Pride Ring

Morningstar Manor

The Manor echoed with Lucifer's pacing. His situation with Lilith had become increasingly strained. They barely talked to each other for days on end.

With a growl of annoyance, Lucifer swept a hand across his desk, sending a stack of papers across the floor. He stared at the mess he had created. After a moment, he sighed. He knelt on the floor, gathering them.

As he worked, a letter adorned with star patterns stood out. Curious, Lucifer opened it. The handwriting inside said it was an invitation to a Goetia's tenth birthday.

Lucifer's initial reaction was one of indifference. He always received invitations like this, and he rarely paid them much attention. Most events in Hell were tedious affairs, more about flaunting power and status. Typically, he'd dismiss such an invitation without a second thought, attending only when absolutely necessary or when one of his sibling Sins hosted.

But as he stared at the invitation, a thought began to form. Perhaps this could be a family outing to remind them of the better times and rekindle their family's spark.

A kid's birthday was simple enough. Stolas, the Goetia prince, was not one he interacted with often. Still, from what Lucifer had observed, he seemed like an upstanding member of his lineage. It was as good a place to start as any.

Lucifer set the invitation aside, his mind already working on the details. He would speak with Lilith and make the arrangements. Regardless, he was sure Charlie would love to see the kids having fun. It would be a refreshing scene compared to the depravity that went on in Pentagram City.

Weeks Later

Goetia Manor

Goetia Manor were alive with activity as servant imps scurried about, putting the final touches on the decorations and preparing the lavish feast for the evening's festivities. Meanwhile, Stolas and Octavia stood near the door, dressed for their station.

Stolas adjusted his regal suit vest, smoothing out the fabric of his long cape before placing a tall, top hat on his head. Octavia was practically glowing in her purple sequined dress. Her head feathers were tied back in a ponytail.

"You look beautiful, my little star," Stolas said warmly.

Octavia beamed up at her father. "Thanks, Dad. You look great, too!"

Stella's sharp voice cut through the air as they were about to leave the door. "And where exactly do you two think you're going?"

Stolas and Octavia turned to see Stella standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and an unimpressed look on her face. The imps around her quickly hurried out of her way, clearly not wanting to be the target of her ire.

"The party is starting in an hour," Stella continued, eyeing them critically. "I don't want either of you getting into trouble to dirty after all the time it took to get you presentable."

Octavia, unfazed, answered casually, "We're gonna pick up my friend, Danny."

Stella's brow arched in skepticism. "Danny? What is a Danny? I don't recall meeting someone with that name before."

Stolas cleared his throat, trying to keep the conversation on neutral ground. "Danny is a recent friend of Octavia's. They met while I was... doing my work."

"So he's a charity case? Seriously?" Stella's frown deepened.

"He's actually more of a student of mine. The best, if I may say so." Stolas huffed, a hint of frustration seeping into his tone.

"Really?" Stella's skepticism didn't waver.

Octavia chimed in, eager to defend her friend. "Yeah, we hang out every week!"

Stella looked between them, her expression a mix of surprise and indifference. "Huh... That's where you two have been... I hadn't noticed."

"Indeed..." Stolas's shoulders slumped ever so slightly.

Stella groaned, clearly not thrilled with the idea but relenting nonetheless. "Fine. He can come, but he better not embarrass us."

"I can very much guarantee the opposite." Stolas couldn't help but chuckle.

With Stella's begrudging approval, Stolas and Octavia resumed their departure, stepping out into the cool night air. With Stella out of sight, Stolas opened the portal for them to Earth and stepped through.

Earth

Time had flown since Danny received the invitation to Octavia's birthday party. His regular meetups with Stolas and Octavia had become a blend of casual hangouts and surprisingly formal lessons. The father-daughter duo had taken it upon themselves to prepare him for the party, giving him a crash course in the mannerisms and etiquette expected at such a high-society event. It was a significant change of pace.

During the days when Octavia was busy with her chores and responsibilities, Stolas took Danny aside for additional lessons as a surprise for his daughter. When Danny first heard Stolas' idea, he was hesitant, but with a little persuasion, Danny was on board. The lessons went faster and smoother with magical assistance than Danny had anticipated. As Stolas anticipated, Danny quickly got the hang of it when his heart was into it. Soon, both were confident that they had it in the bag.

As the day of the party arrived, Danny sat in the passenger seat of the family van driven by his dad. The sun was setting when they reached the address Stolas had provided. The drive was filled with a mixture of anticipation and a hint of nervousness. Danny had no idea what to expect from a birthday party in Hell, especially one hosted by a demon prince. His attire was kept simple with a crimson longsleeve button-down with slacks that his father and mother helped put together.

Jack glanced over at Danny. "So, how are the lessons with Stolas going?"

Danny shrugged casually. "They're going well. Stolas is a great teacher, and Octavia's been really helpful, too. It's fun."

Jack nodded thoughtfully. "Glad to hear it, son. Stolas seems like a good guy." He paused, his mind wandering back to a recent conversation with Stolas. "Speaking of new things, I've been working on something in the lab. I call it the Specter Speeder. It's like a spaceship but for the Ghost Zone. Thought you might find it interesting."

