One late autumn morning, Stolas noticed Octavia was rather droopy on the way to breakfast. He made small talk about what music she was listening to. Was she sleeping well? Her responses were noncommittal and distant.

As the coffee brewed, Stella opened the fridge. She pulled out a large steak that was lined with zebra stripes. She looked uncertain at the Saturn Cow-Trap in the window. After a few practice motions, she pitched underhanded. The carnivorous flower chomped the meat out of the air. Stella took a breath, marched forward, and petted gently. She accidentally poked one of the plant's eyes and it growled at her.

She pulled away and turned around just in time to see her daughter enter the room. "Morning, Via!"

"Mm." Octavia shrugged, grabbed a mug, and walked over to the table to sit.

Stolas entered the kitchen shortly after. "Now, I need to arrange security."

"Security for what?" Stella asked.

"I figured we could use some time out of the house." Stolas grabbed the phone. "We're going to Loo Loo Land!"

"Oh, that sounds… nice?" Stella blinked twice. 'Wait, I'm not supposed to be here for this scene. Ah, screw it.'

"I'd rather kill myself," said Octavia.

Stolas seemed not to hear her and smiled. "I'm going to call the one man who can ** me."

Octavia dropped a handful of cereal. "What?"

"Who can protect us!" Stolas quickly amended.

Stella absentmindedly added three servings of sugar to her coffee. She took a couple slow sips.

A heavy-soft murmur broke the silence. "Hello, my big d** Blitzy."

Octavia spat off to the side. Meanwhile, Stella coughed liquid brown all over the fridge. Mother and daughter turned toward the man on the phone and practically yelled in unison:

"What the **, Stolas/Dad?!"

Stolas put a hand over the phone's receiver, and he expressed disappointment. "Language, everyone."

…

Stella wore some plain sweats and a windbreaker jacket. She followed Stolas's example to leave her crown at home. Instead, she had a hairpin with a crown design, pinning two of her feathers. As the front passenger door of the van opened, she moved too quickly and banged her head against the top.

The rest of the crew were dressed in the outfits she remembered from the episode. When Stolas put on a happy apple hat, Stella held her beak to stifle her laughter. Octavia simply groaned and pulled her beanie down, as if trying to hide any connection she had with these weirdos.

"Alright, let's get one thing straight." Blitzo took two steps for each one taken by Stolas. "This is work and work only. Me and my crew are not here to meet your perverted bird needs! If you try to ** my ** in that park, I swear-"

"You are so cute when you're serious." Stolas booped Blitzo on the nose.

"I'm literally going to be sick." Octavia slumped on her feet.

"Oh, crumbs! I knew today was going to be rough." Moxxie fished through his pockets and tossed around some packets. "What do you need? Antacid? Ibuprofen? Morphine?" He pulled out several green syringes.

"That was figurative, old man." Octavia glared at him before storming ahead.

"Oh, right!" He chuckled. He then whispered, "But she said it was literal."

"Have you gone mental?!" Stella pushed the syringes back down. "Don't brandish needles like a minigun!"

Moxxie tilted his head. "But these dull the pain, not cause it."

Stella facepalmed before following her daughter. 'I don't care what he says. That is not morphine in those vials. It's clearly radioactive!'

A mascot that resembled a rotting apple with a happy face waltzed up. Stolas tried to act all excited for Octavia. But when she questioned the aesthetics that resembled a knock-off Lucifer's World and corporate insecurity, Stolas quickly pulled her away toward the rides. Octavia rejected every ride suggestion. Stella tried pointing out some of the park's food, but those ideas were shot down as well.

Stolas rubbed a finger along Blitzo's horn. "You know, it's quite thrilling to see you on the job."

Blitzo was quick to shut down the flirting. "Save it, b**. I'm working."

"You both need to get a room." Octavia sulked.

"Hey, I am not a day hooker!" Blitzo pointed in accusation.

Stolas looked around with uncertainty. Then, he saw something that made his eyes light up. "Oh, Via!" He brought attention to the circus tent. "You used to cry tears of joy at this show."

"Oh, no," Octavia whispered.

Stella coughed and muttered, "I remember the tears. But joy? Not so much."

"I hate that **ing clown!" Blitzo and Octavia said in stereo.

