Heart of Greed

Part 4

By TalosLives & CrackedInkWell

Based on EMositeCC's AngelAUSeries

If any of C.H.E.R.U.B. were asked to be brutally honest about their situation where they were in the middle of a madhouse where the patients have turned on them, the guards tried to decapitate them, and a mad doctor to boot, where their only trump card has been suspended… they'd probably say that they were royally fucked.

"Loona!" Keenie screamed, rolling across the table, trying to dodge the ax swings of the guards. "For God's sake, Loona! Snap out of it!"

"Woah!" Cletus had to fly up from the patients, trying to stab him with broken tea cups and knives. Yet they, too, took to the air to chase after him.

" Ahh! " Collin was grabbed by the ankles and dragged towards the head of the table where a couple of angles were raising their axes to behead him in front of an amused Doctor. "Loona, help!"

Yet Loona just hovered there. Holding on to the beating heart of greed, she looked out seemingly at nothing but seemed blissfully unaware of what was going on. She was deaf and blind to everything and, every so often, would mutter out something.

"Plead and scream all you want," Doctor Web sipped her tea. "I'm afraid Loona has lost herself in her own Wonderland. Now, please hold still. Off with his head!"

Collin saw the guards bringing down their axes and, thinking quickly, pushed himself away and ducked his head just in time before the blades came smacking against the table. He had only moments to reach over to Loona's shotgun to twist himself around to shoot at one of the guards and pump it to fire at the other.

"Really dear, is all of this necessa-" Doctor Web was cut off when Collin smacked the butt end of the gun into her face. Sending her screaming in pain and falling backward in her seat.

"The Queen! The Queen!" The guards cried, rushing to her aid.

With only a few moments to spare, Collin pulled Loona away by the tail to get away from the table and behind one of the giant cards for cover.

"WhatdoIdo? WhatdoIdo?" Collin asked himself frantically, pulling Loona down to ground level and trying to figure out how to wake her up. "Loona!" He tried shaking her, he tried yelling, but she was so deep in her dream-like state that nothing seemed to have worked. But Collin had to do something: reach out to her to pull her back to reality. Then he looked down at the heart she was holding. He tried prying it away, yet she held on like it was welded to her hands. If only she could let go of the heart or…

Then, a thought came to Collin.

He didn't know if this would work or make things worse, but when he was completely out of ideas, he knew that he had to try.

"Okay then…" Collin reached out to place his hands over Loona's and the heart. "Down the rabbit hole."

"... And if that weren't crazy enough," Loona's father chuckled. "Blitz had his jaw open for a minute and said, ' Really? That's what you said to Adam?' He then saluted me, 'Gadreel, you have just earned my undying respect.'"

Even though Loona had heard this story at least a thousand times before, it was still good to listen to it one more time from her father. Sitting around the dinner table, having the best steak she'd heard in years with her parents again… She had missed this. For once, she could describe this as being truly happy.

"Speaking of Blitz," Hannah said, cutting up a piece of her stake, "Have you seen him lately?"

"Haven't you?"

"I wouldn't know. You are around him more than I am."

"Huh… Well, I'm not supposed to say this so early, but… I think there's a good chance that he might get promoted next month as general."

"Really?" This was a surprise to Loona, "Uncle Blitz is gonna be a general."

"I said he might, but there's a good chance our superiors would do it. And I'd say good for him! With all the work he's put in, he's overdue for a promotion.

"Speaking of overdue," Hannah turned to her daughter, "So Loonie, have you asked him yet?"

Loona blinked, "Asked who? For what?"

"C'mon, you know. Collin. Did you ask him out to the dance?"

Loona's ears folded back against her head. "Mom… I don't know if I'm good enough for him."

Gadreel raised an eyebrow, "Now, where did this come from?"

"I just… I don't know if Collin would want a girl like me."

"Oh, Loona," Hannah rubbed her head, "Of course you're good enough. You and Collin have been friends for years, and he cares about you. Just be honest with him and be yourself."

"You make it sound so easy." Loona rubbed her neck, "If he were to suddenly drop in, I don't think he-"

A scream and a loud crash came from the living room, getting their attention. Getting out of their seats, they rushed over to the other room to find Collin had landed face-first into the living room carpet, leaving a noticeable lamb-shaped hole in the ceiling.

" Ow… " There was one noticeable, if alarming, thing about Collin. Although solid, he looked to be glitching, as if his very form wasn't fully connected to reality. Sometimes, he would be there; sometimes, parts of him would fade, and other times, he would become blurry.

"Collin?!" Loona rushed over to his side, "Collin, what happened?! Are you alright?"

"Loona?" Collin looked up. "Loona, is that you?!" He became static for a moment before getting on his hooves.

