Chapter 6: Ambush
The next morning, a hell rooster crowed at 5 AM, but everyone stayed asleep because they wanted to sleep in. That was until Joe slowly opened his eyes and got up to open the window to scold the rooster.
"Hey, stop that racket!" Joe yelled, "We're sleeping in, dammit!"
Lin moaned in bed tiredly. "Joe, you don't need to shout here, for Satan's sake. Imps are sleeping. You could've gone outside to do it. Besides, it's five in the morning."
Joe sighed and put on a robe over his pajamas, tying the robe over them. Once he tied the robe, he put on a pair of boots. On his way out of the bedroom, he grinned at his sleeping wife and closed the door behind him.
Joe was now in the living room, making sure he didn't wake anyone up from his shout earlier. To his surprise, Striker, Bombproof, Moxxie, and Millie were still asleep. He smiled warmly at his son-in-law and daughter. Then he turned his attention to Striker, who was snoring away on the couch with Bombproof snuggling with him.
"Oh, Striker, I'm glad my yelling didn't wake you," Joe said, rubbing the back of a sleeping Striker's head, "You must be a heavy sleeper." He let go of Striker's head and pet Bombproof. "Hello, Bombproof." Joe rubbed Bombproof's head and went outside to confront the rooster.
Once outside, Joe sighed as if to say, "Let's get this over with." So he went over by the chicken coop, where the hell rooster was crowing above. "Hey, what do you want?" Joe demanded, making the rooster stop and stare at him awkwardly. "What do you want? Because I need to go back to sleep soon!"
The rooster replied by pecking on top of the chicken coop.
"Are you hungry?"
The rooster nodded.
Joe went by the chicken coop and saw a bag of corn beside the door. He bent down to get it. "Here you go!" he said as he grabbed a handful of corn and threw it on the ground, so that the rooster and chickens could eat it. After that, Joe watched them eat with a yawn and made his way back to the house. Before he entered, he took off his boots.
Inside the house, he went up to his room, where Lin was still sleeping and took off his robe. Finally, he crawled into bed to join his wife.
…
Five hours after the rooster's nuisance, Lin woke up and slid out of bed to make breakfast for her husband, sons and daughters, Striker, Joe, and her son-in-law.
Joe woke up to help his wife make food in the kitchen.
Millie was the first to wake up at the smell of food and let out a loud yawn, waking up her husband, who groaned.
"Millie, what is it?"
In answer, Millie smelled her parent's cooking and sighed with content.
Moxxie smelled it, too. "Oh, that," he said, finally understanding where his wife was coming from and the two slowly crawled out of their sleeping bags to head to the kitchen.
Hearing the commotion, Striker slowly opened his eyes to see the couple walking towards the kitchen and he smelled food. He stretched and yawned loudly as he pushed the blanket off him, so he could get up from the couch and join Moxxie and Millie.
Lin was making pancakes, while Joe was making bacon and eggs.
"Breakfast time!" Lin called when she and her husband finally finished making breakfast. Then she saw three imps slowly walk into the kitchen.
Joe turned to them, greeting, "Good morning. Did you sleep alright?"
"Sure did, Pa," Millie replied as she started to sit on a chair.
"Y-yeah, we did," Moxxie stuttered, sitting next to Millie.
"We slept just fine, Joe," Striker said, taking a seat beside Moxxie and Millie.
Unbeknownst to the imps, Sallie and her brothers, who were the last ones to wake up, made their way into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Sallie and boys," Lin greeted.
"Good morning, Ma and Pa," Sallie and her brothers greeted and joined the other imps, who were sitting down.
Joe and Lin filled each plate with food before serving it to their family and Striker before feeding themselves and they started to eat.
"Psst, cowboy," Sallie hissed, getting the cowboy imp's attention in the middle of breakfast.
"Huh?" Striker turned to see who hissed.
"Been a while since we've seen ya, cowboy," Sallie Mae said flirtatiously.
"Yeah, it has."
"Hey, Striker," Lin said, prompting Striker to face another woman talking to him.
"Yeah, Lin?"