"Oh, Blitzy!" Stolas called from the back of the group. He had apparently let himself be tied up and bagged. "I need my bodyguard, please!"

Wordlessly, Blitzo sniped the lead mugger. Upon seeing the bloody mess, the rest of the attackers scattered and dropped Stolas.

Stella massaged her wrists. "Uh, why don't you guys go on ahead? I'm going to go check on the rest of our security. I'll meet up with you later!"

"Mom, wait!" Octavia raised her arm. Then, she sighed as she begrudgingly followed the imp that was carrying her father into the tent.

…

"You know." The carnie rolled up a soul bill into an impromptu cigar. He lit it with a snap of his fingers. "If you suck, you suck!"

Stella cleared her throat. "May I?"

Before any of the imps could react, Stella swiped the game stand's fake gun. She took aim and fired the cork. It hit the support well below the marked bull's-eye. Upon contact, the target broke and fell onto the floor. The carnie's mouth gaped open so wide that he dropped the bill he was smoking.

"Hmph. Shoddy equipment and false advertising." Stella glared at the one manning the stand. "How shall we rectify this situation?" She crushed the weapon between her hands.

With sweat running down his head, the carnie quickly grabbed the largest prizes and set them on the counter. "H-Here! Take them and leave!" He cowered under the intense gaze.

Millie squealed and grabbed 'A Thing'. Moxxie quietly mouthed a 'thank you' to Stella.

Stella smiled wickedly at the con artist. "It's been a pleasure." She then picked up the prize that looked like a lazy gray cat. It had a beaver tail and a heart shirt.

A crashing noise caught everyone off guard. Blitzo had somehow landed back-first on top of the carnie. He looked dazed.

"Sir?!" Moxxie exclaimed.

"Oh, hey guys." Blitzo shook out of his stupor. "You should probably go check on Stolas." He stood up. "I've got some unfinished business."

Green fires lit the place behind the group. A robotic endoskeleton was walking erratically toward the stand. Blitzo turned the safety off his pistol. Meanwhile, the couple and the princess took the hint to run away.

"Where are we even going to find him?" Moxxie asked as the three of them ran.

Millie shot a random imp before it could stab Stella.

'If I remember this episode correctly…' Stella hummed. "Mother's intuition is telling me that Octavia ran to the Fun House to get away from everything. Find her, and we'll find Stolas."

"Got it!" Millie hollered before zipping in front of them. "Follow me!"

…

"I take it you are not having fun." Stolas looked sad as he hunched over in the tiny seat.

"I didn't even want to come here!" Octavia cried.

"I'm sorry, Via. I thought you loved it here." Stolas gave her his full attention.

Octavia sniffed. "When I was a kid, and my dad wasn't flirting with a red d**head all the time."

"I'm sorry, Octavia." He looked down. "I am so sorry."

"Mom never admits it, but I can see it all over her face." Water dripped. "She's hurting. You're hurting her."

"You need to understand." Stolas motioned with his hands. "The two of us were… I haven't been… We weren't in…" He pressed both hands against his temple. "I'm sorry. I don't have the words."

"Maybe I do."

Both riders looked up and to their left. Walking alongside the car at a snail's pace was a guilty-looking Stella. Her right hand was stuffed into her jacket while her left hand hung low.

"Mom? What do you mean?" asked Octavia.

Stolas gripped the not-so-safe bar. "Stella, you don't have to-"

"We all need to have this conversation." Stella stared at him. "If not now, when?" She sighed and shifted her gaze. "Octavia, do you know what it means to be part of the Ars Goetia family?"

Octavia blinked through wet eyes. "Only bits and pieces."

"Yeah, well… so do we." Stella kicked a would-be assassin in the face. "That's all we were given before being told what our jobs were. We're demon royalty. If we play our cards right, we can effectively live forever. But if someone does figure out a way to kill us, Heaven forbid, then we were told to bear a precautionary heir before that can ever become a problem."

"What?" Octavia's sadness morphed into disgust.

"Your father and I didn't marry because we loved each other." Stella turned her head. "We were told that we were going to be an arranged marriage. No objection, no negotiation, no choice."

"I'm just a precaution?" Octavia's feathers shook. "A spare?"

"No, you're not a spare!" Stolas retorted.