"What's happening to him?" Turning to her parents, Loona found that they were shocked and confused as she was.

"I think he's starting to fade from reality." Hannah moved to the stairs, making a mad dash up. "Don't move! I'll be right back!"

"Loona, thank God," Collin reached to hold onto her paws. "Listen, I don't have much time, so I must make this quick. You need to wake up."

"What are you talking about?"

"This isn't real. Loona, all of this isn't real. This is that glowing green heart thing that's making you see and hear all of this."

Loona let go of his hands. "Collin, you're starting to scare me."

"You should be! Loona, that crazy doctor has gotten everyone to turn on us. We're fighting for our lives here!"

"Doctor…?" Loona blinked. Something about that sounded familiar.

"Yes, Doctor Web! She's making you hold that heart so you won't wake up from this dream." He took a step forward, glitching, but could take hold of her hands and looked her in the eye.

"Look, after everything you've gone through, between your dad being killed and your mom disappearing - it was horrible that you were abandoned. And you know what? It shouldn't have happened to you! Even then, I tried so hard to ensure you weren't alone. But even when things were dark, you still came out stronger than anyone thought possible. And although I don't exactly feel like you do, I've always looked up to you. You are my friend, I have been there for you when times were rough, and I need you to be there for me now.

"Please, I need you to be strong. As much as you want all of this, you have to fight it. We need you now. I need you. I can't do this alone. You have to wake up from this fantasy because if you don't, everyone closest to you will die. I'm begging you, you need to wake up."

Collin glitched again, looking over his shoulder in horror, " NO! NO! " She saw him being pulled off the ground by some invisible force, and saw him with terror in his eyes, " Loona! Hel- " And suddenly, he disappeared out of thin air.

"Collin!" She tried to reach out, but he was gone. Turning around, she found her parents there, side-by-side, with a look as though she had found out a secret that she wasn't supposed to have found out. At that moment there wasn't a word exchanged, yet she knew from their expression that, "None of this is real, isn't it?"

"Hon," her mother walked towards her. "This is real to you. You were in so much pain that we gave you exactly what you wanted."

"What I wanted…" Loona's eyes tear up, "But… it isn't what I need."

Her parents exchanged a worried look, and her father approached her, kneeling down to one knee and placing a paw over her shoulder. "This doesn't have to stop, you know. Maybe it's all pretend, but we were having so much fun, weren't we?"

"That's what makes this so hard," Loona rubbed the tears in her eyes. "I don't want to go. As much as I want us to stay together… I'm sorry, but I can't. Collin, my uncle, my friends… They need me. I'm sorry Mom and Dad, but I can't stay here. I need to go help them."

"Then I guess there's no way of convincing you otherwise then?" her mother asked.

Loona shook her head.

Her parents enveloped her in a group hug. She looked up and saw her father smiling. "Always do the hard thing first. Go after what you're afraid of doing first, and the rest will be easy." Pulling away, he added with his smile, not faltering, "Go give them Hell, Loonie."

"Gadreel! Language," her mother scolded but laughed. "We love you, Loona."

"Thanks, Mom," Loona broke away from the hug and headed towards the door. She paused before saying, "I hope I can still make you proud."

"What are you talking about," her father said, "I always thought we were."

That was what she needed to hear.

Looking down, she noticed a beating, glowing green heart in her hands. It won't be long now, so she turned to open the door and let go of the heart.

It was like she was startled awake, a gasp and her eyes flung open from a dream. She didn't remember how she got here, but she did know the cause. The beating heart reminded her that Doctor Web tricked her, and she flung it against a wall as hard as she could in her anger.

There were screams, and Loona peeked around the giant card to see the entirety of C.H.E.R.U.B. being held down by the guards and patients at the head of the table with an irate Dr. Web looming over.

"Normally I would say it isn't etiquette to cut anyone you've been introduced to." Doctor Web handed her scepter over to one of the guards, and with a wave of her arms, a battle ax appeared. A weapon that looked like a solid piece of silver had an organic, wave-like pattern in the light. Although Loona had rarely seen it, she knew what this was - it was an exterminator's weapon. "However, if you want three annoying party crashes to be beheaded, you must do it yourself."

Loona felt around for something she could use. Searching her pockets to find a small pistol. It isn't much, but it'll do. Turning the safety off, she aimed and fired three rounds. She fired at the guards that were holding the cherubs down, not to kill, but enough to get them away from them. Three shots and the guards in cardboard screamed in pain. Giving C.H.E.R.U.B. a chance to take to the air.

Doctor Web turned her head towards her, stunned and wide-eyed. "Wh… How!? How did you free yourself!?" She stepped aside from the table, a look between furious and impressed on her face. "There was no possible way you could have escaped that."

