Wander over Yonder Season 3-37

Wander and Dominator had sequestered themselves in one of several gyms in the Domship.

"Breathe in and breathe out" the yoga program on the wall-mounted television instructed.

Sharing a yoga mat, Dominator and Wander both breathe in and out.

"Place forearms flat on the floor and lift both legs up and above, knees bent like so and hold!" the program instructs.

"Okay. Easy enough" Wander says while he and Dominator do as told.

"Continue holding" the television instructs.

"Hold on!" Wander insists.

"Holding on!" Dominator responds.

"And... Release!" the yoga program commands. "Very good!.." the show lauds as Wander and Dominator collapse.

"Always thought yoga was for wimps but this is certainly not easy" Dominator said catching her breath. "Wish I could have tried it out sooner. This is satisfying!"

"Better late than never I always say" Wander said wisely. "You're amazing at it by the way. More flexible than me for sure!"

"You're too kind" Dominator says.

"Ooh, I think the 'bird of paradise' pose is next" Wander predicts and the television program confirms it seconds later.

"Bring it on!" Dominator accepts beating her chest before locking her right leg behind her right arm.

"Wow!" Wander let out.

"Ha! This ain't so tough!" the green villainess brags before switching to her left leg. "Ho yeah! You're not alive if you never push yourself to your limits!"

"I-I got ya!" Wander was quick to say grabbing hold of Dominator's leg to steady her.

"Always the gentleman~" Dominator purrs sweetly.

"Never hurts to help" Wander reminds proudly.

"There you two are" a familiar voice cuts across. Sylvia is then spotted at the magma door, a green-glowing Probe Dombot levitating beside her.

"Hello Syl! Hello Peridot!" Wander greets as Dominator stood on both feet once more.

"Greetings Lord Wander" the green Dombot returns in a feminine voice.

"Been doing yoga huh?" Sylvia asks. "Having fun?"

"You bet!" Wander answers upbeat.

"A new experience for me" Dominator adds flexing her limbs. "So what's up?"

"Your pear tree is ready" Peridot informs to which Wander gasps.

"Oh goody! Let's go check it out!" an excited Wander almost sings.

A little time later, all four found themselves inside a small, walk-in greenhouse on the surface of Gardenia, a greenhouse Wander and Dominator had started together.

"Heeey~! It's nice and warm in here" Sylvia praises looking around inside the greenhouse which contained some potted plants and some dwarf trees growing out from the ground. "When'd you guys build this?"

"About a week ago" Dominator tells.

"7.62 days ago" Peridot specifies.

"Yeah, that. Wander wanted one so we built it" Dominator explains while Wander watered a series of potted plants.

"And Dee wanted to try her hand at growing pears" Wander contributes.

"Pear fan?" Sylvia asks.

"I like their taste, yes" Dominator informs. "Sweet but not too sweet."

"And they're green and freckled like her too" Wander points out amused.

"Maybe that too" Dominator admits grinning. "We should grow oranges or carrots for Wander next!"

"Both! Let's do both!" Wander exclaimed while Sylvia and Dominator laugh. "And blueberries for Sylvia!"

All four lined up before a small tree with pears hanging off the branches.

"Pears confirmed mature and ready for plucking" Peridot confirms after a scan.

"Dee, Syl, would you two like to do the honors?" Wander asks.

Armed with wicker baskets, Dominator and Sylvia pluck pears off the tree.

"These are kind of firm" Sylvia notes. "We sure they're ready?"

"Pears ripen off the tree, not on it" Dominator teaches. "Wander taught me that."

"Absolutely correct. But not to worry Syl, we plucked some earlier this week and those should be ready" Wander says pulling a basket out of his hat filled with pears.

"Oh hoh! This is really good!" Sylvia acclaims after a bite of a pear. "Soft and sweet!"

