Chapter 9: Gotta Show Moxie!
Lululand loomed on the horizon, its garish colors and towering attractions a stark contrast to the surrounding wastelands of the Greed Ring. The amusement park's gaudy charm was a façade, hiding its true nature—a place where souls came to lose themselves in fleeting pleasures, only to leave more empty than before. But for Octavia, this chaotic paradise was her sanctuary, a place where she could forget, even if just for a moment, the weight of her family's legacy.
As the Goetia family arrived, Stella held Octavia's hand tightly, her eyes scanning the bustling crowd with a mix of wariness and disdain. Stolas walked beside them, his usual air of calm slightly frayed by the tension of the situation. Blitzø, Verosika, Barbie, and Loona trailed behind, blending in with the other park-goers as they kept a close watch on the family.
Verosika, her disguise magic in full effect, had transformed into an unassuming park-goer—just another face in the crowd. Her usual glamor was muted, replaced by a more pedestrian look that allowed her to move unnoticed among the throngs of demons and damned souls. Despite her weakened state, she was determined to see this mission through, her protective instincts toward Loona and her desire to prove herself driving her forward.
Blitzø, meanwhile, couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia as they entered the park. Memories of his time working at Lululand with Verosika flooded back—days spent in cheap clown costumes, performing menial tasks, and enduring the endless torment from patrons and performers alike. Barbie had been particularly ruthless, her time with the Hells Harlequins giving her endless material to mock them. But those days were behind them now, and they had a job to do.
Loona, for her part, was sticking close to Octavia, her usual aloofness giving way to a sense of responsibility. She had never been to an amusement park before, at least not while it was open, and the sights and sounds were overwhelming. But her focus remained on Octavia, who clung to her father's side, wide-eyed and apprehensive.
"Hey, kid," Loona said, her voice gruff but not unkind. "You ever been on any of these rides?"
Octavia shook her head, her small hand tightening around her father's cape. "N-No, I usually just like to watch… it's too scary."
Loona's ears perked up at that. She could relate to feeling out of place in a world that was supposed to be fun. "Wanna go on one? I'll ride with you."
Octavia looked up at Loona, her big eyes searching for sincerity. "You… you won't make fun of me?"
"Nah," Loona replied, a rare smile tugging at her lips. "I'm not like that. Besides, we gotta stick together, right?"
Octavia nodded slowly, a small smile forming on her face. "Okay… but only if you pick the ride."
Loona's heart softened at the sight of the timid chick slowly opening up. "Deal."
As Loona and Octavia wandered off toward the gentler rides, Stolas and Stella continued their slow walk through the park, their eyes darting around, searching for any signs of danger. Blitzø stayed close, his senses on high alert. The tension between him and Stolas was palpable, a complex mix of their shared past and the current mission. There was an unspoken understanding between them—this was no ordinary job.
Elsewhere in the park, the Crimson crime family's strike force was preparing to execute their plan. Moxxie Knolastname, the 15-year-old imp and only son of Crimson, was a bundle of nerves. Despite his father's high expectations and the pressure to prove himself, Moxxie couldn't shake the feeling of dread that gnawed at him. This mission was different—this was real, and the stakes were higher than he had ever imagined.
Moxxie stood near the entrance to the park, trying to steady his trembling hands as he went over the plan in his head. His father had made it clear that failure was not an option, and Moxxie was determined to do his best. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop the anxiety from creeping in.
Chazz Thurman, the 16-year-old shark demon with a cocky grin, slapped Moxxie on the back, nearly knocking the smaller imp off his feet. "Relax, Mox," Chazz said with a laugh. "We've got this in the bag. Just stick to the plan, and we'll be fine."
Vortex, the 12-year-old Hellhound, was already in position, his keen senses picking up the movements of the Goetia family from afar. Despite his young age, Vortex was a formidable opponent, his loyalty to the Crimson family unquestionable. Thressha and Limón, the two older shark demons with a jester aesthetic, were tasked with disabling the park's security systems and ensuring that no one interfered with their mission.
The final piece of their plan was the Fizzarolli robot, a popular attraction at Lululand that they had hacked to create a diversion. As the robotic clown began its show, drawing a large crowd, the Crimson strike force moved into position, ready to strike.
