The scene opens on I.M.P. as Moxxie and Millie walk in, with the latter now back to her normal self and with the pregnancy symptoms behind her. Everyone sees them enter.
Lana: Hey, you guys made it!
Lola: *bouncing with excitement* Ronnie and Via told us the news! Where's the little one?! Where is she, where is she, where is she, where is she?!
Millie: *chuckles* Calm yerself, girl! *calls out* Linc, you can bring her in!
Lincoln then walks into the office, holding Minnie.
Lincoln: *smiles* Everyone, this is Minnie.
Minnie coos and looks curiously at everyone.
Lana and Lola: *adorable "puppy dog eyes"* AWWWWW!
Blitzo: *steps up* Alright, move aside. *pushes the twins out of the way and takes Minnie, then starts baby talking to her* Well hey there, wittle sweetie. I'm your Uncle Blitz-
Minnie's small foot suddenly flies up on reflex and slams right into Blitzo's face, sending him crashing through the office window as the group stares in utter shock and silence, except for Minnie's giggling as she lands in Moxxie's arms. Seconds later, Lincoln bursts into the loudest fit of laughter he's ever had.
Lincoln: *laughing* O-OH MY FUCKING GOD! *pounds his fist on the desk in laughter* UNHOLY SHIT, PLEASE TELL ME SOMEONE CAUGHT THAT ON CAMERA!
Loona: *snickering, holding her phone* I'll send it to you later, dude.
Blitzo: *from outside the window, woozy* She's definitely Millie's kid…!
Octavia's phone starts to ring, so she steps out of the room to answer it.
Octavia: Hello, Dad?
Stolas: *a split screen of him and Octavia appears* Via, I have excellent news! Your Uncle Phenex is coming to visit tomorrow!
Octavia's eyes widened in surprise.
Octavia: Uncle Phenex?! You're joking!
Stolas: No, he really is coming tomorrow! He just called me earlier and told me!
Octavia: *smiling* Dad, that's great!
Stolas: I figured I'd tell you now so you can bring Lincoln and Ronnie Anne tomorrow.
Octavia: I'll definitely do that! Thanks, Dad!
She hangs up and re-enters the room with a big smile. Blitzo had been pulled back into the room, looking woozy beyond belief.
Ronnie Anne: *notices Octavia* Whoa, babe. What's got you so excited?
Octavia: My dad just called and said my Uncle Phenex is coming to visit tomorrow!
That surprised I.M.P. greatly, especially Lincoln.
Lincoln: Wait, is he the one with the flaming tail feathers?
Octavia: The very same! I was wondering if you guys wanted to come with me to meet him.
Lola: Hold on, he isn't a mega racist to lower class like your mother?
Octavia: Total opposite.
Lola: *smiles* Then count me in.
Everyone else agreed to come along, except for Blitzo.
Blitzo: Yeah, I'll pass. I deal with one horny bird already, I'm not risking dealing with another one.
Octavia: … My uncle is happily married and expecting a child.
Blitzo: Your point?
Lincoln smacks the back of Blitzo's head.
Lincoln: Just ignore him, Via. We'll be happy to come along.
Jump cut to the Goetia Mansion as text saying "THE NEXT DAY" pops up. Everyone was waiting in the living room, when a ring of fire appeared outside, catching their attention.
Octavia: *excitedly* He's here!
Octavia bolts out in a streak of black and pink as the ring of fire expands, and out steps a humanoid phoenix with orange feathers, blue eyes, glowing arms and legs, flame-tipped tail feathers, and a sword on his hip.
Octavia: *excitedly* UNCLE PHENEX! *nearly tackles him into a hug*
Phenex: *catches her* Oof! *chuckles* Easy there, Via! You're getting too big for me to do that!
Following behind Phenex is a humanoid stork woman with white feathers, wings coming out from her arms, long pink legs, and noticeably pregnant.
Cassidy: *joking* What, no hug for Auntie Cass, Via?
Octavia: *smiles* C'mon, you know you're my favorite aunt. *hugs Cassidy, then kneels to Cassidy's stomach* How's my little cousin doing?
She presses her ear against Cassidy's stomach, only to feel the baby kick.
Cassidy: *giggles* Happy to hear you, Via.
Stolas walks out, and Phenex sees him.
Phenex: Little brother! *hugs Stolas, even lifting him up* Bring it in!
Stolas: *laughs* Hello, Phenex!
Phenex sets him down as they go inside. Phenex and Cassidy notice a lack of screaming and bitching.
Cassidy: … Is Stella finally gone?
Stolas: *nods* She is.
Phenex: Little brother… it's about time! I hated her! I cannot begin to tell you how many times that wretch tried throwing herself at me!
Cassidy: I wanted to kill her when I heard what she did to Octavia's best friend. I hope that boy is okay.