"Yep! And they're tons of fun dicing up for a fruit bowl!" Wander adds making quick work of a few pears which he cuts up into neat shapes. "Here you go Peridot!" he says handing Peridot a bowl while he shared a bowl with Dominator.

"The bots can eat?" Sylvia inquires with eyebrow raised.

"In a way" Dominator replies as Peridot absorbs the pear pieces using a special light.

"Analyzing fruit... Analysis results: delicious and nutritious!" Peridot announces.

"A food-eating robot. Now I think I've seen it all" Sylvia concludes. "Anyways, that was too good" Sylvia says after finishing her bowl before admiring the way Wander was feeding himself and Dominator. "You two have certainly been busy. Built a greenhouse right under my nose! Any other projects in the works I might like to know about?".

"Well currently, just the greenhouse" Wander informs.

"Not just the greenhouse. Try a whole flippin' planet!" Dominator emphasizes indicating the world around them.

"Goodness, you're right!" Wander replies smacking his forehead.

"Excellent point Dee" Sylvia accepts. "Safe to say project has been a big success so far?" she asks admiring the lush green and sparkling blue that now dominated the once-desolate surface.

"Yeah. Safe to say" Dominator concurs, "but it does feel like something is missing..."

Considering, Wander and Sylvia stared at their humble Gardenia.

"I think I know what you mean" Sylvia remarks shifting her eyes back and forth between Gardenia's surface and the Domship floating above it peacefully.

-=episode title=-

THE WILDLIFE

-=episode title=-

After a review of the Domship's travel logs, Sylvia's Sylver Lightning took off, Sylvia and Peridot piloting, Wander and Dominator as passengers.

"I recall seeing wildlife on other planets and I'd love to see it on Gardenia too. Gardenia feels a bit lonely without it" Dominator confessed prior to departure. Seated at a table not far away from the cockpit, Dominator had Wander seated snugly on her lap. On the table was a computer tablet with an overview of the galaxy. "I specifically remember orange deer with green antlers. I'm hoping we can find some and bring them to Gardenia."

"Orange deer with green antlers?" Wander questions. "Were they reminding you of me?"

"Mmmaybee~" Dominator admits coyly while Wander's eyes flutter. "Don't look at me like that~. You give me those eyes, you better follow through" she demands playfully, her arms wrapping around Wander who giggled at Dominator's hugging and landing of a few kisses.

"Okay love birds. Don't get any of it on the furniture" Sylvia says joining the other two at the table. "What are we looking for here?"

"Okay, I believe the deer Dee is describing is called a 'Flower Deer'. Flower Deer because female deer, referred to as a 'doe', sprout flowers from their heads. The male deer or 'bucks' sprout green antlers with leaves on them" Wander teaches tapping away at the tablet to display images of said deer. "Sadly, they're endangered."

"Well now that we know, we can do something about it!" Sylvia declares.

Planet C24762 was a planet teeming with plant and animal life and the one Sylver Lightning landed on after a moderate trek through space. First to exit was Wander to find Sylver resting in a large clearing within a roomy forest.

"Few things more pleasant than Mother Nature" Wander declares after a butterfly lands on his finger. Dominator closes in to get a closer look only for the butterfly to take off.

"Didn't scare it I hope" Dominator says while Sylvia and Peridot exit Sylver.

"Don't worry Dee. Butterflies land and depart all the time" Wander assures while surveying surroundings. "Now let's see here... This region is common ground for Flower Deer so... Peridot."

"Lord Wander" Peridot hovers forward with a salute.

"Could you please scan this path for hoof prints?"

"At once" Peridot agrees before scanning the path indicated to reveal glowing hoof prints.

"Right this way ladies" Wander says and all three follow Peridot.

There was little out of the ordinary about the forest around them. On occasion, in the distance, tiny creatures could be seen scurrying about from one hiding spot to another be it ground crevice or forest bush. Almost all was quiet, the ground beneath still before a stampeding grew louder and louder and tremors were felt in the ground. Weaving their way through the forest, the four come across a massive river of wildebeests all heading in one direction.