Moxxie swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it—the moment of truth. He could feel the weight of his father's expectations bearing down on him, but as he caught sight of the Goetia family in the distance, his resolve faltered. He wasn't a killer, no matter how much his father wanted him to be. The thought of harming Octavia, a child so much younger than him, made his stomach turn as he walked stumbling about.
As he hesitated, Moxxie noticed a girl in the crowd—a sweet, country-looking girl with a bright smile and an innocent demeanor. She was there with her family, laughing and enjoying the day. Something about her caught Moxxie's attention, and for a moment, he forgot all about the mission. He watched her from afar, a strange feeling of warmth blooming in his chest.
Millie, as her family called her, was everything Moxxie wasn't—confident, carefree, and unburdened by the weight of expectations. She was like a ray of sunshine in the dark, dangerous world he inhabited, and Moxxie couldn't help but be drawn to her.
Mille seeing Moxxie looking at her gave a big toothy grin and friendly wave, Moxie blushing as he waved back, Millie was so cute. The imp girl walked over with an air of charming innocence. "Howdy der, couldn't help but notice ya starin."
"O-oh crumbs, I'm sorry its just um well…….you reminded me of someone and seeing you out with your family you…..you all seem so happy." Moxxie looking to the side all timid as he spoke with the sweet country imp.
"Yeah its our big trip me an ma fam take every year, when we can swing it ders a lot a us." Her sweet southern drawl very alluring to Moxxie, Millie playfully tussling his hair. "How's bout you? You here with your ma and pa too cutie?" The sweet souther dame winking playfully.
Moxxie sadly sighed at her questioning. "No my dad never takes me to places like these and we'll my mom………she's gone."
Millie's face became one of sorrow and concern at hearing that, in truth not every imp was as fortunate as her, she had a large loving and supportive family, Moxxie however was alone. "I'm sorry, thats real hard i can't even think what my life would be like without my ma, pa, browsing and Sally May."
Moxxie smiled weakly at her, able to sense her concern as Moxxie took her hand tenderly kissing it. "Thank you, that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."
But as quickly as the moment came, it was shattered by Chazz's voice barking orders in his ear. "Focus, Moxxie! We've got a job to do!"
Moxxie snapped back to reality, his hands shaking as he fumbled with his weapon. He knew he had to do this—his father was counting on him. But as he looked back at Millie, he couldn't bring himself to go through with it. The thought of what he was about to do filled him with dread.
The Kidnapping Attempt, the vile evil kidnapping attempt.
The Goetia family reached the center of the park, near the Ferris wheel where Octavia had always loved to sit and watch the world go by. Stella held her close, her eyes scanning the crowd for any signs of danger. Blitzø, Verosika, and Barbie kept a tight perimeter, their senses on high alert.
Suddenly, the Fizzarolli robot malfunctioned, its mechanical laughter turning sinister as it began to wreak havoc in the park. The crowd panicked, and in the chaos, the Crimson strike force made their move.
Vortex lunged at Stolas, his sharp venom coated claws aimed at the Goetia prince, but Blitzø was quicker. He intercepted the Hellhound with a well-placed kick, sending Vortex crashing into a nearby concession stand. Thressha and Limón moved to flank Stella and Octavia, but Verosika's disguise dropped, and she unleashed a powerful blast of pink fire that sent them reeling, Verosika smirking sinisterly. "Little upgrade Ozzie put in my new heart, I can shoot and br3ath fire now!"
Blitz chuckled as he watched her. "Damn V that's so HOT!" Blitzø licking his lips at the pun, he had half a mind to jump in her arms and law at her right now seeing her burn those assassins alive.
In the chaos, Moxxie hesitated, his weapon trembling in his hands as he aimed it at Octavia. His heart pounded in his chest, the image of Millie flashing in his mind. He couldn't do it—he couldn't hurt an innocent child.
Just as he was about to lower his weapon, Millie's voice rang out. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?"
Moxxie turned to see Millie standing there, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. She had somehow gotten caught up in the chaos, separated from her family. Moxxie's heart twisted in his chest—she was in danger because of him.
Before he could react, Blitzø tackled him to the ground, his eyes blazing with anger. "You little shit!" Blitzø snarled, pressing a knife to Moxxie's throat. "You really thought you could get away with this?"
Moxxie's breath hitched, fear gripping him as he stared up at Blitzø. But as he looked into Blitzø's eyes, he saw something there—something familiar. It wasn't just anger; it was pain, the same kind of pain he felt every day living under his father's shadow.
