The Doctor woke up in a white room, confused.
"Where...Where am I?" He spoke with a raspy voice with a Scottish accent. "Why do I sound Scottish?"
He heard two people entering the room: Sarah Jane and Emily, along with a third figure the Doctor couldn't see properly.
"Sarah...Emily..." said the Doctor.
"How do you feel?" Emily asked.
"Like I just had a hangover." the Doctor groaned.
"What's...A Hangover?" Emily asked.
"Terrible. He means he feels terrible." Sarah Jane explained.
"What happened? Did we win?" the Doctor asked.
"You mean the Extermination? Yes, we did," said Sarah Jane. "Charlie and the others survived."
"Who's the guy behind you?" the Doctor asked.
The fellow stood in front, revealing his identity to the Time Lord...It was Sir Pentious, who now has a lighter colour palette on his outfit and body.
"Hello, Doctor." Pentious awkwardly smiled.
"Pentious?!" said the Doctor. "But you died...No...Don't tell me..."
"Yesss, I think Charlie was right: I got redeemed," said Pentious.
The Doctor chuckled, "I knew it...But what happened to me?"
"I don't know, I think you regenerated," said Sarah Jane.
"...What?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow. "A mirror...I need a mirror."
Emily made a mirror appear and handed it to the Doctor, showing his brand-new appearance.
Despite his raspy, old voice with a Scottish accent, he looked young. He had curly white hair and brown-cedar skin, with white freckles under his dark purple eyes and blue sclera, along with large eyebrows. Other than that, he had six wings. Weirdly enough, this odd regeneration came up with a new outfit: A white Crombie coat with golden lining and a white cardigan, along with collared shit and frilled wrists. If Sera and Emily looked like a queen and a princess, the Doctor surely had a regal appearance, except for his halo, which looked like a laurel crown instead of a normal crown or a tiara. But what bothered him the most was the fact he shared a resemblance with Sera.
"...What the..." the Doctor looked at himself, shocked.
"You look like the first time we met." Sarah Jane chuckled.
"I look like Seraph..." said the Doctor.
"Yeah, we were wondering about it too." said Emily, "You look a bit like Sera."
The Doctor looked back into the mirror: Emily was right, he shared a resemblance to Sera, much to his displeasure.
"Enough looking at myself in the mirror. Where's the Brigadier? I wanna talk to him." the Doctor asked.
Sarah Jane and Emly looked at each other, worried.
"Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is...Facing Court Martial, for the murder of Adam." Emily explained.
"He killed WHO?!" the Doctor yelled, eyes appeared all over his wings, on his forehead on his chest, and on his halo, startling him. "Ah! Why are there eyes on my wings?!"
"Calm down, it's a normal reaction." The Junior Seraphim reassured him, "It happens to me too when I get stressed."
The Doctor took a deep breath and the eyes disappeared.
"Okay...First, how is the Brigadier accused of killing Adam? I did!" said the Doctor.
"Not really," Sarah explained. "You managed to heavily injure him, but it's the Brigadier who gave him the coup-de-grace after he tried to kill Charlie."
"Okay, second...What happened to me?" The Time Lord asked. "I was at my final incarnation, my regeneration energy was exhausted! How the hell did I regenerate?!"
"That's...A good question." Sarah Jane commented.
"Did you notice anything unusual before the regeneration?" Emily asked, the Time Lord shook his head.
"I can think of it later...My mind is fuzzy..." the Doctor tried to walk, but Sarah Jane took him before he fell to the ground. "I need to go to the Brigadier..."
"You're not going anywhere," said Sarah Jane. "You stay here and take a rest, the trial is in 4 hours."
Emily, Sir Pentious and Sarah Jane left.
"Is it...Normal?" Sir Pentious asked.
"It is, don't worry. When I saw him regenerate for the first time, he kept spouting nonsense," said Sarah, remembering when the Doctor regenerated into his fourth incarnation. "Is it possible to visit the Brigadier?"
"I think so, even if he's under surveillance," said Emily.
"Good. I'm getting worried for him," said Sarah.