"How long do you plan on staying here?"
"Well, Strike, we plan on staying until tomorrow," Millie pointed out.
"Same as Mildred and Moxxie, Lin," Striker replied, now that he heard the information from Millie.
"Then it's settled," Joe stated.
…
The next day, Moxxie, Millie, and Striker packed their belongings and Millie hugged her parents. Joe and Moxxie shook hands, although Joe roughly shook Moxxie's hand, almost breaking it, making the latter wince in pain. Seeing this, Striker scratched Moxxie's head like Moxxie was five.
"You'll get used to it, partner," Striker assured Moxxie before shaking Joe's hand.
Joe cleared his throat after he and the cowboy imp shook hands. "Stay out of trouble now, Striker."
"I'll try," Striker chuckled.
"Take good care of our daughter and son-in-law," Lin said.
"I will." Striker saluted her and Joe before climbing up onto his steed, Bombproof.
"See you all soon!" Joe called as Moxxie and Millie headed to the car and Joe and his wife waved goodbye.
"Bye, Lin and Joe!" Moxxie cried.
"Until we meet again, Ma and Pa!" Millie shouted as she waved her parents goodbye before starting the car.
Striker waved at Millie's parents and once Millie got the engine started, he and Bombproof took off after the couple. "See ya later, Joe and Lin!"
"Bye now!"
…
That day, Millie parked at her house and she and her husband stepped out of the car. Bombproof stopped running at Striker's command and the cowboy hopped off his horse.
"Moxxie. Millie. Would you like to go out for a walk with me?" Striker offered.
"Sure," Moxxie replied.
"Love to," Millie beamed.
"We're going to see Blitzo. His business can't be too far from here."
Millie shook her head, agreeing with him. "Nope, it's not."
Striker rubbed Bombproof's muzzle. "Alright, Bombproof, let's go see, Blitzo."
Bombproof trotted over to his owner's side and the two of them followed Millie and Moxxie as they started their stroll.
Little did they know that ten little imps, hired by Stella, were watching from behind the bushes, ready to tranquilize Striker with their tranquilizer guns.
"It was nice seeing your parents again, Mildred," Striker commented, "Although I don't blame them for their reaction when they saw me."
"Yeah, they don't forget what happened overnight," Millie answered.
When a few imps found their target, they cocked their guns pointing directly at Striker.
"Don't worry, Striker, you told them the truth," Moxxie said, placing a hand on Striker's shoulder.
"Now that I have the weight pulled off-" Striker's sentence was cut short when a dart hit him on the shoulder. "My shoulder!" He looked at the dart on his shoulder. "Oh, shit. RUN!" He began running and Moxxie and Millie did as they were told.
An imp hit Moxxie on the leg with a dart.
"Ow! Oh, crumbs, my leg!" Moxxie yelled as he continued running.
A dart shot on Millie's arm. "Ow!" Seeing the culprits, she pulled out the dart and flung it at one of the smaller imps, putting him to sleep. She then found the nearest ally to get away from the darts and pulled out her phone to call Blitzo.
In Blitzo's office, his phone rang and he picked it up to answer. "Hello?"
"Blitzo!" Millie panted, "It's Millie. Moxxie and Striker are getting tranquilized and I need your help immediately!"
"Where are you, Mills?"
"In an alley. We were on our way to your building when all of a sudden, tiny imps shot Moxxie and Striker."
Blitzo paused and turned to Loona. "Loona, can you locate Millie, Moxxie, and Striker?"
Loona was on her computer and checked out the informate to locate Striker, Millie, and Moxxie. "Got it, Blitzo!" she said.
"Alright, Millie," Blitzo said, returning to Millie, "Stay where you are and I'll call the ambulance, so they can take Striker and Mox to the ER before anything else happens to them."
Millie sighed with relief. "Oh, thank God, Blitzo."
"Three darts...too much!" Moxxie said, his speech slurred.
"Can't feel my legs!" Striker said, his speech also slurred.
"I'm glad I can be of some assistance, Millie," Blitzo said, still on the phone with Millie, "Take care. Bye!" He hung up and Millie had done the same.