Blitzø hesitated for just a moment, and in that moment, Moxxie made his decision. He dropped his weapon, his hands trembling as he raised them in surrender. "I don't want to do this," Moxxie whispered, his voice shaking. "I never wanted to do this."
Blitzø stared at him, his grip on the knife loosening. For a moment, the chaos around them seemed to fade away, and all that remained was the connection between two lost souls struggling to find their place in a world that demanded more than they could give. Blitzø, caught off guard by the sincerity in Moxxie's eyes, hesitated. In that brief moment of vulnerability, a powerful realization dawned on him—Moxxie wasn't just another hired gun. He was a kid, scared and desperate, trying to live up to expectations that no one his age should have to bear.
Millie, seeing Moxxie in distress and Blitzø's threatening stance, stepped forward. "Please, don't hurt him!" she cried out, her voice trembling but firm. Her sudden bravery surprised both men.
Blitzø's eyes flicked to Millie, then back to Moxxie. He could see the fear in the imp's eyes, but also something deeper—a plea for help, for a way out. With a growl, Blitzø shoved Moxxie to the ground, but didn't press the knife any further. "You better have a damn good reason for all this," Blitzø spat, stepping back just enough to give Moxxie space to breathe.
Moxxie gulped down air, his heart racing as he looked up at Blitzø. "I— I didn't want to do it. My father, he… he forced me into this. He said I had to prove myself, but I… I can't hurt anyone, especially not a kid."
Blitzø narrowed his eyes, studying Moxxie for a long moment. The imp's fear was palpable, but so was his sincerity. Blitzø, despite his gruff exterior, knew all too well what it was like to be pushed into a corner by someone more powerful. The world of Hell wasn't kind, and even someone like Moxxie deserved a chance to find his own path.
Before Blitzø could decide what to do, the chaos around them intensified. The rest of the Crimson crime family strike force was in full combat mode, but they were being overwhelmed. Verosika's magic kept Thressha and Limón at bay, while Vortex was locked in a fierce battle with Loona. Stella had whisked Octavia to safety, but the fight was far from over.
Barbie wrestling with the Fizzarolli bot, she had wanted to test her skills against Fizz's augmenting for a while, it had nothing to do with her having a *HUGE* crush on that twinky jester, NO not at all! Or so she told herself as she brass knuckle punched its head so hard it spun around in 360 degrees degrees.
In the midst of the chaos, Millie knelt beside Moxxie, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice cutting through the noise.
Moxxie looked up at her, his heart pounding for an entirely different reason now. "I… I think so," he stammered, still shaken by everything that had just happened. "I'm sorry… for everything."
Millie's expression softened, and she offered him a small, reassuring smile. "It's okay. I can see you're not like the others. You just got caught up in something bad, didn't you?"
Moxxie nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat. "Yeah… I never wanted this. I just… I didn't know how to get out."
Millie reached out, gently placing her hand on his. "You don't have to do this, you know. You can be better."
Moxxie's eyes widened slightly at her words. No one had ever spoken to him like that before—with kindness, understanding, and genuine care. In that moment, he felt something shift inside him, a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, he could find a way out of the life he'd been forced into.
But before he could say anything more, the Fizzarolli robot, still under the control of the Crimson strike force, roared to life, having tossed Barbie through a wall. Its eyes glowed a menacing red as it lumbered toward the Goetia family, its mechanical limbs whirring ominously. Stolas, who had been shielding Octavia and Stella, braced himself for the attack.
Blitzø acted on instinct. "Loona! Get the kid to safety!" he shouted, charging toward the robot with all the ferocity he could muster. Loona, who had been keeping a protective eye on Octavia while boxing Vortex, quickly obeyed, grabbing the young Goetia by the hand and leading her away from the danger.
As Blitzø squared off against the robot, Moxxie felt a surge of guilt and responsibility. This was his mess—he had to do something to fix it. He couldn't just stand by while others fought to protect the very people he had been sent to harm.
With newfound determination, Moxxie pushed himself to his feet. "I'm going to help," he told Millie, his voice resolute. "I can't let them hurt anyone else."
Millie's eyes shone with admiration as she nodded. "Go on, then. I'll be here when you get back."
Moxxie didn't waste another moment. He sprinted toward the fray, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and resolve. He might not be the toughest or the bravest, but he wasn't going to let his father's shadow dictate his actions any longer.
