, making Anna's eyebrows raise in surprise. "From the stories of the others I noted your behaviour was out of character, as if you took a half second to reconsider pulverizing me; like you felt something that you didn't want to touch. I don't know what that is and I probably never will, but I know it was there and it . . . gave me hope." Anna blinks.
"Hope?" It breathes. "In me?" Tears well in it's eyes and the demon smiles, flashing the angel a row of pristine white teeth.
"Harmony likes things to be in balance." Anna starts, settling itself in for a long tale. "They'd get involved when they feel as if their method will bring a greater peace than the other options. In this case, they were probably aware that sending an archangel with power rival to mine when I'm helpless would set me on edge and make me unwilling to cooperate. On the same note, they couldn't send a weaker angel I didn't know or else I'd eat them alive. You were the best choice because, although I overpowered you, you proved yourself as cunning and resourceful – surviving in pinches where others would have Fallen. They probably assumed I'd give you respect for that in my weaker state, and I'd be mollified with the knowledge that I could still overpower you should the need arise.
"Truth goes hand and hand with that logic, but uses it for a different purpose." Anna continues, seemingly content logic-ing out heaven's reasoning. "Although unaware of the specifics you felt, as record keepers they are familiar with my past and my track record from the moment I was created. Through Harmony's reasoning, Truth knew that you had the best chance of getting me to open up and fill in the gaps in my history from after I fell. Sure they have records about the times I stepped out of hell, but they have no idea about my Fallen history despite that. So,"—Anna says, wrapping it's explanation up—"Harmony wants balance and Truth wants knowledge." Anna tilts it's head. "They have high hopes for you, you know; they never would have attempted this otherwise."
Elsa eyes Anna, her face carefully blank. "Were they right, putting that trust in me?"
Anna's eyes glint with darkness, the corners of it's lips twitching upwards. "You tell me, sweet thing." It purrs, it's guards slamming back into place. Elsa tilts her head, aware of the vulnerable nerve she touched.
"You are Anna." She says – a silent offer of truce. "You are a Fallen angel turned demon with a soul that holds more feminine energy than masculine."
Anna blinks and it— her face slackens, her guards falling away in pure shock. "You . . .?" Her chest heaves and silent tears roll down her cheeks. "Damn it." She warbles, wiping at her eyes. "A Justice angel, making me cry by saying such simple words! What is the world coming to?" She barks a broken, unbelieving laugh. Elsa's eyes soften, but she doesn't say anything – giving the Fallen the time she needs to collect herself.
When Anna finally looks up, there's a look in her eyes that Elsa has never seen before on a demon – care.
"I knew there was something I saw in you." She whispers, giving the archangel a watery smile. Elsa opens her mouth to question but, at that moment, the cell door opens.
The temporary reality of the cell is sucked away, leaving both women's forms hazy and without defined edges. Even then, Elsa can still see Anna's eyes hardening and her demonic mindset slamming back into place. Her eyebrows furrowed unhappily, Elsa looks to the door.
One of the Justice judges, two Justice elites and a frowning Mulan stand in the opening.
That's what I get for cutting the connection in the middle of a demon debating off it's 'thing' status with me. Elsa thinks, giving an inaudible sigh and pushes to her feet. Sounds are impossible without enforced realism, and she can only guess what the other angels want unless they form a telekinetic bond with her like she had with Mulan earlier.
The judge holds up his hand for Elsa to stop and she does, confused. The two elites come in and remove the invisible bindings keeping Anna locked in the room. They each grab Anna by the upper arms and exit with her. The judge and Mulan enter in their wake and shut the door. Elsa stares at the two, confused and wishing the room would pressurize faster.
When it does, the judge sighs softly.
"Mulan tells me you broke off connection with her when the demon was trying to get you to acknowledge it's primary gender." He says, concern in his voice. "Did it succeed?"
Elsa forces out a controlled breath of air and runs her fingers through her bangs, knowing this would come sooner or later. "It did." She admits, referring to Anna as a thing in hopes of proving she's still valuable in the field. Mulan closes her eyes, head bowed. There's a reason demons are considered things in Justice, and she knows the judge won't be able to overlook this.
The judge sighs heavily, mournful. "We've caught the slip in time." He says, trying to be optimistic. "With work we'll hopefully be able to help you. Otherwise I'm afraid you're going to have to change disciplines." Elsa inclines her head in acknowledgement.
