Chapter 1: Road Trip

Note: This story takes place before the events of the 'Mastermind' episode so Stolas will still have his powers for now. Enjoy reading!

The Wrath Ring. One of Hell's vast rural places which is home to many hellish beasts.

On a long stretch of paved highway road going past small mountains, towns, and lava orb volcanoes, a familiar grey van was vrooming along as the occupants inside the vehicle were enjoying the ride. The occupants were of course Blitzo and his team, and of course their beloved little hellhound pup Jax tagging along. Blitzo was in the driver seat, Moxxie and Millie were both in the back, and Loona sat up front next to Blitzo while holding Jax on her lap.

Right now it was the time of year again for the annual Harvest Moon Festival as the murder professionals and their pup were all on their way to the Rough n' Tumbleweed Ranch where Millie's family resided. Everyone was all dressed up in their same usual country style outfits from last time. This time Jax was dressed up as well in his own neat outfit for the festival he was going to experience for the very first time. The little pup's outfit consisted of plain long black pants with a shiny watch chain dangling on one side, and a white long sleeve button up shirt complete with a little black bow tie around the collar and black arm bands on the sleeves. Overall Jax was dressed up looking like a little saloon bartender which was a very appropriate and spiffy look for the occasion.

As the van drove along the road hitting small occasional potholes along the way, Jax looked ahead out the windshield and took in the rather ominous sight of the Wrath Ring before his eyes which made him a little uncomfortable.

"Mommy, this place looks a little scary." Jax whimpered

Loona looked down and smiled assuringly at her son.

"It's okay, just chill kiddo. This place is not all bad." Loona said as she lightly petted Jax on his head

That's when Millie brought herself up front to chime in.

"Yeah sweetie, everything's okay. Are you just worried of the volcanoes that are everywhere?" Millie asked

Jax turned his head to Millie and nodded yes.

"*Giggles* Oh Jax there's no need worry. This here Wrath Ring is way cooler than you think. We are totally fiiine." Millie said in a tender tone

"Yeah buddy. I understand it's your first time being down here, but trust me you're gonna have loads of fun pretty soon." Blitzo smiled as he focused on driving

Hearing the kind assurances from his adoptive family made Jax relax a little as he smiled lightly, but then he had a question on his mind.

"Oh umm I'm sorry but...where are we going again?" Jax asked

"Why we are going to the ranch to see my family, Dear! You get to meet my parents for the first time and have your very first experience of the amazing Harvest Moon Festival! Very exciting right?" Millie said with excitement

"Yeah, are you excited kiddo? Your very first Harvest Moon with us!" Loona smiled as she lovingly tightened her arms around her pup

"I am pretty excited...but are your parents nice Auntie Millie?" Jax asked

"Oh trust me sweetheart, my parents will be more than delighted to meet you. They are the friendliest folks a gal like me could ever ask for." Millie said

"They were not too friendly with me tho." Moxxie chimed in disappointedly with his arms crossed

"Oh cheer up honeyboo. I'm sure you gained a hint of respect from them after you stood up for me." Millie assured her husband

Suddenly...

*BAM! POP! SPUTTER!*

Some loud sudden unusual noises coming from the van's engine made everyone jump and caught Blitzo off guard.

"What the Hell is that noise!?" Moxxie exclaimed

*CHUFF CHUFF! SPUTTER!*

The unwanted noises got worse from under the hood as the van was now reducing speed on the road and not wanting to accelerate or go in anyway. The vehicle was offically starting to break down much to Blitzo's sheer dismay.

"Oh No No No No! SHIT SHIT SHIT!" Blitzo cursed under his breath as he rapidly kicked the gas pedal forcing the van to keep going but to no avail

The van was slowing down more and more with the engine losing power that Blitzo was forced to pull it off to the side of the road right next to a nearby rustic gas station.

*PUT! PUT! PUT! SPUTTER! Silence.*

After sputtering and struggling, the engine finally died and ceased running with the van now sitting dead where it stopped.

"OH NO NO NO NO NO! NOT NOW!" Blitzo cursed as he turned the key attempting to restart the van

*CHURR,CHURCHURCHURCHUR!*

"Come on! Come on! Don't die on me!" Blitzo grumbled as he turned the key once more

*CHURR,CHURCHURCHURCHURCHURCHUR!*...Still nothing.

After the van broke down and the engine refused to start back up from two attempts, Blitzo got very ticked off as he pounded his fist on the steering wheel.

"OH NO NO NO, FUCK FUCK FUCK!" Blitzo shouted before slamming his face on the steering wheel causing the horn to go off for a brief moment

*BEEEEEEEEEP!*

"Oh dear oh dear. Looks like we are in a pickle." Millie said in worry

After taking a few moments to cool himself, Blitzo got out of the van and opened up the hood to be greeted by hot steam coming out of the engine like a boiling pot.

"Cough, Cough, Cough! Aw shit!" Blitzo said in dismay as fanned away the steam and looked over the engine trying to assess the problem

Loona, Moxxie, and Millie all came out of the van as well to see what the situation was while Jax was left in the front seat. Moxxie and Millie both peared into the steaming engine while Loona got out her phone to check for reception so she could call a tow truck if she would have to.

"Sir, When was the last time you had this thing checked? Probably never." Moxxie said sarcastically

"Oh shut up Moxxie! I just worked worked on this last week. At least help me find the problem unless you wanna stay stuck out here." Blitzo said

"Ah sure hope it's a small issue that we could easily fix ourselves." Millie said

As the murder professionals were trying to figure out the problem under the hood, Jax on the other hand grew very curious of what was going on as he hopped down off his seat and out of the vehicle. He then went around up front and stepped up onto the metal bumper to see inside the engine bay.

"Now since there is steam coming out, I'm pretty sure it's something to due with the water system." Blitzo guessed

"Or maybe there is a loose wire or something." Millie added

"Look maybe we should just call a tow truck already. Why bother fixing the van out here?" Loona suggested

"I think I'll agree with Loona on that. Let's just get this to a garage. We have more guns and bombs than tools in the trunk anyway." Moxxie agreed

As everyone exchanged guesses and suggestions with each other, Jax on the other hand looked all over the engine all by himself to see if he could help find the problem in anyway. But the drawback is he was only 5 years old and didn't know about cars and engines at his young and innocent age.

"This looks so complicated...*Sniff, Sniff*...Wait a minute."

Jax suddenly started to pick up a scent coming from the engine with his sensitive canine nose despite the heat and steam in the way. A scent that smelled rather delicious but soaked in gasoline. Jax sniffed the air some more to try to locate the source of the strange scent.

*Sniff, Sniff, Sniff*

Jax sniffed carefully and managed to trace the delicious smell pin-pointing the source to be trapped inside the circular metal air filter housing bolted on top of the carburetor. The scent smelled very close to being...a hamburger?

End of chapter 1