Chapter Text
Vox gritted his teeth and sat up. He pulled brambles off himself, cursing Alastor and (Y/N) under his breath. He stood, eyes glowing with fury. The Might of Lilith caught his eye. It stood in the center of the courtyard, alone and unguarded. Vox grinned.
Across the city, Shock.wav broke out of the skyscraper debris and roared. (Y/N) and Alastor dodged back as it lunged and snapped at them.
“Bad shark-dog-thing!” said Alastor, skating down the side of a building.
(Y/N) slid down next to him. “Go back to your dad! Shoo!” they shouted upwards.
“Smile for the camera, bitch!” shouted Vox from V Tower, spinning the Might of Lilith around.
(Y/N) saw the light building, and their eyes widened. “Alastor, jump!”
Alastor jumped, and (Y/N) shoved off the building. Shock.wav followed, but what mattered was that the undiluted divine magic that shot through Hell didn’t hit them. Instead, it sliced through an entire sector of the Entertainment District. Several buildings fell as their foundations were taken out, and multitudes of people were sent to their final deaths within before they had a clue what was happening.
“What the hell is he doing?!” said (Y/N), ducking as another blast singed the land.
Alastor flicked his wrist, and shadows darted out. They pulled (Y/N) to his side as Vox sent another blast careening over Hell. He was going to level most of the district at the rate he was going, and he was cackling as he did it.
However, his broadcast had never ended. People could see his murders, his callous disregard for the people he had said he would serve and protect. Those who had lifted him up were being crushed beneath him.
All at once, people knew the liar and traitor Vox was at his heart. All of (Y/N)’s words—the real words—rang true, and his ratings dropped off a cliff.
Vox faltered as he felt his power slipping. His eyes widened as the approval ratings began to weaken him. And then his eyes narrowed. Fury wrapped around his heart as he realized that, once again, Alastor and (Y/N)’s actions had destroyed peoples’ trust in him. He grabbed the Might of Lilith tighter.
“You will not take this away from me!” he shouted. He had fought too hard through his life and death to have his power stolen by a has-been and an upstart. He grabbed the Might of Lilith and kept shooting. Vox would suck Lucifer dry of magic before he stopped. He would raze Pentagram city before he stopped. He would kill everyone before he stopped. Just so long as it meant Alastor was fucking gone.
(Y/N) and Alastor jumped from building to building as Shock.wav chased them. Vines and shadows slowed it, but the pet was strong and kept coming. Each dodge brought them close to another shot from the Might of Lilith, though, and that meant Alastor and (Y/N) never had a moment to gain their bearings and fight back
“Stupid, cursed…get this thing away from us!” snapped Alastor, flipping through the air.
Shock.wav lunged for Alastor, jaw snapping down. (Y/N) swung over and shoved Alastor out of the way. Shock.wav’s jagged metallic teeth dug into (Y/N)’s shoulder.
“(Y/N), no!” shouted Charlie from where she was pulling people from the rubble of buildings.
“Fawn!” shouted Alastor, pulling on all his power. His staff was still broken, but he used all the magic he had known as a human to reach out for them.
Without hesitation, Emily flew in and grabbed (Y/N). She torn them free. And then the Might of Lilith hit. Emily screamed as her left wings were fried, and (Y/N) shouted as their flowers were singed. The blast threw Alastor back, and his stitches tore. All three tumbled to the ground before V Tower. Charlie ran to Emily’s side, holding her up as her wings bled gold. Alastor pulled himself up, eyes searching for (Y/N). They rolled over, forcing themself up despite the way their body was exhausted and bleeding. They saw Alastor, and their eyes widened. They stood, stumbled to him, and dropped.
“Alastor, are you alright?” (Y/N)’s flowers wilted with worry when they saw all the blood. “Shit, shit.” Their hands trembled as they tried to pull up vines to pull Alastor to safety. Their flowers were still recovering, though.
Alastor watched them. They weren’t leaving. They weren’t running to save themself. They should. Alastor would. (Even though he hadn’t. He had lunged for them—his fawn).