"Holy smokes, will you look at that!?" Sylvia remarks impressed.

"It's a wildebeest migration!" Wander exclaimed beside the loud stream of beasts.

"Seriously cool" Sylvia says pulling out her phone for photos.

With Orbble juice out of his hat, Wander deploys a bubble for he, Sylvia, and Dominator to hover above the masses of horned wildlife, Peridot levitating nearby. The masses upon masses of wildebeests below seemed neverending: they approached originating from one horizon to ultimately disappear into the opposite horizon.

"Where are these things going?" Dominator asked.

"They migrate in search of pastures" Wander educates. "If they don't move, they will starve..." he finishes softly.

All three observe quietly for a moment.

"What do you think Dee? Thinking you'd want some wildebeests roaming Gardenia?" Sylvia asked.

"They're a bit noisy" Dominator objects. "I think I'd like to try for deer first."

"Fair enough" Sylvia finished.

Suddenly, a commotion is heard farther up the great procession. Rushing towards it, all four find that the wildebeests were rushing across an actual river of water. Looking more closely, beneath frantic splashing of water could be seen crocodiles attacking vulnerable wildebeests, their great jaws snapping shut on unlucky prey resulting in cries of agony before the victims are dragged underwater.

"Aah!" Sylvia emits slightly dismayed.

"Whoa! Neat!" Dominator says impressed by the powerful display of a predator securing sustenance. She then looks over to Wander to find him ducking away while pulling his hat over where his ears would be.

"Lord Wander, are you unwell?" Peridot questions to which Wander shakes his head.

"Buddy, you okay?" Sylvia joins in to which Wander nods gently.

"Let's get out of here" Dominator urged and the bubble is rushed away from the scene.

All four resume their search on foot but while walking alongside Wander, Dominator could only feel guilty for her reaction to what should have been an accepted fact of nature.

"Wander, I didn't upset you back there did I?" Dominator asked the orange nomad.

"N-no" Wander assures, "I'm sure it can look 'neat' to see crocodiles feeding but I just don't like seeing that sort of thing is all..."

"Hey, a croc's gotta eat too. They don't want to starve either" Sylvia contributes while Dominator nods.

"You're right Syl" Wander agrees.

"Mother Nature is a cruel mistress" Peridot adds.

"It isn't always pleasant, sadly" Wander accepts. "I'm okay guys, really. I'll be okay" Wander assures once more though his step was lacking its usual spring. Noticing this, Dominator lifts Wander up for a hug. "Dee?"

"I'm not convinced you feel okay enough so how's about a hug?" Dominator asks. "Hugs have made me feel better before so I'm giving you one now. Hope it's helping."

"Ya beat me to it Dee!" Sylvia complains before joining in.

"Hug for Lord Wander" Peridot declares.

"Aww shucks! You guys worry too much over little ol' me!" Wander says trying his best to return the gesture. "Thank you guys! I'm feeling better now!"

"Good" Dominator concludes and all four march on.

Peridot lead the way once more, Sylvia making sure to take pictures of all worthy sights the party crossed paths with. The Zbornak snapped pictures of a large spiderweb that covered wide horizontal areas, recorded a chameleon blending in with its surroundings making it seem as though it had disappeared, and caught sight of a bird seemingly made of glass building a great nest high up on a tall tree. She also snapped pictures of a snake shedding its old skin, a sight especially new to Dominator, and flowers that emitted a very faint chant-like sound when blooming.

All four then came upon a small clearing in which sat a wide ship. This ship had its windows covered up from the inside and, with color patterns and decorative vegetation, was camouflaged against detection from afar.

"Uh oh. I don't think we're alone here guys" Sylvia whispered as all four initially kept their distance.

"Let's go say hi!" Wander declares making for the ship.

"Oh no you don't" Dominator and Sylvia both object at the same time seizing his arms to pull Wander back.