"With a little help from my friends," Loona reached for the handle of a sword in another pocket.

A laugh escaped Dr. Web's mouth, "Your willpower is admirable, but what exactly do you plan on doing now? This… adorable attempt isn't well thought out, isn't it? Your friends didn't so much as put up a fight. And I doubt neither will you."

"My plan is simple," Loona ignited the sword, and a sharp, angelic blade came out from the empty handle. "You pissed me off, and I'm gonna take you down."

"My, aren't you just precious? Your bravery is commendable, but coming from an ex-exorcist who used to chop demons all day, doing the same to a cherub isn't much. I could just easily take your little head off, right here, right now." She saw Loona's snarl turn into a grin, and then a chuckle. "Did I say something funny?"

Loona didn't answer her, "Collin, Keenie, Cletus, go wake Blitz, Moxxie, and Millie up. I'm about to buy you guys some time."

"How much time?" Cletus asked.

"Five… Maybe ten minutes. Collin will show you how, now go do it." With the cherubs flying up to the remaining H.O.P.E. members, still dangling from the ceiling, Loona looked directly at the insane doctor. "Ya know Doc, with all the things you got right about me, even you have severely underestimated me."

"In what way?" Web flung her battle ax over her back.

"Funny thing about me: Yes, I'm a cherub — or at least, part cherub."

Dr. Web raised an eyebrow. "Part?"

"Uh-huh." Loona grinned. "You see, I have a… unique problem. Everyone takes one look at me and just assumes that I'm this weak, vulnerable little cherub who can't do much of anything. But I have this side of me that I don't like having because if I bring it out, I know I risk hurting something… or someone. But you used to be an Exorcist, right? Which means, you can handle me." She held up her paw, and lines formed over her fur of holy symbols. Web went wide-eyed because she realized that this was a seal. "What we have here is a unique opportunity for me to finally cut loose. In other words, Doc…"

Clenching the seal, it shattered in her paw. Suddenly she glowed white, enveloping Loona in an explosion of heavenly light. The doctor could barely see Loona being stretched, her wings growing wider, or even the hair on her head growing and waving about. In a moment, a tall, furious wolf replaced the adorable puppy-like cherub. Still angelic under her halo and eagle-like wings, even Web could feel that fiery energy, similar to an Archangel standing before her. Even the sword she was holding had transformed into a long broadsword. And in Loona's eyes, she stared back at her with the intensity of the fires of Hell itself.

"... You're fucked! " Loona growled, her voice seemed more mature but menacing.

As taken aback as Doctor Web was, even surprised about seeing this side of her own patient, she wasn't ready to retreat. No. That would have been too easy. Besides, it's been a while since she had faced anyone with power like this. It's been too long since she gave a swing at something that could easily kill her.

" Will you, won't you, " the Doctor began to sing, her grin growing wide, " Will you, won't you, " she raised her battle ax. Oh… she is going to enjoy this. " Will you… Join the dance? "

Making the first move, Doctor Web quickly went forward, raising her ax to have it come down to the side. Yet, Loona ducked, letting the ax cut one of the giant cards. Loona tried to stab upwards but was blocked when another battle ax appeared in one of the doctor's many hands. Two axes swang at her, but Loona dodged out of the way. She swung her sword from below at her many legs. Cutting through the Queen of Hearts dress and slicing through one of her legs.

Doctor Web screamed in pain and anger. "That hurt you bitch!"

In every available hand, the spider summoned a battle ax in each. Ax blades came down and upwards at Loona, yet she was fast to block the blows. Doing everything she could so that she wouldn't lose a limb, yet looking for an opportunity to make a strike at her. Getting the furious doctor to keep focusing on her swings until she moved. Quick as lightning, she went around to make a slash against her thorax.

Yet the mad doctor was also just as fast. She barely had enough time to flip the table over to throw it against her, but the table was turned to splinters before she could do so. Loona knew this was going to be a difficult fight. She only had enough time to glance at the cherubs attending to wake up the rest of H.O.P.E.

Hurry up, guys!

"Just come in and have a seat, Mox." Blitzo waved for Moxxie to enter in his office.

"What for, sir?" Moxxie tilted his head.

"Just something I wanna discuss real quick."

Moxxie set his cup of lemonade on Loona's desk and followed his boss into his office. "I'm not in trouble, am I?"

"Oh no, no. Quite the opposite, really," Blitzo said, closing the door behind him, sealing them off from the party outside. He went over to his desk and said, "I was gonna save this until next week, but I figured between how successful the mission was and you being such a good worker, maybe now I could break this out." Pulling a drawer, Blitz pulled out two shot glasses and a bottle of spirits.

