"Mummy! Daddyyyy!" Octavia's voice trembled with fear.
Stolas stirred from his slumber, turning to Stella, who had claimed most of the blanket. His voice groggy with sleep, he muttered, "Mmph. Via's calling us, Stella."
Stella, equally drowsy and annoyed, replied, "You get up."
With a sigh, Stolas reluctantly rose from the bed. He entered Octavia's room, finding her cowering beneath her blankets.
"Via? What troubles you, my owlet?" Stolas inquired gently.
Through tears, young Octavia sobbed, "Daddy! Daddy!"
Octavia climbed down from her bed and rushed into her father's arms, seeking solace. Stolas lifted her up, holding her close. "I had a dream! A really bad dream!" Octavia sobbed.
Yawning, Stolas wiped away Octavia's tears, correcting her, "A nightmare."
Sobbing, Octavia continued, "I was looking all over the palace, and... I couldn't find you anywhere! You weren't there!"
Rubbing her back comfortingly, Stolas reassured her, "There, there, Via. It's okay. You're okay."
As Stolas walked Octavia back to her bed, his grimoire floated toward him telekinetically. He summoned it, flipping it open with his powers.
"When you're scared and don't know where I am, you must remember..." Stolas began, his grimoire hovering beside him.
"No matter what happens to me, I will never be far away... from my special little starfire," Stolas sang softly, starting a lullaby to comfort little Octavia.
The room transformed as a portal opened above Stolas and Octavia. Through it, they glimpsed the breathtaking beauty of space. Octavia gazed in awe at the cosmos as they floated upward and landed on a barren moon.
"Constellations gone so soon," Stolas continued his lullaby, leaving footprints on the moon's dusty surface.
"I used to think that I was bold. I used to think love would be fun. Now, all my stories have been told. Except for one..." Stolas sang, his eyes fixed on his daughter.
Octavia, with her curious eyes, noticed a pink glow nearby. Stolas followed her gaze as they continued their ascent.
"As the stars start to align, I hope you take it as a sign that you'll be okay," Stolas sang, their journey accompanied by the descent of a meteor toward a giant pink star.
"Everything will be okay," Stolas reassured, his voice carrying through the celestial scene. The meteor collided with the star, sinking beneath its molten surface.
"And if the Seven Rings collapse, although the day could be my last, you will be okay," Stolas sang tenderly, the sight of planetary bodies drawn toward the star's gravitational pull intensifying.
Young Octavia yawned and settled against her father's chest, falling asleep contentedly. Stolas's voice grew stronger as the star's gravitational pull caused other planetary bodies to disintegrate upon impact, culminating in a powerful supernova just as the portal closed behind them.
"And when Creation goes to die, you can find me in the sky, upon the last day," Stolas concluded his lullaby. He covered the sleeping Octavia with a blanket and left the room, leaving his daughter to peaceful slumber.
Several Years Later...
A teenage Octavia was abruptly awakened by the sound of smashing objects and her parents screaming at each other, their contentment a distant memory.
"I can't believe you slept with an imp, in OUR FUCKING BED!" Stella's enraged voice echoed through the halls.
Annoyed at being disturbed, Octavia groaned. Meanwhile, Stolas attempted to calm the situation, stating sleepily, "It was unexpected! I didn't have time to go to a motel!"
Mocking his response, Stella retorted, "A motel?! Like a fucking PLEBEIAN?!"
Octavia, now fully awake, reached for her phone and inserted earbuds, drowning out the ongoing argument with the song "My World Is Burning Down Around Me" as she strode through the Goetia estate's halls, sidestepping the shattered remains of a plant.
In the kitchen, the heated exchange between Stella and Stolas continued.
"You want to fuck this one, TOO?!" Stella's anger erupted, as she hurled an imp servant at Stolas, who quickly ducked out of the way.
"No! Of course not!" Stolas hurriedly denies.
"You are a goddamn embarrassment! I'm not spending another moment looking at your pathetic, IMP-SUCKING FACE!" Stella yells, storming out the room, still angrily yelling the whole time.
Stolas sighs dejectedly, opening the refrigerator to retrieve a large chunk of zebra meat.
"Good mooorning, Octavia! Did you sleep well, my owlet?" Stolas greeted her cheerfully, throwing the meat into the mouth of a large plant nearby.
Octavia couldn't help but express her incredulity. "Was that a serious question?"
Unfazed, Stolas continued. "Mm-hmm... What's that you're listening to?"
"This song is called 'My World is Burning Down Around Me.' It's by Fuck You Dad." Octavia responded, Pausing briefly.
Stolas looked down, momentarily hurt by the assumed insult in the band name. However, Octavia quickly clarified. "It's a band."
Amused by the revelation, Stolas commented. "Ohhhh! How charming..."
While Stolas fed the zebra meat to a massive potted plant, petting it affectionately, Octavia posed a seemingly rhetorical question. "So, you two done screaming for the day?" She took a sip of her coffee, unamused.
