Helluva Boss: The Better Boss

The van rumbled along the cracked roads of the Greed Ring, the symbol of I.M.P shining in the green world. heading towards Mammon's Loo Loo Land—an amusement park unlike any other in Hell. The air outside was thick with the smell of sulfur and brimstone.

"Why are we going to this dump again, Blitz?" Moxxie asked, his voice filled with skepticism. "I don't see the appeal."

"Oh, come on, Moxxie!" I grinned, my eyes twinkling with that usual chaotic energy. "It's Loo Loo Land. You can't tell me you've never wanted to experience the twisted thrills of Hell's most famous amusement park!"

"It's literally the most horrifying place in all of Hell, Blitz,"Moxxie muttered, in disinterest.

"Yeah, Moxxies's right. This place is a nightmare," Millie added, her voice laced with unequal parts excitement and worry. 

As we moved through the road finally arriving at the park, I felt a sense of Deja vu within me. This was my opportunity to reshape the narrative, and prove our worth to stolas

Finding Stolas proved easy—the tall figure was waving over to us, standing next to a smaller owl with curly hair. Octavia's expression was a mix of boredom and trepidation, and her eyes widened when she saw us approaching.

"Blitz! I'm so glad you could make it!" Stolas welcomed us, with a radiating ease. "Octavia, this is your bodyguard team for today."

"You brought your " Octavia said, her voice tired yet cautious, glancing at us before looking back up at Stolas.

"Don't worry everything is gonna go fine—you'll have a blast!" I reassured her, and I could sense the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. "We'll make sure nothing goes wrong."

Millie stood by, puffing her chest out proudly, while Moxxie adjusted his tie, clearly nervous yet eager. Loona could be heard through our earpieces figuring out tech options on her device, prepping for surveillance.

As the mission officially kicked off, I felt a rush of energy. We had this. Today was about making sure that Octavia celebrated her birthday without a hitch, and beneath the joy of the event was my personal mission to change how Octavia feels towards her dad in an understanding way instead of how stolas came to the realization in the original series.

As we moved deeper into the park, it wasn't long before we encountered the first of many scams. We passed a colorful booth advertising "The World's Tallest Demon Rollercoaster" with a giant sign that read, "Only One Soul Needed for Admission!" But I was already rolling my eyes, the line was long, but there was no way I was waiting in it.

"Hey, Stolas, let's keep moving," I said, giving Stolas a look and steering us toward the next attraction. "Loo Loo Land's got way more up its sleeve than a rusty coaster."

Stolas, still grinning like a child , nodded eagerly with Octavia following close behind. "I do love a good thrill, Blitz, but perhaps something a bit more refined?"

"Refined? In Hell? You've gotta be kidding me." I chuckled and pulled him away, the sounds of distant screams filling the air as we passed by the coaster's intimidating structure.

Our next stop was a flashy booth that promised "Immortal Prizes!"—a carnival game that was practically a scam in neon lights. The booth's sign boldly proclaimed, "Spin the Wheel of Damnation, Win Eternal Power!"

I exchanged a glance with Stolas. "What do you say? You ready to try your luck?"

Stolas raised an elegant eyebrow. "Eternal power for a spin? Sounds too good to be true."

"Exactly," I said with a wink. "But why let that stop us?" I was already walking up to the booth, where a smug demon operator with a long, jagged tail stood beside a wheel that seemed to glow with an eerie red light. "One spin, please," I said with a flourish, tossing a handful of soul coins into the air, distracting the operator just long enough for me to pocket one more coin than I intended.

The operator caught the coins, visibly thrilled. "Ah, an easy mark. Spin for your prize, my friend!"

The wheel clicked and whirred, but it was clear that it was rigged—only one section was designed to land on the "Eternal Power" prize, and that was where it would always land. But I wasn't about to let that stop me.

I leaned over, quickly scanning the giant wheel's mechanisms and a certain loose bolt. A little twist here, a tug there and the wheel was altered just enough to land on the "Eternal Power" segment no matter what.

"Here we go!" I called out dramatically, spinning the wheel with all the flair I could muster, giving Stolas, and Octavia an exaggerated look of confidence.

The wheel spun wildly, much faster than it should have, and with an almost comical screech, it slowed—right to the "Eternal Power" spot.

The operator's eyes widened in disbelief as the wheel stopped. "Impossible!" he sputtered, staring at me.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Hey, it's all in the wrist." I grabbed the glowing orb that appeared in the prize compartment, passing it over to Stolas with a grin. "Here, you can have it. Might make you feel extra powerful."

Stolas looked at the orb, clearly amused. "Are you sure I should take this? It's eternal power, after all."

"Yeah, sure, I'm sure," I said with a shrug. "I'll just grab another one later on my way out"

Stolas chuckled softly, clearly impressed, "You never fail to amaze me, Blitz."

Feeling the weight of the moment, guts spilled over me, Moxxie ever observant, killed the assassin before he could finish his leap onto the Goetia. 

We continued through the park, dodging assassins and the unwinnable games, but there was also a slight change in the demeanor of Octavia as well. Although she was clearly still not enjoying herself, she was much more relaxed instead of annoyed.

Eventually, we found ourselves walking toward the stage where Fizzaroli was performing. His voice echoed in the air—glitchy, distorted, and all too familiar. The real Fizzaroli wasn't here; this was just a pre-programmed android, stumbling through his act, barely maintaining the energy of his performance. Stolas, however, was clapping along with enthusiasm.

"Isn't he delightful, Blitz?" Stolas said with a grin, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

I glanced over at Octavia, sitting beside him, looking utterly uninterested, her head resting in her hand, eyes glazed over. Her indifference was palpable, and I could feel the weight of it. Stolas, despite his joy, hadn't noticed.

I couldn't let the same thing play out as it did in the original timeline. I needed to make a change—one that wasn't just about preventing an awkward family moment. It was about making Stolas realize what mattered.

I leaned toward him, my voice low but determined. "Hey, Stolas,I know you did this for your daughter but, Loo Loo Lands clearly not the answer here." 

Stolas looked at me, momentarily confused. "What do you mean, Blitz?"

"Look at her," I said, nodding toward Octavia. "What Octavia really needs isn't more distractions—it's you."

Stolas blinked, slowly understanding what I was getting at. He turned to look at Octavia, who hadn't even glanced at him during Fizzaroli's performance. There was a quiet realization in his eyes as he saw how his daughter was still distant, despite all his attempts to impress her.

I continued, my voice a little softer. "You're trying, Stolas. But maybe it's time to try in a way that actually matters to her. Don't just rely on your past experiences and flashy gestures—be there, really be there for her."

Stolas stood up slowly, his eyes filled with a new kind of clarity. For the first time, I saw him not just as the powerful demon prince, but as a father, someone who was finally understanding what his daughter needed from him.

"Thank you, Blitzo," Stolas said quietly, his voice full of gratitude. "I might've been too wrapped up in my own way of doing things to see what really matters."

I gave him a knowing smile. "Sometimes it takes a little chaos to figure that out, and the O's silent."

I stepped back, letting them have their moment, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment wash over me. Maybe this time, things would be different. Maybe this time, Stolas would be the father Octavia needed him to be. 

But that fleeting feeling of pride was interrupted. Before I could leave, Fizzaroli—who had been clumsily trying to salvage his botched performance—suddenly froze, his mechanical eyes locking onto me from across the crowd. The smile on his face faltered as he tilted his head, recognition sparking in his circuits.

"No way..." The mechanical voice hissed, glitching as the robot paused mid-laugh. The lights in his eyes flickered as he stopped his performance entirely, staring at me with a growing suspicion. "It's you, Blitzo."