Chapter Text
To most other residents of Hell, it would be just another shitty day. But to two specific people, one decision would change their lives forever. A decision that would have a butterfly effect in a way no one could imagine. Would it lead to chaos and destruction, or would peace reign over the dreaded plane of existence for the first time in… well…forever?
We start our tale looking over a palace, a grand structure that sticks out in Hell, especially in the ring of Pride. And we zoom in to what looks to be a child's room, and lying in a large bed, surrounded by plushies. Is a small owl-like boy sleeping in his bed, or at least he was sleeping. As the Owl child's eyes start to open slowly, blinking and rubbing away the previous night's slumber. Before his eyes suddenly shot wide open.
The Owl child shoots up in his bed and shouts. “My birthday! My birthday! It’s my birthday!” He gets up and practically launches himself out of bed, running towards what looks to be a mirror with a desk, with an Imp butler following close behind. The Owl boy stood up on a standing stool as the Imp butler walked up next to him, and began to help him get ready for the day. “Yay! Birthday! Birthday!” The owl child whoops and hollers in excitement, bouncing on the stool as he does so.
The butler kindly held him still as he placed some gel on the boy, to smooth out his feathers. “Calm yourself, young prince, you know that excitement is unbecoming of a Goetia.” The butler admonished lightly, though secretly smiling behind his large mustache. “Oh…right.” The boy says, a little embarrassed, and he takes a deep breath to calm himself. Which fails ultimately as the boy begins to once again shake with excitement and anticipation. “But Father told me, that today is the day that I am old enough to know my purpose and responsibilities!” The boy says as his eyes glisten with happiness and excitement.
“Of course, I’m sure it will be wonderful Prince Stolas.” The Imp butler says placing a small crown atop the boy's head, now revealed to be Stolas. A prince of the Ars Goetia, who was one of the ruling classes of Hell. Hell’s nobility if you had to place a name for it, with Lucifer being the very head honcho of Hell himself.
The Imp would guide young Stolas through the Palace, and into the throne room. Where the Butler would walk and stand beside the throne. Where a shadowy mass of different animal heads stood up from the throne and began shifting into multiple creatures. Before the shadows disappeared entirely, revealing a very tall and imposing Owl-like demon man. This was Paimon, the leader and king of the Ars Goetia, and Lucifer’s right hand.
“Ah, there is my little–ahh…” Paimon says before looking stumped for a second, before leaning down and asking. “Which son is this one?... There’s so fucking many.”
“Stolas, your Highness.” The butler whispers, to which Paimon stood back up and opened up his arms as if to embrace the child. “Stolas! Yes…Heh! Right. Right, that’s the one. The owl boy.” Paimon says the last part to himself as he walks toward Stolas. “Well, my little one, it is finally your day to become a true part of the Goetia Family.” Paimon says slowly walking a full circle around Stolas. “How good for you. Are you ready to know what you’ll be meant to do to serve Hell?”
Stolas, for all his practice in etiquette, could barely contain his excitement. So he just simply said. “Yes, Father!” Paimon will walk over to stand in front of his throne, before turning back to face Stolas, and summoning his magic to form a tear to the mortal realm. Showcasing the mortal realms night sky, and other beautiful phenomena. “ You will be entrusted with the study of the Earth's skies. The stars. The prophecies they hold. All that stuff! Isn’t that fun?” He says as a magical book forms from all the magic being pulled together into one being. A grimoire of sorts.
“You will begin studies of your Grimoire. Which will grant you access to the mortal realm. To study and observe, and you will grow to become a mighty Prince of Hell. With your own legions to lead and pass on your knowledge too.” Paimon says as he gently levitates the book to young Stolas, who catches it and holds it as if his life depended on it. Looking up at his father with a proud smile.
“I will do my very best, Father!” Stolas says with a wide, happy grin. Paimon looked very pleased himself, as he quickly leaned down to Stolas’s level. “Wonderful.” He says before pulling out what looks to initially be a piece of paper. “Also son, you are destined to sire a precautionary addition to the family. So you are now engaged! And to one of your best friends no less!” And to Stolas’s shock, the paper was revealed to be a picture. A picture of one Charlie Morningstar, princess of Hell and heir to the throne… And one of Stolas’s best friends.
“Charlie?... But why–” “Hush now little one, there’s no need to question this, as it is non-negotiable.” Paimon said before suddenly gaining an expression akin to him coming up with an idea. “Oh, I know! Why don’t we head to the circus in town? You children love the circus don’t you?”
And the rest of Stolas’s day was spent in a mixture of confusion, happiness, and conflict. He went to the circus with his father…who was attending via a magical mirror. But at least the rest of the day he made a certain new Imp friend that he would learn was named Blitzo.
