Heaven was in a state of upheaval. A civil war had broken out after shocking footage surfaced of exorcists committing mass genocide. The videos, spreading like wildfire, had ignited widespread panic among the residents of Heaven. Many of them had family members who were sinners in Hell, and the fear that their loved ones might be dead—or worse, already gone—was tearing them apart.
In the midst of this chaos, a trial was called to address the outrage and confusion. Charlie, representing Hell, was invited to speak on behalf of the underworld. She no longer wondered how someone as collected as Michael could be Lucifer's twin. The two of them had the same capability of chaos. Charlie had heard the stories from her dad and Vaggie about the picture-perfect Heaven they had left behind. This was not it. Charlie looked astounded as the normally perfect and white streets of Heaven looked in disarray. With broken windows, trash fires, and bodies littered everywhere.
The atmosphere in the grand celestial courtroom was tense and charged. The usual serene, ethereal glow of Heaven was dimmed by the weight of the situation. Angels, usually serene and detached, were now visibly on edge, their faces etched with worry and uncertainty. Charlie looked at her uncle who was in charge of the trial, he looked composed to everyone, but Charlie could see the familiar glint of mayhem in his eyes.
Honestly, could dad and Uncle Michael be any more alike, Charlie thought in amusement.
Charlie stepped up to the podium, her heart pounding but her demeanor calm and composed. She looked out at the rows of angels, their eyes fixed on her with a mix of skepticism and hope. From what Uncle Michael had told her, it seems that Sera had not only kept Extermination Day from him, but from every other seraphine. She could use that to her advantage, the betrayal and anger Sera had sown within the seraphine court would be the perfect weapon to wield to get what she waned. As she began to speak, her voice was steady, cutting through the murmur of the crowd.
"I understand that you're all deeply troubled by what's been happening," Charlie began, trying to reach the hearts of her audience. "But let's take a moment to really think about something fundamental: why are humans sent to Hell or Heaven in the first place?"
The angels exchanged uneasy glances, some of them shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Charlie could see that they were unsure, their usual air of confidence faltering. They didn't seem to have answers, and this only added to the tension in the room. It would amuse Charlie, if it was not sad. The same angels that judged Hell and sinner were as unaware of the selection process as she had been.
Charlie continued, her voice growing more passionate. "Many humans don't even get a choice in their fate. Think about it—so many are born into desperate situations. They're forced to steal just to survive. Others are never taught what's right or wrong, or worse, they're taught wrong things. How can they be expected to know how to get to Heaven when no one's there to guide them properly?"
The room fell silent. Charlie's words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their implications. You could almost feel the collective realization sinking in. The angels looked around, their faces reflecting the dawning understanding. Some were nodding slightly, others had their brows furrowed in thought.
Charlie took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady despite the emotions bubbling up inside her. "It's not just about punishment and reward. It's about understanding and guidance. How can we expect souls to find their way if they're left in the dark? We need to think about how we're judging them, and whether it's fair given the circumstances they're born into."
As she spoke, Charlie's heart ached for the countless souls she had seen suffer—both those in Hell and those caught in the crossfire of Heaven's judgment. She felt a fierce determination to make her point, to bridge the gap between Heaven and Hell with understanding and empathy.
The angels' expressions varied from contemplation to discomfort. Some looked like they were grappling with new ideas, while others seemed to be wrestling with their own biases. Charlie could see that many angels had been too detached from the situation on Earth to realize how much humanity had truly changed. How hard their lives have become.
Charlie's eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of breakthrough. She could see that her words had struck a chord, but it was unclear how much change they might bring. The trial was far from over, but for now, Charlie had managed to shift the conversation, forcing the angels to confront the complexities of judgment and the need for a more compassionate understanding.
The courtroom was still buzzing with the aftereffects of Charlie's speech when Sera, visibly agitated, spoke up. "Who are you to come here and make these accusations? Do you have any idea of how hard I've worked to keep Heaven safe? Of all my sacrifices! I know better!" Her voice trembled with frustration and anger. "None of this would have happened if Hell had not decided to revolt against Heaven. The exorcists are needed, we have to reduce the number of sinners so they can't rise up against us."
Charlie's brow furrowed as she turned to Sera. "Do you have any proof of that?" She asked, her tone calm but firm, trying to gauge the validity of the accusation.
Sera's face turned a shade paler. Her hands shook slightly, and she swallowed hard. "No, I don't have any proof," she admitted, her voice cracking under the pressure. "There were rumors of Lillith stirring the demons and sinners…" The stress was palpable in the way she clenched and unclenched her fists, her eyes darting around as if searching for a way to escape the weight of her own words.