Meanwhile, the Brigadier was in his cell, reading a book. Luckily, the Inquisitors are respectful when it comes to taking prisoners.
"Brigadier." An Inquisitor spoke from outside the cell. "You have visitors."
"I see." the Brigadier closed his book.
The Doctor and Sarah Jane entered the room.
"Ah, Miss Smith...Doctor, are you feeling better?" the Brigadier asked.
"A bit, I still feel like crap." said the Doctor, "Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room...What happened after I "died"?"
"My troops kept fighting the Exorcists. While flying, I saw Adam, heavily injured and ranting against Her Highness the Princess of Hell and her entourage, he was going to attack them...So I acted. Five Rounds Rapid."
"Is there something we can do?" the Doctor asked.
"I'm afraid not. But I'm ready to face whatever punishment they'll give me." said the Brigadier. "Besides, I said that I'm taking full responsibility for what happened down there, so my Inquisitors and your former companions will go unpunished."
"But you didn't kill him out of malice! You killed Adam to protect Charlie!" said Sarah.
"I know, but there's a chance the Elder Angels might not be that merciful." said the Brigadier.
"But of course they won't! And in all of this, Sera will go completely unscathed despite her allowing all of this nonsense in the first place!" Eyes appeared on the Doctor's wings as he grew angrier.
"For your joy, I will not go unpunished, Doctor." Sera entered the room. "The Elder Angels want to question me for my involvement in the Exterminations."
"Finally, a decent news." said the Doctor. "When will the trial happen?"
"In one hour. They requested your and Sir Pentious' presence as witnesses and to investigate why are you here," said Sera.
"Good, I might find out why I regenerated like this." said the Doctor.
"We have to go now, see you in court," said Sarah Jane.
The Doctor and Sarah Jane left the room.
"Will everything be fine, Doctor?" Sarah Jane asked.
"No idea. This one of the few times where I can't do anything, Sarah." said the Doctor.
An hour later, the Doctor was escorted by Emily to another courtroom. It was larger than the one he went in last time. Among the jury, there were the Doctor's former companions, along with a familiar face...Lute.
Lute didn't say anything, only glared at him, which he exchanged.
Then, seven figures, four males and three females, entered the room and sat down on the higher seats. They were taller than Sera, and they all shared some resemblance to Lucifer.
The Doctor wondered if they were related to him. "Hey, Em, who are those seven Angels?"
"They're the Seven Heavenly Virtues, or "Elder Angels"," Emily explained, "They supervised the other Spheres of Heaven."
One of these Angels, the one with dark hair and blue eyes, began speaking with a calm, yet ominous voice. That Angel was Michael, the Embodiment of Charity.
"We are gathered here to discuss the death of Adam, First Man and commander of the Exorcist legions, at the hands of the commanding officer of the Supreme Inquisitors, Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart." He started, "And to discuss the "affair" of the Exterminations of the souls of the damned in Hell, permitted by the High Seraphim of Heaven, Sera." He glanced at Sera, the latter looked away. "On a human court a crime as such could result in Death, but we are granting you the possibility to explain to this court this whole tragedy, Brigadier.
"Gladly, Your Holiness." said the Brigadier. "Allow me to say that first and foremost, what I have done were not under any kind of external influence, I acted only on the friendship I have with the Doctor."
The Doctor smirked, slightly flattered.
"The Doctor, you say?" said Gabriel, a female Angel with blonde curly hair, the embodiment of Diligence. "As in, "The Renegade Time Lord known as the Doctor", who is right now in the courtroom?"
"Correct." the Doctor made a step forward. "I am the Doctor."
"Very well, Doctor." said a female Angel with long dark hair, blue eyes and a pleasant face. She was Ramiel, the embodiment of Kindness. "Could you please explain us what happened from your point of view?"
"Gladly." said the Doctor, "Six months ago, I crashed with my vehicle in Hell, where I met Her Highness Charlie Morningstar, and decided to help her stop the Exterminations once and for all. Even if I had to use...Unorthodox methods."
"Like that "song" you broadcast to all of Heaven?" Michael raised an eyebrow.
"I admit it was an amusing song." Ramiel softly chuckled.