"That's what it sounds like!" Octavia furrowed her brow.

"Let me finish!" Stella yelled.

Stolas folded his hands and emotionally shrunk. Octavia crossed her arms and stared coldly.

Stella ran a hand through her feathers. "We never did feel that spark of lovers. However, we did come to a mutual understanding over time. Even if the act of procreation was forced upon us, we still see each other as friends." She smiled. "When we saw you for the first time, we both felt something neither of us had received. We felt love toward our daughter. We still feel that kind of love even now."

Octavia rubbed her eyes. "You…You don't hate each other? You don't hate me?"

Stolas gasped. "What? No! We would never. Never." He hugged Octavia close.

'Not in this universe anyway.' Stella shook the thought from her head. She reached over and gently placed her hand on Octavia's head. "We're not going to go away Starfire. No matter what s** our extended family and life throws at us."

Octavia hugged them back. Stolas stood up and stepped off the car.

"I think it's time to leave," he said. "You were right. You are too old for this place."

A knife-wielder hopped out of the ceiling vent behind the trio. Stolas turned his head all the way around and his eyes glowed brightly. The nameless imp was petrified on the spot. Stella held a finger against her cheek and blew a raspberry at the new statue.

Two birds walked toward Loo Loo Land's exit while carrying the third bird. Green fires spread and consumed every stand and ride. A dragon ran up and gobbled a cackling robot. Stella whistled sharply to the side. BM&M turned and scrambled over behind the Ars Goetia.

After leaving the park's gate behind them, Moxxie stopped to catch his breath. "Way to ruin a good thing, sir."

Blitzo breathed heavily. "Worth it! That s**-eating clown had it coming!"

Millie passed out on top of her new 'Thing'.

Stolas cleared his throat. "So, Octavia. What would you like to do now?"

Octavia perked up. "Oh! Can we go to Stylish Occults? They sell weird taxidermy there."

Stella dry-heaved before she forced a smile and a thumbs-up.

"Hmm… okay?" Stolas sounded equally not enthused.

Octavia chuckled. "Thanks, you two. You're okay sometimes."

"Thank you, Via." Stolas nuzzled her.

After the embrace, Octavia's eyes caught something that excited her. "Is that Nerfeld the Platy-Cat?"

Stella blinked twice. She turned over the prize plushie in her grasp. "Do you want him?"

"Her!" Octavia covered her mouth. "I mean, no! Why would I know that?" Her eyes darted.

Stella grinned mischievously. "I currently don't have enough room amidst my personal junk. Would it be alright if I tucked her in a corner of your room? Just until I can find a better spot."

"I mean, if you really have to, then I guess that's alright." Octavia shrugged.

Stolas quietly hooted.

(Twelve years ago…)

So many children laughed around little Octavia. Despite all instincts telling her to run, the hands and bodies pushed her closer and closer to the robotic clown. He was big and scary. She hid her eyes under her hands and cried.

She was lifted out by a larger set of hands. Octavia shivered, but eventually moved some of her fingers apart. She was outside of the circus tent and bobbing along. Turning her head, she saw that it was her mother carrying her.

"Shh. There, there. It's okay." Stella patted her back gently.

Octavia tried to put on a brave face for Mama, but the emotional rush still pushed her to tears. Stella looked around, then stepped into a random side store. The cash register dinged and the two exited with a decorated keychain. Stella held it up so that her baby could see.

"Huh?" There was still water dripping, but curiosity dominated Octavia's expression.

"~She's a semi-neurotic, mixed-up mammal of inaction.~" Stella wiggled the keychain.

Octavia reached out toward the tiny animal figure. She held it up close to her face.

"~She's more than an ad for an ale.

Why just look at her big beaver tail!

She's Nerfeld!

Nerfeld the Platy-SCRAWWK!"

Stella placed her free hand over her mouth and blushed. Octavia giggled, then let out a burst of childlike laughter. Stella grumbled as passersby gave her odd looks.

Stolas ran up behind them. "There you are! I was held up by staff saying I couldn't record live shows. Can't make an exception for royalty, they said." He sighed. "Everything alright?"

Octavia continued to laugh. It was infectious enough to make Stolas smile.

Stella swallowed her pride. "Yeah, I think we're good."