"I know." She whispers, half hoping she'll be able to and half wondering why she should. It felt good to recognize a demon as a soul instead of an object, but she supposes that's her angelic complex coming into play – and where the problem stems from to begin with.
A rule of heaven is that you can't purify or bring a soul into the light without the soul's permission and, as long as angels see those souls for what they are, angels will never go against their wish. Justice, however, is the militarized defence against hell. If demons attack angels have no choice but to interfere and purify them, but if they see them as souls instead of solidified darkness . . . well, they wouldn't be a very effective army, would they?
"Court's about to start." The judge says, turning to the door. "We're using the room on the far end of limbo, if you still wish to attend?" Elsa nods.
"I would."
Then all sound despites and her form wavers. Elsa walks beside Mulan, following the judge to the other end of heaven's hold on limbo. Already Elsa's beginning to feel ill from being here too long, but she knows it's a natural side effect that will only linger for as long as she's here. It's a completely different story if she stays for long periods of time, but she has no intention of doing that.
The judge opens the outer door to the court, holding it open for the two archangels before entering itself. It's a small square room before you enter the main court so that this is the only place that has to be continuously re-pressurized. The last thing anyone wants is for court to be halted for a latecomer and have to wait the insane amount of time it takes to enforce reality on a room so large.
Forms solid again, the three enter the main room and make their way to the front. The benches are already packed, the elevated judge area completely full with all the disciplines except for the spot for Justice and Anna is chained to the open marble floor in front of the judges by a chain around her neck. Despite this, the demon has her head raised high with her posture straight and defiant.
Elsa takes a seat beside Mulan in the only two empty chairs in the witness stand. Merida and Shang sit behind them. The demoted angel from Anna's last attack, Kristoff, sits on the other side of Mulan nervously clenching and unclenching his fists. Several other demoted, formally tainted angels sit in the stand as well, all victims of Anna's savagery.
The chosen judge for Justice takes his seat at the center of the raised dais, and the court goes silent. He takes a moment to collect his thoughts before addressing the room.
"We are gathered here today to go over the crimes of Amnayel Zarall Malakh, former elite archangel of Justice in the primary order, now Fallen and the right hand to satan himself. It has killed hundreds of thousands, tainted and ripped away wings from angels and forced it's rule over a quarter of humanity's mental territory." The judge turns his gaze to Anna. "What say you?" Anna scowls at him.
"Those are all facts, dumb ass, what the hell am I suppose to say? 'Nope! Totally wrong'?" She snaps, glowering. The judge is unaffected by it, but the formerly tainted in the witness box shift uneasy. Elsa herself frowns at Anna's former title.
Elite archangels of Justice in the primary order are the strongest warriors heaven has to offer, second to no one but the creator himself. The order is policed by the primary orders of the other disciplines, but it is mostly unnecessary precaution because those archangels are nearly impossible to taint. Obviously they're not impervious enough.
"What do you have to say in your defence?" The Justice judge asks, leaning back in his chair. Anna cackles – the human version of what Elsa heard on the battlefield hours earlier, only this time there's no amusement, just cruelty.
"How could I possibly defend against that?" She asks degradingly. "I used to be an angel." Anna reiterates, testing the celestial cuffs around her wrists and neck. Elsa stares on, frowning as the demon searches for a weakness in her bindings. Anna looks up at the judges, a dark glint shining in her eyes. "Now I find comfort in the company of hell. What more do you want? Remorse? I don't have any; not for any of the sorry sods who got in my way and certainly not for your fucking vanguards. So what say you, old chap? Hmm?"
The Justice judge frowns and glances to the other judges uncertainly. The one for Harmony leans forward, her eyes alight with compassion and curiosity.
"It is of my knowledge that you begged not to be hurt when you were captured, and that you were weeping earlier in your cell, not wanting to be abandoned. Is this true?"
Anna's face blanks of emotion. "And if it was?" She asks, her voice hard. The Harmony judge smiles kindly at the Fallen, flashing a hint of teeth.
"Then I'd be of a mind to know what triggered it and why."
"No!" Anna roars, jerking back only to come to a jarring halt by the celestial chain around her neck. "Fuck you!" She spits, her eyes as wild as a cornered animal. "Leave me alone! Don't come near me! I'll make you rot in hell!"