Although she was glad that help was soon to be on the way, she was worried for Moxxie and Striker. What's going to happen to them next? What if the ambulance doesn't arrive? What would become of Millie?
No, that was just too much stress built in within Millie.
Suddenly, a familiar owl Goetia stepped into the scene and used his eyes to turn the tiny imps to stone. "Take that, you filthy little pests!"
All Millie could do was stare in bewilderment and amazement.
"It's alright, little imp," Stolas assured her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
She was panting. "How did you do that?"
"Magic." Then he had something important to tell her. "Listen. Stella was planning an ambush to tranquilize Striker and anyone close to him, so the imps could take them to the mansion. I couldn't just let them take your friends."
"Well, thank you, Stolas. You saved our lives." Then she realized she had something to tell him. "I called Blitzo about the situation and said he'll call an ambulance to bring Moxxie and Striker to the ER, so that they could get help faster." She gestured towards Moxxie and Striker, who were snoring.
"And that was the noblest thing Blitzy has ever done."
Right on cue, the ambulance had arrived quickly just as Blitzo, who followed the ambulance, promised. He stepped out of the I.M.P van to see small imps now turned to stone. "Holy shit! How did this happen?"
Upon hearing the question, Stolas smiled with pride.
"Wait a minute! You mean to tell me you turned those little fuckers to stone?"
"Yes, Blitzy," Stolas giggled modestly.
"So, all this time you were able to turn anyone who tries to kill you to stone and you didn't need me as your bodyguard? What the hell is wrong with you, Stolas?!"
Stolas just smirked at him.
The imp doctors and nurses placed Striker and Moxxie in two separate beds and drove them into the back of the vehicle.
"Blitzo, Stolas saved us," Millie informed her boss, "He told me Stella was going to ambush Striker and have the imps take him and anyone close to him to their mansion."
Blitzo looked at Millie and glared at Stolas.
"It's true."
"Now, if you would excuse me, Millie, Loonie, and I are going to the hospital to visit Moxxie and Striker," Blitzo said, still furious at Stolas as he stormed over to his van, slamming the door behind him.
Millie stepped into the back seat and closed the door behind her.
The ambulance started their vehicle and Blitzo followed it.
As for Stolas, he watched them go and walked home.
…
In the hospital, Millie, Loona, and Blitzo went up to the receptionist lady, who is familiar with the ER. "Excuse me?" Blitzo greeted.
"What?" the receptionist lady asked.
"We're here to see Moxxie and Striker."
"Friend or family?"
"Friend."
"Family, for Moxxie," Millie corrected him.
"Right." He led Loona and Millie to the emergency room, where Striker and Moxxie were cared for.
The imp doctors gave Moxxie and Striker a shot to get rid of whatever was in the darts and pulled the said darts out.
With that taken care of, the imp nurses applied the peroxide onto the cotton balls and gently dabbed the spots the darts were on.
Moments later, Striker and Moxxie started to awaken.
Millie gasped in delight. "Moxxie!" She rushed over to her husband.
"Millie!" Moxxie said sleepily, but relieved when Millie hugged him with a giggle.
"Blitzo?" Striker spoke.
Blitzo gasped. "Oh, Striker, you're okay!" He went to hug the cowboy imp.
"Careful!" Striker warned him, considering the darts that hit him.
"Sorry." Blitzo pulled away.
Loona snapped a picture of Blitzo, Striker, Moxxie, and Millie reunited in the ER and took a selfie, joining the imps.
All of a sudden, Blitzo's good mood was ruined by a phone call from Stolas. "WHAT NOW?!"
"Oh, Blitzy," Stolas said lustily, "I was wondering if you and one of your imp friends and I can have a night of passionate fornification."
Striker yawned and felt his eyelids getting heavy.
Blitzo took out the Grimoire from his tuxedo. "I have the book on me, Stolas, so we're good."
"Thank you, Blitzy. See you tonight."
"Alright, bye." Blitzo hung up and sighed. "Well, Strike, it looks like we're going to see Stolas tonight." He looked at Striker, expecting an answer. "Striker?"
