Chapter 4
Back in Wrath, Stolas and Striker watched from (wherever they are) as they looked to see citizens formed an angry mob, holding picket signs with Striker's face crossed off on it, and newly lit torches. There was a wave of shouts saying "We want Striker!" over and over again Some argued he should die and others argued he should be arrested for treason among the shouts.
Striker moaned uncomfortably upon seeing the protest was about him.
"Don't worry, I got this, Striker," Stolas assured him, petting his head and he walked up on stage. "Alright, calm down! Blitz and his friends and I talked to Striker, so he's harmless now and can't hurt you."
Striker nodded, smiling, although there were shouts of disbelief in the crowd.
"Yeah, guys, Striker may be an ass, but he's not always a bad guy," Blitzo pointed out.
"He's a good dad," Maria chimed in.
"And a good husband," Kore added.
"Yeah and think of the good things he's done to protect you like killing those who try to kill you," Kaitlin stated. "He even helped you guys when you were in trouble."
"My dad is still in there," Seth said.
"Yes, take all the time you need to see that he is still here," Stolas told the citizens. "No rush. Dismissed!" Everyone left him, muttering in disgust and disbelief at what the Prince had just told him, while the Prince sighed dejectedly. Then he felt a hand on his shoulders.
"Good try, Stolas," a familiar voice said behind him.
"Oh, Blitz, I failed."
"Don't be hard on yourself. They'll see in time, you'll see."
Striker sniffed, sensing something wasn't right and growled with his fur sticking up.
"Dad, what is it?" asked Jake.
Striker didn't listen. He continued to listen in as the noise got louder and louder with each approach. Finally, he turned around and bared his teeth, growling ferociously.
What Striker growled at emerged from the dark forest, tearing through two trees in front of him.
The creature that stood tall again, a shad black fur with dull white eyes that glowed in the dark and razor-sharp teeth. It snarled as it witnessed a bear next to the imps.
The crowd that was leaving before, stopped dead in their tracks, gasping in fear, turning around to see a bear outside of the woods.
Enraged to see another bear with the imps, he charged for four women and children.
Serenity picked up Maria and Jane picked up Jake and Kaitlin, Seth, Kore, and Adeline pushed them out of the way to avoid letting them be bear bait. Before they could escape, the bear came closer to the two mothers and their children. He growled in their faces and they screamed.
This alerted Striker, so he rushed over to rescue his family and swiped the bear off his wives and kids with one paw. Striker waved a paw at Kore, Seth, Kaitlin, and Adeline, signaling them to join the rest of the family and I.M.P, while he kept the bear busy. The four imps didn't hesitate to leave the scene.
"Are you okay?" Millie asked as the four joined the rest of the crowd and hugged them.
"Y-yeah, now that D-Dad saved us," Adeline replied shakily.
"But you're safe now," said Moxxie.
Just as the bear was about to charge against the imps, a paw struck him. Seeing who the perpetrator was, he roared as he almost swiped Striker, only for Striker to dodge the bear's blows.
Just as the bear was about to finish Striker off with one swipe, Striker kicked him, sending him to a tree. The bear attempted to charge at Striker and his family, but was pinned against the tree and banged the bear's body against it until the tree truck started to break. Striker ran as quickly as he could back to his family and friends.
The bear recovered, but wasn't quick enough to chase him, so the tree landed right on top of him.
The crowd cheered and applauded upon the black furred bear's defeat.
Striker smiled.
"Come along, Striker," Stolas told him, "It's time I change you back into your regular self." He led him away from the crowd and created a portal to bring him back to his room, while I.M.P, Striker's wives, and kids rode back home in the I.M.P van.
Before Stolas could transform Striker back into an imp, he used his magic to fix his clothes, which were ripped during Striker's transformation.
Now that Striker's clothes were sewn back together, Stolas created a red aura around an astonished Striker.
"Since you have shown us that you will no longer kill overlords that have done nothing to you, the spell is broken."
Everyone watched in awe as Striker felt his front paws gradually turn into hands and feet. His furry face was also changed into an imp's face. His tail rattled as it was turned back into an imp's tail.
During the transformation, he was back in his regular attire.
When the transformation ended, the aura disappeared with Stolas levitating Striker, gently setting him down on the bed.
Regaining consciousness, Striker slowly started to sit up and as he opened his eyes, he saw that his hands were no longer paws.
He checked his surroundings and saw his wives and children beside I.M.P and Stolas.
"Stolas?" Striker asked as he slid out of bed.
"Yes, it's me," Stolas replied.
"Striker?" Blitzo, Moxxie, and Millie gasped in unison.
"Yeah, everyone, it's me," answered Striker.
He looked around to see everyone staring at him with concerned or doubtful looks. Among them were his wives and children who were raised an eyebrow, skeptically.
Striker, grimacing from their glares, cleared his throat before he continued, "I-I'm sorry. I should've listened to you when you tried to stop me from killing Stolas. I pushed you away. Since I was never there for you, you still had Blitz and each other."
Striker's children looked tentatively at him. Even Maria was getting used to her father's bear form. On the other hand, they were glad to see him back in his real self.
"Daddy, it's you!" Maria cried as she hugged him tightly, which he gladly returned.
"Oh, Clayton!" Jane shouted and soon she and everyone else hugged Striker.
"You're back, buddy!" cried Blitzo.
Their shouts were, "You're not a bear, anymore!", "We're so glad you're back!", and "We thought we'd never see you again!".
…
The next few days after Striker turned back into an imp, it took a while for the Wrath ring imps to trust him again, but it took some convincing… from Stolas, I.M.P, Striker's wives, and children.
Now that Striker is back as an imp, he made up with his family and I.M.P by going on a hike, enjoying the beautiful wilderness.
The End