The Harmony judge's eyes raise into her hairline, thrown for a loop by how easily the composed Fallen became an emotional wreck. A sudden horror flashes in Anna's eyes and she halts her actions, her gaze flying up to lock with the judge's.
"I didn't mean that; please don't make me go back." She whimpers, her hands quivering. "You don't know what it's like. He keeps trying to break me, and each time he fails he lets me recover just enough of my will to make the next time hurt worse." Trembling, the Fallen angel sinks to her knees, silent tears streaming from her eyes. "He's playing with me in a game I can't win." She sobs, shoulders shaking violently. "He could have tainted me completely within the first week of capturing me, but do you know what he did? He had me tortured in eternal hell for three centuries!" Anna throws back her head, barking with psychotic laughter that gives her eyes an insane glint.
"It took them three centuries to break me the old fashioned way!" Anna boasts, cackling like a mad woman. "The devil was so impressed he made me his pet, poking needles in me every now and then just to hear me scream." A dark glint flashes in Anna's eyes and suddenly she's snarling like a rabid dog, lunging at the judges only to choke herself. "It's all your fault!" She roars, her voice raw. "All I needed was ten more seconds! Ten fucking seconds and none of this would have happened! You ripped my wings away from me when I needed heaven the most and you condemned me to hell. I hate you, and if you let me out of these chains I will rip you apart!"
The judges glances glance at one another, concern lighting their eyes from Anna's rapid mood swings. For Elsa, however, it's Anna's words that makes her uneasy.
"What do you mean, 'ten more seconds'?" Elsa asks, wincing when the entirety of the court turns its attention to her. Anna glances up, emotions flashing through her eyes like wild fire; relief, hope, frustration, concern, care, shock and, finally, settling on ire.
"You didn't even tell them?" Anna bellows, practically frothing at the mouth as she turns her attention to the Justice judge. "I was seconds away from killing the devil when you ripped my wings away and you didn't tell anyone? I'll fucking kill you!" She rages, fighting against her restraints with a new vigour.
As Anna starts spewing the violent ways she's going to murder everyone, Elsa feels her blood run cold, ringing filling her ears.
Anna was powerful enough to kill the devil, and heaven cut her wings?
Something isn't adding up, and Elsa knows it.
"What did you do, Amnayel?" Elsa asks, her voice soft. Anna cuts her spiel off abruptly at her angelic name and she looks to Elsa curiously. The entirety of the court is doing the same, but Elsa's focus is completely on the teal eyes of the Fallen.
"It wasn't my fault." Anna whispers, trying to convince the archangel to side with her. The judges all watch in surprise except the one for Harmony, who dons the faint smile of somebody who knows something no one else does. "You have to believe me." Anna begs.
Elsa rubs her eyes. "What did you do, Anna?" She repeats wearily, the informal address rolling off her tongue before her tired mind can stop it.
Anna frowns and shifts uneasily. "A couple centuries before I was captured the devil laid siege on the mental territory, trying to take more for use of hell. The other Justice primaries and I were ordered out on top of the regular forces with the express purpose of retraining him, but we had never faced such a powerful Fallen. If we'd been better prepared then maybe . . ." Anna's frown deepens, unsettled by the memory. "All the other primaries were tainted and demoted. Some recovered well enough to remain among the archangels and others returned to being minor angels with no disciplines.
"I myself was hurt badly enough to need continuous intensive care for several days. It was impossible to recover completely and I was demoted to low archangel." Anna shifts uneasily. "When the devil laid siege again centuries later I knew the new primaries wouldn't be able to handle it. It's not that they didn't have the power, they did, but they never faced anything like him before and if you don't know what you're up against, you lose. With this logic I was able to get assigned to the primaries as a strategist and went into battle with them, but words can never measure up to the real thing.
"They were getting demolished." Anna continues, bitterly. "If I didn't interfere we would have lost the battle and valuable angels, so I did the one things my superiors told me not to do and pushed past my safe energy range." The audience murmurs amongst themselves, knowing full well the risks of pushing into an unprotected energy range after suffering a prior taint. Anna grits her teeth at the recollection. "I started losing it." She admits. "It's nothing that couldn't be rectified, but my new safe range would have demoted me below even minor angels – just a pure sod with wings who wouldn't have even been able to teleport safely. But I could have done it. I would have rid the realms of the devil and all it would have cost was my standing in the angelic hierarchy.