"Wander, I don't think whoever is in there is expecting or wanting guests" Dominator says.

"How could you be so sure?" Wander asks. "What if there's a lonely person in there? Or someone in need of help? Or someone having a heart attack and we're the ones who'll be there just in time to save the day and all we have to do is barge through the door and be heroic!?"

"Buddy, where the heck do you get that overactive imagination?" Sylvia questioned wryly.

Just then, a knocking is heard and Peridot is seen and heard knocking on the ship's entrance.

"Greetings" Peridot voices. No response is given prompting another attempt. "Greetings" Peridot voices again and still, no response is returned. Peridot rejoins the others. "Lord Wander, no response recorded."

"Are you sure?" Wander questions. Peridot returns withdrawing a stethoscope-like device and places it on the ship to listen in. "What'd you hear?" Wander asks as Peridot returns shortly after.

Peridot plays a recording of someone snoring loudly and comfortably.

"Sounds like someone's asleep in there" Dominator comments.

"Wander, you don't want to disturb someone's slumber I hope?" Sylvia challenges.

"No. I certainly don't" Wander surrenders.

"That would be rude wouldn't it, buddy?"

"It would be" Wander replies.

"Right! So let's just move on, we're clearly not needed here" Sylvia urges.

"Alright alright, I hear ya" Wander accepts and all four depart, Wander with the greatest hesitation.

Peridot continued leading the way past more trees, more forest, more canopy above which provided shade. Their trek went on passing by a waterfall where a dam was being built by beavers, and past an occasional anthill swarming with highly-organized ant armies that reminded Dominator of her old Dombot armies.

"Gaah! How is it eating that!?" Dominator gasps watching a camel munching down on a cactus, needles and all.

"Impressive isn't it?" Wander asks before pulling out a book out of his hat. "Camels have keratin in their mouths which allow them to eat cactus like this."

"I've never seen anythig like it. I'm impressed!" Dominator compliments pulling out her phone. The camel crunched and munched away at the cactus almost making the scary-looking plant look and sound tempting.

"I don't know about you guys but this camel's making me hungry" Sylvia suddenly confesses.

"Break time?" Wander asks.

"If you want" Dominator responds.

All four sit around a portable table pulled out of Wander's hat who makes quick work of distributing lunch, ceram-wrapped bowls of whole grains, shredded kale, grilled corn, and seasoned fried potatos among other ingredients. Peridot meanwhile sipped from a bottle of Volcanium X.

"Hey Dee, how'd you ever encounter one of these Flower Deer before?" Sylvia asks.

"I didn't deliberately seek one out if that's what you're asking. I just decided to explore a planet out of boredom and one showed up" Dominator recalls. "Guess my luck's run out on that front."

"So you thinking we take to the skies?" Sylvia suggests. "Get us a wider view of the terrain?"

"We could but I'm enjoying our hiking through this wilderness" Dominator admits. "Lots of interesting stuff to see. Stuff you don't see shut away on a space ship."

"Haha! Ya hear that Wander?" Sylvia asks. "Big D's learning to love the outdoors!.. Wander?"

"G-guys!" Wander whispers in alarm, his eyes arrested in a direction of a gathering of trees. Looking towards these trees, the group at last spot a Flower Deer, a buck, partially hidden behind the trunk of a tree. While silenced by the surprise visit, the four watch as the buck dashes away briefly before returning only to again dash away briefly then return again.

"Poor thing seems troubled" Wander speaks up. "I think he wants us to follow."

The deer ran swiftly through the forest with Wander, Sylvia, Peridot, and Dominator hot on its tail. Ultimately, the five arrive back to the unfamiliar ship encountered prior. At once, the buck ran up to the ship and began ramming it with his green, leaf-adorned antlers before stamping his feet and snorting agitated.

"I knew it! I knew it!" Wander almost boasts. "Someone or something in there needs our help! That has to be it!"