The question prompted a glimpse of chaos in the distance as Stella let out another angry scream, accompanied by the sound of more potted plants being destroyed. Stolas let out a sigh of exhausted exasperation before noticing Octavia's presence in the kitchen.
Changing the subject, Stolas suggested. "You know what I haven't done in a long, loooong time? I haven't taken you to your favorite place in all of Hell! Why don't we go to Loo Loo Land?"
Unimpressed, Octavia replied. "I'm not five anymore."
Undeterred, Stolas persisted. "You always were so happy when I took you to Loo Loo Land! What do you say we go there again, have a day, just the two of us?"
"I'd... rather kill myself." Octavia responded dryly.
Acknowledging her discontent, Stolas concluded. "There we go! Anything but staying in this house. Now, I'll arrange our security."
Stolas reached for a phone, carried on a platter by his bruised and battered servant, and picked it up.
Octavia questioned. "Security for a theme park?"
"We are rich, and we're hot. People want our money and our bodies!" Stolas answered, With a mischievous grin.
Octavia grabbed a box of cereal from the table, shoveling handfuls into her mouth as she muttered under her breath, "Our money, maybe."
Smirking, Stolas remarked. "Speak for yourself, princess. Now... I'm calling the only man who can f*** me!"
Octavia dropped her handful of cereal, disgusted, and questioned her father's choice of words. "What...?"
Quickly realizing his inappropriate phrasing, Stolas corrected himself. "Who can protect me! Us! Being part of the Goetia family is rather valuable, you know."
Octavia groaned, pulling her beanie down to cover her eyes.
at I.M.P Headquarters, Blitz was immersed in what he deemed important work. His office was adorned with crude representations of Millie and Moxxie made from office supplies, which he puppeteered around, engaging in conversations between them. A framed photo of Blitz, seductively pulling down a robe off his shoulders with a flower between his teeth, sat between the paper puppets. The text on the frame read "#1 Bitch," with "BOSS" written in red over it.
He crudely impersonated Millie. "Oh, Blitz! You're such a good boss!" He moved the puppet around as he spoke.
He swapped to doing Moxxies voice. "Yeah, I really want you, sir."
He went back to doing Millies voice. "Me, too!"
Blitz drew in breath to say something, but stopped as Benedict walked into the office, holding a large stack of papers. "Sir, I'm going to need you to sign th-" He stopped when he saw what Blitz was doing. "Would it kill you to do your job for once, sir?" He asked annoyed, dumping the papers on his desk.
As he was about to respond, Blitz's Hellphone rang, causing him to answer the call and angrily exclaim, "WHAT?!"
On the other end of the line, Stolas lustfully greeted him, saying, "Why, hello, my big-dicked Blitzy."
The unexpected conversation caught both Blitz and Octavia off guard, causing them to spit out their coffee in sheer surprise. Blitz slammed his "BOSS BITCH" mug onto the desk in frustration.
Blitz demanded, "What-"
Octavia interjected, "the-"
Blitz exclaimed, "FUCK-"
Octavia concluded, "Dad?!"
Benedict sighed. "You know what, I'll just forge it." He grabbed the papers and walked off, presumably to get some work done.
"Language everyone!" Stolas chided them, before continuing on. "I have a special request-"
"Aw... Look, I just had a chemical peel. So, you'll have to find someone else's face to plant that feathered ass." Blitz informed him snarkily.
"It's for my daughter." Stolas clarified.
"Ah. Well, make sure she washes it."
Stolas, surprised by the comment, clarified. "No! No, no-no-no. I'm taking my daughter to Loo Loo Land, and I was hoping you brave little Imps would accompany us!"
"We're assassins, not bodyguards, 'kay? Don't invite us to shit unless someone's gonna die." He replied.
"I'll pay you~" Stolas offered, tempting him further.
Blitz seized the opportunity. "Pay me what?"
"Moneyyyy~"
"Done!" Blitz declared, accepting the deal
He hung up the phone abruptly, accidentally smashing it to pieces in the process. Annoyed with the situation, Blitz pulled out a megaphone to call for his employees.
"M n' M, and also Benedict, get in here! We're goin' to Loo Loo Land!"
Moxxie opens the door. "Loo Loo land?" He ask's confused.
Millie smashes her head through the doors window. "LOO LOO LAND?!" She yells excitedly.
Benedict crashes in from the wall window. "No way in hell!" He exclaims.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Loona yells from across the office.
"I'm not going to that shit-hole to guard some perverted prince and his bratty daughter." Benedict declared, crossing his arms with a stubborn look on his face.
"But isn't Loo Loo Land in Greed? Won't you feel at home?" Moxxie points out, causing to scowl.
"I'd rather be anywhere else but Greed. That place is a cesspool." He responds.