"Yes, including that. It was a..."Scare tactic" directed to the High Seraphim, in the hope to make her back down from allowing the Extermination." said the Doctor.
"I suppose you were behind the slaughter of the Exorcists in Hell, Doctor." said Michael, "Lieutenant, proceed."
Lute stood up. "Yes, sir. Thirty thousand Exorcists descended to Hell, only five thousand returned. 83% of our forces have been killed by the hellspawn." She glared at the Time Lord, "And It's all thanks to that Doctor and that traitor of a Brigadier."
"It's not nice when the cattle fights back, eh?" the Doctor commented with sarcasm. "Besides, you're not exactly in the position to have the moral high ground, miss "I massacre defenceless civilians and I found this funny"."
"You little-"
"Enough." said Michael, "You will not fight in this court. Now, back to the important matter: Brigadier, why did you kill Adam and Sera, my friend, why did you permit such atrocity?"
"So they weren't aware, huh?' the Doctor thought.
"I killed Adam as an act of defence, he was intentioned to murder the Princess of Hell." said the Brigadier. "Other than having threatened her last time she visited Heaven with the Doctor."
"Is all of this true, Sera?" Michael asked.
"Yes, it is." said Sera. "And for the Exterminations...I thought they were a necessary evil to protect our people from an uprising from Hell."
"An uprising you don't have proof about." the Doctor corrected her.
"What a deplorable act..." said the angel with short wavy brown hair, he was Uriel, the embodiment of Chastity.
"It is, but I don't think Sera did it out of malice." said Ramiel.
"...We have heard enough. This court will be adjourned for the verdict for Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and the High Seraphim of Heaven." said Michael.
The 30 minutes of pause were full of tension, the Doctor and the others were getting worried for the Brigadier's life, while he remained completely calm and composed.
Then, it was time for the verdict.
"The court has decided: For having protected the Princess of Hell and further damaging the relationship between Heaven and Hell, Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart is absolved from any accuse."
The Doctor and his former companions cheered.
"As for the High Seraphim, for having allowed such barbaric acts to happen in Hell without having consulted the Elder Angels, we condemn her to...The Fall from Grace."
The Doctor grinned, delighted to see Sera's defeated expression after everything that happened.
But then...
"One moment, please." said the Brigadier. "Your Holinesses, I'd like to make a...Request."
"What request?" Gabriel asked.
"An "exchange of verdicts", if you will...Let the High Seraphim go unpunished, and let me Fall instead." said the Brigadier.
"WHAT?!" The Doctor's associates shouted in shock.
"Have you gone mad, Brigadier?!" said the Doctor.
"Why should you even do that? It's not yer fault!" said Jamie.
"Are you...Really sure about it?" Ramiel asked gently, "You don't have to do this."
"Can't we have a more...Relient punishment?" Emily bargained.
"No, Your Holiness, it's fine." said the Brigadier. "You're not ready yet to take over Heaven, that's why I think the High Seraphim should remain in my place."
The Elder Angels looked impressed by the Brigadier's calm despite his possible fate.
"Very well," said Michael. "The court will allow it. Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart will Fall from Grace in the place of the High Seraphim. The court is dismissed for the moment. Later, we will discuss the matter of the redemption of damned souls, with Sir Reginald Perkins, also known as Sir Pentious, and the renegade Time Lord known as the Doctor."
Lute smirked, and the other Angels left, leaving the Doctor, Sera, Emily, the Brigadier and the Doctor's former companions alone.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" said the Doctor.
"I made my choice, Doctor. Besides, Hell might be more "eventful" than Heaven." said the Brigadier calmly. "If you survived down there for six months, Doctor, I can do it too. I only need to go to that Hotel."
"If I managed to ascend, perhaps he can return too," said Sir Pentious.
"I suppose you're right." said the Doctor, annoyed. "Just...You better go to the hotel immediately."
"As you wish." the Brigadier chuckled.
"Brigadier." said Ramiel. "Come, it's time."
"Very well." the Brigadier fixed his hat. "Until we meet again, everyone." He saluted them and left, escorted by Ramiel, the Doctor, Sera and Emily.
