Chapter 21
Ozzy and Fizz raced to the school, arriving in moments and bursting through the doors. One teacher was on the floor and holding her side while two other teachers were comforting the students. Ozzy glanced around and was relieved to see no one was injured, but that didn't calm him down much.
He had gotten a call from the school about Oliver being snatched just as he left the school and some of the kids tried to describe the kidnapper, but could only say he had been riding a horse. He had called Fizz in a panic and Fizz had at once come running into the office and the two rushed to the school.
One of the teachers looked up at them. "I'm sorry," she said, looking ashamed. "It happened so fast."
"I've called everyone I know, but no one has seen them," said the principal, who looked very upset and ashamed at the same time. "I'm sorry. This is my fault."
"No, it wasn't," Fizz said. "It could have been a random kidnapping."
"I don't know, Fizz," Ozzy said. "I've got a feeling it wasn't random."
Just then, his phone rang and he answered it, finding Striker on the other end. "Well, well, are you regretting standing up for the clown now, Ozzy?" The bounty hunter taunted.
Fizz's blood ran cold and everyone was silent. Ozzy glared at Striker. "Where. Is. My. Son?" He ground out, his flames starting to flicker in anger.
Striker turned the camera for him to see Oliver, who was tied up and looked afraid. He perked up a bit at seeing his dad and though his hands were tied, he quickly made the hand sign for 'help'. Ozzy took a deep breath. "It's going to be okay, Noodle," he said reassuringly before seeing the camera turn to the bounty hunter again. "What do you want, Striker?" He asked him.
"I want payback against the clown and his friend for making me lose my payment from Crimson," Striker said.
"You're not getting Fizz," the larger being said.
"I already know that, you idiot!" The bounty hunter snarled, making Oliver jump and tremble. Striker composed himself. "I want one-hundred million."
Fizz stretched up to look at the phone to see Striker smirking. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, thinking about Oliver. "How much time do we have to get you the money?" He asked.
"You have one day," Striker said. "I'll come collect it myself at the new building you're funding, Ozzy."
Ozzy took a deep breath. "Harm one hair on my son's head and you will regret it," he said.
Striker smirked. "Crimson was right," he said before hanging up.
As Ozzy did his best to calm down but couldn't because of his anger, Fizz pulled out his phone, calling the one person he knew could help them. He didn't trust Striker to keep his word and if the bounty hunter tried to pull something, at least Oliver would be safe with the person the jester was calling.
Blitz was at Barbie's apartment and they were talking when Fizz called and when they both heard that Oliver had been kidnapped by Striker, Blitz stood up and pulled out his gun, his eyes narrowing in determination. Barbie stood up and nodded. "Go get him, bro," she said. "Teach Striker that it's one thing to come after us, but going after our nephew is unacceptable."
Blitz nodded once. "Lock the doors and stay safe," he said to her, hugging her. She hugged him back.
"Come back in one piece and bring back our nephew safe and sound," she said.
He nodded and headed out, sending a text to Loona to lock the doors. She texted back that she did and she asked if he wanted her to join him in saving Oliver. He thought for a moment and then agreed and she joined him, following Oliver's scent. "He's not far," she said.
"Striker is near?" Blitz asked his daughter.
"Yeah," she said, looking confused. "Think he's expecting us?"
"Or at least is worried about a trap," the scarred being said. "Okay, let's move quick, but be careful."
They soon tracked both Oliver and Striker into the same building the bounty hunter had been talking about. Oliver was tied up in a corner of the room and trembling as Striker was sharpening his knives and working on roping, smirking as he didn't miss his practice targets once. Oliver began to silently cry as he hoped his dad and papa would be there and kick the bounty hunter far away from there.
Something sounded outside and Striker went to take a look out the window, seeing Loona outside and she glared up at him. "Hey!" She called out. "I know you're up there, jerk! Hand over my cousin or things will get really bad!"
The bounty hunter chuckled. "Cute," he said. "Should have known the jester would send in a puppy to taunt me."
Just then, a whooshing sound came from behind him and he turned in time to get tackled by Blitz, who had used a special crystal to teleport behind the bounty hunter. The scarred being snarled angrily. "You really messed up, you idiot," he growled.
Striker snarled and the two began attacking each other, Blitz dodging the attacks and Striker doing everything to catch the slippery being.
Loona snuck inside and got to Oliver, who looked happy to see her. She smiled at him. "Hey, squirt," she said, quickly cutting the ropes that bound him and picking him up. "Hold on tight. I'm going to move fast."
The boy clung to her and she used a special crystal to escape outside, but Striker was too distracted to notice. Once outside, Loona let out a howl as if she was howling at the moon. Blitz, hearing his daughter, smirked and shoved Striker away from him. "You lose, Striker," he said before using the crystal to escape.
The bounty hunter growled angrily before turning and his eyes widened at seeing his captive was gone. Snarling angrily, he leapt from the building and into the street.
Only to be met with a metal fist to the face as Blitz and Loona entered a new portal and Fizz, seeing the bounty hunter land behind them, extended his arm and hand to punch Striker as hard as he could. The bounty hunter was dazed and couldn't react fast enough to avoid the fiery punch that followed the metal punch. The fiery one sent Striker flying through the air and into a portal that Ozzy created, sending the bounty hunter far away from there.
