"Being nervous isn't bad. It just means something important is about to happen." - Michael Jordan
After a few minutes of flying through Heaven's skies, Sera and Emily landed at the courthouse. Upon their arrival, they remembered the last time they visited the building, when Charlie promoted her idea of redemption. It brought terrible memories to the sisters since it was their first time fighting against each other over the Extermination. Both sisters looked at the building and hoped that whatever the Archangels had in store for them wouldn't be too terrible.
As the sisters entered the courthouse, some of the angels there had their eyes on them, wondering what garnered the Archangels' attention to them.
While it bothered Emily, Sera remained stoic as ever, trying her best not to show any unnecessary emotions to their colleagues. Suddenly they are greeted by a similar voice.
"Miss Emily! Miss Sera!"
The one who called them is a snake-like Winner with white clothes that appear to be a suit from the Victorian era. He wears a white top hat that has a giant eye in the middle and a yellow halo above his head, signifying his status as a Winner.
Emily hugged the snake winner tightly and said, "It's so nice to see you again, Pentious! How are you?"
"Oh, it's very splendid, Miss Emily!" Sir Pentious said with a smile, "I had the opportunity to showcase my work to the inventors here! They were in sheer awe of my awesome contraptions."
Emily giggled at Sir Pentious' words she released her hug from him and said, "I'm so glad that you're doing well! Once this meeting ends, do you want to have some ice cream with me?"
"Do I ever!" Sir Pentious said joyfully until the doors to the building burst open.
The person in question is a young woman with white, short hair and a black halo hovering over her head. She wears grey armor and has an angelic sword hanging from her hip. But her most distinguishing aspect is her left metallic arm gleaming with heavenly light that appears to be made out of Angelic Steel. Behind her are soldiers that wear similar armor to her except they wear grey masks with horns.
"Commander Lute," Sera said to the angel who had just entered, "It seems you have arrived on time."
"Rightfully so, Lady Sera," Lute said and looked at Sir Pentious with disdainful eyes, "And it seems we'll finally have the truth that this Sinner does not belong here."
Emily gasped at Lute's declaration, and she walked toward her and said, "You don't have the right to say that!"
Suddenly Lute's exorcists pointed their spears at Emily with Lute replying to the seraphim, "This snake should be imprisoned for what he's done to my fallen sisters! He will pay with his life!"
"Enough!" Sera shouted at the two, causing the room to shake.
"Emily, you must stay calm!" Sera said to her sister while trying to create some distance from them, "As much as it pains me to say, do not let Lute's remarks unnerve you."
"But Sera! All she's ever done is threaten-" Emily said when Sera cut her off, "I know! But now is not the time to let your emotions control you!"
Sera turned to the Exorcist commander and said, "And as for you, save it for the trial. I will not allow such threats against Sir Pentious, especially when declaring him a Sinner in front of me. Don't forget my previous warning, Commander."
Lute gritted her teeth at Sera's declaration as she remembered what transpired days ago.
After the Extermination, Lute and her surviving Exorcists were treated for their wounds by Archangel Raphael's nurses. It was also the time when she would receive her prosthetic arm from Archangel Michael, who sent it to her as a gift.
Once recovered, Lute was shocked to see the snake sinner, and she immediately tried to kill him. Luckily, Sera stopped Lute's attack and sent her to her office. She berated Lute for her recklessness in attacking Sir Pentious and attempting it in public. She warned Lute that if she ever tried to attack Sir Pentious again, she would strip her of her authority in the Exorcists and replace her with someone else.
"Someday, Sera," Lute said with poisonous intent, "That sinner will bring death to Heaven! Exorcists, to me!"
Lute walked to the courtroom with her guards, muttering incessant words as she opened the doors.
Once again, Sera sighed that she had to defuse another one of Lute's excuses. She then looked at her sister who was currently being comforted by Sir Pentious.
Sera approached the pair and asked, "Are you okay, Emily?"
The young Seraphim looked at her young sister and replied, "I'm okay Sera… I'm okay…"
"Um…. If I may, Lady Sera," Sir Pentious said as he bowed to her with grace, "Thank you for intervening on me and Emily's behalf."
"You're welcome, Sir Pentious," Sera said as the snake winner moved away, believing that Sera wanted to talk to her sister.
She knelt and placed her hands on Emily's shoulders and said, "Emily, I know that you wanted what's best for heaven….. But, you can't let the commander use your emotions against you. What would happen to you if it was during the trial."
From those words, Emily sighed. It wasn't the first time Sera said those words to her. Ever since the fiasco of Charlie's trial, Sera has been on edge, hoping that the young Seraphim won't fall just like her brother, Lucifer.
"I know Sera," Emily said to her sister, "But, what Lute said to me was out of line! She can't harass Sir Pentious just because he used to be a Sinner!"
"Look at him, Sera….. He's living proof that Charlie's plan did work!" Emily said while stretching her hand in Sir Pentious's direction.
Sera thought of what she had to say next until a Cherub opened the courtroom doors and said, "Miss Emily, Miss Sera, and Sir Pentious. Please proceed to the courtroom, you're the only ones missing."
Emily turned to the Cherub with a smile and said, "Please give us a moment! We'll be there shortly!"