Charlie's expression grew stormy. From the corner of her eye, she could see her uncle with a scowl on his face. Michael was so disappointed in Sera, when he had placed her in charge, he had thought that she would keep the order in Heaven. But it seems that her beliefs were too rigid, her hate and resentment at Hell had been bubbling over the surface for too long.
"Lillith? The same person who has not been seen by anyone in a century? The same woman my father divorced and now has no power in Hell, as her title as Queen had been stripped from her?! YOU COMMITED GENOCIDE AGAINST MY PEOPLE BASED ON A RUMOR?!" Charlie's voice grew progressively louder as she spoke.
Michael shook his head in disappointment. How much further could Sera fall? Did she not understand the dangers of prejudice? Simply because Lucifer and Lillith rose against Heaven once, does not mean that every time someone shouts "wolf" was true. Lucifer did not even wage war against Heaven, he simply fought for the right of free will. If anything, it was Heaven that declared war on him.
Michael turned to his niece, whose anger was expertly tucked behind a blank expression. Now, that was not something she had learned from Lucifer, nor Lillith. It was clear that this is what humans call a "poker face". She must have learned to keep her true emotions hidden from her mentor, the Overlord Husker. Michael was eager to meet the mysterious figure, his twin and niece have great things to say about the cat sinner.
"Look, it's not so easy to just revolt against Heaven," she explained, taking a deep breath, trying to stay composed. "Even though my dad is the King of Pride, Hell isn't just his domain. There are other royal families here, too. If the sinners wanted to rise up, my dad would be the one to stop them."
She paused, letting her words sink in. "And even if my dad wanted to start a revolt, he'd have to get the other six kings on board. Each of them has their own realm and their own interests. Convincing them to go against Heaven would be a massive challenge. Beelzebub, for instance, wouldn't just agree to something like that easily. She's got her own set of priorities and alliances. So, do Asmodeus and Belphegor."
Sera's shoulders slumped as she listened, the weight of her earlier claim beginning to settle heavily on her. The other angels in the room seemed to be absorbing Charlie's explanation, their expressions a mix of skepticism and thoughtfulness.
Charlie's gaze softened as she continued. "And besides, if my dad were to even think about such a thing, I'd be the first to tell him not to do it. He loves me, and he listens to what I have to say. So, all this killing—it's senseless. It's not about a real threat of revolt. It's just harsh, unfair, and judgmental."
She drew a parallel to the horrors on Earth, trying to drive her point home. "It's like the genocides that happened on Earth—Hitler, Stalin, and others. It's about wiping out people based on a judgment that's often so misguided and cruel. There's no real reason behind it, just a show of power and control."
Charlie's words seemed to hang in the air, each one weighted with the emotion of someone who had seen too much suffering. The room was silent as the gravity of her comparison sank in. The angels' faces showed a range of reactions—from contemplation to discomfort. It was clear that the harsh reality of her comparison had struck a nerve. Even Adam wore an expression of growing horror, it seems that Sera had kept much from him as well.
Charlie looked around at the faces now focused on her, her own heart heavy with the responsibility of her words. "We need to think about what we're doing," she said, her voice steady but filled with a quiet determination. "We need to consider the real impact of our actions and whether they're truly justifiable. The way things are going now—it's not justifiable. It's cruel and unnecessary."
As Charlie's words echoed through the courtroom, Sera's face turned a shade of white that suggested she was on the brink of fainting. Her eyes widened in horror at being compared to figures of such historical monstrosity. The weight of Charlie's comparison was crushing, and it was clear that the starkness of the truth had shaken her to her core. The angels around them were equally stunned, their faces mirroring a mix of shock and contemplation
Sera's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. The realization that her actions might be contributing to something so deeply unjust and brutal was too much for her to process in the moment. The horror of her own potential involvement in such a cruel scheme was evident in her wide, trembling eyes.
Charlie's next words cut through the tension like a knife. "As for, who I am? Well, I am Charlotte Morningstar, Crown Princess of Hell. The real question is, who are you, Sera? Because the way you are speaking would suggest that you believe yourself to be God. Above all culpability and reproach." The words hung in the air, blunt and unforgiving. It was as if Charlie was demanding an answer not just from Sera, but from the very system that had allowed such actions to be justified.
Sera's lips quivered, and she cast a desperate glance around the room, as if seeking solace or a way to escape the severity of her own predicament. But there was no turning back now.
