Unkown Female: With her newfound resolve, Astaroth set to make it so that no matter what life throws her way she will get to see Octavia and Stolas once again. But... how easy she forgets that life, rarely ever gave her that kind of mercy.
[The Fifteen-Year-Old Astaroth appeared in the Greed Ring, looking around for a circus tent and eventually finding it. But then noticed someone in particular and teleported behind them.]
Astaroth: Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise.
[The imp turned around and dropped the card and flower he was holding out of shock...]
Blitzo: A... Astaroth?!
Astaroth: Not surprising you remember me Blitz... But is it really you?
[Blitzo then happily pulled out the coin with the B on it, showing it to Astaroth.]
Blitzo: This clear any doubts?
Astaroth: Yeah. *Blitzo then puts the coin away* What were you up to?
Blitzo: *picks up card and flower* It's Fizzarolli's birthday today and... Well... I was thinking of confessing something to him. Though, you more than likely already know what that is just by looking at me.
Astaroth: Heh. I've got someone in my life too. An imp girl named Philomena.
Blitzo: Guess those reports of "Astaroth the Great Reformer of Gluttony" from some of the visitors have been true.
Astaroth: Hey, Blitz, let me go with you. I've seen your father's soul before, that f*cker tries anything I'll put him in his place faster than you can say "German Marks for the Fire".
[Astaroth and Blitz were about to move until Blitz had to stop the second he felt Astaroth's talon touch his shoulder. He then looked to see Astaroth with a concerned face much to her fear.]
Blitzo: A... Astaroth? Wh... What's wrong?
Astaroth: Blitz? ... Do you sense that?
Blitzo: *eyes widen in horror* Wh-What's going on?!
Astaroth: *looking around in fear with Blitzo* Blitz?! You ever had that feeling like something really bad is about to happen?!?!
Blitzo: *fearful* Not until now!
[Blitzo then looked behind Astaroth and and fell to the floor pointing behind her and, in the air, causing Astaroth to turn around and see...]
Aaron: *enraged* ASTAROTH!!!!
Astaroth: *fearful* AARON!!!
[Aaron then readied a fire breath attack.]
Astaroth: *fearfully as she and Blitz ran out of the way* MOVE IT!!!!!
[Aaron then unleashed his flame attack where Astaroth and Blitz originally were and slightly grazing the tent causing it to start going into flames.]
Blitzo: *horrified upon seeing the fire* f*ck! THE FIRE'S GONNA SCARE THE HORSES AND TRIGGER THE EXPLOSICVE FIREWORKS, AND FIZZ IS STILL IN THERE!!!!
Aaron: ASTAROTH!!!!!
Mammon (voice): HEY! GET BACK HERE!!!
[Aaron snarls in the direction the voice came from.]
Aaron: YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF ME ASTAROTH!!!!
[Aaron then flew away from the scene with a nearby Mammon, Lucifer, Satan, and Asmodeus in hot pursuit.]
(Music Stops)
[Time seemed to slow down all that could be heard was a heartbeat as the fire on the tent went further inside... Astaroth, shifting her hands together then did the only thing she knew to do... Focusing her magic she eventually managed to sense those inside the tent, finding Fizzarolli's soul and locking on it... Shifting her hands together again she performed a spell...]
Astaroth: Switch! SWITCH! SWITCH!!!!
[In the blink of a light, Astaroth was gone and in her place was Fizzarolli.]
Fizzarolli: *confused* Huh?! What the?! How did I get out of- *sees the tent* OH MY GOD THE TENT!!!
Blitzo: *concerned* Fizz, are you okay?!
Fizzarolli: What happened?! *Enraged accusing* Did you do this?!
Blitzo: *annoyed/flabbergasted* EXCUSE YOU?! WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR-
[But it was too late... The tent exploded causing the flames to expand followed by...]
Blitzo: *traumatized/Horrified* ASTAROTH!!!!!!!!!!
[Blitzo rushed for the inferno... only to see something else that stopped him in his tracks...]
Blitzo: *saddened/heartbroken* NO, DAMN IT, WHYYYY?!?!?
Fizzarolli: What is- OH f*ck!!!
[The family tent was on fire... Then came another wail from Astaroth... Blitzo looked at both in horror back and forth going towards one before going towards the other... Fizzarolli doing the same except whoever Blitzo didn't go to he did and so forth, both unable to decide who to go to... Astaroth soon made herself known, her arms completely ripped to shreds, her face mutilated, her body burned to high hell along with bloody stumps being what remained of her legs, tail, and wings...]
