Chapter Text
Chapter 1 Pin feathers.
It had been a week since the fateful battle against Adam and his squad of Exorcists and Vaggie for once in her angelic life was taking it easy and she was doing that by having her ever so lovely girlfriend Charlie help her with preening her recently regrow wings, the pair of them both sitting on their very nice and comfy bed. It turns out that Charlie learned how to preen wings so she could help her father with his wings and she proved to be very adept at it much to Vaggie's very plain to see joy. Charlie smiled at the sight always one to enjoy her girlfriend's happiness whenever she could.
“How's that feel?” She asked as she gently combed through Vaggie's left wing with a specially built comb, knocking loose any debris that may have gotten caught up there. Vaggie missed having her wings preened. It was one of her happier memories involving her time as an Exorcist even if the memories of such occasions were heavily tinged with bitterness nowadays. They gossip and talk while helping each other with taking care of their wings. It was always something she looked forward to doing when they got back from whatever mission heaven sent them out on. Admittedly those memories where tainted when Lute, someone she was a friend to, cut out her eye and tore of her wing and left her for dead.
“It's feeling good Hun. You must have practiced quite a lot.” She said praising her girlfriend as she removed the comb from her wing and coated it with some preening oil form the bottle they had placed on the bedside table before continuing her run through. Vaggie gave a sigh of contentment. Maybe she could make more memories with Charlie helping her preen. That sounded like a good idea to her. She idly thought of offering to help Husk with his wings, they really looked uncared for, she'd ask him later when they both had some free time. For now she was going to enjoy being pampered by her girlfriend.
“Yeah I also cracked open my old how to preen books to make sure I did everything right.” Charlie replied a hint of something in her tone Vaggie couldn't quite figure out, it kind sounded like some sort of longing. She'd ask when the preening was finished. “Vaggie do you mind if I ask you something?” She sounded oddly hesitant, like she was unsure about asking Vaggie something. Vaggie just hoped it wasn't something that would cause some sort of disaster or something but she would wait and see. Even if it did they would deal with as it came.
“Yeah as long as it's not about where I've put your birthday present go ahead.” She said teasing Charlie slightly. Also it was a koala plushie (because of how much Charlie loved koalas) she had made with her sowing machine, which was a gift from Charlie when she mentioned that she sewed to her, in her free time while Charlie was out doing things to help promote the Hazbin Hotel. It was kept under their bed in a plain box next to all their really over due library books. Charlie would never look there mostly because neither of them really seemed to clean up under there. Maybe they should at some point it was really dusty down there.
Charlie gave a slight laugh. “No no even though you've got me wondering what you're going to get me. I was just wondering if you were heavenborn or a winner? Because I have no idea how Exorcists, like you know, fit in in regards to Heaven.” That was a fair point Vaggie conceded with how Exorcists were expected to keep the yearly exterminations secret and kill a whole lot of people, one would have to consider where they came from in the first place.
Vaggie sighed as she thought about how best to answer Charlie's question and decided that honesty and transparency would probably be the best course of action. “Well I was a winner who was recruited right after I arrived at the pearly gate. It was like 'hey do you want to defend Heaven from the forces of Hell?' and I said yes like a complete fucking idiot and we both know how that ended.” She said only feeling somewhat bitter at her ever present need to be useful to someone stopped her from asking anything in the way of questions. It was something that she was trying to work on but it constantly burned away at her every moment she wasn't being useful to someone anyone. It was a problem when she was alive and it was still a problem even after it caused her death.
“Vaggie.” Charlie replied sternly making Vaggie straighten up a bit. “Don't call yourself that you know I hate it when you put yourself down like that. Yes you made your fair share of mistakes but I know for a fact you have more than made up for it.” She said her tone warm yet stern Vaggie wanted to believe her but something within her made her doubt those words. Vaggie could feeling Charlie's warm arms hug her letting her take comfort in her arms, the comb sat down upon a paper towel. Charlie as always was warm and comforting, it reminded Vaggie of her favorite blanket when she was alive. Man she really missed that blanket. She also missed her family so so much. Why did she throw her life away like that?
“I know I know. It's hard to do that.” Vaggie replied, she hated the fact she couldn't see herself like Charlie saw her. She wanted to live up to that image of being an amazing girlfriend no matter what happened. So she would try as hard as she damn well could and be someone she could be proud of being. She wasn't proud of who she was when she was alive nor was she proud of her time as an exorcist.
“I know Sweetie I know but luckily you have me and the others to help.” Charlie promised her, Vaggie could do nothing but believe her. Vaggie admittedly wasn't quite sure how the others would be able to help but it wouldn't surprise her if they managed to help somehow. They had surprised her before like they time she threw them into an active war zone.