Danny's eyes lit up with excitement. "You're building a spaceship?"

Jack grinned. "Exactly! It's still in the planning phase, but the idea is to have a vehicle to navigate the Ghost Zone safely and efficiently. We expect similar environmental hazards in space: no air, radiation, or abnormal gravity wells. I've been working on the propulsion system, trying to figure out how to handle projected ectoplasmic currents. It's a lot of work, but if we can pull it off, it could revolutionize our ghost-hunting expeditions."

Danny's mind raced with the possibilities. Just the idea of building a spaceship with his parents was thrilling. "That sounds incredible, Dad. Can it still work as a regular spaceship?"

"Of course! The designs for our anti-gravity thrusters can work in multiple environments. Your mother and I might test it in space before we send it into the Ghost Zone, but we have to deal with the red tape before anything else."

"I can't wait to see it in action!"

Jack chuckled. "Just you see, son. Ghost hunting's in our blood." The man had no problem showing his son the scientific breakthroughs they could accomplish, not only in space but in the dimension beyond as well.

Jack and Danny arrived at Stolas's address, a three-story house just outside the city.

Stolas and Octavia stood on the porch, waving to them with welcoming smiles. When they got out, Octavia hurried down to meet them.

Danny's eyes were immediately drawn to her. She stood just a few steps away, and his legs felt wobbly. Her hair was tied back into a neat ponytail, but her dress and the hint of makeup truly captivated him. The stunning purple sequined gown shimmered with every subtle movement. The deep purple contrasted beautifully with her skin and dark hair. For the young boy, she looked like she had stepped right out of a fairytale, and Danny couldn't help but stare.

Octavia noticed his reaction and gave him a shy smile. Her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Danny? Is everything okay?"

He blinked, realizing he had been standing there, mouth slightly agape, without saying a word. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine. I just... Wow, Octavia, you look... you look amazing."

Her blush deepened, and she averted her eyes, clearly flattered. "Thanks. You clean up pretty well, too, you know."

Octavia wrapped Danny in a warm hug. "I'm so glad you're here." Her voice filled with happiness.

Danny grinned, hugging her back. "I promised, didn't I?"

The two shared a moment of comfortable silence before pulling away, smiling at each other.

Octavia giggled softly, stepping closer to him. "I'm really glad you're here, Danny. I was nervous about tonight, but seeing you makes it much better."

Danny felt a warmth spread through him at her words, and he returned her smile affectionately. "I wouldn't miss this for anything. You're... you're really something else tonight, Octavia."

She bit her lip, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. "So are you, Danny. Let's make this a night to remember."

Meanwhile, Jack and Stolas looked at their kids knowingly. It was intoxicatingly sweet. He approached Stolas, extending his hand in greeting. The demon prince accepted it with a firm shake.

"Thanks for inviting us," Jack said.

Jack glanced around, noticing the lack of other cars parked nearby. His brow furrowed in mild confusion as he scratched the back of his head. "Where's everyone else? Did we arrive too early?"

Stolas smiled reassuringly. "Oh, there's nothing wrong, Mr. Fenton. You're simply the first to arrive."

Jack's curiosity shifted as he took in the sight of the house. It was impressive. He whistled in appreciation. "This is one heck of a place you've got here. You've got great taste, Mr. Aster."

Stolas's smile widened. "Thank you, Mr. Fenton. I wanted something that would be... fitting for the occasion." He glanced briefly at the house, knowing the truth. It hadn't been hard to pull a few strings, call in some favors, and secure the property. A little demon magic had done wonders to refurbish the place.

Jack turned back to Stolas with a broad grin. "I can't wait to see the inside! It's been a while since one of my kids was invited to a friend's birthday party."

Stolas placed a hand on his shoulder. "Not at all, Mr. Fenton. In fact, I'm sure you'll have one of your best nights ever." As Stolas spoke, a subtle wave of magic flowed from his hand into Jack. "Somnum," Stolas murmured.

Jack's eyes immediately drooped, and before he could react, he was fast asleep. His body swayed slightly before Stolas caught him, using his magic to levitate Jack's unconscious form effortlessly. With a casual motion, Stolas lay him gently on the couch.

Danny watched with concern. He turned to Stolas with worry. "Is my dad gonna be okay?"

Stolas placed a reassuring hand on Danny's shoulder. "Don't worry, young Daniel. Your father is merely sleeping. He will wake up tomorrow morning with false memories, feeling completely rested and at ease. At worst, he'll believe he had too much to drink."

Danny nodded. "Okay... If you say so."

Octavia stepped closer. "Come on, Danny. Let's not worry about that now. It's my birthday, and we'll have a great time."

Danny managed a small smile in return as he followed Octavia and Stolas into the other room.

AN: Special thanks to Seana, Jebest4781, Charles, vividlearner744, OmegaDelta, Henry Stickman, fearmegu, Kitsune Robyn, Salo Guzman, Traiton Moses, SonicSonicsSonic, KA012, and Monkey!

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