Octavia: *smiles* Well, come see for yourself.
She drags her aunt and uncle into the living room, where I.M.P. is waiting. Phenex and Cassidy see Lincoln, alive and well.
Phenex: Well how about that! He's alive!
Lincoln: *stands up and approaches them* Hello, Phenex. It's nice to see you again.
Phenex: *shakes Lincoln's hand* A pleasure to see you as well, young man. *puts his arm around his wife* This is my wife, Cassidy.
Cassidy: *smiles* It's very nice to meet you. Phenex told me a lot about you before… well, that incident.
Lincoln: Still hate Stella to this day.
Phenex and Cassidy: Welcome to the club.
Octavia: *pulls Ronnie Anne closer* Uncle Phenex, Aunt Cass, the truth is… Lincoln and I are in a throuple. This is our girlfriend, Ronnie Anne.
Ronnie Anne: *nervous wave and smile* Hello.
Cassidy: *surprised* Oh, wow. You're bisexual, Via?
Octavia: *chuckles slightly* Yes.
Phenex: *smiles* Hey, so am I! Besides, if these two make you happy, then I am all for it! Bring it in! *hugs Lincoln and Ronnie Anne*
Ronnie Anne: *sighs out* Well, that's relieving.
Lincoln then gestures to his parents.
Lincoln: Phenex, these are my adoptive parents. Moxxie, and the woman who took me in on that night, Millie.
Moxxie: Hello.
Millie: Howdy.
Minnie coos as she reaches for her brother.
Lincoln: Oh. *picks her up* And this is my baby sister, Minnie.
Minnie giggles and waves.
Cassidy: Aw, she's a little sweetie. *playfully pinches Minnie's cheeks*
Phenex: A pleasure to meet you both.
Lincoln: *the twins and Lisa step up* These are our friends and co-workers. Lana, Lola and Lisa.
Lana and Lola: Hey!/Hi.
Lisa: Greetings.
Lincoln: *points to Blitzo* And this jackass is Blitzo, *points at Loona* and that lazyass is his daughter, Loona.
Blitzo and Loona both flip Lincoln off, and he returns the gesture. Phenex and Cassidy recognize Blitzo's name from hearing about him via Stolas.
Phenex: Oh, this is…? *looks at Stolas, who nods silently* I see.
Blitzo: Yeah, hi. Nice to meet ya.
Loona: *doesn't look up from her phone* Hey.
Stolas' imp butler, Pringles, steps into the room.
Pringles: Dinner is served, Your Highness.
Cut to everyone having dinner in the dining room as they chat.
Phenex: So little brother, how's being a single father?
Stolas: Well, it has its ups and down, but I'm not complaining. I'm free from that bitch, and I still have my little girl.
Octavia: *embarrassed blush* Dad…!
Lincoln: That's how dads are, Via.
Ronnie Anne: So are entire familias. Believe me, I know, and you two *points at Lincoln and Octavia* are gonna see when I take you two to meet them.
Cassidy: So Lincoln, you don't need to answer if it's too personal, but… what happened after that bitch threw you out?
Lincoln: Well, I was practically on the streets, and I honestly thought I was going to die that night. But… *looks at his mother and smiles* … Mom saw me and took me in at the last minute.
Millie: *smiles* And I haven't regretted it since.
Phenex: *nods* These Exterminations infuriate me to no end. Those Exorcists will kill anyone they see.
Blitzo: *scowls* Ain't that the fuckin' truth.
Moxxie: Well, there are those three that betrayed Heaven. Cara and her daughters?
Lisa: True.
Lana: They even said that they're planning to help fight against the Exorcists if the time comes.
Lola: Big surprise, some Exorcists have hearts.
Lincoln suddenly stops for a moment as he thinks back to something.
Lincoln: Hang on…
It fades to a brief flashback of 3-year old Lincoln, on the night of his parents' deaths, running for his life from an Exorcist that didn't have her mask on. Turns out, the Exorcists had done a sweep of the sewers he was hiding in, and this Exorcist was chasing him down. He runs into an alleyway where he reaches a dead end. Lincoln turns and starts crying, prepared to meet his demise. However, the unmasked Exorcist hesitates, seeing the innocent little pup right before her eyes crying in fear. She reconsiders her decision.
Lincoln: *speaking from the present* There was one Exorcist that spared me on the night I lost my biological parents…
Exorcist: *whispering* Go, run. *Lincoln looks at her in surprise* Now!
Young Lincoln runs and hides, not seeing the shadow looming over the unmasked Exorcist. As he hides in a dumpster, he hears that Exorcist scream in pain.
Unknown Voice: *muffled* Sinful filth like you has no place in Heaven!
He hears that first Exorcist scream in pain as a ripping sound is heard. Lincoln covers his ears as tears run down his face.
It fades back to the present day.