“Do you want me to finish helping you with preening?” Charlie asked as she let go of Vaggie who silently mourned the loss of Charlie's warmth. Come back she wanted warm cuddles. “We can also talk about something else if you don't feel up to talking about your past. I don't want you to feel like you have to dig up painful memories just for the sake of my curiosity you know?” Vaggie was in two minds about this she wanted to tell Charlie everything, about her life or her regrets and on the other hand she wanted to tell Charlie as little as she possibly could. Vaggie could practically see her shoulder Charlie telling her to spill everything saying it would do her a world of good and residing on her other shoulder was her shoulder mini me who wanted her to to take the second option. Now they were arguing. Then they were making out and while she wished to recreate that kind of scene Vaggie decided now was a good time to tune them out figuring they weren't going to be much help.
Vaggie sighed and decided she should actually answer Charlie. “Yeah finishing up with the preening sounds nice.” She stretched out her right wing in emphasis. “...and let's see how I'm feeling after that, see if I'm feeling up to talking that sound alright to you?” She asked feeling somewhat hesitant in asking that despite knowing Charlie would never try to encroach on people's boundaries purposely.
“That's perfectly fine Vaggie.” Charlie smiled as she once more picked up the comb. “I love you so so much Vaggie. Now let me pamper you.” She ordered her nicely. Well Vaggie wasn't one to argue with orders for the most part. She ignored the part of her that pointed out she was the kind of person to argue with orders when it suited her. That part would probably get in the way of preening and feeling nice.
“Okay Princess your wish is my command.”
Charlie oiled up the comb and got to work and Vaggie put her worries aside for the moment and let herself be pampered.
- - - -
Elsewhere in Hell.
A woman woke up in a filthy alley after something happened to her all she knew that it was painful. She tried to rack her head for answers only to come up with nothing. She sighed before she looked at her arm, her eyes widening at the sight. That wasn't right, it couldn't be right but despite how much she blinked or rubbed her eyes what she saw didn't change, her skin wasn't supposed to be the colors of the plants she held dominion over, it wasn't supposed to be a pleasant mixture of every shade of green she could imagine and it certainly wasn't supposed to feel like those very same plants. At least she was wearing her favorite dress so she had that going for her. She decided to stand up and see what else she could figure out because sitting around on the floor wouldn't accomplish much.
She got to her feet and upon finding a puddle of what was hopefully water looked at it to see the reflection of her face. She felt like her balance was off like she was taller than she remembered and it was throwing things off a bit. Apart from the colour and the fact her hair was now a length of vines with flowers of every shade blooming throughout. She shook her head back and forth watching her reflection match her movements. She sighed and decided to look out of the alley she had found herself in.
She gaped at the sight of the people many of who had animal features or plant features or even what looked like some of them were part machine. “Where the hell am I?” She asked herself as she watched the people go by.
“You're in Hell lady.” A passerby replied as they walked on by distracted by something that glowed brightly in their face.
“Oh I'm dead aren't I?” That might explain the gap in her memory actually.
“Well that actually tracks honestly.” She said, trying not to freak out so she would pretend to be fine and when she was somewhere safe should could try and process this. She would say she was doing an excellent job personally. She had so much practice when she was alive thanks to Abuela constantly pushing her to be perfect for the sake of the Encanto. Right right she needed to figure out what to do next. But what would that entail exactly? She had no answers sadly.
“Ah are you doing okay there. You're not looking too hot.” Someone asked distracting her from her thoughts. She turned to that person ready to reassure him she was perfectly fine and there was definitely nothing to worry about. Her first thought was tall, her second was fluffy and her third and most confused thought was wondering if this person was some sort of spider person. Notably she didn't answer the question.
The spider waved one of his arms in front of her face, he was looking concerned and what looked to be a hint of alarm. “Hellooooo. Anyone home?” He asked.
She blinked. “Oh sorry it's just...” She said trailing off not sure how to describe it.
The spider's face softened. “Yeah I get what ya mean. I was like that when I first got here too.” He replied. “I'm Angel Dust by the way. What's ya name?”
“My name is Isabela Madrigal. It's nice to meet you.” She replied remembering to be polite to Angel Dust.
“Nice to meet ya too Isa.” Isabela ignored the sharp pang of hurt of hearing that name again. “Would you like some help from one sinner to another?” He asked the plant woman. Isabela nodded not really in a position to be picky.
“Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.” She replied using the politeness that was drilled into her head from a young age. She ignored how it felt like chains that gave her no freedom and how it rankled her.