"But I heard they have amazing donuts there. Donuts make everything better, right?" Millie responds cheerfully, unperturbed by Benedicts lack of enthusiasm.
"Not even donuts can improve the filth that is Greed."
"Damn, Benedict. You really know how to hold a grudge." Blitz slaps Benedict on the back. "Loosen up a bit! Some good ol' Loo Loo land should put a smile on your face!"
Benedict sighs. "I better get a fucking raise for this." He mutters angrily.
A few hours later...
Loo Loo Land came into view, its entrance greeted by the sight of a van adorned with a spray-painted I.M.P decal pulling into the nearly deserted parking lot. Moxxie emerged from the van and opened the side door, allowing a cramped Stolas to eagerly extricate himself, as Benedict stood to the side, his lever action rifle in his hands and a scowl on his face. His daughter, Octavia, stepped out with considerably less enthusiasm. Stolas sported an apple-themed hat, gesturing toward the park gate, while Octavia groaned and pulled her hat low over her face.
"Now, remember: this is work and work only. My crew and I aren't here to satisfy your perverted bird needs, got it?" Blitz tells Stolas in a warning tone.
Octavia, disgustedly, addressed her father, "Dad, seriously... Do we have to-"
Blitz interrupted, turning to Stolas. "Hold on there, sweetie. And let me make this clear, Stolas, if you try fucking my little ass in that park, I swear to-"
Stolas interjected, finding amusement in Blitz's seriousness, "You're absolutely adorable when you're serious!"
Octavia retorted, "I might actually be sick."
Moxxie, flustered, exclaimed, "Oh, crumbs! I knew today would be hectic! What do you need?"
As Moxxie rummaged through a fanny pack, he tossed out several pill bottles, listing off his inventory, "Antacids? Ibuprofen?"
He then displayed a collection of hypodermic needles containing a glowing, acid green substance to Octavia, asking, "Morphine?"
Benedict raised an eyebrow at his coworkers drug supply. "Is this how you keep yourself entertained on road trips?" He asked sarcastically.
"I need them to deal with Blitz headache inducing shenanigans." He deadpanned.
Octavia, unamused, remarked, "That was a figure of speech, old man."
Moxxie chuckled sheepishly, discarding the needles into a nearby baby carriage, where a baby imp eagerly reached out to play with the hazardous "toys." Mumbling under his breath, Moxxie muttered, "But she said it was literal."
"Teenagers, they make no sense." Benedict muttered back, seeming annoyed.
Benedict looked at the park. "Lovely. I'm back in Greed."
A large letter fell off a nearby ride's sign, crushing a teenage imp beneath it.
"Yep. Still a shit-hole."
"Ohhh, look! It's Big Woobly!" Millie exclaimed, Unfazed.
She gestured toward a grotesquely deformed animatronic dinosaur, which let out a horrifying, demonic shriek from its gaping mouth.
Moxxie, disturbed, commented, "That is... deeply unsettling."
"Why do people come here voluntarily?" Benedict asked aloud.
Millie turned to Benedict with enthusiasm, "Oh, come on! It's fun! Haven't you been here before?"
Benedict grunted. "My parents raised me better than that." He remarked.
"So you couldn't afford it." Moxxie guessed.
"Yeah, that too."
Suddenly, the park's mascot, Loo Loo, appeared behind Benedict out of thin air.
Loo Loo cheerfully greeted him, "Well, hey there!"
Startled, Moxxie jumped back in terror, screaming, "AAAAAH!"
"Don't even think about recruiting me for your demented cult!" Benedict snarled, rifle at the ready to impale the mascot on his bayonet.
Loo Loo introduced himself. "I'm Loo Loo! Welcome to Loo Loo Land! And if you stab me at all, be prepared to get sued for everything your worth!" He said cheerfully.
Stolas excitedly pointed out, "Look, Via! It's Loo Loo!"
"I have a question." Octavia asked in a deadpan voice.
"Well, go ahead, little girlie! A-hyuk a-hyuk a-hyuk!" Loo Loo eagerly encouraged her.
"Is it true that this park is just a shameless rip-off of Lucifer's much more popular Lu Lu World?" Octavia inquired.
Loo Loo paused briefly, then replied, "No?"
"This place reeks of corporate insecurity and shame." Octavia asserted.
Stolas chuckled nervously, leading Octavia away. "Why don't we go check out the rides?"
Loo Loo turned to Blitz, expressing his opinion. "That girl is creepy, huh?"
"Wait till her dad tries to diddle your holes." Blitz remarked.
Loo Loo, puzzled, turned to Millie and Moxxie. "What does that mean?" He asked.
"Don't talk to me! I know your a pervert under that suit!" Moxxie accused him.
Moxxie departed, with Millie following him. Loo Loo's body drooped dejectedly.
"Yeah..." Loo Loo muttered to himself.
Benedict glared at him threateningly again for good measure, before strolling off to catch up with the others.