Blitzø was struggling to keep the Fizzarolli robot at bay. The damn thing was stronger and faster than he had anticipated, its mechanical limbs swinging with deadly precision. Verosika and Barbie were fending off the remaining members of the strike force, but it was clear they were all being pushed to their limits.
Just as the robot reared back for another attack, Moxxie skidded to a halt beside Blitzø, his eyes locked on the mechanical menace. "Blitzø, I can help!" he shouted, hoping the older imp would listen.
Blitzø glanced at Moxxie, surprised to see him back in the fight. "You sure, kid? This thing's no joke!"
Moxxie nodded, his fear giving way to determination. "I'm sure. Just tell me what to do."
Blitzø hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Alright, you take the left leg. If we can destabilize it, we might be able to topple it over. I'll go for the head."
Moxxie swallowed hard but nodded, gripping his weapon tightly as he circled around the robot. The mechanical menace was too focused on Blitzø to notice Moxxie's approach, giving him just enough time to line up his shot.
With a deep breath, Moxxie aimed and fired, his shot striking the joint of the robot's left leg. The impact caused the leg to buckle, and the robot stumbled, its balance compromised. Blitzø seized the opportunity, launching himself at the robot's head with a fierce battle cry.
Blitzø's attack hit home, his blade slicing through the robot's control panel with precision. Sparks flew as the robot jerked violently, its systems going haywire. Moxxie watched in awe as Blitzø tore through the robot's defenses with a ferocity that left no doubt as to why he was the leader of IMP.
But the robot wasn't done yet. With a final, desperate lurch, it swung its whip-like arm toward Moxxie, who was caught off guard by the sudden movement. Time seemed to slow as the robot's arm came hurtling toward him, and for a brief, terrifying moment, Moxxie thought this was it—his father's legacy would end here.
Just before the arm made contact, a burst of pink energy shot out from Verosika's direction, striking the robot and diverting its attack. The arm crashed into the ground beside Moxxie, missing him by inches.
Verosika, panting from the exertion, gave Moxxie a nod. "Don't just stand there, kid! Finish it off!"
Moxxie snapped out of his daze, his heart racing as he realized how close he had come to being crushed. With renewed determination, he aimed for the robot's now-exposed core and fired, the shot piercing through the damaged machinery.
The robot shuddered, its lights flickering before it finally collapsed in a heap of smoking metal. The battle was over.
As the dust settled, the park's once lively atmosphere was replaced by an eerie silence. The Crimson crime family's strike force had been defeated, their members either subdued or in full retreat. Verosika, Blitzø, Barbie, and Loona gathered around the Goetia family, ensuring that they were unharmed.
Stella, who had been holding Octavia tightly, finally released her grip and looked around at the chaos that had unfolded. Her usual haughty demeanor was gone, replaced by a look of genuine gratitude. "Thank you," she said, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "You saved us."
Blitzø shrugged, wiping sweat from his brow. "Just doing our job, your highness."
Stolas, who had been uncharacteristically silent throughout the ordeal, stepped forward. He looked at Blitzø, his expression unreadable. "Blitzø… I… We owe you a great debt. You and your team."
Blitzø nodded, trying to mask the complex mix of emotions churning inside him. "Yeah, well… just make sure you keep an eye on your kid, alright? These assholes aren't gonna stop coming after her."
Stolas nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I will. Thank you."
As the Goetia family began to make their way out of the park, Loona approached Octavia, who was still clutching her mother's hand. "Hey," Loona said softly, her usual gruffness replaced with a rare gentleness. "You did good today, kid."
Octavia looked up at Loona, her eyes still wide with a mix of fear and awe. "Thank you… for protecting me."
Loona offered a small smile, the kind that was rare for her but felt right in this moment. "Anytime, Octavia. Just… stay safe, okay?"
Octavia nodded, giving Loona one last grateful glance before following her parents out of the park. Loona watched them go, feeling a strange sense of pride for how she had handled the situation. She had protected someone who mattered—really mattered.
Meanwhile, Moxxie was still standing in the aftermath of the battle, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty. He had just gone against his father's orders, had nearly gotten himself killed, and yet, there was a strange sense of peace settling over him. For the first time in a long while, he had acted on his own terms, not just following orders.
Millie approached him, her eyes full of concern and something else—admiration. "You were really brave back there," she said softly, her voice laced with genuine respect.