Michael finally spoke up, his voice melodic yet authoritative. "Heaven accepts the wrongs committed in these last decades. But the point stands, the increase of sinner needs to be addressed."
Turning to face the angelic court, Charlie took a deep breath, her expression resolute and determined. "I have an idea," she began, her voice steady and filled with hope. "Instead of continuing with this brutal extermination, why not open a hotel—a place where souls can be rehabilitated and given a chance to improve themselves? It's a way to help them in a more civilized and compassionate manner."
The angels exchanged glances, their initial shock giving way to thoughtful consideration. It wasn't a conventional idea, but the room was quiet as they mulled over the proposal. Charlie's suggestion was bold, a stark contrast to the harsh methods they'd been using.
After a moment of deliberation, Michael, who had been observing with a mischievous glint in his eyes, nodded in agreement. "Your proposal is intriguing," he said, his voice carrying a note of amusement. Michael and Charlie were enjoying playing the seraphine court. "We are willing to support the creation of this hotel to help rehabilitate souls. Now, what do you suggest we should do to right our sins? Hell, clearly will want reparations from all the years Heaven spilt blood in its streets."
With the courtroom now in agreement, Charlie turned back to Sera. "I will need her to come to Hell with me. She will be tasked with helping to fix everything. Sera, you'll need to help as many souls as were killed in the exterminations. It means you'll have to stay in Hell for many centuries, working to make things right."
Sera looked as though she'd just been struck by lightning. The enormity of the task ahead was almost too much to comprehend. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her shoulders slumped, and she looked around as if hoping someone would come to her rescue.
The room fell into a contemplative silence as the weight of Charlie's words settled. Sera, though clearly overwhelmed, seemed to recognize the gravity of her situation. The reality of the centuries-long task was sinking in, and she knew there was no easy way out. Her exorcists had slayed hundreds of millions of sinners… yearly. She will be falling, and she might never get back to Heaven.
Then again, did she deserve to be in Heaven?
Despite her fear and uncertainty, Sera took a deep breath and nodded slowly. There was a sense of resignation in her movement, but also a flicker of resolve.
"Now, about the Exorcists in charge of the extermination," Charlie said, her voice unwavering. "I'm requesting their deaths." The room seemed to hold its breath as her words sank in. Charlie's gaze was steely, and she wasn't about to soften her stance. "I don't trust Heaven to keep them locked up. Knowing what they've done, I can't risk them being used against us again."
Sera's head snapped at the princess, eyes widened in shock and fear. Her face was a picture of disbelief as she struggled to process the gravity of Charlie's demand. The reality of the situation hit her like a ton of bricks. She had been so wrapped up in her own distress that she hadn't fully grasped the extent of what Charlie was asking.
Adam had to be escorted out, as he kept on screaming profanities at Charlie. Meanwhile, Michael simply raised an eyebrow. He did not know if he should be impressed by her ruthlessness or worry. Lucifer did not mention his daughter being so bold.
"Charlie, are you sure about this?" Michael asked. He could understand the reasoning behind Charlie's request, he would have come to the same conclusion. But he thought that his niece was softer, he did not want this choice to weigh on her being.
Charlie didn't waver. "I'm sure. Sera's going to need to take responsibility for her actions. For all the years she had others doing your dirty work, it's time for her to face the consequences. The number of Exorcists she kill will be deducted from the number of souls she'll need to rehabilitate."
Sera's face fell. The burden of her past actions was finally catching up with her, and the enormity of what she was being asked to do was starting to hit home. Her shoulders slumped, and she looked around the room, feeling the weight of her predicament pressing down on her. The thought of having to carry out such a grim task was overwhelming, and her eyes filled with a mix of fear and resignation.
"As for Adam," she began, her voice gentler. "I understand that he was deeply hurt by my family and lied to by Sera. I see that now, and I am able to forgive his wrongdoings. I request that his power be taken away, and that he serves his sentence locked in his house. Once he repents and finds a way to come to terms with what's happened, his sentence can be lifted."
Charlie then turned her attention to Michael, who had been watching the proceedings with a mix of interest and skepticism. "Michael," she said, her tone practical. "About Vaggie—she used to be an exorcist, but now she's a fallen angel. She made a deal with me, so she's no longer a danger to Hell. She will remain bound by duty to the Morningstar Family, she is under our protection."
Michael looked at her unflinching and rebellious eyes and smiled. She reminded him so much of Lucifer, that he could not help but have a soft spot for his niece. "Your request has been accepted. Extermination Day will stop from now on forward, Sera and her exorcists will be punished, and Adam will be locked. You've won, Crown Princess Charlotte Morningstar."