"Then Justice intervened." Anna says, silently cursing the discipline. "I admit I was seconds away from destroying myself, but I would have taken the devil out first. I was so close . . . and then poof; bye bye wings." Anna glares at the judge of Justice, the hate in her eyes so palpable Elsa swears she can smell the phantom stench of volcanic ash. "My celestial energy disappeared with my feathers, leaving me completely and utterly helpless. They didn't even pull me out of the battle instead; they just ripped my wings away like the little cunts they are."
The judge of Truth hums gently to himself, drawing Anna's ire. "The archives say that you were so close to demonizing yourself that you would have never of killed the devil before you turned, and you would have with so much energy backing you that you would have been instantly granted black wings. It's theorized that you would have killed satan only to become the devil yourself."
"Well your archives can go fuck themselves." Anna seethes. The judge of Truth raises an eyebrow.
"You know, it wasn't the Justice discipline that took away your wings." He says, contemplatively. Anna halts, not moving a single muscle. The man smiles sadly. "You would have become so much worse than the devil if you turned that God himself cut your wings, unable to rectify the damage you did to yourself. The devil knew it, too – that's why he never pushed you enough to fully turn; just enough to keep you twisted and obedient."
Anna sits back on her heels, horrified. "No." She breathes, barely loud enough to hear. "That can't— how can that be right? I never—" Anna turns her gaze to Elsa, desperately looking for understanding. "I didn't know, you have to believe me." She pleads, seeking acceptance from the only source in the room she gives a damn about. Elsa stares back, unable to pinpoint what she's feeling.
The judge of Justice rubs his jaw, thoughtful. "This leaves us in a strange little predicament, doesn't it?" He says, once again drawing the focus of the room. He turns his sight to Anna. "With your tainted wings you're not allowed into heaven, but you're power is too much of a liability to let you roam free."
Anna clenches her teeth, a spiteful look overtaking her features. "What are you going to do then, odd sod, lock me in limbo?" The judge gives the Fallen a strange look.
"Why would we do that?" He questions. "Residing in limbo would make you insane, and we don't want that any more than you do."
"So what are you going to do with me?" Anna snaps, hackles raised and ready for a fight.
The Justice judge hums and leans back into his chair. "I don't know." He admits, then his brow furrows. "We can force you into a mortal existence, required to live lifetime after lifetime until you relearn your personal values in full. While I'd hope those personal truths would be angelic in nature, it's not necessary – you're a naturally good person at heart."
Anna nearly chokes on her own spit. "I've already done my moral time!" She cries. "I can't go through that again – it's nearly as bad as hell!" The judge of Justice smiles sadly.
"Unfortunately,"—he says—"I don't think we have much of a choice. The other options are . . . undesirable."
"And this isn't?" Anna shouts, tugging at the celestial force that keeps her bound. "I didn't survive hell just to go through it again in a different form!"
The judge of Harmony frowns, pained by Anna's comparison. "A moral life isn't a punishment, Amnayel." She says, her voice calming. "It's a physical experience that helps one grow and learn."
"I don't want to learn, I just want to be loved!" Anna cries, her wrists and neck smoking from her confines pumping more energy into themselves to keep the demon in holding. Anna screams in agony as the chains try to purify her, the phantom smell of burning volcanic rock filling the courtroom; picked up only by those who've smelt it before. "Why can't you give me that? Haven't I suffered enough?" She howls. "Let me have peace; that's all I want! Please don't send me away while I'm so close to finding what I lost; every single one of you is an embodiment of heaven's grace, every single one of you could help me. Please,"—she begs, her tears starting anew—"don't make me lose this."
Anna glances up, examining the affect her words have on the judges. Her heart seizes when she realizes every single one sympathizes with her . . . except the one she needs.
"I am truly sorry to go against your wishes, Amnayel." The Justice judge apologies sincerely. "I hope one day you find it in your heart to forgive me."
Anna sees the Justice primaries heading towards her and panics, breaking the bones in her hands to try to slide the cuffs off – but celestial energy doesn't work that way.
"Elsa!" Anna screams. "Don't let them take me!"
Elsa's not quite sure what overcomes her, but she instantly stands at the Fallen's plea. "Stop it, please!" She shouts. "You're only hurting her!"