Moxxie and Millie strolled down a pathway, with Benedict following. Moxxie, drenched in sweat, stopped to regain his composure.
"You really enjoy this place, huh?" He asked, panting.
"I love it! My parents used to bring me and my siblings here when they could swing it, money wise." Millie responded cheerfully.
"Explains a lot." Benedict muttered to himself.
Moxxie noticed a worker pushing a wheelbarrow filled to the brim with money into a nearby gift shop. Approaching the window, they saw novelty cups and stuffed apples for sale, with the cups priced at an exorbitant 29 souls each.
Moxxie commented, "Those prices seem outrageously steep. I mean, who pays that much for a disposable cup?"
Millie defended the pricing, saying, "It's Loo Loo Land, after all!"
"I can see why they need us to protect them from pickpockets." Benedict remarked, being sarcastic.
Blitz approached, loaded with merchandise, including a novelty cup and a hat equipped with can holders and straws.
"Shut the fuck up, Benny, you grump. Live a little!" He exclaimed, supping from his cup.
Benedict scowled. "I won't be living at all if I blow my already meager paychecks on shitty merchandise and rigged games." He remarked.
Blitz took a sip from his novelty cup. "How about I take the first watch, while you two" He gestured at Moxxie and Millie. "Take Benny to go get a life."
"No!" Benedict exclaimed. "We're here to do our jobs, not goof off like 5 year old's!"
Millie ignored him completely. "Ooooh! We have to go on my favorite ride!"
"Oh, really? Which one?" Moxxie asked hesitantly.
He to a lone imp on a roller coaster named "The Lawsuit." The coaster suddenly plummeted down a sheer 90-degree drop at breakneck speed, engulfed in flames, with the imp desperately clinging on for dear life. It violently plunged into an underground tunnel.
Benedict scoffed. "Why waste our time risking our lives on that thing, when we could instead deal with the actual lawsuits we have piling up THANKS TO SOMEONE!" He directed that last part at Blitz, who flipped him off in the distance.
Benedict shook his head. "I'll go and actually do my job, thank you, and you two should join me." He ran off to catch up with Stolas and the others.
"Come on!" Millie yelled, dragging Moxxie towards the ride, as he had a terrified look on his face.
A bit later, Moxxie could be seen retching into a trash can after disembarking from the ride. A family covered in his vomit cast disapproving glares his way. A massive dragon-like creature from the nearby petting zoo loomed overhead, also glaring at Moxxie.
In another area of the park, Stolas and Octavia strolled along the path, while Benedict walked beside them, rifle in hand and doing his best to look intimidating, while Blitz took up multiple positions, rifle in hand, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. A group of imps approached from behind the booths, armed with ropes, knives, and pitchforks. But were quickly spooked off by Benedict shooting one of them.
Stolas gently stroked Blitzo's horn, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "You know, it's quite thrilling to see you on the job, Blitzy," he remarked.
"Save it, bitch. I'm working," Blitzo retorted, brushing off Stolas's attempt at flattery.
Octavia interjected with a hint of exasperation, "You both need to get a room."
Blitzo shot back, "Hey, I am not a day-hooker!" His response caught the attention of a passing woman with a baby, who shot him a disapproving glare before walking away in a huff.
"What? I just said I'm not one, prude!" Blitzo called after her, flipping her off for good measure.
"I can't wait to see how this ends up on your Linkedin, sir." Benedict sarcastically remarked, annoyed by his boss's lack of professionalism.
Blitz turned to his grumpiest employee. "Why are you here, grumpy, go have some fun." He attempted to push Benedict away, but Benedict swatted him off.
"I'm already experiencing a level of excruciating pain, so I suppose that counts as 'fun' in some circles." Benedict remarks, focusing back at the task on hand.
Stolas gasped suddenly, diverting everyone's attention. "Oh! Look, Via!" he exclaimed, pointing excitedly at a nearby circus tent. A demon mother struggled to pull her crying son into the tent.
"You used to cry such tears of joy at this show!" Stolas reminisced, his voice filled with nostalgia.
Octavia's expression turned to panic. "Oh, no…"
Flashback:
A young Octavia was pushed against the stage by a swarm of excited imp children. Robo Fizz, a sinister clown-like figure, loomed over her, sparks flying and maniacal laughter echoing. Octavia soon broke into tears. In the background, a younger Blitzo tended to a food cart, dressed and painted as a clown, scowling with disapproval.
End Flashback.
As Blitz and Octavia remembered their previous experiences in the park, Several Imp's were sneaking behind Stolas, in an attempt to kidnap him.
Their plan would've worked, if Benedict hadn't actually been paying attention, and quickly stepped between them and Stolas, giving them a glare that exuded a lot of 'Fuck off or I'll shoot you' energy.
The imps, being too dumb for their own good, ignored this, one of them charging at Benedict with a pitchfork, prompting Benedict to shoot him, making him face plant into the ground and die, and causing the others to scatter in fear.
