Hello again my friends! We are back into the thick of it. I hope you guys enjoy it! We're back to Vaggie and her getting a lesson or two from the great Carmilla mother lol

"I'm glad everything else is going well for you, ángel, but I realized that there is something else I could help you with outside of giving you weapons to men." I gave Carmilla a curious look while a serious one took over her features. "While I fought against that angel, I realized certain features of their fighting style that made it easy to attack when analyzed. I'm certain all of you angels were taught the same styles." I swallowed hard as I started to understand Carmilla's realization as well.

"Well, yes." I put my hands behind my back and reverted to some of the training drilled into me while in Heaven. "We were taught to be aggressive and to leave no survivors during our time limit."

"And you were also taught you could not die." I nodded my head as Carmilla hummed in response. "You need proper training then. To fight without aggression."

"Not like Heaven has been right about much anyway." I shrugged at the idea before relaxing at the idea. "What do you have in mind then?"

"Do you want to know what kept me from losing my fight with those winged devils?" I tilted my head curiously before she continued. "Love, mi querida. I fought for love."

"Love? In a fight?" I couldn't help but snicker at the idea. "What are we? Care Bears? Bad enough that Adam is calling Charlie Pinkie Pie of all things."

"There is a difference between fighting with love and fighting for love, pequeño." A cold look took over Carmilla's face which caused my stomach to drop. "Fighting for love means protecting those who matter the most to you. It means keeping them safe no matter the results of the battle itself. This means keeping them in your heart and knowing that you have someone that you know needs you to come back to them. You cannot go on without them and they without you." Carmilla put her hands behind her back as her voice dripped with feeling. "We all have those we love more than anything, Vaggie. It's those that we fight for. No matter who our enemy is and I know you have someone in mind already." I nodded silently as Carmilla now circled me slowly.

"I'll do anything to keep Charlie safe with all of this. I would go through all of Heaven's army if it meant she'd be okay."

"Then use that." I felt something sweep itself under my legs which caused me to fall backward but I was able to tuck myself into the motion and roll onto my back and back up on my feet. "Good reflexes. But you'll need that fighting your own people." Her voice was cold but I nodded proudly in reply.

"Teach me, Carmilla." I stood up tall from my stance as I felt something swirl within my chest. "Train me." A small yet prideful smile took over the taller woman's face.

"Say less."

I grunted as I took a solid kick into the gut.

"Fighting for love is feeling a lot more like fighting a steel wall." I pushed Carmilla's leg back before jumping back and shaking out my limbs.

"You've got to be swift, Vaggie. You've got to keep yourself light but ready to strike at any moment." I ducked under another kick before getting knocked into my chest with a punch. "Come on, Vagatha." Carmilla's voice was stern and caused a different voice to echo through my mind as I lunged at the taller woman.

You're the weakest little runt of the fucking litter, Vaggie.

I growled as Lute's voice scolded me in my head. An angered fist aimed toward Carmilla's stomach missed as the woman danced effortlessly out of reach.

Worthless excuse for an angel.

I swung my right leg up to try and catch the Overlord off guard, but she blocked my leg and pushed me back which caused me to stumble backward.

Spineless bitch.

I ran forward toward Carmilla and went for another swing after dodging another kick in the process, but she grabbed my fist and used my inertia to flip me over herself and onto my back with a heavy thud. The scars on my back ached as Lute's voice continued in my mind.

Better off dead.

"You're fighting with anger, Vaggie. You'll lose if you keep going for vengeance." I grumbled Carmilla allowed me to pull myself up from the floor and catch my breath. "Being out for blood will not let you win. Do you think putting all your effort into killing those bastards will keep Charlie safe? You'll lose yourself in it all and forget those around you. You will lose and not just in the battle itself." I grew frustrated with myself as I felt angered tears swell in my eye.