"Breaking the hard stuff already, sir?" Moxxie raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that wise?"

"Only for a quick drink," Blitzo uncorked the bottle and poured a small amount of whisky. "Besides, we're celebrating. And given what I'm going to ask, I think you'll appreciate it."

"Okay…? But what for?"

"Here," After handing the shot glass to Mox, Blitz raised his shot. "I wanna give a toast. To you Mox, the next CEO of H.O.P.E."

Moxxie almost dropped his glass in shock, "Wait, really!? You're gonna leave the company to me!?"

"Problem?"

"I just…" Moxxie sat down at one of the chairs near the desk. "Why me? Why now?"

"Hey, you're not taking over - yet. But I figured I would place the company in someone competent enough to take over if something happened to me. Really, you proved to be a hard worker, you have plenty of good ideas that got us out of tight situations, and while Loonie may not show it, she looks up to ya. That, and clients tend to like you more, so I thought what better way to promote the company than by a friendly face that people can trust? So what do you say?"

Moxxie felt he might need the drink after all. He turned his head back to down the shot, letting the liquid fire run right through him - making him realize he forgot how strong his boss's special liquor was. After a coughing fit, Moxxie said, "This… This is a lot to process all at once."

"Hey, nothing's settled yet. Just take a couple of days to sleep on it and we'll… Do you hear that?"

Before Moxxie could ask, he heard something between a high-pitched scream and a falling missile. A second later, one of the windows was punched open, and a cherub was flung at high speed, slapping against the door.

"What the…? Cletus?" Moxxie stood up.

He was about to ask why he had flung through their window but stopped when he saw that Cletus was… glitching. Somehow, he was there but not at the same time, like a character in a video game.

"Moxxie, isn't it?" Cletus peeled himself off the door. "I don't know how much time I have, but you must listen."

"Why are you glitching?" Moxxie asked.

"That's not important. You've been stuck in a dream you must wake up from."

Moxxie blinked, "Say what now?"

"Long story short, that crazy doctor made you hold a heart that makes you see what you want. And right now, you need to wake up from it."

Raising an eyebrow, Moxxie folded his arms. "C'mon, you don't expect me to fall for that, do you?"

Cletus moaned, trying to figure out how to prove what he was saying. Then he got an idea. "What were you doing before I came crashing in?"

"Well, Blitz and I were talking."

"And before that?"

"We're having a party after a difficult but successful mission," Moxxie said with pride. "And we saved a whole lot of kids in the process, I may add."

"Oh really? Do you remember where you guys went?"

"Of course I do. We were…" Moxxie's mind went blank. He looked over his shoulder at Blitzo. "Stupid question, where did we go for our mission today?"

"Easy, we were… Uh…" Blitzo scratched his head. "We were just there but… where was it?"

"Do you guys remember your missions before today?" Cletus asked. "Or the ones before that?" He looked around and noticed a filing cabinet. He pulled out one of the drawers and handed him a random file. "Open that, what does it say?"

"Hey, you can't just open our files and…" Moxxie's words died on his lips when he saw the tag on it.

S(uo!82nfa*sd%&s

"What?" Moxxie opened the file and saw that it was nothing but gibberish. He went over to the filing cabinet and pulled out a few more. They were the same. He also noticed that even the faded circus posters on his boss's walls made no sense.

"You can't read anything from a dream," Cletus said. "None of this is real."

Moxxie didn't want to believe it. Surely this must be a trick of some kind. But he couldn't doubt his eyes either. He didn't think of it before, but this day seemed a bit… contrived. His father's arrival, just when they were finishing a mission to say that he was doing a…

He looked down, only now did he realize that he was holding a glowing green heart.

It seemed like the day had gone by so fast. Millie could have sworn that breakfast was not too long ago, but now, with the sun going down, bathing the plentiful fields of Bountiful in oranges and casting long, cool shadows across their grassy front lawn, she sat there at the porch swing with Moxxie, each holding a cup of hot cider, watching their kids running about, playing tag, pushing the tire swing, and playing hopscotch with hula hoops in the grass.

"Ya know, I kinda missed this," Millie remarked after a sip.

"What?" Moxie asked.

"Just this sort of thing—kids playing on the front lawn before it gets dark, watching a gorgeous sunset like this, and sitting on the porch after a hard day's work—kind of reminded me of when I was little. With all the excitement of being a detective, meeting you, then going into H.O.P.E., I kind of forgot how nice it is to just slow down a bit, ya know?"

"It's okay to say you need to slow down," Moxxie said, reaching his arm around her. "Just so long as I'm with you, I'm happy."

"Same here, Mox." Millie kissed him on the cheek.