"No, Blitzy's the one who's supposed to save me, not whoever you are." Stolas, who watched the whole ordeal, remarked with some disdain.
"I'm your bodyguard, sir." Benedict deadpanned, scanning the area to make sure the imps didn't come back.
Blitzo and Octavia, who finally decided to stop reminiscing, spoke in unison. "I hate that fucking clown."
"Glad to see you're doing your job, sir." Benedict remarks, walking past him.
Stolas, ignoring his daughters sentiment, leads the others into the big top, and takes a seat in the front row, while his daughter does so with far less enthusiasm, and Blitz and Benedict take up positions at the top.
The air crackled with anticipation as Robo Fizz, glitching and sparking, took the stage. "Hey-hey-hey-hey-heyyyy, Implings! It's me, the Robotic Fizzarolli! Shipped from Big Ozzie's factory to bring you a wonderful show celebrating Loo Loo Land, spelled with Os, to avoid lawsuits! H-H-H-H-H-Hit it!"
Stage lights turn on and point at Robo Fizz as he begins his musical number.
(Song Starts)
Robo Fizz: Loo Loo Land, Loo Loo Land!
The curtains open to reveal Robo Fizz's band, FizzaRolli 'n Friends, composed of various hideously decrepit animatronics, including Big Woobly on guitar.
Robo Fizz: Everybody sing along with the Loo Loo band
Robo Fizz goes around pointing and gesturing at various demons in the audience. Stolas looks excited when Robo Fizz gets to him, but this is short-lived as Blitzo pops up and points his rifle at Robo Fizz, who dashes back to the stage.
Robo Fizz: Ev'ry boy, ev'ry girl, ev'ry woman, ev'ry man loves Loo Loo Laaand!
Platforms in the stage rise up in time with the music. Benedict, clearly despising the whole ordeal, pulls out a book and begins to read, though still shoots a imp trying to sneak up on Stolas, while still reading.
Robo Fizz: Loo Loo Land, Loo Loo Land!
Everything is beautiful at Loo Loo Land
Ugly children holdin' hands in Loo Loo Laaand!
Robo Fizz grabs various Imp children out of the audience and wraps them up in a big hug, before jumping up and tossing them away. Most of the children slam into the bleachers, while one soars behind them.
Robo Fizz: Everybody's friendly,
Robo Fizz hugs Big Woobly so hard that its neck breaks a bit more than it already had been.
Robo Fizz: And nobody is mean
Robo Fizz dashes over to the two-headed, banjo-playing bear animatronic and slaps it in the back. The animatronic then squirts a stream of oil from its bigger head at the face of an Imp in the bleachers attempting to drown out the song with music from his phone.
Robo Fizz: No copyright infringement's ever seeen
Robo Fizz dumps a gasoline canister onto a large stack of cease-and-desist papers, lights a match, and throws the match and the canister at the stack, setting the whole thing ablaze.
Robo Fizz: I have a dream...
Backup Singer: (He has a dream)
Robo Fizz: I'm here to tell...
Backup Singer: (He's here to tell)
Robo Fizz: About a magical, fantastic place called Loo Loo Laaaaand!
(End Song)
Octavia is sitting and absorbing the musical with disgusted boredom. Outside, Moxxie and Millie walk along a row of game booths, when they are addressed by one of the vendors. Millie gleefully yanks Moxxie over towards the booth.
"Hello, hello! Step right up and win a thing!" exclaimed the energetic Carnie Imp.
Millie gasped with excitement, tugging at Moxxie's sleeve. "Oh, look, Moxxie! A THING!"
There, on display, was a purple stuffed penguin creature with Imp horns, sporting pink overalls. Attached to the creature was a tag that simply read "THING?"
Moxxie smirked at Millie's enthusiasm. "Oh, you like that thing?"
Millie's eyes sparkled as she replied with enthusiasm. "YEEEEESSS! I may not know what that thing is, but I want it!"
Seeing Millie's joy, Moxxie decided to indulge her desire. With a confident demeanor, he reached into his pocket, withdrew some money, and handed it to the carnie.
"Alright then! One game, puh-lease!" Moxxie declared.
The carnie Imp rolled his eyes in response and skillfully used his tail to pass Moxxie a pistol loaded with a cork projectile. Moxxie didn't bother taking aim; instead, he glanced at his wife and effortlessly shot the target, hitting the bullseye spot-on. Unbeknownst to Moxxie, the target hardly moved. He mimicked the sound of a ricochet, blowing away the gun smoke, pleased with his marksmanship.
"Strike one, little man!" the Carnie Demon exclaimed.
Perplexed, Moxxie retorted, "But, I hit it!"
The carnie Imp shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, buddy, the target didn't go down, so no dice, bro."
Moxxie growled in frustration but reached into his pocket once more, fishing out another bill. He defiantly snatched the pistol and fired another cork, this time hitting the target dead-center. Yet again, the target remained immovable. Annoyed, Moxxie slapped the pistol in irritation.