Vox’s cackle echoed over the yard. “Four for the price of one!” The Might of Lilith aimed directly at Emily, Charlie, (Y/N), and Alastor. Vox walked down the barrel of the gun, a mad glint in his eye. He had officially lost it. All he saw was an opportunity to hurt those who had wronged him. The angel for daring to go against him instead of giving him the kingdom he deserved. Charlie for not bowing as she should have. Alastor for rejecting him. (Y/N) for being the one Alastor chose. “You’ve just been fucking cancelled.”
“Vox, stop!” shouted Carmilla, covering herself and Vaggie as the Might of Lilith glowed bright with destructive power. “Firing anymore will overload the weapon.”
“Then I better make these shots count!” jeered Vox.
“You idiot! If it overloads, it will blow, taking you, us, and half the pentagram with it!” warned Carmilla.
“You know what?!” Vox’s eyes twitched and glitched. His screen was dark outside of his red eyes. He cackled manically. “Fuck Hell, fuck Heaven, fuck all of you!” His shoulders rose and fell with labored breaths. “As long as I wipe that smile off Alastor’s fucking face—” a single tear of exhaustion, fury, and long-buried grief fell down his cheek, but Vox’s deranged smile never wavered “—I don’t care what happens.”
Alastor reached out for (Y/N) unconsciously, and while their eyes remained glued on Vox and they knelt next to him, Alastor’s hand hovered over their shoulder. He had touched them before. “Fondly.” For the game. When they were comfortable with it, of course, but still. He had touched them. Yet in this moment, one where they could die, Alastor felt a chasm opening up. Too intimate. Too close. Too honest. He knew what the feeling was. He didn’t know if he was ready for (Y/N) to know. That would mean something he hadn’t had since his mother.
The buzz of the Might of Lilith crackled, and Alastor’s eyes returned to Vox, whose eyes were wide with a manic glint that promised pain. The barrel of the gun glowed, energy collecting at the tip. Vox cackled.
Velvette jump-kicked him off the Might of Lilith. Vox hit the ground, laughter cut off.
“Fuck!” he cried, affronted.
Valentino dragged him off the ground, glaring at him. “You are not fucking killing us over that stupid deer and his fucking plant!”
“It’s over, ya dumbfuck!” snapped Velvette. The Vees were fed up with Vox and his mania.
“Fuck that!” retorted Vox, shoving them off. “This is my moment, my fucking destiny! I’m a fucking god!”
Valentino grabbed Vox’s screen, braced against his chest with a foot, and pulled. His head ripped from his body, and Vox’s eyes widened as blood sprayed from his limp body’s stump of a neck. Valentino tucked Vox under his arm, lifted Velvette up, and gritted his teeth. “We’re leaving!” he declared. He extended his wings. Smoke drifted from one torn wing—a final parting gift from Husk’s attacks. The Vees weren’t going anywhere. “Fuck.” They peeked up at the Might of Lilith as it started to overload and vibrate. “Oh, shit.”
“Charlie!” shouted Vaggie, running to her, still kneeling with Emily.
Charlie’s eyes never left the weapon. When it blew, it would take out so many lives. “Oh, no, we have to get people to safety, we-we need to—”
“It’s no use, we won’t get clear in time,” said Carmilla gravely.
(Y/N)’s eyes widened. No. Not when they’d come so far…They couldn’t die now. The wind whirled, and the few trees left standing rustled. The old familiar whispers lilted on the wind, urging (Y/N) onwards. (Y/N) pushed themself to their feet. They had no idea what they were doing, but they were a being of nature. They followed their instincts.
“(Y/N), we have to leave,” said Alastor, forcing himself to his feet. “My shadows—”
(Y/N) wasn’t listening and stepped towards the weapon. Alastor’s shadows jerked protectively, but the crackling magic around Might of Lilith broke them.
“(Y/N),” said Alastor.
(Y/N) held their hands up, facing the Might of Lilith. They took a breath, closed their eyes, and did something they hadn’t for over a year. They prayed. Lord, give me the strength to defeat evil.
