Epilogue

Daniel paced around while taking in what was around him. He was in his mother's house, awaiting the summoning bell that would signal the start of the trial. Miles came around the corner of the living room, "Hey. Todays the big day."

Daniel nodded, "Yeah. This is a big day for Mother too."

"Do you want to go to her grave before it starts?" Daniel nodded once more and the two went out the door.

It had been over a month since Umbra had been captured. In that time, the angels had begun to rebuild the burnt-out buildings and replant the ravaged gardens. As they walked, Miles said, "It's the most amazing thing, everything we see around us is only a chunk of Heaven. The whole thing is as huge as the Middle Realm if not more so! The whole of Heaven is divided into 7 big quadrants and each one is governed by an archangel and two or three subordinate angels."

Daniel's ears went up, "Wow! How did you find that out?"

"You know that old mongoose? Well, his name is Lawrence and he told me that Christine was one of the subordinate angels helping St. Michael."

Daniel was silent before saying, "We're here."

Miles and Daniel were standing in a partially regrown garden. They had been told by the other angels that it had been Christine's favorite garden. In the middle was a small stone engraved with a cross lying in the grass amongst some violets, Christine's favorite flower. The boys stood in front of it, holding hands for support. Daniel cleared his throat, "Hello Mother. It's us, Miles and Daniel."

Miles continued, "We wanted to stop by and say that today Umbra Diabloi goes to trial for everything he's done to everyone. Especially to you."

"Today you and everyone he's hurt will have justice."

Miles and Daniel said together, "Rest in peace." The summoning bell began to ring its loud, high tone. The two turned and headed for the large building in the center of Heaven.

Daniel and Miles walked inside the building to see crowds of angels moving about. Lawrence, the old mongoose, came up to them, "There you are boys. St. Michael has been looking for you. Come."

Lawrence led the two to a back room where St. Michael was waiting, "At last! I thought you weren't going to show."

Daniel asked, "What is this building?"

"This is the Supreme Heavenly Courthouse. This is where we handle the most serious offenses. In fact, this is the very courthouse in which Lucifer was sentenced to be cast down from Heaven. And it will be here, with a jury of the other six archangels and their most trusted subordinates and I as the judge, that Umbra Diaboli will be tried for his crimes. Now we must go."

Daniel and Miles took a seat on the witnesses' side of the courtroom. St. Michael entered and sat in the judge's chair and the jury filed in and seated themselves as well. Two angels then brought in a furious, swearing Umbra into the courtroom. Around his wrists and ankles were large shackles that were engraved with interlocked crosses all along the surface. "Damn you! Damn all of you to Hell! You will all burn in hellfire! The very wrath of Satan himself will come crashing upon you!"

St. Michael banged a gavel, "SILENCE DEMON! You should be thankful that we angels are kinder than the likes of you! We are giving you a fair trial and punishing you accordingly."

Umbra growled, "I don't want your little mock act of kindness. I want to tear your throat out!" Here Umbra turned his wicked crimson eyes on Miles, "Isn't that how I killed your little whore mother Miles?"

The fox tensed in his chair and shot back, "Keep talking Umbra. You're just making it worse for yourself."

St. Michael banged the gavel once again, "Let us begin. Read the charges."

Lawrence stepped forward with a scroll in hand. He unfurled it and read in a surprisingly clear voice for an old angel, "Umbra Diaboli, you have broken four of the five immortal laws that govern us all. This includes, but is not limited to, the rape and murder of Angel Christine, and sparking a war between Heaven and Hell."

St. Michael said, "Umbra Diaboli how do you plead?"

Umbra replied, "Demons don't plead, we gloat. We take a good deal of pride in-"

"Did you commit the crimes or not, demon?"

Umbra grinned, "Of course. And I don't regret any of them. But of course, my companion Debilito is the one who should be charged with the murder of Christine."

Miles stood, "Debilito was under Umbra's command. He is merely trying to shift the blame."

St. Michael nodded, "Agreed. Umbra will still be charged the murder." Umbra growled curses under his breath.

After two hours, the jury was ready to start deciding what Umbra's fate. Miles and Daniel were sitting in their chairs quietly talking when Lawrence came up to them, "The jury wants to see you two." Surprised, the two got up and went into the room where the jury was meeting. St. Michael was there too. When the boys entered the room, they immediately dipped their heads in respect.

"Have a seat you two." said St. Michael as he gestured to two empty chairs. Miles and Daniel sat down. St. Michael went on to say, "Boys, this is St. Gabriel and his subordinate Judith. St. Raphael and Leonardo. St. Uriel and Caleb. St. Raguel and Beatrix. St. Remiel and Elijah, and St. Saraqael and Hannah."