"What in Heaven is wrong with this thing?" he muttered in frustration.
The carnie Imp shook his head sympathetically. "Oh, man. It's a real shame, I tell ya." He couldn't help but mockingly cry.
Moxxie's anger flared, compelling him to slam another bill on the counter. Determined, he demanded, "Another!"
Back at the vibrant and lively Robo Fizz show. Stolas, filled with glee, applauded to the upbeat music, while Octavia, overwhelmed with distress, threw her head back in torment, pounding her fist on the seat beside her.
Robo Fizz and his backup singer belted out their catchy tune, captivating the audience:
"Everybody sing along with the Loo Loo band! Every boy, every girl, every woman, every man loves Loo Loo Laaaaaaand!"
As the show reached its grand finale, a small display of pyrotechnics illuminated the stage, accompanied by Robo Fizz's maniacal cackling. However, the bear animatronic stumbled and crashed onto the stage, breaking into pieces. Undeterred, Stolas clapped and cheered even louder.
Amidst the applause, an imp, armed with a dagger, emerged stealthily from beneath the seats, ready to strike Stolas. Yet, before the imp could act, Blitzo swiftly intervened, firing a shot that obliterated the top of the imp's head. The other imps in the vicinity screamed in absolute fear and scattered in retreat.
Stolas, with a flirtatious tone, remarked, "Oh my! What an impressive aim you have, Blitzy."
Furious, Octavia couldn't contain her frustration any longer. She exclaimed, "Ugh! I can't do this anymore!"
Concerned, Stolas called out, "Wait, uh... Octavia!"
Without a word, Octavia stormed off, and Stolas followed closely behind, with Benedict in close pursuit. Blitzo, cycling his rifle and ready to pursue his charges, prepared to give chase.
"Mua ha ha ha ha hoho-oh! Is that Blitzo my sensors spot up there? I bet the kiddies are still running away from you, huh?" Robo Fizz, noticing Blitz, taunted, chuckling at his own jest.
Blitzo, removing his visors and throwing them to the ground, engaged in a heated exchange with Robo Fizz. "The 'o' is silent now!"
Robo Fizz, glitching momentarily, retaliated, "A-A-Awwwww, just like your audience always was when you told your lazy jokes here!" He burst into laughter, mocking Blitzo.
Unfazed, Blitzo responded with conviction, "Bitch, I make more money killing people than you do being a cheap-ass robo ripoff of an overrated sellout JESTER!"
Robo Fizz, his glitches becoming more apparent, taunted Blitzo in a low, demonic voice. "Oohoohoo! Someone's salty! Real or not, though, people lo-o-ove me! Does anybody love you... BLITZ-0?" His voice dripped with malice.
Blitzo, unaffected by the taunts, coldly replied, "No. But I'm really good with guns now. Dance, bitch!"
In one swift motion, Blitzo inserted a new magazine into his rifle, switched it to full-auto, and unleashed a hail of bullets towards Robo Fizz. However, the agile automaton cartwheeled out of harm's way, evading the incoming rounds. Spinning rapidly like a wheel, Robo Fizz ascended the stairs, closing in on Blitzo. With a snake-like maneuver, he coiled himself around Blitzo before propelling him through the tent's roof.
As Blitzo's voice faded into the distance, accompanied by a cry of agony, "Ohhhh, FUCK MEEEEEEE...!"
Outside the tent, Wally Wackford, a carnival worker, rolled in a cart filled with lit torches.
"Torches, I say, I say! Get your inconvenient torches here!" Wally exclaimed.
Blitzo, in his unfortunate descent, landed on the cart, causing the torches to scatter in all directions. The flames quickly ignited the big top, engulfing it in a blaze.
Wally, in pain from the sudden chaos, cried out, "Owww! I say, OWWWW!"
The emerald inferno swiftly spread throughout the park, devouring and melting the fleeing animatronics. Robo Fizz reveled in the destruction, cackling with demonic glee as he spun his head. Meanwhile, in another part of the park, Moxxie glared at a carnie imp holding 600 souls' worth of his hard-earned money, seething with anger.
The carnie Imp let out a mocking chuckle. "Wow! Man, you're really starting to make this sad," he remarked with a smirk. "Y'know, if you suck, you suck! Guess you won't win your honey here a prize..."
Millie, determined to prove herself, stepped forward. "Let me try!" she exclaimed, reaching for the pistol.
Millie aimed and fired, but the cork missed its mark by a wide margin. The carnie Imp's mischievous grin widened as he pressed a foot pedal in the booth, causing a target to fall down.
"Ohhhh, look at that! Lucky shot, baby," the carnie Imp taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Moxxie couldn't believe what he was witnessing. "Are you kidding me?! You- you- you charlatan!" he shouted, his anger bubbling to the surface.