(Y/N) opened their eyes, summoned their magic, and forced it into the Might of Lilith. Green light swirled with patterns of leaves as they tried to cocoon the weapon in a shield of pure magic. The strain was immense. (Y/N) was exhausted. They had been beaten and bruised, they wore scars all over their body, and they had never used so much magic or tried to manipulate such raw magic before. But they stood strong. (Y/N) had come too far to falter. They had to defeat evil. They had to protect their family.
(Y/N)
“Hear my hope.”
The simple words, as honest as (Y/N) had ever been, rang out in the silence.
(Y/N)
“Let it echo.”
(Y/N) let out a breath that held the voice of the earth within it. Their magic grew brighter, the glowing sigils of leaves floating on a summer breeze.
(Y/N)
“In every soul that needs,
Something to believe in.”
Around the courtyard, the Overlords sat up and poked their heads out of their hiding places. All of them stared at the lone sinner—the Nature Demon—standing before the weapon that threatened the entirety of the Pentagram.
Charlie’s eyes widened, and Vaggie stood straighter. Emily struggled to her feet. She stepped forward, and Charlie stepped with her.
((Y/N), Charlie, and Emily)
“Take my hand.”
(Y/N)’s eyes widened, and a smile spread across their face as Charlie and Emily raised their hands. Charlie’s golden, music-infused magic flowed into the shield (Y/N) was generating, and Emily’s soothing rain joined the pure magic.
((Y/N), Charlie, and Emily)
“Never let go,
Even one soft sound,
Can shake the hardest ground.”
The three streams of magic collected as their harmony rose into the air. The Might of Lilith crackled against them, but the three didn’t falter.
Alastor watched, dragging himself to his feet. That was his fawn.
((Y/N), Charlie, and Emily)
“And even if we die striving to find the peace we lost,
At least we’ll know we tried, didn’t stand by with fingers crossed.”
Another sinner stepped up and raised his hands. Amber magic sparked with playing card suits and joined the rest of the magic. Husk furrowed his brow in concentration. (Y/N) smiled as he joined, and their own energy felt re-emboldened.
((Y/N), Charlie, Emily, and Husk)
“Raise your voice, light the fire,
Till our hopes and fears,
Reach a billion ears.”
A fifth person joined, and Niffty grinned with determination as paper-like slips of magic floated into the shield they were forming. No one had expected that magic from her, but she just smiled and kept summoning it.
((Y/N), Charlie, Emily, Husk, and Niffty)
“Lend your breath, join the choir,
Let the music span o’er this broken land.”
Vaggie put her hand on Charlie’s shoulder, unable to offer magic but always there to give love and support.
((Y/N), Charlie, Emily, Husk, Niffty, and Vaggie)
“And many years from now, if any live to hear this song—”
Angel Dust placed a gentle hand on Husk’s shoulder. Cherri and Baxter stood with him. Husk smiled at Angel Dust, who smiled back. Lovingly.
((Y/N), Charlie, Emily, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, and Baxter)
“—A story about how all Hell joined hands and sang along.”
Alastor watched his fawn stand taller, blazing with power. The now-familiar sentiment curled around his heart. He clenched his fist around the broken cane. He still lacked the power he needed. And when he did, he should run. He should save himself. The Hotel meant nothing. But Alastor’s eyes couldn’t leave (Y/N).
((Y/N), Charlie, Emily, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, and Baxter)
“It begins with just one note,
A crescendo ‘til the end, no matter what it takes to stay afloat,
Hear my hope!”
A golden portal opened above, and a cackle echoed across the courtyard. Lute flew down and landed on the Might of Lilith. She wore her exorcist mask and her golden arm, and she grinned cruelly down at the sinners. (Y/N)'s eyes widened in horror, but they couldn't move from where they were maintaining their magic.
(Vaggie)
“What are you doing here?”
(Lute)
“I’m here to finish what I started.”
Abel flew through and grabbed her arm before Lute could attack.
(Abel)
“Let’s get Emily and go.”