" Incoming! " Shouted a voice from the sky. Looking up, they saw Keenie falling straight down towards the tree. She went through the foliage, sounds of whacks and breaking branches were heard before she came out the other end and onto the grass.

"What the…?" Mille stood up. "You alright there?"

"I'm okay!" Keenie got up, stumbling until she steadied herself against the tire swing.

"Aren't you Keenie? Loona's friend?" She raised an eyebrow. "And why are you all… fuzzy?"

"Well to put a very long story short, I'm trying to wake you up."

"What does that mean?"

"Don't you remember Doctor Web? You're holding on to a heart that makes you dream what you want."

"Web…? Web, why does that sound familiar?"

"Don't you remember being kidnapped? You, Mox, and Blitz are hanging from the ceiling and-"

" Waitwaitwait! " Millie interrupted her. "You're telling me that all of this is a dream?"

"Yes! And we could really use your help here. Loona is trying to fight off the doctor, but we don't have much time."

There was a side of Mille that thought this sounded too good to be true. She narrowed her eyes. "How do I know you're tellin' the truth?"

Keenie looked around and spotted the kids who were staring at her. Then she got an idea, "You want me to prove it? Are these kids yours?" She nodded. "Okay, who is that?"

"Michael."

"When's his birthday?"

Millie blinked. "Come again?"

"A mother knows when their child's birthday is. So when his?"

"It's…" Millie was about to answer but realized that she had no clue.

"What about her? Or his? What about this farm? When did you get a farm?"

"I uh…" She didn't think about it, but while she felt like she had known her children - for her life, she couldn't remember when they were born. Nor did she remember about her and Mox ever getting this farm in Bountiful. Did they retire? When was that?

That was when she noticed that her mug felt fleshy in her hands.

If this wasn't the perfect scene with the words "Happily ever after" attached to it, Blitzo didn't know what else would be.

Not only did the wedding go off without a hitch, but even the wedding reception was flawless. From the bright, hopeful atmosphere of the great hall to the exquisite food, the cutting of the cake, and even Moxxie, the best man, giving a pretty funny speech—now it was time for him and Stolas to have their slow dance together.

It was like the end of a fairy tale. To dance with his beloved with everyone staring, and for once, Blitzo didn't mind it at all. Even the slow, beautiful tune being played cast a spell that never made him feel happier than he was now. So much so, that he looked at Stolas with a goofy smile.

"What?" Stolas chuckled.

"Did anyone tell you that you're handsome?"

"By you about a million and one times." Stolas held him close but continued to dance. "And finally being free from Hell thanks to you - now I know I'm in heaven."

"I'll say." Blitzo reached up to his feathery face. "White looks good on you."

"It's a change I'll have to get used to, but I say it's worth it."

"You think Hell would be upset that I stole you away?"

Stolas laughed. "Oh let them! What can they do now? I'm finally out of their birdcage for good." It was then that Stolas stopped, his head perked. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

Blitzo didn't pick up on anything for a moment until he heard a scream from… under the floor?

A few feet away, some tiles busted out, and Collin came flying upwards and crashed into a chandelier.

" Ow! Wha… How does that work? !" Collin scrambled to untangle himself from the strands of crystal.

"Collin?" Blitzo blinked. He glanced between him and the other Collin, who was at one of the tables with Loona. "There's two of you?"

"Look, I don't know how much time I have here." Collin wiggled out, "But right now you need to know that you're dreaming and…" Collin's words died out when he got a good look at the wedding he literally crashed in. He blinked. And blinked again. "Wait… Blitz? You're gay?"

"Well, Pan but…" he blinked. "Wait… doesn't everyone know that?"

"Not… really? I mean… Okay, wow, this is news to me. I mean, I guess it kinda makes-"

"Wait, hold on." Blitzo flew up to him. "You said something about dreaming?"

"Oh, right! Dr. Web handed you guys a heart that makes you see-"

"Hearts of Greed…" Blitzo blinked, as though a forgotten memory had come back to him. "Wait… waitwait… Wait hold on…" Nervously, Blitzo looked around him. Things suddenly click with him. Where did this wedding come from? Why is Stolas here in Heaven and… "Oh…" He looked back at Collin, feeling cold and pale at the realization. "Oh fuck! Collin, listen, if I am dreaming you cannot tell anyone about this!"

"What?" Collin blinked.

"You cannot tell anybody!" Blitzo manically grabbed his shoulders. "Especially not about him!"

Collin leaned his head to the side to see Stolas. "But I don't have a clue who he is."

"... What?"

"I've never seen that angel before. Is he even real?"