The carnie Imp waved Moxxie off dismissively. "Hey, uh, get lost, pipsqueak. I'm talkin' to the lady~" he sneered, leaning toward Millie and emitting a seductive purring sound.
Millie recoiled in disgust, her expression twisted with revulsion. Meanwhile, in the background, Blitzo and Robo Fizz continued their intense battle, oblivious to the chaos unfolding around them as the entire park burned down around them, which was probably an improvement over it's previous state.
With a mighty force, Robo Fizz hurled Blitzo into the air, sending him crashing through the roof of the shooting gallery. The weight of Blitzo's descent came crashing down on the carnie Imp, crushing him beneath his weight.
"OWWWW! Oof! Auuugh!" the carnie Imp cried out in pain.
Moxxie, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, exclaimed in surprise, "Sir?!"
Still dazed from his fall, Blitzo groggily spoke up, "Ohhhh…Hey, guys! You should probably, uh, make sure to not get decapitated by the clown. Grumpy's watching Stolas's ass, so he's fine." He briefly explained, before turning back to the problem at hand, that being the giant demented robot jester.
Drawing his flintlock pistol and cocking it, Blitzo took aim at the burning Robo Fizz. He fired, and the bullet struck its target, causing Robo Fizz's head to spin. However, when the head spun back around, it became evident that the shot hadn't harmed him. Robo Fizz had caught the bullet in his teeth and spat it out with a smirk.
"Oh, what a mouth!" Blitzo exclaimed, immediately regretting his choice of words.
Robo Fizz coiled himself into his rolling form once again, charging straight at Blitzo. With nimble agility, Blitzo leaped out of harm's way just as Robo Fizz collided with the booth, triggering a massive explosion. Shrapnel and burning prizes flew in all directions, chaos reigning supreme.
The camera captured the severed heads of three of the peculiar "things" Moxxie had tried to win, propelled through the air. One of them struck a young Imp boy on the head, rendering him unconscious. Coincidentally, at that very moment, a photographer snapped a picture of the Imp family, capturing the scene.
"Goddammit, Nathan! You ruined another bloody photo! Why were you even born?!" the father yelled in frustration, his anger boiling over at his son's misfortune.
In a different part of the amusement park, Stolas frantically chased after his daughter.
"Octavia?" he called out, desperation evident in his voice.
"Just leave me alone!" Octavia's voice echoed from off-screen.
"Octavia!" Stolas pleaded, his concern growing.
"Your highness, we really shouldn't run into an unsecured, potentially hostile building." Benedict advised, but was promptly ignored by Stolas.
Octavia sought refuge in a building labeled "Fun House." As Stolas entered, he found himself confronted with a bizarre and surreal room adorned with eyes, tubes, spikes, mirrors, and disembodied hands. Determined to find his daughter, he ventured deeper into the room, searching for any sign of her. Suddenly, a shadow loomed behind him, and an imp pounced on his back.
"Umm, I think I'm supposed to be guarded right now!" Stolas grumbled irritably.
Before the imp could silence him, a gunshot rang out, and the imp fell lifeless to the ground. Benedict could be seen at the doorway, having dispatched the imp with a shot from his rifle.
Stolas wiped the imp's blood off his sleeve, visibly annoyed. "Ugh, that's better." He turned to look at Benedict. "Where is Blitzy? He's my knight in shining armor, not you grumpy one." He remarked dismissively.
Benedict grit his teeth, trying to keep his temper in check. "Well, your 'knight in shining armor' is currently busy setting the park on fire, thanks to his escapade with that robotic jester, so I'm here to protect you, whether you like it or not." His voice was laced with annoyance.
"Oh. Well, go help him then, I can manage myself." Stolas waved him off, disinterested.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, sir," Benedict said firmly. "You're my responsibility, and I won't let you put yourself in danger."
Stolas crossed his arms, his feathers ruffling with irritation. "And who are you to tell me what to do? I'm perfectly responsible, thank you."
At this point, Benedict snapped."Ah yes, incredibly responsible. Just like how you've gotten into your scandal with Blitz? Or how you've dragged us off this hellish theme park, endangering out lives for nothing more than for the sake of your own amusement?" Benedict voice dripped with sarcasm, angered by having to deal with Stolas's constant attitude.
Stolas scoffed, his eyes narrowing in anger. "How dare you speak to me in such a manner! I will not be belittled by the likes of you!"
Benedict's expression turned cold, his voice filled with icy determination. "You constantly put yourself and others in danger, and it needs to stop. We were hired to protect you and Octavia, not to cater to your reckless whims."
He walked past the shocked prince. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a job to do, sir." He strolled down a tunnel with swinging pendulums, rifle in hand, on the lookout for danger.
Stolas was quick to follow. "I demand you treat me with respect!" He yelled, prompting Benedict to spin around and face him.
"Respect is earned, Stolas, and you haven't exactly earned mine. Maybe if you took your responsibilities more seriously, I wouldn't have to criticize your constant recklessness and flirting." Benedict told him harshly.