“No!” cried Charlie. They needed everyone’s help if they were going to seal the Might of Lilith and save Pride Ring from annihilation.
(Charlie)
“How can you be so coldhearted?”
(Vaggie)
“Everybody dies if we don’t do this.”
Lute tore her arm from Abel’s grip and spun her sword around.
(Lute)
“And so be it, don’t resist!”
“Or what?” spat Vaggie.
(Lute)
“I’ll take your other eye!”
“Just try,” said Vaggie, narrowing her eyes and pulling her spear out.
Abel flew between them and shook his hand.
(Abel)
“Lute, this isn’t what we talked about.”
(Emily)
“Abel, please!”
(Charlie)
“We don’t have time for this!”
(Lute)
“Shut your mouth, abomination!”
“Abel, you can stop this!” said Vaggie.
“Abel!” pleaded Charlie.
“Abel!” cried Emily. “Please!”
“Enough!” shouted Lute, launching herself towards the sinners—towards Charlie, Vaggie, and (Y/N).
Vaggie lunged into the air before she could harm any of the people trying to protect Hell. They clashed, flying around the clearing, each equally talented compared to the other, but fighting for who they loved.
Abel fled behind a rock, breaths coming hard as panic set in.
(Abel)
“Can’t breathe, vision’s getting blurry now,
Nosebleed, never been so worried, how’m
I supposed to handle the pressure,
It would be better if I were anybody else,
Dear Dad, tell me what you would’ve done,
Too bad that I’m not your braver son.”
He watched Vaggie hit the ground and roll, scrambling to fly back up as Lute chased her around V Tower’s garden.
(Abel)
“I wish that I could be anybody else,
I’m supposed to do something,
Am I—Am I supposed to do something?”
He could see the sinners, Emily, and Charlie trying to protect Hell, none faltering in the face of danger like he was. He could see Lute’s rage and Vaggie’s desire to protect the people she loved. He swallowed. Abel was cowering while they were being brave.
(Abel)
“Do I run? Do I dare?
Can I grant my own prayer?”
Lute raised her sword over Vaggie’s head.
(Abel)
“Get a grip, grow a pair.”
He jumped into the air and flew between Vaggie and Lute. Golden light surrounded him as he put up a hand.
(Abel)
“Let me stop you right there!
There’s no cause for attack!
Swallow your pride, cast your bloodlust aside,
Bitch, you better fall back!”
Lute stared at him and his confidence, and in her mind’s eye, the form of Adam flashed above him, disapproving of her. All at once, her determination melted away. All she felt was a hollowness settling into her soul. Her vengeful spirit remained, but Lute couldn’t move when faced with that expression.
Abel sent her straight through a small portal, back to Heaven where she couldn’t hurt anyone.
Charlie looked at Vaggie, relieved she was alright. Vaggie smiled back. And then Emily stumbled, body screaming at her for rest after the injuries it had incurred.
“I can’t hold it much longer,” groaned Emily.
(Y/N) cast a worried glance at her. Their own body was growing tired, but none of them could afford to let go. The shield wasn’t finished. The Pentagram wasn’t safe.
Vaggie supported Emily.
“We got you,” said Charlie.
Vaggie looked at the shield that was inching its way up around the Might of Lilith. It was flimsy. When the machine exploded, it would be five bits of magic versus pure, undiluted divine magic, magnified through science.
(Vaggie)
“We need to be stronger.”
Husk gritted his teeth into a grimace.
(Husk)
“We’ve done all we can, there’s no way.”
Angel Dust and Niffty looked down in disappointment as the grim reality set in.
(Angel Dust and Niffty)
“No way.”
Cherri held onto her arm, crestfallen as she realized that this was her end. She wasn’t redeemed, and she would never see Pentious again. She would never see any of her friends again.
(Cherri)
“There’s no one left to save the day.”
Charlie swallowed but smiled at her friends. If she was going to die, then at least it was doing the right thing alongside her family. Still, a tear slipped down her cheek.
(Charlie)
“It’s okay.”