"But didn't we hear someone sleeping in there earlier?" Sylvia recalls prompting Peridot to listen in once more.

"No sounds can be perceived" Peridot reports moments later.

"AAaah! What if they're hurt this time!?" Wander nearly panics.

"Alright, alright! Relax Wander, I'll see what I can do" Dominator instructs before deploying her armor.

"I too wish to help!" Peridot declares.

"Hello! Anyone in there?" Dominator calls out knocking on the ship's heavy metal door while Peridot scanned the ship looking for a way inside. Sylvia and Wander stood back while the deer seemed glad to finally be getting help. After a while of knocking and scanning, Dominator grows impatient. "Alright, getting tired of this! Stand back, I'm cracking this open!"

All back away as Dominator transforms a hand into a wrecking ball.

Wham!

Dominator lands one hit and winds back to deliver another.

Wham!

Dominator winds up again when the ship powers on suddenly, wind blasting out from underneath it as it ascends.

"What's going on!?" Sylvia lets out.

"Someone doesn't seem to like guests!" Dominator accuses deploying her helmet. "Well too bad! We're not leaving easily!" she exclaims through her helmet before sinking armored claws into the rogue ship for holding on. Peridot uses powerful magnets to hold on as well while the ship speeds off leaving Sylvia, Wander, and the buck behind.

"Lord Wander!" Peridot calls out seeing Wander and the other two disappear into the horizon.

"Don't worry Peridot!" Dominator calls out. "We're heading back shortly" she says approaching the ship's front window, one armored clawful after another.

The wide ship performs a somersault in the air but both Dominator and Peridot hold on. It then turns itself upside-down and ascends and descends quickly hoping to shake off both pursuers. The ship rights itself.

"Hold on Peridot!" Dominator urges before she extends her magma arms towards the front of the ship. She sinks her claws just above the ship's cockpit and gets a look inside through the windshield. She immediately spots a purple alien piloting the ship, humanoid in shape and wearing a sort of gas mask. "Well hello there!" Dominator greets mockingly before headbutting the windshield causing it to shatter and allowing her entry.

"Aaaah!" the purple alien lets out in a sort of masculine, guttural scream before he's frozen from the neck down. Peridot then manages to enter the cockpit to pilot the ship, slowing it into a descent before finally touching down and sliding it into a stop. "L-Lord Dominator!? What do you want!?" the purple alien asks in fright.

"What do I want?" Dominator repeats. "I want whatever I please! I'm Lord Dominator after all and if I want something, I get it!" she almost roars proudly.

"Lord Wander desired entry" Peridot adds as Sylver Lightning landed nearby.

"Guys! Well done!" Sylvia calls out approaching with Wander riding atop the buck. The buck then quickly approaches the frozen purple alien and begins to wield his antlers aggressively.

"Whoa! Easy there buddy!" Wander tries to calm his buck down which then approaches a door in the cockpit leading deeper into the ship.

"Hey Mr! What you got in this here ship?" Sylvia questions.

"Nothing interesting, I assure you" the purple alien claims nervously.

Sylvia leans in for a closer look as the buck agitated to venture deeper in the ship. Sylvia then tears the gas mask off of the purple alien to reveal yellow cat eyes and a triangle-shaped mouth.

"I should have known!" Sylvia almost exclaims. "Walter the Wildlife Wrangler! You scoundrel!"

"Grrr! Are you Sylvia?" Walter questions.

"Not Walter the Wildlife Wrangler!" Wander gasps. "...Syl, who's Walter the Wildlife Wrangler?" he whispers.

"You could ask me yourself" Walter says.

"I, I didn't want to hurt your feelings" Wander confesses.

"Wander, this bub deserves no pity!" Sylvia condemns.

"Yeah, we supposed to know this guy from somewhere?" Dominator questions after withdrawing her helmet.

"No one good, I assure you" Sylvia explains. "And I think I know what this ship is for. This is a poacher's ship!"