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Meanwhile, in the main royal palace of Hell owned by the Morningstar family. Lucifer was…not having an easy time talking to his wife Lilith about the whole affair.
“I cannot BELIEVE that you would go and arrange this sort of thing, you know how I feel about this kind of stuff Lucifer!” Lilith says in anger towards her husband, her horns now showing and her eyes red like hot coals. Lucifer, meanwhile, was trying to placate and appease his wife.
“Lilith, I know you’re angry. But I did this FOR Charlie and her future…” “She should have the ability to decide her future! Not have it decided for her!” Lilith yells back in response, and Lucifer holds up his hands in surrender. “I know Lilith…I know. This is why I added the clause that states that if one or both parties feel as if they’re done with the whole thing, they can divorce. Charlie will be free to decide to divorce after some time has passed–”
“You mean after we have a literal grandchild? Not that I’m complaining about that, I want grandchildren eventually.” Lilith interrupts once more and looks down at her husband with a stern glare.
“Mommy?...Daddy?...” A small voice calls out from the other side of the room before either of them can continue the fight. Both Lilith and Lucifer stop what they’re doing and turn to the source of the voice, which turns out to be their daughter standing in the doorway. Wearing a red nightgown with a white heart on the front of it. Young Charlie Morningstar stood there wiping sleep from her eye, as she was awoken from her nap. “I heard yelling, why are you fighting?” She asked innocently.
“Oh, sweetie…” Lucifer said kneeling down to young Charlie’s level, same with Lilith. “Mommy and Daddy are just having a…” Lucifer said struggling for the right words “Disagreement.” Lilith said for her husband with a small smile. “Right! Thank you dear, we’re disagreeing about your future is all”
“My future?” Young Charlie asks inquisitively, to which Lilith responds. “Yes, you see Charlie, your Father went and made a decision I didn’t like for you.” “What was it?” Charlie asks looking at her Father.
“Well, you see kiddo…you know that owl boy that you love to hang out with? Stolas?” Charlie’s eyes widen and gleam as she nods her head quickly. “Well you see honey, I decided to arrange a marriage between you two with his father. You know what marriage is right honey?” Lucifer asks rhetorically, but Charlie takes the question seriously and nods. “Yeah! Mommy said it’s when two friends come closer together in a ceremony that brings their souls together. And that only friends should do it.”
Both Lucifer and Lilith nod approvingly at Charlie's definition. “Yeah, see Mommy? I was just helping bring two friends closer together.” Lucifer says looking back at his wife with what can only be seen as a half-forced smile. Lilith gives the words some thought, before giving her husband a look and picking Charlie up. “I’ll get her back to bed, but we are going over those terms you discussed with Paimon with a fine-toothed comb.” The rest didn’t need to be said if Lilith found anything she didn’t like. She would either force the marriage to not happen, or force the deal to change. And with Lucifer knowing Lilith, she could absolutely get that done.
After saying goodbye to her father, Lilith would walk Charlie back to her room. Leaving the king of Hell himself to take a breath, after he was sure he was alone. He lets out a sigh. “I hope I’m doing the right thing by you Charlie…”
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(20 years later)
A couple of decades have gone by, and see our arranged friends coming into a large bedroom together. Stolas carried Charlie bridal style for a few steps, before setting her down. They were both dressed in wedding attire, with Stolas wearing a tux fit for a groom with a long flowing cape at the back. And Charlie wearing a very simple, yet elegant white dress, with a sort of soft silk cape on her dress as well. Charlie runs into the center of the room, and twirls in her dress letting out happy giggles as she does so.
Stolas meanwhile, closes the door and walks into the room, sitting on the bed as he watches Charlie.”I’m glad you had fun, Charlie…I’m…still not sure about this whole arranged marriage business. But I–” Charlie stops what she’s doing and sits next to Stolas on the bed. “Stolas, while I wish I had gotten to choose who to be with…” She places a hand on his. “But I’m glad that it was at least between friends, and we can be somewhat happy.” Charlie says while looking up to Stolas with a smile, who looks back at Charlie with a smile of his own. “I can only imagine how much worse you’d be if this didn’t happen the way it went…”
“You’re right…I can make this work, and I'll work to make sure you’re comfortable.” “You mean We will work to ensure our life together is comfortable.” Charlie says with a look as she takes his hands into hers. “What do you say? Wanna give being a happy couple a shot since we’re married? We’re a team now, just you and I.” She asks, and Stolas gives it a few moments to think about her question and the situation he was placed in. Before looking at Charlie with a smile of his own. “I think I'm willing to try.”
“That’s all anyone can ask, now do you perchance want to…” Charlie says leaning in a little bit with eyes half open. “Not all the way tonight, but I would love to kiss you if that’s what you’re implying.” Stolas says with a smirk, to which Charlie playfully slaps him on the shoulder. Before pulling him down into a kiss.