Lincoln: … but I doubt she's still alive after sparing me.
Loona: What brought this up now?
Lincoln: I don't know… Probably the mention of Exorcists that turned against Heaven.
Silence followed for a few seconds.
Octavia: Anyways… *faces her uncle* Uncle Phenex, I'm actually glad you're here, because there's something I need to ask you.
Phenex: Of course, anything. *Stolas starts taking a drink*
Octavia: I was wondering if… you could train me?
Stolas chokes on his drink, coughing for a moment. Lincoln and Ronnie Anne looked surprised as well.
Stolas: *calms down as he regains his breath* V-Via, did I hear that correctly? You want Phenex to train you?
Phenex: Why is that, Octavia?
Octavia: Because I want to be able to defend myself if the situation calls for it. I don't want to always rely on my dad, or Lincoln and Ronnie Anne to bail me out of trouble if someone like Striker comes after me. *looks at the three of them* I am grateful that you guys want to protect me, but there might be times where you can't, so I want to be able to defend myself.
Stolas: *unsure* Via, I-
Blitzo: I say do it.
Everyone looks at Blitzo.
Blitzo: I mean, you're right. Take it from me. Parents and loved ones may not always be there to protect you, so the best thing you can do is teach them to protect themselves should, Satan forbid, something happen to where they need to defend themselves. That's why I spent some time training Loony in guns a few months after I adopted her.
Millie: I agree. My parents were trainin' my siblings and I when we were really young, and I trained Linc.
Stolas considers this for a few moments, then sighs.
Stolas: I suppose that is a fair point.
Octavia: *smiles, then faces her uncle* So, what do you say?
Phenex: Via, you know my training is not easy. It's going to be rigorous. I'll understand if you change your mind later on, but I'm letting you know now.
Octavia: *smiles* I'd be disappointed if it wasn't difficult.
Phenex proudly smirks.
Cut to a large mansion with a large wall of fire surrounding it. It zooms through the fire as we see Phenex and Octavia. The latter was wearing a more combat appropriate dress, as Phenex pulled out two fireproof wooden swords.
Phenex: Put on your war paint!
Phenex tosses one to Octavia, who catches it… but fumbles with the sword for a bit, catching it before she drops it.
Phenex: You are a brick tied to me that's dragging me down
Strike a match and I'll burn you to the ground
Phenex takes a sword fighting stance.
Phenex: We are the jack-o-lanterns in July setting fire to the sky
Here, here comes this rising tide, so come on!
Octavia takes her own sword fighting stance, but hers looks sloppy.
Phenex: Put on your war paint!
Phenex runs at Octavia and swings his wooden sword at her with grace and elegance, as Octavia frantically blocks it with her own.
Phenex: Crosswalks and crossed hearts and hope-to-dies
Silver clouds with gray linings
Octavia gets kicked onto her back, as the wooden sword falls from her hand. Phenex walks up to her and holds his hand out to her.
Phenex: So we can take the world back from a heart attack
One maniac at a time we will take it back
Octavia takes his hand and gets helped to her feet as she picks up her wooden sword. Phenex has Octavia take her fighting stance, but has her stand more in line with his fighting stance. Phenex then takes his own fighting stance and motions for Octavia to follow his moves.
Phenex: You know time crawls on when you're waiting for the song to start
So dance alone to the beat of your heart
As Phenex and Octavia swing the wooden swords, it fades to a shot of Octavia physically training with push-ups and sit-ups, but struggling a bit because of her lack of training and rather… lanky frame.
Phenex: Hey young blood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out?
I'm gonna change you like a remix
Then I'll raise you like a phoenix
Phenex stands over Octavia, eyeing her progress.
Phenex: Wearing our vintage misery
No, I think it looked a little better on me
I'm gonna change you like a remix
Then I'll raise you like a phoenix
It fades to Octavia running next to the wall of fire wearing gym clothes with her hair tied in a ponytail. The heat from the fire, mixed with her running, was making Octavia exhausted. But she pushed through and kept running, with Phenex flying inside the flames next to her.
Phenex: Bring home the boys and scrap scrap metal the tanks
Get hitched, make a career out of robbing banks
Octavia keeps running as Phenex notices brief embers of pink fire flying off of his niece.
Phenex: Because the world is just a teller and we are wearing black masks
"You broke our spirit, " says the note we pass
Cut back to Octavia doing the push-ups and sit-ups again, this time doing better.
Phenex: So we can take the world back from a heart attack
One maniac at a time we will take it back
You know time crawls on when you're waiting for the song to start
So dance alone to the beat of your heart
Cut to Octavia as she swings her wooden sword against some training dummies, hitting them in vital spots.
Phenex: Hey young blood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out?