But Striker was already sleeping. It had been an off day for him and Moxxie when they were supposed to have a peaceful walk together after their ride home from Lin's and Joe's, only to be tranquilized.
"Oh, Striker's asleep," Blitzo laughed, "Good thing he didn't hear about the Stolas part."
Moxxie, too, had fallen asleep in Millie's arms. "Oh, sweetie," Millie said sweetly and kissed him, "You and Striker had a rough day, but I'm glad you both lived."
"Alright, let's get out of here," Blitzo said.
…
The imps and hellhound, now outside the Emergency Room went to the I.M.P. vehicle after an exhausting day. Millie and Moxxie sat in the back. Loona and Striker were up front with Blitzo. Before Blitzo started the engine, he watched in admiration as Striker slept. After watching the cowboy imp sleep, he started the car.
"First stop, Millie's and Moxxie's house," Blitzo announced, quietly as he could and he stopped at Moxxie's and Millie's home to drop them off.
"Night, Blitzo," Millie said.
"Night, Mills," Blitzo called as he waved and he continued driving. "Next stop, Stolas' mansion." He groaned, begrudgingly having to enter the palace with a night of passionate fornification, whatever Stolas called it. Putting it off for now, he glanced at Loona, who was on her phone texting a friend. "Well, Loonie, the good news is, you get to stay with the prince's daughter."
"Octavia?" Loona asked.
"Yep."
"She's one of my friends I've been texting and I haven't seen her in a while."
"Oh, believe me, she'll be thrilled to see you." Blitzo stopped when he got to Stolas' palace and parked near the mansion. "Well, we're here." He stepped out of the van and carried Striker in his arms. "Loona, can you close the driver's door for me? My hands are full and I don't want to wake Striker."
Loona sighed and shut the driver's door, careful not to wake up Striker.
At the entrance, Blitzo tried getting one of his hands free, so he could knock on the door. He succeeded and Stolas answered the door. "Oh, Blitzy," Stolas said, "I'm glad you and your friend could come." Seeing Loona, he added, "And you brought Via's friend."
"Yeah, I'm here," Loona said.
"Stolas, can you carry Striker for me?" Blitzo asked, offering the Goetia the cowboy imp, "My arms are getting tired."
"Sure thing, Blitzy." Stolas carried Striker in his arms and held him like a baby. "Aww, you're so cute when you sleep," the Goetia said in a baby voice, "Stella sent those bad imps to lure you and your friends here, but good thing Stolas came to the rescue." He chuckled.
Blitzo rolled his eyes. He couldn't believe he'd waste his time with someone who would treat him like a plaything. Luckily for Stolas, Striker was asleep and didn't hear the Goetia talk like a baby.
"Hey, Stolas, I'm getting tired," Blitzo said impatiently, "So can we just go to bed like now?"
"Oh, yes."
"Lead the way, Your Highness."
...
Loona went to Octavia's room and knocked on the door.
"Come in," a female voice greeted.
Loona opened the door. "Octavia?"
"Loona. I've missed you." Octavia squealed quietly like a fangirl, careful not to wake anybody up, as she hugged her friend and Loona closed the door behind her. "How have you been?"
"Busy," Loona replied, "Blitzo and his gang are always doing I.M.P stuff and I sometimes join them in the living world. I even have a human disguise since they don't, so they bring me along whenever they need me."
"Wow, you must feel needed."
Loona nodded.
…
In Stolas' room, Blitzo yawned as he climbed into Stolas' bed and Stolas tucked Striker in bed. Blitzo scooted next to Striker, so they could sleep together.
"Oh, Blitzy," Stolas said as he crawled into bed and covered himself with a blanket, "Your friend here is all tucked…" He trailed off when he saw Blitzo was already asleep next to Striker. "...in. Okay." He turned off the light. However, even though he turned out the lights, his eyes glowed in the dark and he lay next to them, admiring the two imps sleeping together. The Goetia yawned and went to sleep.
AN: The scene where Striker and Moxxie were tranquilized was based on a dream I had.