With a well-placed stomp, Sylvia knocks down the door to the next room and immediately, the sounds of wings flapping and cages rattling are heard. First to enter was the buck which seemed most eager of all to get inside. Almost galloping, the buck homed in on a tall yet narrow cage with a doe inside. The doe, at first curled up on the cramped cage floor, stands in immediate response to the arrival of the buck. Through the vertical bars of the cage, the two deer caress.

Wander gasps. "Buddy! So this is why you were so worked up? Ya just wanted to see your significant other!" he says hugging the buck. The buck breathes out of his nostrils heavily, surely angry at the doe's predicament.

With Peridot left behind to watch over Walter, Sylvia and Dominator proceed inside past cages holding animals the hunting and catching of which was illegal: exotic felines, colorful avians, and proud canines among other wildlife were being held in cramped and dirty cages.

"Something tells me this guy's been at this for a while now" Dominator says surveying the room.

"Definitely" Sylvia agrees. "These poor creatures. We can't let this stand!"

Dominator and Sylvia regroup with Wander who was hugging the buck and doe affectionately.

"Dee! Syl! Will you look at this!?" a giddy Wander asks in a near whisper. "Turns out our deer friend just wanted to reunite with the love of his life!"

The doe was orange like the buck and stood as tall but had smaller green antlers. With leaves and flower buds growing out of them, her green antlers would surely look like bouquets once the flowers bloomed.

"Dee. Syl. Let's please get her out of there" Wander requests politely.

Dominator looks at Sylvia and Sylvia looks right back. Both nod before tearing out enough of the cage's vertical bars to free the doe who eagerly rejoins the buck's side.

"Whoa! Easy buddy!" Sylvia says calming a Wander who seemed close to exploding from elation.

"Just look at them!" Wander celebrates trying not to raise his voice too high. "We did so good today!" he nearly shouts pulling Dominator and Sylvia close, all three watching the buck and doe pressing up against each other affectionately.

"We're not done yet" Dominator reminds looking at all the other caged animals.

"Oh no!" Wander lets out finally getting a good look at the other captives in the room.

"No, we're not done yet" Sylvia agrees before proceeding towards the cockpit where Peridot was watching over the mostly-frozen Walter. "Thank you Peridot. Walter" Sylvia says turning towards the purple poacher. "We found a ton of exotic wildlife in your ship. It's illegal to hold these creatures in captivity you know? What do you have to say for yourself?"

"H-hey! Who put all those wild animals in there!? Absolutely terrible! People nowadays, I tell ya!" Walter joked.

Sylvia was not the least bit amused by the clueless act. Sickened, she draws a fist back and makes Walter see stars.

Soon enough, Walter got a cage of his own with a tidy, black and white striped outfit. "Ironic" he thought while Wander and the other three would go on to not only release Walter's captives but also take the buck and doe looking to introduce wildlife to Gardenia.

Meanwhile, not far away from Planet C24762 was a spaceship that looked like a luxurious mansion. Inside, two fierce-looking armored warriors knelt before a throne and on that throne sat a lavishly-dressed alien.

"It appears Walter has failed me. Pathetic!" this alien spoke in a raspy, feminine voice, a bony finger tapping her throne's arm rest impatiently. "I trust you two, the greatest hunters that ever lived, will NOT fail me?"

"We will not fail, your cruelness" both armored warriors promise.

"Go~od... Now be gone and return with what I desire!" the raspy-voiced alien demands. "Track down the deer that little orange cretin and his ilk have made off with and bring them to me! They must be added to my collection!" she exclaims and both her warriors depart not long after.

Author's note: been watching nature documentaries, in case you were wondering. Watching crocodiles hunt wildebeests and other prey is a sight to see and was wondering how Wander would react. Not positively of course but I think Dominator would dig them. I feel bad for the prey but a croc's gotta eat. Such is nature.