The Cherub bowed at the young seraphim's response as he exited the room. Once the Cherub left, Emily looked at her sister with pleading eyes, forcing the elder Seraphim to take her seriously.
"Sera, whatever happens in court, I want you to promise one thing," Emily said with pleading eyes, "Will you tell the truth?"
From that statement, Sera knew that Emily would ask that question, and she contemplated if she should lie or tell the truth. At first, she could try to make an excuse. But after the Extermination's reveal, Emily might call her out again and would run the risk of ruining her relationship with her even further.
After much thinking, Sera replied, "I'll….. I'll try Emily….. I'll tell the truth as much as possible."
Upon hearing those words, Emily gave her sister a soft smile, showing her gratitude that Sera was willing to try and be better.
"Thank you, Sera!" Emily said with a smile as she grabbed Sir Pentious' hand, "Let's go, Pentious! We can't keep the other angels waiting!"
Emily dragged the snake into the courtroom as Sera gave a sad smile. While she's glad that Emily found Sir Pentious as her new friend, she can't help but wonder if that'll be the final time she would ask her that kind of question.
"Whatever happens in court….. I hope that it won't end our bond as sisters…." Sera thought as she followed Emily and Sir Pentious to the courtroom.
As the courtroom doors opened, the trio arrived at the court where many of the angels present had their eyes on them. Never in the history of heaven has the seraphim been on trial. The last time this happened was when Lucifer tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, causing evil to be released to mankind. Sera herself was present when Lucifer and Lilith were banished and soon after that, she became the leader of all Seraphim.
While the three of them are walking toward their seats, they can't help but feel the stares of some of the older angels who are looking at them with contempt. Some wondered if Sir Pentious truly deserved to be part of Heaven while others believed that the Sera and Emily were to be punished for their respective mistakes. Yet, very few took pity on all three of them and hoped for the best. Even so, all of the angels present must accept the verdict given by the Archangels, no matter what.
When the Sera, Emily, and Sir Pentious arrived at their seats, a Cherub arrived at the room's center and proclaimed, "With the arrival of Sera and her company, I hereby declare this trial to begin! Please welcome, the Archangels!"
Suddenly, three golden portals appeared at the room's center where three men appeared from them.
The portal to the left showed a young angel with long, golden hair. He is wearing a doctor's coat with golden details and grey pants for his bottom area. He also wears a grey suit and tie to match his pants and has a stethoscope hanging from his neck. He also carries a leather bag with the initials "MD" at the front. The angel in question is Raphael, the archangel of healing and medicine.
On the right is an angel who is also similar to Raphael. His hair is tied up into a ponytail, and his attire is a pure white ensemble, including his tie, suit, pants, and shoes. He also wears a scarf with a golden cross on each side and a necklace with a trumpet in its center. The angel's name is Gabriel, the archangel of hope and former right hand to the Lord.
Finally, in the center, the center angel wears is akin to a military officer of the past. He wears a sleek white coat and on his left breast are medals made of Angelic Steel. His pure white slacks complement his upper attire and he has a sword attached to his left hip. He also wears a white peaked cap with small, golden wings as its emblem. The angel is none other than Michael, the archangel of justice and the current leader of Heaven.
What's even more interesting is that all three angels have pure white wings and wear silver gloves.
"Once again… It appears that Heaven requires assistance from us," Raphael somberly said.
"Do not be so pessimistic, Raphael," Gabriel said to his brother, "There's no greater duty than to oversee such important matters. Especially when it comes to the security of Heaven."
Raphael sighs at Gabriel's response, "I know….. I'm just annoyed that I have more work to do. Other than patching up the Exorcists."
Gabriel rolled his eyes as Michael replied, "We are here to start the trial, not to bicker with one another."
Michael cleared his throat and said, "Brothers and sisters. Today, we are here to discuss the aftermath of the failed Extermination and the possibility of the redemption of Sinners."
"Before we begin, we will proceed with the sequence of events of the trial," Michael elaborated, "Gabriel, if you would."
Gabriel nodded and said, "The trial will start with the Extermination that transpired a week ago and to know how Hell's Sinners were able to repel the Exorcists. It will also include whether Sir Pentious deserves to be with us due to his appearance in Heaven. Finally, we will discuss our next step regarding the Exterminations and the possibility of redemption."
"And if you have any clarifications on what my brother has said, feel free to raise your hand and say it," Raphael said, causing the angels to look at him.
Annoyed, Raphael replied, "In layman's terms, do you have any complaints with the structure of the trial?"
From his response, many angels on the podium answer the archangel with silence, showing that they have no complaints whatsoever.
"Since not one of you has any complaints then let us proceed to the trial," Michael said as he and his brothers flew to the courtroom's highest seats.
Upon their arrival, Michael summoned a white gavel, slammed it on his block, and said, "Let the trial commence!"
Hello everyone!
Thank you for your support in reading this fanfic of mine!
It's my first time writing an AU fanfic and I will do my best to update this fanfic as much as possible.
I'll strive to post a new chapter once or twice a month.
Hopefully, it will become a habit!
See you in the next chapter!
Sincerely yours,
Willaim DeGrave