Demons Worth Fighting For (a Ghost Rider x Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss crossover)

Chapter 46: Ars You Goetia-ing My Way? (part 1)

(A.N.: At this moment, I'll update this chapter with character art sometime soon. I've had to deal with some motivation issue from the recent heat wave, so I had to finish this as fast as possible, so that no one has to wait long.)

----

All was black. No buildings, no landmarks, nobody in sight. Standing on black ground, Octavia was starting to be afraid of being all alone in this dark void. She can see her body, but she couldn't see any of her friends, nor Stolas, or even Aiden. This was the first time this has ever happened to her. She'd often had visions in her dreams, but never like this. She then tries to call out to them.

Octavia: (echoes) CJ!? Dad?!

No one answered to her cries.

Octavia: (echoes) Anyone?! HELLO!?!?

Still no reply. Seeing as she is the only one here, Octavia was starting to feel depressed and lonely all over again. This was her greatest fear of all. Loneliness. Octavia slowly began to sit down, and cry silently in solitude, when... 

???: Hey!

Octavia: *gasp*

Octavia heard a firm voice of out of nowhere, which startled her into getting back up again. She looked around cautiously. The voice called out again.

???: Don't start crying, Via.

Octavia: (worried tone) W-W-Who's there? Who are you?

Octavia still couldn't see anyone talking to her, as she continued to look around. That is when she saw a flaming mirror, floating three feet away from her. The flames around the edges of the mirror were the same pink and white colors as when she transformed into the Goetia Rider. Carefully walking up to it, Octavia could see her own reflection. Suddenly, her reflection self transformed into another female Ars Goetia demon inside, which surprised her. This demon wasn't anyone Octavia knew, or recognized. She appeared to have four red eyes like Stolas, and long dark gray hair that reached down to her waist area, in a rather similar hairstyle as Octavia's. She was also wearing a black long Victorian Gothic tailcoat, with a charcoal gray skirt underneath, and gothic high heel boots. The female goth Goetia moved and spoke on its own accord from within the mirror.

???: Depression is unbecoming of a Rider.

Octavia: ... Wh...Who are you...?

???: I am Valerie. Once part of the Ars Goetias from generations past. Long before you were born. My occupation was to protect the Goetias in battle, and to serve the King of the Ars Goetias without hesitation. My time as their defender was prolonged, especially after King Lucifer first built Pentagram City. However, Paimon's neglectfulness towards his own sons and daughters had irked me so much, I had to abandoned the family. As an ancestor to your father, Stolas, I've watched over him for so long, even after my death. I will admit that his recent involvement with that imp was a little... embarrassing.

The mention of how Stolas and Blitzo had met caused Octavia to look down on the ground in disappointment, until...

Valerie: But... at least, your father had a good first ever friend from the very beginning. Even if things had changed since then.

This opened up Octavia's eyes. Stolas and Blitzo had met since their childhood? She never knew that. And even if things had changed, does this mean that her father still cared about him?

Octavia: I see... But, how did you become my new spirit partner?

Valerie:  From your first kiss, remember? When you and Charlie Johnson, or Aiden Justice, danced together in that strangely-colored human world at that prom. Ever since he defeated Mephistopheles in Limbo, the young host of the Ghost Rider had gained part of the Overlord's powers, thus giving him power to create new Riders. Even if it happened unintentionally with a kiss.