Stolas's eyes narrowed with fury as he retorted, "You think you're so superior, don't you? Just because you're good at shooting things and killing people, you believe you can judge me?"
Benedict's grip on his rifle tightened, his voice dripping with disdain. "I judge you based on your actions, or lack thereof. You're more concerned with your own desires than the safety of yourself or your family. You are truly despicable."
Stolas's feathers bristled with anger, his voice laced with venom. "I don't need your protection or your judgment. I'll do whatever I want, whenever I want, with whomever I want!"
"Fine," Benedict replied coldly. "Do as you please. But mark my words, Stolas, your actions will have consequences. Sooner or later, you'll realize the price of your recklessness." The two glared at each other, which looked quite comedic considering the massive difference in height.
The tense silence was broken by the faint sound of arguing in the distance, which snapped the two back to reality.
"Octavia?" Stolas cried out, running towards the sound of her voice, with Benedict following behind, on the lookout for danger.
Stolas entered a circular room at the end of the hall, that had a couple apple themed carts traveling around it. It was in one of these carts that the young princess was curled up in, crying.
"Octavia..." Stolas called out softly, his heart breaking at the sight of his distressed daughter.
Benedict, no longer emboldened by rage, decided to stay out of it, and stood watch at the door.
Stolas discarded the Loo Loo Land hat, its once goofy grin now transformed into a sorrowful frown, reflecting his emotional state.
He got into the cart with Octavia. "I take it you are... not having fun," Stolas remarked with genuine remorse.
Through her tears, Octavia sobbed, "I didn't even want to come here!"
"I'm sorry, sweetie. I... I thought you loved it here," Stolas apologized, his voice filled with regret.
Sniffling, Octavia continued, "When I was a kid and my parents didn't hate each other... and my dad didn't flirt with some... weird red dickhead the entire time. Or argue with some grumpy hitman."
Stolas hung his head, guilt washing over him. "I'm sorry, Via. I'm sorry for... everything... happening right now. I know it's... a lot. I, uh- I should have listened."
Crying uncontrollably, Octavia expressed her deepest pain. "I just want to go home... but home doesn't even feel like home anymore... You ruined it."
Stolas struggled to find the right words, his voice laden with emotion. "You need to understand... your mother and I... I just-... I felt-... She's always been... I haven't been- Ha-... We weren't in... I'm sorry, I- I- I don't have the words."
Amidst her tears, Octavia questioned, "Are you gonna run off with him? And leave me behind? Go away where... I can't find you?"
The intensity of his response was immediate and sincere. "What? No! No, no, never. I'd never do that. Never. I think it's time to leave this place. You were right. You are too old for it, anyway."
Gently cradling Octavia in his arms, Stolas carried her out of the Fun House, with Benedict staying off to the side. Unbeknownst to them, an imp peered maniacally from above the drop-ceiling, only to be quickly impaled on Benedict's bayonet.
Outside, as dusk settled, chaos consumed the park. Millie attempted to shoot at the wildly rolling Robo Fizz while the draconic creature from earlier seized the robot, swallowing it whole. Moxxie, riding on its back, joined in the fray. Amidst this spectacle, Stolas and Octavia made their way through the park gates, followed by Benedict.
"So, what would you like to do now?" Stolas asked, hoping to provide some semblance of comfort.
Octavia's face lit up with a hint of mischief. "Oh, can we go to Stylish Occult? They sell weird taxidermy there."
Reluctantly, Stolas agreed, "Hmmm, okayyyyy..."
Octavia chuckled, expressing her gratitude. "Thanks, Dad. You're okay, sometimes."
"Thank you, Via. Thank you," Stolas replied, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.
Suddenly, a massive explosion shook the park, propelling the Blitz, Moxxie and Millie through the air, their bodies smoking and their screams piercing the chaos. Moxxie and Blitzo landed in front of Stolas and Octavia, unconscious.
Moxxie regained consciousness briefly to scold, "Way to ruin another good thing, sir!"
Blitzo, unrepentant, retorted, "Worth it! That slutty toy clown had it comin'!" Before passing out again.
As the turmoil unfolded, a stray animal seized Millie by the hair, starting to drag her away, but was quickly spooked off by Benedict.
Benedict took a second to look at the destruction caused at the park. "I'll be sure to add 'wild theme park meltdown' to my resume. It'll go great next to 'murder for hire'." He sarcastically quipped in annoyance.
"Shut up grumpy." Blitz muttered in his stupor, still managing to annoy Benedict even when he's unconscious.
A/N: So. This is the longest chapter by far. I'll be honest, I feel the interaction between Benedict and Stolas was a little forced, but it's important set up for later on. But, I'm writing this at 12:30, so I really don't want to fix it, and I want to get these out weekly (hopefully). As always, any and all reviews are greatly appreciated!