Astaroth: *in absolute pain* BLITZ!!! FIZZ!!! FORGET ABOUT ME!!! SAVE YOUR MOM!!! HURRY!!!!! [Blitzo cried out in agony, stomping his foot before running off for her mother with Fizzarolli right behind him. Astaroth then managed to crawl out and get on her back only to hear a creaking noise from another pillar...]
Astaroth: *seeing a flaming pillar coming down towards her* NO, *tries to crawl away* *crying/fearful* NOOO!!! *holds up arm in an attempt to brace* AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Music Stops)
[The second it hit... Everything went dark...]
...
...
???: WE'RE LOSING THEM! CHARGING, THREE, TWO, ONE, CLEAR!!!!
[The sounds of the doctors working on their current patient were driving those in the ER Waiting Room up the wall... Philomena was shaking and rocking back and forth on the floor in absolute fear. Jason and Carrie were trying to comfort each other trying to reassure the other Astaroth would be fine... but were failing badly. Word had reached Stella who came fearful out of her mind and had to have Vassago with her just to remain calm. Stolas didn't come to look after Octavia. Beelzebub... well... the hole in the wall and earlier scream of vengence on whoever did it should tell you everything... Blitzo and Fizzarolli meanwhile were outside the hospital... Why? Well...]
Blitzo: *enraged* HOW MANY f*ckING TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?! I DIDN'T DO A DAMN THING, IT WAS THAT BASTARD AARON!
Fizzarolli: *angry* AND FOR THE LAST TIME, DO YOU SERIOUSLY EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT PSYCHOPATH WOULD COME AFTER US?!
Blitzo: HE WASN'T AFTER US; HE WAS AFTER ASTAROTH!!! GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL!!!!
Fizzarolli: THE ONLY THING I SHOULD'VE GOTTEN THROUGH MY THICK SKULL, WAS THAT BEING YOUR SO-CALLED BEST FRIEND WAS THE WORST DECISSION OF MY LIFE! YOU COULD'VE BLOWN ME UP YOU f*ckING PRICK!!! YOU COULD'VE RUINED EVERYTHING FOR ME!!!
Blitzo: SAME HERE YOU SELFISH ASSHOLE! I KNEW I SHOULD'VE WENT TO HELP ASTAROTH AND STOLAS THAT DAY! BECAUSE NOW WITH WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM THEM?! I COULD'VE SAVED ASTAROTH AND STOLAS'S FRIENDSHIP! BUT NOOOOOO, YOU JUST HAD TO CONVINCE ME IT WASN'T WORTH IT!
Fizzarolli: YOU'RE ONE TO TALK ABOUT SELFISHNESS!!!! YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD IT OUT FOR ME BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKED ME BETTER! YOU WANTED ME GONE BECAUSE YOU WERE JEALOUS, JUST WANTING THE SPOTLIGHT! I LOOKED UP TO YOU, THOUGHT YOU WERE MY BEST FRIEND, AND YET YOU ALMOST RUINED MY LIFE! I BET IF I WAS THE ONE IN DISTRESS YOU WOULD'VE JUST LEFT ME FOR DEAD AND YOU, YOU SELFISH PIECE OF sh*t, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN CARE!!!! YOU CARE MORE ABOUT A PERSON YOU ONLY KNEW FOR ONE DAY THAN THE NE YOU SPENT MORST OF YOUR LIFE WITH!!!!!
Blitzo: DON'T YOU f*ckING DARE GO THERE! IT MIGHT'VE BEEN ONE DAY, BUT IT WAS THE MOST IMPACTFUL DAY OF MY LIFE! I FINALLY FOUND PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY CARED ABOUT ME OUTSIDE OF MY OWN MOTHER, AND NOW HERE YOU ARE TRYING TO DEMINISH IT JUST LIKE MY DAD!! AND NOT CARE?! MOTHER f*ckER, I LOVED YOU!!! I WAS GONNA TELL YOU, GIVE YOU A CARD, ROSE, AND ALL THAT sh*t!! BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA KEEP ACCUSING ME OF sh*t I DIDN'T DO JUST LIKE MY FATHER?! THEN MAYBE I'M BETTER OFF NOT HAVING YOU IN MY LOVE LIFE!