Blitzo looked between him and a rather confused Stolas. "You… Oh thank God… " he sighed in relief. Perhaps his secret desire for Stolas to join him in Heaven helped him. If Collin had seen what he honestly looks like, he would be royalty screwed. He had dodged a bullet with this. Well… almost. "If this is a dream, you must promise me you won't tell anyone."

"But-"

Gripping him harder, Blitzo gave Collin a dark look. " Do I make myself clear? "

Feeling intimidated, Collin nodded.

"Ah!"

"What the-"

"Fuck!"

Moxxie, Millie, and Blitzo jumped awake like they had woken up from a nightmare. In front of them, Cletus, Keenie, and Collin were pulling as hard as they could to get them to let go of the hearts. Just as they woke up, they let go of the hearts and the cherubs tossed them away.

"What's happening?!" Moxxie blinked.

"I'm trying to untie you," Cletus said, reaching down at the rope. "That, and Loona is terrifying."

"Loona? What are you…" Blitzo looked down, he went wide and his jaw dropped. Moxxie and Millie instantly saw why. Down below, a furious Dr. Web, her Queen of Hearts dress almost in shreds, her arms waving her axes like a pissed-off Hindu goddess at an angelic wolf. Even though the form was different, no question was what it was. Loona was fighting for her life, yet she was one step ahead of the mad doctor. Her speed, power, and courage with being armed with nothing but a sword as she dodged, thrust, jabbed, blocked, flipped, and slashed. "…. Loona?"

"But that can't be her," Millie was in awe. Impressed that the little gamer wolf was putting up as much of a fight as she was.

"That's her alright," Collin said, lending a hand to help untie them. "And we're running out of time. She said that we have about a few minutes left."

"Any ideas?" Keenie asked.

Blitzo looked around, above and below. "Just one, but we'll have to hurry."

"What do we do, sir?" Moxxie asked, feeling the rope loosening.

"Ever seen a bull get lassoed and tied down?"

Millie perked up. "Oh! Oh, I see where this is goin'!"

Loona had no idea how much time she had, but one thing was on her mind.

Fight.

She was fighting for her life, and she was nearly holding her ground. She was faster, stronger, and flexible in this form - but out of practice. Yes, she was giving blows, but she knew she couldn't keep this up forever. Her idea of hitting her hard and fast proved to be easier said than done. She was faster where she could move like a hummingbird, but she was struggling to not get her limbs or her head chopped off. She was stronger to where a steady hardwood table was like cardboard, but she couldn't flip or overcome her opponent. She was flexible where she could bend with the agility of a contortionist, but even then she could barely move without getting hit.

Eventually, her form became unstable. That side of her needed to stop. Needed to rest.

Without warning, the seal formed on her hand, and she forced back into her cherub form in a bright moment of light.

The doctor swings an ax, disarming Loona. Dismissing all the angelic axes save for one, the irate doctor grabbed Loona by the throat, thrusting her to the ground. Loona looked up at her, Web was furious, panting, wounded, and all eyes fixed on her with murderous intent.

"You little bitch have been a terrible guest," she raised her ax high, "Now hold still, and off with your head!"

Loona shut her eyes, for sure that death was coming.

"What!"

She opened her eyes and saw that the doctor had taken a swing. But her uncle was there. He caught the ax blade with both hands, using his strength to keep it still.

"Now!"

Loona saw movement from below, and there she saw Moxxie, Millie, Cletus, Keenie, and Collin weaving in between the doctor's legs and arms with a rope. Before the Doctor realized what was happening, the rope became tight and her limbs were pulled together.

"Hurry! Hurry!" With Millie underneath, the others pushed the mad doctor aside and she quickly tied the rope together in knots. In a moment, Web was hogtied.

With the threat subdued, Blitzo turned around. Neither he nor Loona said anything, he offered a hand to help her up, and she went to hug him.

"Looks like the police are on their way," Millie said, giving Loona her phone back. "Had to pull a few strings but they're coming." She looked around, spying on her husband, cutting up another heart, thus freeing one of the patients.

"Glad you can get to them," Loona folded her arms. "When I called, they didn't take me seriously."

"Oh, trust me, they do when it comes to me." Millie placed a hand on her shoulder. "So… Aren't you gonna address the elephant in the room, or shall I?"

Loona exhorted, "Look, it's something that I haven't gotten ahold of. Dad… My real dad, you can say, was close to one of the archangels, and he said that someday he could teach me how to handle that side of me. Only…"

"I get it," Millie nodded, "Never got the chance to learn how."

"That, and things just… break when I go into that form. Everything turns into a world of cardboard and paper where I could easily hurt someone. I didn't want you guys to make a big deal out of… that."

"Hon, do you have any idea how much our missions would-"

"I could easily level an entire city if I'm not careful."

"Oh…"

"Yeah…" Loona caught from the corner of her eye, Blitzo taking Collin aside.