The room stills, turning to her in frightening silence. For half a second she wonders why, then pales when she realizes she assigned Anna a gender. She'll be forced to choose another discipline after this.
"Elzima?" The Justice judge questions, shocked.
Well, if I'm going for it I might as well go for it. Elsa thinks, leaping onto the main floor and walking over to Anna. Anna's eyes widen when the archangel steps within her range with her back facing her, standing between her and the judges.
"She's suffered enough." Elsa says, her voice low and smooth. "She knows what she wants and what she doesn't want – she just needs the time to wade through her experiences and forgive them. She doesn't want power and she doesn't want to be violent – but she will fight to the bitter end if she feels you're abandoning her. Not even a couple hundred mortal lifetimes will help her find herself – her experiences are too raw and too horrendous for a human mind to comprehend, even subconsciously. She'll kill herself a dozen times over before she hits the age of ten and you know it."
Anna shuffles forward, crying in relief, and rests her head against the back of Elsa's leg; her broken hands clutching the archangel's calf like it's the only thing tethering her to reality. "I knew I saw something in you." She sobs, her chest warming with enough affection to be painful. Elsa reaches behind her and absently strokes the redhead's hair, unconsciously trying to calm the older angel.
The judges glance at each other but, again, the one for Harmony smiles like she knew this was going to happen all along. "I thought I saw a faint compatibility in you two." She breathes. The Justice judge turns to her in question. She only smiles wider. "I suppose I misread how strong your connection was with Amnayel's demonic signature getting in the way." This time it's Elsa's turn to give the judge a questioning look.
"As in . . .?" She trails off, wanting to hear the words.
"She's your twin flame, Elzima." The judge of Harmony says, her eyes sparkling with delight. "It's why Amnaye— Anna recognized your energy signature and didn't taint you right away; she was sensing her other half in a form her Fallen status couldn't completely comprehend. The same goes for you. Although in your case it was more of a pull you couldn't quite understand."
Elsa half turns and looks down, meeting the shocked teal eyes gazing up at her.
"That would explain why I could never find them." Elsa admits, the revelation making a startling amount of sense; and the longer Elsa stares at the Fallen before her the more warmth she feels flooding her chest. She blinks back tears and she flashes a watery grin. "What took you so long to come home?" She jests, her voice threatening to crack. Anna laughs, just as emotional.
"Seeing the sights?" She ventures, grinning so broadly it hurts her cheeks. Elsa collapses to her knees and cradles Anna's head to her chest.
"Don't you know it's rude to leave without a note?" Elsa asks, her voice breaking. Anna tries to hug the blond, but finds she can't with her cuffs. She settles with gripping Elsa's shirt as if her life depends on it, not even caring when her broken hands protest.
"You could have come to visit." Anna rebukes, still emitting wet sounding laughter.
"And met the in-laws? No thank you."
Anna barks a laugh and burrows her head snuggly under Elsa's chin. Elsa grins uncontrollably, finally letting her tears run in hot rivets down her cheeks. She never thought she'd unite with her other half – when she'd inquired about them in the past she never really received an answer, which is never a good thing.
"This will be a long, perilous journey, Elzima." The Harmony judge says, leaning back in her chair. "Anna may be your other half but she is emotionally damaged, powerful and one of the Fallen. You two will have many trails to overcome before Anna can push through to the other side and come home. Are you prepared to handle that?"
"Anything for her." Elsa whispers, holding Anna ever tighter. Anna grins, her heart skipping a beat.
The Harmony judge smiles. "Then I wish you both all the best. Which dimension do you wish to reside?"
"Whichever one you deem fit." Elsa replies, happy so long as Anna is with her.
"So it shall be." The judge says, clearly pleased.
Anna wriggles back until she can see Elsa's eyes, brimming with confusion as to why Anna would pull away. Anna grins.
"Thank you for having faith in me." She says, tears once again welling in her eyes. Elsa's gaze softens and she pulls the shorter angel into a warm hug, catching sight of the Fallen's fluffy snowman socks. Her heart sparks with ever more affection for the Fallen and she smiles, burying her nose into the crook of Anna's neck.
Elsa knows Anna has seven thousand years of pain making her unstable. She knows that her love won't be enough to calm all the physiological lapses Anna's bound to go through. She knows it's going to be a long time before Anna can forgive her past and move forward, but Elsa doesn't care. All is wants—all she ever wanted—is right here in her arms.