Fizzarolli: YOU WOULDN'T KNOW LOVE EVEN IF ASMODEUS TAUGHT YOU!!!
Blitzo: THEN WHAT THE f*ck DO YOU CALL MY MOTHER AND SISTER?!
Fizzarolli: WHY DON'T WE ASK THEM? OH! RIGHT! YOUR MOTHER IS DEAD, AND YOUR SISTER IS MISSING, AND IT'S ALL YOUR-
[Before Fizzarolli could even finish, Blitzo punched him in the face hard enough to knock him to the ground and knock some teeth out along with blood.]
Blitzo: YOU KNOW WHAT?! I'M DONE!!! IF THIS IS HOW YOU'RE GONNA BE, I NEVER WANNA SEE YOU EVER AGAIN IN MY LIFE!!!!
Fizzarolli: FINE BY ME!!!!!!
[Blitzo then walked away back inside the hospital to join up with the others in the ER waiting room, and just in time as a doctor came out.]
Beelzebub: *fearful* PLEASE TELL ME MY BABY'S OKAY!!!
Doctor: *sigh* Good or bad first?
Stella: GOOD! PLEASE!
Doctor: She's in stable condition. A lot of her bones weren't majorly fractured or broken due to her Ars Goetia strength bones.
[There was a silence...]
Philomena: A... And?
[The silence continued...]
Jason: N... No way... That CAN'T be the only good news!
Doctor: I'm... Sorry... Her legs and arms were too mutilated to be saved... We had no choice but to remove them.
Vassago: R-R-R-R.... *horrified* Remove them?!
Beelzebub: *trying to stay calm* I... I can get Asmodus to probably make her some robotic limbs. It... That's not an unrecoverable loss...
Doctor: Not only that but... her eyesight is beyond repair... We've had to keep her on a ventilator just so she could breath, her body is covered to the brim with third-degree burns, her face... I... I don't even want you to see that... I... I'm sorry to tell you all this... but...
Stella: *worried* Don't tell us there's more?!
Doctor: With the way her body is... She'll need many surgeries just to get back to a good enough condition to move around... We may have to put her in a special suit that can keep her alive because... I don't wanna say it... but... in her condition... If we take that ventilator off her... she will die on the spot...
[Stella then fainted in Vassago's arms much to his horror. Philomena fell back only to find herself in the arms of the similar crouching Beelzebub, both sobbing into each other at the news.]
Blitzo: Doc... Is there nothing else that can be done for her?! What about a skin graft?! Isn't there some kind of magic or science that can help her?!?!
Doctor: Well... There is one thing we can do to get rid of the third-degree burns completely, but... it's not been used in years.
Blitzo: What is it?! COME ON, SPILL IT!
Doctor: There's a medical spell called, "Pain Equivelent Exchange". The patient can be cured of their pain by transferring it to another. But... It comes at a price.
Blitzo: What is it?
Doctor: The patient receives the DNA of the person they're transferring with for one, meaning they effectively become a hybrid of what they originally were along with the transfer target's race unless they're the same race. Another being that the target receives marks on their body reminiscent of Imp marks. It's not as noticeable on Hellhounds or Goetias but on others? Not so much, but... also the final thing. The reason it's not ben used in so long. There's a chance that if the patient's pain becomes too much for the target it... will kill them and the spell will stop at wherever the healing process was at the time.
Blitzo: I'll do it. I'll go through the spell.
Beelzebub: No! I should do it!
Blitzo: This happened while she was with me! She saved my, at the time, best friend by taking an explosion that could've had him in it! I at least owe her something for all the trouble she went through!
Beelzebub: Then we'll do it together.
Doctor: I should tell you two this. Even if we go through with it, it won't get her limbs back, her eyesight will still be gone, and she won't be able to breathe without an external machine ever again.
Beelzebub: I'll figure something out. I have to. For my daughter.
Blitzo: And I've got nowhere to go now. Astaroth's all I have left now. I'm doing this for my friend.
Doctor: Not only that, she'll be gaining extra appendages because of the DNA she'd be getting. Not just that but... It was also bind her to your families biologically.
Beelzebub: I was already her mother on paper, being her mother by DNA is fine by me.
Blitzo: The only family I cared about is either dead or missing, if it means she becomes part of my family? Fine by me.
Doctor: If your minds are set, then follow me.
