Excited to see Stolas? Yeah, me, too. Anyway, on with the story!
Chapter 3: Octavia and Stolas
The young owl hurried home and opened the door to the mansion to hear her father, Stolas cough. The kitchen was filled with smoke, making her cough, as well. Stolas did his best to calm his plant, who was shooting fire from its mouth. Octavia closed the door behind her, while Stolas opened windows to let the smoke out of the house.
"Dad?" Octavia called.
"How the hell did that happen?" Stolas asked himself, "Dammit!"
"Are you alright, Dad?" Octavia asked with concern.
"I'm fine, Octavia," Stolas replied, "I'm just about ready to give up on this piece of shit!" He kicked a plant that let out a burp.
Octavia chuckled in amusement. "You always say that."
"I mean it this time!" Stolas complained, "I'll never get this dick-headed plant to cooperate!"
"Yes, you will," Octavia said confidently, "And you'll win first prize at Loo Loo Land tomorrow."
Stolas scoffed with his arms crossed, but Octavia continued trying to raise his spirits, "And become Hell's famous gardener."
"You really believe that?" Stolas asked with one eyebrow raised.
"I always have," Octavia told him with a wink.
Motivated by his daughter's optimism, he decided to comfort the plant. "Well, what are we waiting for? I'll have this thing fixed in no time!" He went to stroke the plant's chin. "Can you hand me that bottle of plant pills?" Octavia picked up a bottle of pills for plants and her father continued, "So, did you have a good time in town today?"
"I got a new book," Octavia said as she shrugged her shoulders with a pill bottle. "Daddy, do you think I'm odd?"
Hearing this, Stolas turned to his daughter. "My owlet daughter odd?" he scoffed dismissively, shocked by what his daughter said, "Where did you get an idea like that?"
"I don't know," Octavia said sadly, "It's just that, well, people talk." She handed him the pill bottle he asked her to grab and Stolas gave his plant a pill to calm it.
"They talk about me, too." He stopped his work but not before stroking the plant. He then began to sing.
No, we're not odd, its true;
No fam'ly could be saner.
Except one uncle who...well, maybe let that pass.
In all you say or do,
You couldn't make it plainer.
You are your mother's daughter; therefore, you are class.
Octavia decided to sing with him.
So, I should just accept
I'm simply not like them?
Stolas:
They are the common herd
And you could take my word.
You are unique: creme de la creme!
He stopped singing for a moment to ask, "What about that Valentino? He's a handsome fellow."
"He's handsome alright," Octavia replied before releasing her resentment on Valentino, "And rude and conceited and... Oh, Dad, he's not for me." She sat down with a sigh.
Stolas continued to comfort her in song form.
No matter what you do,
I'm on your side,
And if my point of view
Is somewhat misty-eyed,
There's nothing clearer in my life
Than what I wish and feel for you,
And that's a lot...
No matter what.
Octavia was starting to cheer up once more.
No matter what they say,
You make me proud.
I love the funny way
You stand out from the crowd!
Stolas:
It's my intention my invention;
Shows the world out there one day
Just what we've got…
Octavia:
No matter what.
Stolas:
Now some may say all fathers just exaggerate.
Octavia:
That ev'ry daughter's great?
Stolas:
You are!
Octavia giggled and resumed singing her part.
And ev'ry daughter tends to say her father's tops.
Stolas:
She pulls out all the stops
To praise him.
Both:
And quite rightly!
Stolas went over to hug his daughter.
No matter what the pain,
We've come this far.
I pray that you remain
Exactly as you are;
This really is a case of father knowing best.
Octavia:
And daughter too!
Stolas:
You're never strange.
Octavia:
Don't ever change.
Both:
You're all I've got,
No matter what.
When the song ended, Stolas assured his daughter, "Now don't you worry 'cause this plant is going to be the start of a new life for us." He stood up to walk over to his plant to see how it was doing. "I think that's done it. Now, let's give it a try." He pet his plant soothingly.
The plant looked at its owner with a happy grin and shot out fire, but this time in the fireplace. Stolas backed away in case he got hit, though. Octavia got out of her seat, amazed by the plant's skills. "It works!" she gasped happily.
"It does?" Stolas asked in surprise, "It DOES!"
"You did it! You really did it!" Octavia hugged her father.
"Grab my phone, so I could call Blitzy!" Stolas commanded, "I'm off to Loo Loo Land!"
The plant squirted water from its mouth, making Stolas slightly stunned.
…
Once Stolas made a phone call with Blitzo, Blitzo decided to let Stolas borrow his horse, Spindle after Stolas told him why. The plant was on the cart Spindle needed to pull.
Octavia was outside wishing her father luck on winning his first prize on his plant. "Goodbye, Dad! Good luck!" she called, waving at him.
"Goodbye, Octavia!" Stolas cried, waving at her in return, "Take care while I'm gone!" Having said that, he and Spindle were ready to head on their way to Loo Loo Land.