“Well I geussing you don't have a place to stay?” Isabela nodded confirming his suspicions.
“In that case do you want to check out the hotel I'm staying at? It's a nice place, you don't even have ta pay rent or anything.” He sounded genuine but it sounded too good to be true to Isabela.
“What's the catch?” Isabela asked knowing better to blindly trust something being free. There was always a cost involved always.
“The thing is the hotel is all about redemption so we sinners can ascend to Heaven and all that so you just need to try and the princess will let you stay at her hotel.” That seemed simple enough. The idea of reaching Heaven seemed alluring maybe she could see Mirabel again. She would definitely be there. At Isabela's confused look at the mention of the princess he explained. “Yeah Charlie Morningstar the princess of Hell is the one running the whole show.” He explained much to Isabela's shock why would the hell would she do that?
“Why would she do that?”
“I think it's because she cares a whole lot personally being the kindest person in Hell.” Angel Dust gave her a slight smile. “So what do ya say? Want to check out the hotel?” He asked. “Even if you don't stay at least stay for the night. It's pretty late out and ya really don't want to stay out too late. It's not safe for anyone” He said, not elaborating on why Isabela would want to to avoid staying out late and she had a distinct feeling she did not want to know.
Isabela thought for a moment and made her decision. “Okay then I'd like to see this hotel.” She said feeling as certain as she'll ever be.
“Okay then follow me to the Hazbin Hotel.” Angel said starting to walk with Isabela following right behind him.
“It's called the what!?” Isabela exclaimed shocked at the name of the hotel.
Angel Dust laughed at her reaction and explained. “It was originally gonna be called the Happy Hotel but her business partner changed it to the Hazbin Hotel.” Considering how Angel described the princess the name 'Happy Hotel' seemed more fitting.
“Why did her business partner make her change it?” She asked because the name 'Hazbin' kind of felt like a mean spirited joke to her she would know she had made many mean spirited jokes in her life.
“She needed Alastor's help and well he changed the name when he rebuilt the hotel.” He explained before he let out yawn. Isabela made a mental note of the name and reminded to ask someone about who this Alastor was later. “I'll give you the full rundown later. I don't know about ya but I'm dead tired.” Now that she thought about Isabela felt the slow and insidious creep of exhaustion causing her to yawn as well.
“Yeah I figured come on then.” He said grabbing her hand and broke into a run. Isabela stumbling but quickly getting her footing. “It's not too far from here!” Isabela barely refrained from cursing Angel out but focused on making sure she didn't trip and fall.
- - - -
Back at the Hazbin Hotel.
Charlie finished up with combing Vaggie's wing and sat the comb down. “There all done.” She stated proudly, she was clearly happy with how she did with Vaggie preening her wings. Vaggie was also feeling happy with what her girlfriend had done for her. “Let me clean up then we can talk if you want. Or we could just cuddle or something. Your choice.” Having said that she picked up the comb and preening oil and got off the bed to clean the comb and to put everything back. Vaggie, who was laying on her front feeling quite comfortable, just gave her a hum of agreement. Cuddles sounded good to her. Charlie was a great cuddler and never failed to make Vaggie feel better about things.
Vaggie sighed as she laid on the bed feeling content. She thought about what she should do and decided that she felt as ready as she'd ever be, so she'd tell Charlie about her past. Probably not the whole thing right now but she could always tell Charlie bits and pieces over time. No need to rush.
Now she just had to figure out what to tell Charlie. Her old name would certainly be the first thing she mentioned and she would also tell Charlie about her family, tell her about her mom, her dad, her two sisters, her aunt, her uncles and her cousins. She pointedly ignored the fact she left out Abuela. Maybe she could tell her some stories about her family? Eh maybe later, she'd have to figure out stories she felt up to telling. Maybe about Antonio who was by and large her favorite cousin. Oh the stories she could tell Charlie about him.
Vaggie could feel the bed depress from Charlie sit back on the bed causing Vaggie to open her eye and to put away her wings for the moment.. Guess she was done putting everything away. She could feel Charlie settle on her pillows so Vaggie decide to sit up and move herself to Charlie's side. Charlie greeted her with wide open arms and Vaggie nestled within them, leaning her back against Charlie allowing her to rest her head atop Vaggie's. “So what do you want to do?” Charlie asked as Vaggie made herself comfortable.
“I think I'm ready to talk a bit about my past.” Vaggie replied before launching into her story. How should she put this? She had no idea. “Well before I was called Vaggie I was a girl called Mirabel Madrigal...”