They arrived near the Pearly Gates, where several Inquisitors and the Brigadier's right-hand woman, Agatha, saluted him. They all looked saddened, despite keeping a straight face. In fact, for the Doctor felt like the Brigadier was walking to the gallows. He arrived on the platform and looked at others, saluting them and before the portal appeared behind him...The doctor reciprocated.
Then, he disappeared, and everything was over.
Emily held the Doctor's hand, as a silent attempt to console him.
"Are you okay, Doctor?" Sarah Jane asked.
"I'm...Fine." the Doctor left, followed by the two Seraphim.
They went to Sera's office, tension was in the air. Sera, feeling guilty, attempted to break the ice.
"I'm...I'm sorry, Doctor. If the Brigadier has fallen...It should have been me."
"Saying sorry won't bring him back, Sera." the Doctor immediately shut her down. "You could have easily made opposition, but you didn't, like the good divine chicken you are."
"She didn't want this!" said Emily, "What she did was wrong, but...She's not a bad person!"
The Doctor looked away. "I want to ask you a question, Sera: Why are you so afraid of me? I'm just a random puny Time Lord, while you're an Angel who's probably as old as Time itself, you should have nothing to fear about me. Why are you scared?"
"Because...Of what you have done," said Sera. "You're a completely unpredictable man, who can defeat with ease immensely powerful beings who did wrong. I was scared one day it would happen to me. It's all because of your reputation, of the being who can destroy worlds-"
"DO YOU THINK I WANTED THIS?!" the Doctor yelled at the top of his lungs "I didn't want any of this! I just wanted to leave my planet, explore the universe and find a place where my granddaughter could be happy! "Mad Man with a Box", "Shadow of the Valeyard", "The Doctor of War"...Nothing but nonsense. I'm just an old man in desperate need of a break."
The orb suddenly began showing memories of the Doctor, as the Time Lord started singing.
"Renegade Time Lord..."
"The worlds I've explored,"
"The adventure, has run foul."
"By going like this
"I feel lost, exhausted,
"By the time I've spent among the stars."
The orb showed the First Doctor and Susan taking a TARDIS and leaving their planet.
"I escaped my planet and arrived on Earth,"
It showed every single companion of the Doctor.
"And with my friends, I knew that life was thrilling and new."
"But the Time War arrived
"AND OF JOY I WAS DEPRIVED!"
The orb morphed into showing a tired-looking old man wearing a dusty leather jacket and a brown scarf, dragging a bag across a desert towards a barn. Emily didn't recognise him, but Sera did.
It was the ninth life of the Time Lord who calls himself "the Doctor", but not the Ninth Doctor, he was the incarnation who fought in the Time War: The War Doctor.
"All my people have died, and only I have survived..."
"Doc...Octor...Who..."
"The man in the blue box"
"Who wants to start again."
"I want a place where I can belong,"
"But I'm afraid..."
"The wait...Will be...Long."
The two Seraphim felt so bad for the Doctor. Emily instinctively rushed to hug him.
Sera in that moment didn't fear the Doctor. That little moment of weakness made her see him...Like a normal person, rather than an eldritch abomination for eldritch abominations.
Then, Ramiel entered the room.
"Am I ruining this moment?" She asked.
"Your Holiness!" Sera was alarmed, "N-Not at all!"
Ramiel went to the Doctor and gently rested her hand on his shoulder. "Hello, Doctor. I am Ramiel."
"...What do you want?" the Doctor coldly asked.
"Hush now, no need to be this cold with me." Ramiel softly chuckled. "I want to check on you, nothing serious."
"How very kind of you." said the Doctor.
"I am the embodiment of Kindness, after all." Ramiel chuckled.
"...Why am I here, Ramiel?" the Doctor asked. "Why have I regenerated into a Seraph? Why am I in Heaven in the first place?"
"I gave you more regeneration energy before you blew up yourself," said Ramiel.
"You...You knew what was happening down there?" Emily asked.