(Y/N) gritted their teeth and looked at the Might of Lilith. Even as exhaustion settled into their very bones, their magic hadn’t faltered once, and (Y/N) wouldn’t let it. They would fight to the last moment. They had asked for the strength to defeat evil, and they wouldn’t squander the possibility that strength existed within their soul.
Carmilla stepped out of her hiding place, brow creased with mournful confusion. She looked directly at (Y/N), the one who had warned them of Vox’s desires and the consequences and the first to choose to protect Hell rather than save themself.
(Carmilla)
“You would risk your life?
Batwings opened behind her, and her dear friend appeared with her, a gentle smile on his face as he looked over (Y/N), the rest of the Hotel sinners, and the angel trying to protect the Pentagram. Carmilla smiled when she saw him, feeling stronger already.
(Zestial)
“For souls that Heaven sought to kill.”
Carmilla and Zestial smiled at one another. They were…Well, they were them. They would fight for their home.
(Carmilla and Zestial)
“We cannot just stand by,
It’s time to match your strength of will.”
Carmilla and Zestial stepped up and raised their hands. Zestial’s ghostly green magic and Carmilla’s silver power joined the magic fighting back the Might of Lilith’s impending explosion.
((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, and Zestial)
[Sinners at the same time]
“Hear my hope!”
[“Save us from harm!”]
Carmilla glanced at (Y/N), who smiled at her. Carmilla nodded back with a quick acknowledgment of respect. The other Overlords looked at one another, and, one by one, they stood taller, stepping out of hiding places. Cactus-like magic, golden and black, joined the shield. Blue flames flowed into the shield. Decibel meters of beats thrummed with magic. Powers from every corner of the Pentagram joined together to protect the Ring.
(((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, Zestial, Zeezi, maestro, Prick, and Hatchet)
[Sinners at the same time]
“In every soul that needs—”
[“Lay down our arms”]
“—something to believe,
Take my hand.”
[“Just for a day.”]
“Never let go,
Even one soft sound—”
[“Put war away.”]
“—Can shake the hardest ground.”
Hidden beneath the still-standing arches of V Tower’s grounds, Alastor watched, holding his staff tightly. A burst of light with roses within illuminated the corner, and Rosie stepped out.
(Rosie)
“Why don’t you help them?”
She gestured to the group, (Y/N), with a hand and looked down on Alastor.
(Rosie)
“You double-dealing manipulator?”
Alastor put confidence back onto his face and straightened. He scoffed and adjusted his monocle.
(Alastor)
“What’s in it for me?
I don’t work for free,
You want help, well, you know the fee.”
His fucking staff wasn’t fixed. Alastor couldn’t summon his magic in its purest form. His current options were leaving and dying for no reason. He’d choose to leave and fight another day over than anything else.
(Rosie)
“I will not reward a snake like you!”
Sickly green flames flew around Alastor, and the shadows of all those at the Hotel who would die wavered within them.
(Alastor)
“You’ll watch them die unless you do!”
Rosie’s eyes widened. He wouldn’t kill (Y/N). He wouldn’t. She saw the shadow of (Y/N) and saw that it flickered much more wildly, more forced. Rosie narrowed her eyes. She didn’t believe he could go through with it. He wouldn’t make himself suffer just to make her suffer, would he?
(Rosie)
“Liar! You wouldn’t dare.”
Alastor smirked as he saw her reaction. It was precisely what he thought it would be with her little plans. She didn’t need to know that every instinct in Alastor was screaming at him to melt into the shadows and drag (Y/N) to farthest corner of Hell if she refused him.
(Alastor)
“Quid pro quo, it’s only fair.”
He approached her, and Rosie narrowed her eyes. She wouldn’t make a deal and sell her soul off to him so he could have his revenge. But then again, what could Rosie do? She needed those sinners fighting for Hell.
(Rosie)
“You really are a demon, pet.”
Alastor grinned and extended his broken staff to her.
(Alastor)
“You knew my game the day we met.”