"Hello." said Daniel and Miles as they dipped their heads once more.

St. Gabriel stood, "Daniel, Miles, we have decided without a doubt that Umbra Diaboli is guilty on all counts. However, what we cannot decide is what his sentence should be. That is where you two come in."

St. Raphael continued, "You have suffered a great deal at Umbra's hands, most likely more than everyone else. We think that you should decide." Miles and Daniel looked at each other in surprise.

Daniel replied still in awe, "This truly is an honor, but we wouldn't know what to decide."

Miles agreed, "We don't know our options, we're not familiar with how this works, it's very generous of you, but we're not qualified to make such an important decision."

St. Saraqael said with a wave of his hand, "That's quite alright. Really you only have two options. Put that monster of a demon to death or behind bars for all eternity."

After thinking for a moment, Daniel said in a low voice, "He should be put behind bars forever."

St. Ureil leaned forward in his chair, "What makes you say that Daniel?"

"To put him to death would be letting him off easy. For all he's done to Heaven and my mother, he deserves to suffer."

All was silent until St. Michael spoke up, "All in favor?" Every hand went up. "Good. Let's close this up once and for all." With that, St. Michael and the others left the room.

"We have decided that Umbra Diaboli is guilty on all counts. Furthermore, we suggest that he is sentenced eternal imprisonment." announced St. Remiel.

St. Michael nodded, "Agreed. Umbra Diaboli, I am hereby sentencing you to eternal imprisonment inside the Pit of Light. Case dismissed." Fear was visible on Umbra's face as he was hauled away.

All at once he exploded and began shout in Latin, "Ignavi paulo adulteri! Vos omnes adolebit! Adolebit! Ego ultionem! Non foveam tenere me! Irrumabo omnes!" Once he was gone, all of the angels in the courtroom breathed a huge sigh of relief. Miles and Daniel left the courtroom and went back to Christine's house.

They sat together in the kitchen. Miles looked at Daniel and said, "Good call about Umbra. Justice has been done and he got what he deserved."

Daniel shrugged, "I hate to admit it but my connection with my father, and I use that term very loosely, is stronger than I care for. I knew he was hoping for death because in his mind, he would get away with it. I just couldn't allow that."

"Let's hope that you won't ever have to use that connection again. I think I figured out what to do with our little dispute about who should keep Christine's cross."

Daniel cocked his head, "Oh?"

"Yeah, come on." The two got up and went to the main room of the house. Miles took the cross from around his neck, "Since St. Michael told us to live here, we can keep it in the house." Miles removed a picture of a sunset from the wall and hung the connection cross on the nail, "There. It will be there when we leave and when we come back. As if she was seeing us off, and welcoming us back home."

Daniel stared at it before saying, "I miss her Miles."

Miles sighed, "I miss her too Daniel. But we have to move on."

"What if I can't make her proud? What if I can't earn this halo for real?" asked Daniel as he began tear up

Miles put a hand on his shoulder, "Daniel, your mother would be so proud of you already! I'll be honest, when first met you, I thought you were the biggest kid on the face of the planet. And now look at you! You've matured so much. I'm scared too. But that's why we have to do what we promised Christine we'd do: Stay together. Ok?"

Daniel took a deep breath and wiped away his tears, "Ok. You're right. We're brothers." At that moment there was a knock at the door.

Upon answering it, the two were surprised to see Lawrence on the porch, "Hello boys! St. Michael has assigned me to show you two the ropes. I hope you're not afraid of heights because it's time to stretch those wings."

Daniel's face lit up, "We're going to fly?"

"Not if you keep standing there. Come on!" Miles and Daniel dashed out the door, eager to learn and be the best angels they could be.

The End

Author's Note: That's a wrap! I hope you enjoyed this story and I thank you for your reviews. If you have any questions about anything don't hesitate to PM me. Unfortunately, with school coming up, I won't be able to post as often. However, I have a big story cooking that I will post as soon as I can. In the meantime, I found one of my old composition books with a Sonic zombie story in it. To fill the gaps, I'll be transferring it to my computer and posting it for your reading pleasure. Thank you again for reading.

Latin translation: Ignavi paulo adulteri! Vos omnes adolebit! Adolebit! Ego ultionem! Non foveam tenere me! Irrumabo omnes Translation: You cowardly little bastards! You all will burn! Burn! I shall be avenged! No pit will hold me! F*** all of you!