"Dad! Papa!" Oliver cried out happily at seeing his parents as both portals closed up.
"Noodle!" Ozzy and Fizz cried out in unison as Loona handed her cousin to her uncles. The larger being and the jester hugged the boy tightly and the boy clung to them.
"Are you hurt?" Fizz asked in worry.
Oliver shook his head. "No," he said.
Ozzy sighed in relief. "I'm going to make sure there are guards around your school from now on," he said firmly, looking at the principal. "That way all the kids and teachers are safe."
"Thank you," she said. "Still, I am sorry we couldn't prevent Oliver's kidnapping."
"Sometimes things happen too fast for us to react right away," Blitz said understandingly. "And Striker is a slippery fellow."
Oliver hugged Fizz. "Papa, that meanie said that Crimson was right," he signed. "What did he mean?"
"Crimson is a dangerous person, Noodle," the jester said. "He had the same person who kidnapped you kidnap me once to get Ozzy to give him something he wanted. He thought your dad wouldn't do anything to stop him because your dad doesn't like fighting. I don't either, but Crimson was wrong. Your dad may not look for a fight, but that doesn't mean he won't fight for something that means everything to him."
"Especially when it comes to you and your papa, kiddo," Blitz said. "Your dad would do anything for you two. And I know your papa would do anything for you and your dad."
"You know it," Fizz said.
Loona smiled. "Glad you're safe, squirt," she said to Oliver, who smiled at her.
Both the wolf being and scarred being were surprised when Ozzy pulled them both into a hug. "Thank you both," he said softly. "For saving my son."
"Anytime, Uncle Ozzy," Loona said.
"Hey, you guys can always call me when stuff like this happens," Blitz said. "I'll be there in an instant."
Barbie came running up to them. "Guys!" She cried out.
"Aunty!" Oliver called out and jumped into his aunt's arms. She hugged him tight before hugging her brother, who hugged her back.
"You got him out," she said, relief in her voice.
"Me and Loona both, sis," he said.
Fizz hugged Loona, who hugged him back. "Thanks, kiddo," the jester said gratefully as Barbie handed Oliver back over to Ozzy, the rooster being hugging his son protectively and in relief that he was safe.
"I'll do anything to keep Oliver safe, Uncle Fizz," she promised.
He smiled. "I'm lucky to have such an awesome niece," he said.
Just then, Bee came running up to them. "Are you guys okay?!" She asked. "Where's Oliver?!"
"He's right here, Bee," Ozzy said with a smile as he showed her the boy in his arms. "Blitz and Loona got him away from Striker."
Relief was on the four-armed fox's face and she swept both Loona and Blitz into a big hug, surprising them. "You two are awesome!" She said happily.
"Um, thank you?" Blitz said, wondering why the party lover was so happy.
"Oliver is her nephew too," Barbie said, smiling.
Bee set the two down and saw Oliver reach for her. She looked up at Ozzy, who smiled and handed the boy to her. She smiled at him. "I'm glad you're okay, kiddo," she said, hugging him as he hugged her back. "Hey, you guys sent that Striker guy flying, right?"
"Sure did," Fizz said. "Ozzy delivered the ultimate punch."
"Alright!" She cheered. "Come on. Party at my palace. My treat and just us."
She gestured to the whole group. Ozzy, Fizz, and Oliver grinned while Barbie, Blitz, and Loona looked a bit unsure. Barbie opened her mouth to politely decline when Oliver looked at her and gave her 'puppy eyes'.
"Please, Aunty?" He asked.
Her protest died in her throat and she smiled. "No way I'm saying 'no' to those big eyes," she said, making the others smile.
Loona looked at her dad and he looked at her. "Do you want to go to Bee's party, sweetie?" He asked. "You can if you want to."
She smiled. Despite her already being an adult, Blitz still thought of her as his little girl. "Let's both go, Dad," she said. "You had a huge hand in rescuing Oliver."
"And there's no way we're going without you," Fizz said firmly, smiling.
"I'll carry you there myself if you decline," Ozzy said teasingly with a grin.
"No way I'm letting you carry me, big bird," Blitz sassed him.
Oliver clapped his hands to his mouth to hide his giggle and Ozzy smirked. "I know where you sleep, Blitz," he sassed him right back.
Loona was having a hard time not laughing at the silly look on her dad's face and turned to Bee, smiling. "Let's get this party started, Bee," she said.
"Hey, that's my line, sugar cube," Bee said without heat. "But I agree. Ozzy, scoop them up."
The siblings were scooped up before they could protest and Fizz jumped up to Ozzy's shoulders. Loona saw Bee reach out to her for a hug and she accepted it. Seconds later, they were transported to Bee's palace and she got the party going, mixing up drinks for the adults and she mixed up some fruit juice for Oliver, who loved it.
Elsewhere, Striker was grumbling as he tended to his wounds, his pride more bruised than ever before.
A friend of mind suggested this one. :)
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GoldGuardian2418