Rosie’s narrowed eyes regarded the staff. Then, her expression warmed. Not her soul—his staff. That she could make due with. It was a very amenable deal. Rosie took it, and in a flash of light, it was healed. Alastor greedily took it back in hand, grinning wider as his complete power returned.
Rosie and Alastor looked at one another. Alastor grinned, and Rosie smirked. Then they stepped out together, walking to the other Overlords and sinners struggling. Rosie held up her hands, and Alastor lifted his staff. White-gold light with tiny floating roses joined the shield, and Alastor grinned as green-tinged shadows struck the shield to power it.
((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, Zestial, Alastor, and Rosie)
“Hear my hope.”
(Y/N) looked up when they saw the shadowy magic beside their own lively magic. Alastor stood beside them, focused and in control of their magic. (Y/N) smiled, and their heart grew lighter. Alastor looked down at them, his wide grin softening ever-so-slightly.
((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, Zestial, Alastor, and Rosie)
“Let it thunder,
across this prideful ring.”
Alastor watched (Y/N) face the Might of Lilith again, their grin growing more confident, irises turning rose-shaped as they brought out all their magic. He saw several flowers on their head begin to pale, a few precious petals turning pure white. Alastor forced his eyes back to the task at hand, but the image of the snowy petals was imprinted on his mind.
((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, Zestial, Alastor, and Rosie)
“ ‘Til every last soul sings.”
The Might of Lilith lifted into the air, almost entirely covered in a glowing golden shield.
Velvette gritted her teeth, stood, and dragged Valentino out of their hiding place. “Aw, fuck it.” Vox’s head was abandoned on the ground.
((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, Zestial, Alastor, and Rosie)
“Take my hand.”
(Valentino and Velvette)
“We’ll take your hand.”
((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, Zestial, Alastor, and Rosie)
“Feel the wonder.”
Vox watched his colleagues from his spot on the ground, stuck. “Wait, what?”
((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, Zestial, Alastor, and Rosie)
“In perfect harmony—”
(Valentino and Velvette)
“Not what we had planned.”
((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, Zestial, Alastor, and Rosie)
“—we’ll change our destiny.”
Valentino and Velvette’s magenta and purple magic joined the rest of the magic in lifted the Might of Lilith upwards. The shield was almost sealed.
“What the fuck is happening?!” cried Vox, staring at the display of unity.
((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, Zestial, Alastor, and Rosie)
“And many years from now,
If any live to hear this song.”
(Valentino and Velvette)
“If we live.”
“Stop it right now!” shouted Vox.
((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, Zestial, Alastor, and Rosie)
“The story of how we learned together we are strong.”
The group stepped forward, smiles on their faces as they grew confident, stronger.
“No, no, no, no, no!” Vox watched with wide eyes as the Might of Lilith floated higher and higher.
((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, Zestial, Alastor, Rosie, Valentino, and Velvette)
“It began with just one note.”
“Stop it, I hate this!” shouted Vox. It went against every lesson he’d learned in life. It was everyone for themself, not this sickening display of teamwork where no one came out on top. And if they failed, they all died, but none of them truly seemed to care so long as they were fighting. Vox was utterly and completely confused.
((Y/N), Emily, Charlie, Husk, Niffty, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Cherri, Baxter, Carmilla, Zestial, Alastor, Rosie, Valentino, and Velvette)
“A crescendo ‘til the end, no matter what it takes.”
The shield sealed just as the golden light of divine magic broke out of Might of Lilith. It strained against the shell keeping it trapped.
“You’re ruining everything!” cried Vox.
But no one was listening to him. The song of harmony flowed through everyone’s minds, and their magic tied together into a single band that would withstand whatever was thrown at it.
(Y/N) grinned.
(All of Hell)
“Hear my hope!”
The Might of Lilith exploded. The shield broke with it, but the blast was contained. Instead of a devastating explosion of divine magic, the sky was lit up by a blend of all the sinners’ magics below. The rainbow extended across the entirety of the Pentagram, illuminating Hell as brightly as Heaven for a single moment.