"I was a useless angel, so how the fuck am I supposed to be useful now? I couldn't kill when told so how am I going to when I need to?" I fell to my knees before letting out a furious cry and punching the solid ground. "I can't keep her safe when I couldn't even defend myself! I panicked at the sound of them! I was a failure of a human and an angel and I'm just as much as one now as a fallen." I punched the ground once more as a growl released itself out of me. "Fuck!" Carmilla was silent for a moment as I felt the tears fall from my eyes. She stepped closer but didn't touch me before kneeling before me and speaking in a softer voice than before.

"Vagatha, look at me." It took me a moment, but I leaned back from my position and rubbed my eye dry. I looked up toward her to see a worried look taking over the woman's face as she reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. "You're much stronger than any other demon or sinner among us. You have scars from fighting for what is right and yet you still work toward that same mentality. You're angry and frustrated and that's normal, hija, but you can't let that control you." I took a deep breath as she continued. "When those memories come, think of Charlie. You'll see what changes it will make." She took her hand back and got back up onto her feet. "Once you've thought about it, we'll try again. Just take a moment." She stepped back a few feet but watched me as I closed my eye and allowed myself to focus on her words.

Think of Charlie. Easy enough.

I took a deep breath as I felt myself relax at the idea.

Charlie. The best thing that has ever happened to me in either of my lives. The luckiest day of my life was meeting her, despite the circumstances, but I would live through it a million times over if it meant living this afterlife with her. She's worth every battle and every scar. I would trade my life in a heartbeat if it meant keeping her safe and sound.

I couldn't help but smile as I opened my eye to look up toward Carmilla with a new sensation filling my chest. A sense of determination fulfilled me as my mind continued.

Charlie is my everything. No doubt about it. My heart, soul, and mind have always felt at ease in her presence and it's something I have cherished since the moment I realized it. She's more than my better half, but the person that moves me to become better. The love of my life.

I pushed myself up to my feet as I felt this warming sensation within my chest, and oddly enough my spine, but I ignored it for the time being.

If Heaven comes down and tries to take all that we have fought for together, they'll have to get through me for it. No matter the struggle. She's my everything and I will give all of me to protect her dreams. I'll give my life to be her partner and for that, I'll be her armor. I'll take every blow they send to us. Even if it means fighting my demons with these angels.

I rolled my shoulders as I felt that warming sensation spread through my shoulder blades as Carmilla gave me a curious look from a distance.

I'll protect my heart with all of me and that means giving my all to keep her safe. All of Heaven would have to take me down before getting to her.

"It seems fighting with love does a lot to an angel." I smiled as I took a solid fighting stance while still rolling my shoulders.

"Come and find out." Carmilla smiled back before dashing toward me and going for a kick straight up toward my chin, but I stepped back and took the opportunity to swing my leg under hers to take away her balance. She moved quickly to jump back and bring her leg down with her to try and knock me down that way, but I rolled back to keep myself out of range.

Gotta keep her safe. I have to stay alive.

I lunged forward before having a sort of dance with Carmilla. Each time one of us would swing or aim for the other, they would move back to move in time with the motion. It caused a flow of movements to occur as that warm feeling never left between my shoulder blades.

Be out for love. Fight for it.

I backflipped out of range from a sidekick as I felt something emerge from my back and a familiar weight appeared against my skin. I took the moment to stand tall before the Overlord with a broad smile as I heard the flap of feathers behind me.

Anything for Charlie.

"Seems I got a lot to teach now as well." I looked over my shoulder to see a new style of wings that had emerged from my scared skin. It oddly didn't ache as I allowed the wings to flutter for a moment before tucking in against me.

"I knew you had it in you, hija!" My smile only widened at her words as she walked toward me with her arms out wide. "Now you have what it takes to show those angels who's boss." She placed her hands on my shoulders once close enough and I just gave her a quick nod in reply.

"All thanks to you, Carmilla. Thank you."

"All thanks to love, ángel." She gave my shoulders a little squeeze as her eyes softened. "All thanks to love."

Translations for those who need it!

ángel - angel

mi querida - my darling

pequeño - little one

hija - daughter :3