Moxxie looked at her, his heart skipping a beat. "I… I just did what I had to do," he replied, though he knew it was more than that. Millie's presence had given him the strength to stand up to his fears, to fight back against the life he had been thrust into.
Millie smiled warmly, her hand reaching out to brush against his. "Well, whatever it was, it was pretty amazing."
Their moment was interrupted by Blitzø, who walked up to Moxxie with a serious expression. "Kid," he began, his tone gruff but not unkind, "you got a lot of guts, I'll give you that. But you're also a damn mess. You almost got yourself and a lot of others killed today."
Moxxie looked down, shame washing over him. "I know… I just… I didn't want to hurt anyone."
Blitzø sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he considered the young imp before him. "Yeah, well, that's not exactly a good trait for someone in this line of work. But… I can see you're not cut out for your old man's business."
Moxxie's eyes widened, realizing what Blitzø was suggesting. "You mean…?"
Blitzø nodded slowly. "If you want out of the Crimson family, you're gonna need someone to back you up. Someone who knows how to handle this kind of crap. You did good today, but you still need a lot of training. I can teach you, if you're willing to learn."
Moxxie was stunned. This was his chance—his chance to break free from his father's control and forge his own path. He looked over at Millie, who gave him an encouraging nod, and then back at Blitzø. "I… I'm willing," Moxxie said, his voice filled with newfound determination.
Blitzø grunted, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Alright then. Welcome to IMP, kid. Just don't screw up, or I'll kick your ass."
Moxxie couldn't help but smile, the weight of his old life already beginning to lift from his shoulders. "Thank you, Blitzø. I won't let you down."
Blitzø nodded, then turned to Millie. "You, uh… you got somewhere to go, or are you gonna stick around too?"
Millie beamed, her eyes lighting up at the prospect. "I'd love to stick around! That is, if it's okay with Moxxie."
Moxxie's heart swelled with gratitude and affection. "I'd love that, Millie. Really, I would."
Blitzø rolled his eyes, but there was no real annoyance in his expression. "Great, now we've got a country bumpkin in the mix. This team just keeps getting weirder."
As the newly formed team began to make their way out of Lululand, Verosika and Barbie joined them, having successfully subdued the remaining enemies. Verosika, still catching her breath, gave Blitzø a playful shove. "Not bad, Blitz. I almost forgot how fun it was to work with you."
Blitzø smirked, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Yeah, well, don't get too comfortable. This was a one-time deal, I don't like the idea of you in the field, you could get that sweet ass bruised!"
Barbie snorted, adjusting her hat. "Sure, Blitzø. Keep telling yourself that." Verosika seeing Vortex i. The back of a cop car sighed, she walked over reaching into her jacket and giving the kid a pamphlet for the Blue Loona Foundation. "Kid call this number at the station they'll give you a good lawyer, maybe get you a deal and a good foster home, just tell them V said its ok."
Vortex looking at her confused. "Why? I tried to hurt those royals and I attacked your hound, gave her a fat lip?"
Verosika with a sad and serious look patted him on the head. "You're just a lost little pup, I get it, Looney gets it, demons like you, demons like me, we are stuck playing our roles, stuck doing the fucked up things society thinks we should, but I'm not about that if a succubus can be a monogamous virgin then a big tough honud like you doesn't need to be a bad guy, try and make something of yourself ok kid?" Verosika winking as she walked off.
Loona, who had been hanging back with Octavia, finally rejoined the group. She gave Moxxie a once-over, her usual sarcasm replaced with something softer. "Nice work, new guy. You didn't totally suck."
Moxxie chuckled, feeling a strange sense of belonging that he hadn't felt in years. "Thanks, Loona. I think I'm gonna like it here."
As they all walked away from the chaos of Lululand, Blitzø couldn't help but feel a pang of pride. His little team had grown today—not just in numbers, but in strength, in heart. He glanced over at Stolas, who was watching them with a grateful smile. Maybe, just maybe, things were finally starting to look up.
But deep down, Blitzø knew that this was only the beginning. The mystery of who was targeting the Goetia family, the danger lurking in the shadows—it was all far from over. But for now, they had won a battle. And for once, Blitzø was content to take that as a victory.
As the group disappeared into the distance, the remnants of the battle fading behind them, a new chapter began—one filled with danger, excitement, and the promise of a future that none of them could have predicted. But whatever came next, they would face it together.
And in the end, that was all that mattered.
To be continued……