Meanwhile, Blitzo took Collin behind one of the giant cards on the other side of the room for a private chat.

"Look, before you say anything," Collin said, "I didn't mean to walk into something so… personal."

Blitzo frowned, "That's an understatement. Now you better listen to me." He took hold of Collin's collar, making him look him in the eye. "What you've seen and heard in my head - it never happened. Got it? Blab it to anyone else even once, and I will personally turn you into lamb chops. No one must ever know about this."

"But why? Doesn't Loona know?"

"… No one must know."

"But sir, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Loona would still accept you."

"You don't know that."

"But I do! I have a friend, Blossom. She's a lesbian, and recently she came out to Loona, and from what I've heard, they've become good friends. I'm sure that she'll accept you for who you are."

Blitzo stared at him, looking for any hint of a lie. But… There was none. Letting him go, he added. "I'm not ready - at all. I can't begin to explain it, but I can't come out right now."

Collin gave a sympathetic look and nodded. "Okay, I understand. I won't tell. But I do have one question: that angle you were with, was he real or just… wishful thinking?"

Blitzo reached into his pockets to pull out a knife, but only poked the blade a little to get the message across.

"… Not that I needed to know."

"Good answer."

Outside the Charity Clinic, red and blue lights illuminated the front of the building. The Purgatory Police Department had their hands full of not only arresting Doctor Web but also finding the sheer state of her patients and staff there.

The first thing that was done was to cuff the doctor in cuffs and to be carted off to jail, waiting for judgment. Given that it was clear that she had fallen, there was little doubt in the officers' minds about where this was going.

Next was to attend to the patients and staff. Once it became clear that the hearts of greed were involved, they called in for ambulances to take them to proper medical care. Some resisted going, even resorted to a few being restrained to be carted off, while others were so lost in a world of their own that they didn't notice what was happening.

Of course, the teams of H.O.P.E. and C.H.E.R.U.B had their statements taken, giving them a good idea of what happened.

Loona sat on the clinic steps, waiting for the doctor to be taken away. Her ears folded flat against her head, and her head was low.

Blitzo, Moxxie, and Millie came up to her. "For what is worth," Blitzo said, touching her shoulder. "I'm proud of what you've done for us."

"So question," Moxxie went around to sit beside her, "That archangel thing, could you always do that?"

"I mean… yes and no." Loona yawned. "I knew I could change into that, but it just takes a lot out of me after a while. Honestly, I don't like it when I have to pull that out."

"How come?" Millie asked.

"Everything just becomes… fragile. When I was a pup, my dad said he would show me how to use it but… that never happened. I don't let it out not just because I don't fully know how to handle it, but in a way… it reminds me of my dad a little much."

"Hey, I get it." Blitzo told her, "Really, I of all people get it. Tapping into that side is… well, scary. But it shouldn't be something to be afraid of or neglect."

Loona rested her chin on her knees. "Maybe… I shouldn't go on missions for a while."

"Really?" Mille blinked in surprise.

"Even in that form, I almost died. And I know why - I'm way out of practice. I had no idea what I was doing when I brought it out."

"Do you want us to train you?" Moxxie asked. I mean, we can all see what you can really do."

"I don't know… I don't want any of you to get hurt."

Blitzo went around, kneeling at her eye level with a small smile. "We're made out of stronger stuff than you think. We can train you, and I can help you learn and show you what you're capable of and how to use it properly."

"I would like that," Loona said with a smile.

"Um, excuse me." They turned to see Collin there, gingerly waving. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

"Not really." Loona raised an eyebrow, "Did you need something?"

"Yeah. Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Standing up, she and Collin glided a ways away from the others. Once he was sure they were out of earshot, Collin turned to her. "So… I think I owe you an apology."

"Collin, no." Loona shook her head. "If anyone needs to apologize for anything, it's me. For so long, I've been a bad friend for trying to make you my boyfriend. The whole harassment thing is… well, I have no excuse. I do love you but at the same time… I think you deserve someone better than me."

"Well hang on, that's exactly what I want to discuss."

"Huh?"

He nodded. "The thing is I've been giving this some thought. Especially after what that doctor said about you. I mean…" He rubbed the back of his head. "A lot of stuff makes sense now. Especially after the… you know, when you were left alone, hardly anyone came to help. But I did. Please understand that I did what I could at the time, and I can see why you would develop feelings for me. You were hurting. You were alone and I stepped in to help." Collin's ears folded back, "Really, I had no idea what you were going through. If I had known, just a little, why you were constantly trying to gain my affection… You probably wouldn't come here to begin with. So in a way, that was my fault."

Loona hugged him. "No, no… No, you had nothing to do with it."