"You're not the only Angel who's a fan of the Doctor, dear." said Ramiel, "Besides, Time Lords abilities are child's play for us. And as for why you're in Heaven...Isn't it obvious? Of everything you have done, you deserved to be here."
"No, I didn't." said the Doctor, "I am not a good man. That scumbag of a first human didn't deserve Heaven and neither I do."
Ramiel hugged the Doctor, "Oh, trust me, you're much better than you think."
Since the Archangel towered over the Time Lord, it felt more like a bear hug for him, but...It felt nice, comfy.
Ramiel broke the hug. "Your machine is at the entrance of the palace. I'll try to cover you up to the others."
"Wha-Why?" the Doctor asked.
"You know well why. Perhaps you might find something fun "downstairs" to do, and the Princess of Hell might still need your help. Now, go." said Ramiel.
The Doctor grinned. "Well, girls, see you soon, it's time for me to go to Hell!" He ran away. "Tell the others hi for meeeeee!"
Sera nodded and Emily smiled, delighted to see the Doctor this energetic.
In the corridors, the Doctor encountered Sir Pentious.
"Doctor!" He said, "What are you doing?"
"Looking for a highway, because I'm going to Hell!" said the Doctor, "the TARDIS is nearby, care to join?"
"I...I think I'll stay here." said Pentious, "I want to see our friends again, but I don't want to waste Charlie's efforts to bring me here."
"Fair enough, but one thing: Beware of Lute, don't go near her or the Exorcists, I don't trust them. Stay with Emily or my former companions." the Doctor ran away.
"Send my regards to Cherri and the others!" said Pentious
"I WILL!" the Doctor shouted as he entered the blue box, that quickly dematerialised.
Meanwhile, the Brigadier woke up in Pentagram City. Realising where he was, he quickly drew out his gun. He took a look at himself in a window: Fascinating enough, his appearance barely changed, his skin became paler, his eyes became yellow with red sclera and his wings became darker.
He looked around and saw the Hazbin Hotel, now bigger and more majestic than before and headed there.
He knocked on the door and Charlie opened it.
"Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel-Brigadier!" Charlie recognised him. "W-What are you doing here? What happened to you?!"
"It's a long story, Your Highness." said the Brigadier. "May I come in?"
"Sure!" said Charlie. The Brigadier walked inside the Hotel, his presence was soon noted by the others.
"Brigadier?" said Vaggie.
"Oh, great...They did it again, didn't they?" Lucifer commented.
"Precisely, Your Majesty." said the Brigadier. "I'm stuck here in Hell for the meantime. However, I've come with good news."
"What news?" Niffty asked.
The Brigadier turned to Charlie and smiled. "Congratulations, Your Highness, you were right: Redemption is possible."
Charlie's started to be excited. "What do you mean...?"
"One of your residents, that snake fellow, is now in Heaven...And so is the Doctor." said the Brigadier.
Everyone was shocked, and Charlie was the most. She began to cry tears of joy.
"I was...Right...I was right! I was right! VAGGIE, I WAS RIGHT!" She shook Vaggie like a pair of maracas out of sheer excitement.
"Woah, calm down, hun!" Vaggie chuckled.
Alastor observed the scene silently, still remembering his bizarre encounter.
"Well, that's a plot twist," Buster commented.
"I fuckin' knew it Doc survived!" Angel laughed.
"So, what? Will they come back? Vaggie asked.
"I'm not sure about the snake fellow, but..." said the Brigadier.
"If something bad will happen here, I promise you that the Doctor won't stand by. No matter what happens, he will descend."
Indeed. The Brigadier may only wonder what the Doctor is up to now...But you may know it.
He will meet brand new allies, as he travels through the Rings of Hell. From gothic hellhounds to foul-mouthed Imps, to love-starved royals. Of course, the Hazbin crew won't be abandoned, as Charlie has now managed a bigger and more popular hotel while Alastor desperately tries to free his soul. But troubles are at the horizon, and not only coming from the Vees and the Exorcists. Somewhere in Hell, an army is getting formed by a masterful man, who seems to collaborate with another individual
But ready or not: Forces of Evil, beware!
The Doctor is descending.
-To Be Continued-