I'm gonna change you like a remix
Then I'll raise you like a phoenix
Octavia swings her wooden sword as a brief surge of pink energy flares through her body, decapitating the training dummy from the single swing, much to Via's surprise.
Phenex: Wearing our vintage misery
No, I think it looked a little better on me
Phenex looks surprised, but a proud smirk begins to form on his face.
Phenex: I'm gonna change you like a remix
Then I'll raise you like a phoenix
Octavia looks at her uncle, who smiles at her.
Phenex: Put on your war paint!
Cut to Octavia swinging her wooden sword, matching her uncle's movements.
Phenex: The war is won, before it's begun
Release the doves, surrender love
The war is won, before it's begun
Release the doves, surrender love
It cuts to a multi-shot of Octavia swinging the wooden sword, doing push-ups, doing sit-ups, and jogging next to the burning fire.
Phenex: The war is won, before it's begun
Release the doves, surrender love
The war is won, before it's begun (Wave the white flag!)
Release the doves, surrender love (Wave the white flag!)
Cut to Octavia on her hands and knees, panting as sweat drips down her face. The wooden sword rolls to her hands as Phenex stands ready with his own wooden sword. Her eyes narrow as he grabs the sword, then stands up and charges at her uncle.
Phenex: Hey young blood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out?
I'm gonna change you like a remix
Then I'll raise you like a phoenix
The two clash their wooden swords as Octavia swings with the same elegance and grace as her uncle, but with her own flare and style to it.
Phenex: Wearing our vintage misery
No, I think it looked a little better on me
I'm gonna change you like a remix
Then I'll raise you like a phoenix
Octavia blocks a swing from her uncle as her hands briefly burst into pink flames, and she swings for her own attack, as the pink flames spread across her weapon.
Phenex: Hey young blood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out?
I'm gonna change you like a remix
Then I'll raise you like a phoenix
Phenex's wooden sword shatters to pieces as Phenex is sent skidding backwards. Octavia's wooden sword was suddenly pointed at his neck, signifying the fight was over. Octavia then smiles and pulls back the wooden sword, holding her hand out to her uncle. He goes to reach for it, when…
Phenex: Put on your war paint!
… he pulls out a hidden second wooden sword and goes for a strike at Octavia's head, but she swiftly blocks it in time. Phenex smiles proudly at her as Octavia smiles back. They put their wooden swords away and bow.
Fade to Stolas' mansion as the text "5 WEEKS LATER" appears on screen. It cuts to inside as Stolas was getting dressed, when he hears the front door open. He peeks out and sees Octavia and Phenex entering, laughing together. Notably, Octavia is slightly bulkier than she was before. While not to the same extent as someone like Lynn, it's still some noticeable gains compared to before.
Octavia: *laughing* Wait, so he's lost 250 times, and STILL insists he's better than you?
Phenex: *laughing* Andrealphus has always been a spoiled, whiny brat. What else did you expect?
Octavia: *laughing as Stolas enters the room* Thank Satan I didn't get the stupid genes from that witch ex-mother of mine.
Stolas: Well? How did it go?
Phenex: *smiles* She's certainly a remarkable warrior in the making. There's more potential in her than I have seen in anyone before.
Stolas: *smiles* I'm happy to hear that.
Phenex: That reminds me. *creates a ring of fire and reaches into it, then pulls something out* I was saving this for your 18th birthday, but… *hands a long box to Octavia* … you have more than earned it now.
Octavia opens the box and gasps at what she sees. Inside was a sword with a silver blade, imbued with holy metal in the edges. The handle was golden, with a pink gem embedded into it. It also came with a magenta sheath with a golden shoulder strap.
Phenex: I had a little help from Carmilla Carmine to ensure it's capable of doing serious damage, so be careful with this.
Octavia smiles as she gets a brief feel for the sword, then putting it in its sheath and strapping it over her right shoulder. Octavia then hugs Phenex tightly.
Octavia: Thank you for this, Uncle Phenex.
Phenex: *smiles and hugs back* Anything for my favorite niece.
Octavia: *looks up with a sly smirk* Favorite, huh?
Phenex: *shushes her* Shh. Don't tell your cousins.
The two laugh together, before Phenex opens a much larger ring of fire.
Phenex: Well, I must return home. Cassidy's cravings are going into overdrive.
Stolas: *nods* It was nice to see you again, elder brother.
Phenex: *smiles* You too, little brother. *steps into the ring, then looks at his niece* Continue your training, Via. If you get sloppy, there will be Hell to pay.
Octavia: *smiles, determined* I promise, Uncle Phenex.
Phenex smiles at her determination, as the ring of fire then vanishes with him.
Stolas: *smiles at his daughter* So, do you feel proud of yourself, Octavia?
Octavia glances back at the handle of her sword and smiles.
Octavia: Absolutely.
A/N: The song is "Phoenix" by Fall Out Boy