After she let go, Collin added, "You know it's funny. With all the years of you trying to date me, it only now hit what rubbed me the wrong way. This is gonna sound harsh, but I swear it's not. There wasn't any sincerity to your flirting. You were just trying too hard to impress and convince me that you had no problems. But this time… I saw your honesty at last."

"Well, you could say I was having some bad days."

Collin placed a hoof on her shoulder, "It happens. Yes, I don't exactly like you that way. I prefer to just… let it happen naturally."

"So… What are you saying?"

"Well…" Collin's cheeks had a touch of pink. "Look. I'm not promising anything. But if you'd like, we could maybe hang out tomorrow. Just us. If that's okay, I would like to hang out with you. Now, if for whatever reason it doesn't work out. Just… be aware that I'm not the end-all here. But I would like to get to know you honestly."

"… You mean that?" Collin nodded. Loona smiled, "Yeah… I would like that."

"Okay, uh…" Looking about, Collin leaned his face in and kissed her. "I'll see you later?"

Even though she was tired after tonight's events, that gentle kiss on her cheek filled her with hope. A goofy laugh escaped her maw, and she covered that kissed cheek with her paw. "L-Later Collin."

Collin flew up, about to leave, but paused momentarily, looking over his shoulder. With a smile and a wave, he flew off. And for once, Loona couldn't be happier seeing him go.

"So…?" She turned to see Blitzo behind her and Moxxie and Mille exchanging a knowing look. "What was that about?"

"A fresh start." Loona smiled. "So, I guess we're done for the day?"

Blitzo looked between her and his employees. "Hey guys, why don't we take the day off tomorrow? I'll see you later."

"You sure, sir?" Moxxie asked.

When told he was, Moxxie and Millie bid them good night before they started to journey back to their home.

"Before we go home," Blitzo said, "I think there's someplace we need to visit first."

Despite what humans believed it was possible for angels to technically die. Just not in the sense that most people think. When humans died their souls went to one of the various afterlives that awaited them based on their deeds while living. Demons had two forms of death: temporary and permanent. For a demon to die of natural causes or non-angelic weaponry, they would be reincarnated into a new demon. Although some of the more powerful demons could revive themselves after a certain amount of time depending on the damage done to their body.

For angels, their souls were sent to the Celestial Tower where the Crystal of Rebirth healed their souls and returned them to the bodies they were once in. Should no body be around or if it was too damaged, they would be reincarnated much like demons were, yet there was no telling when or how their souls would appear again. There was no permanent death for angels (none known anyway) but this didn't mean that the losses were not felt. Funerals still happened as did memorials.

Holding flowers, Blitzo and Loona floated down a large Columbarium. While technically a place where ashes were held, it was also a place where belongings of a loved one could be placed in a sealed area. The two made their way to one specific place where two names lay side by side.

"In Loving Memory of Gadreel and Hannah Silverfang"

"Beloved Parents and Angels Of God"

"So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."

"Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad," Loona said as she placed the flowers near the names. "I… I'm sorry it's been awhile. Been kinda busy working for Uncle Blitz. But… I think I really needed to come see you today."

"We both did," Blitzo said as he touched Loona's shoulder.

"… I miss you both," Loona whispered as a tear dripped down her left cheek. I thought I was moving on, but deep inside, I miss you more than I thought. I wish we were a family again, having fun and being happy. But you're both gone, and I can't let those feelings control me anymore. I need to grow up. And I know that, deep down, you'd also want me to."

She put a hand on the names of her parents and smiled. "So, wherever you are… either still in the Heart being healed or… reincarnated… be with me in spirit? Thanks."

She then turned to her uncle and hugged her. "Uncle Blitz? Thanks."

"No problem, Loonie," Blizo whispered as he looked over the names of his closest friends and sighed. He figured Loona had earned the right to the answers he had dreaded giving. "Do you… do you want to know how your father died?"

"... You never talk about it," Loona said in shock.

"I know, but..." He sighed. "You deserve to know the truth if you want."

"... No," Loona said, shaking her head. "I don't need to know anything but one thing. Did… Did he say anything before he died? About me?"

Blitzo nodded as he remembered those words quite well. "He said… to always look after you… and that he loved you so much..."

"Then that's all I need to know," Loona said, hugging him again. "Let's go home."

Blitzo nodded as he took his adopted niece in hand and flew away.

Next Episode: Take Me Back To Constantinople

"While on a mission in Turkey, the members of H.O.P.E. finds themselves kidnapped by a bunch of YouTubers who think that they are aliens. A wacky chase ensues as the angels do their best to not only blow their real covers but get away from the crazy humans who are determined to prove to the world that not only aliens exists but also get subscribers while doing so."