[Beelzebub and Blitzo then followed the doctor into the ER room, they caught a glimpse of Astaroth and it was enough to send them on a wave of emotions. Blitzo wanted to puke upon seeing her face but held it in with a swallow much to his annoyance, Beelzebub wanted to cry into her daughter's body, but held herself back. Eventually the two were told to strip out of any clothing they had on and join up with Astaroth, placing their hands on her body as the doctor readied the spell and book containing it.]
♫Mama take this badge from me, I can't use it anymore. It's getting dark, too dark to see. Feels like I'm knocking on Heaven's Door.♫
[Blitzo and Beelzebub held hands as the Doctor started performing the spell, closing their eyes as to brace for the pain.]
♫Knock-Knock-Knocking on Heaven's Door, hey, hey, hey, hey, yeah!♫
[Astaroth's body started to glow as the spell activated.]
♫Knock-Knock-Knocking on Heaven's Door, ooh! Knock-Knock-Knocking on Heaven's Door, ooh-oh yeah!♫
[Blitzo was the first to glow followed by Beelzebub, and already they were starting to feel the pain, trying desperately to stay on their feet.]
♫Knock-Knock-Knocking on Heaven's Door, ayy hey yeah!♫
[At that time the effects of the spell were starting to take hold.]
[The third-degree burns started to disappear, and in turn imp scar marks started to appear on Blitzo while for Beelzebub they appeared black on her arms and legs.]
♫Mama put my guns in the ground, I can't shoot them anymore. That cold black cloud is, coming down. Feels like I'm knocking on Heaven's Door.♫
[Astaroth then started gaining Imp horns with their shape being a spear-like one forming on their left and a half-moon-like one on their right with the pattern resembling that of a male Imp's horn pattern along with her tail nub no longer resembling a lizard's and more of an Imp's.]
♫Knock-Knock-Knocking on Heaven's Door, hey, hey, hey, hey, yeah!♫
[As the third-degree burns kept clearing up the scars on Beelzebub and Blitzo became ever more visible.]
♫Knock-Knock-Knocking on Heaven's Door! Knock-Knock-Knocking on Heaven's Door, ooh yeah!♫
[At the bottom of her waist, a second pair of arms appeared but they too sadly turned into nubs like her original arms currently were.]
♫Knock-Knock-Knocking on Heaven's Door, ayy hey yeah!♫
[Eventually, all the Third-Degree burns were gone and Blitzo and Beelzebub opened their eyes on the doctor's word.]
(Music Stops)
[Some months later, Astaroth would undergo an operation to have new robotic limbs attached to her body where they were originally cut off or disintegrated in the case of her second pair of arms. Eventually her eyes were replaced with digital display eyes something... she actually didn't mind at all. Similarly, she didn't mind her special ventilator/speech mask resembling a half gas mask. While it giving off an old-timy radio effect to her voice would take some getting used to, it wasn't anything too bad. Eventually she was put into rehab for her body to get used to the new parts and luckily for her, she was eventually released in time for her to come home to her sixteenth birthday. A party that was attended by Jason, Carrie, Philomena, Blitzo, Stella, Vassago, and of course her mom. Eventually, at some point, everyone wanted Astaroth to give a song for the party in her new voice effect, and Astaroth was quick to oblige.]
Astaroth: *strumming her guitar* ♫Oh yeah... Life begins after school, That's when we bend all the rules... Time to hang with all my friends, We like to be together... In a place where we belong! I'm sixteen, starting to find my way live for tomorrow don't forget about yesterday! Thank God I'm on my own, for the first time! I'm sixteen, life is sweet, when you're growing up so fast! You gotta make the good times last... Oh nooo... If I could turn back time, I wouldn't change a thing. 'Cause we had growing up to do. Now that I'm getting older, Wanna spend the rest of my life! Like I'm sixteen, starting to find my way live for tomorrow don't forget about yesterday! Thank God I'm on my own, for the first time! I'm sixteen, life is sweet, when you're growing up so fast! You gotta make the good times last! What do you get from life, if you don't ever let go?! Just let goooo! YEAH!♫
[In the middle of her instrumental, Astaroth thought back to every single significant moment that had transpired leading up to this moment, from her death and rebirth all the way to her moment with Octavia two years ago...]
Astaroth: ♫Sixteen, life is sweet, when you're growing up so fast! You gotta make the good times last.... Life began after school.... When did they change all the rules.....?♫
