In a galaxy rife with villains fighting for dominance, the planet of Atena prided itself in its ability to fight off any and all villains attempting to subjugate it.
Protected first by its obscurity in the shade of a dim star, planet Atena's second line of defense was a league of brave warriors named the Heroes of Atena. The Heroes of Atena was an organization that fended off any and all villains that tried their hand at conquering Atena. Trained in combat and the wielding of lava, the Heroes of Atena made quick work of uninvited guests. This vital role made respected and revered heroes of HoA's members.
Since childhood, a Nefai named Ela aspired to join the HoA, had never forgotten when she was bestowed her yellow-horned helmet, and always fought off invaders in defense of her home world with great bravery and distinction. This same warrioress proudly set her daughter Dania on the same path. Dania, like her mother Ela, was given her horned helmet indicating the start of her own heroic path towards becoming an Atena defender.
Dania looked like any other HoA student but to many, she often seemed very cold and distant to all she crossed paths with. Dania was very quiet and did not care for friends for in truth, she held a dark secret: she revered not heroes like countless other Atenans but instead revered the many villains that conquered planets. She wanted to be among them and eventually topple them all in the ultimate display of power. She even took to learning machinery and engineering to make soldiers just like her villain idols had minions of their own.
The closest Dania came to admitting her secret desires was when she began wearing black drip cosmetic under her eyes and hacked up her proud braided ponytail, a hairstyle symbolizing great honor and devotion to duty among Nefai girls and women, into a mohawk. The change brought great controversy with parents, classmates, and tutors alike but Dania cared not for approval. It made no difference to her how much people disapproved for she did not plan on sticking around long.
Dania's ambitions lied firmly outside of Atena and it was outside of Atena that she would one day don the name of 'Lord Dominator'.
-=episode title=-
THE HOMECOMING
-=episode title=-
"Oooh! What's that over there!?" Wander asks rushing to watch a street performer create intricate sculptures using their magma-bending powers. The performer was doing this for a crowd who seemed enraptured.
"The Battle of Montrew! Our brave knights fought back the invasion by the evil Carnage Carnival!" the street performer lectured as his sculpting followed along his descriptions of a great battle.
Wander was impressed by the sculpting prowess on display but not as impressed by the descriptions of battle.
Following behind the star nomad was Sylvia, a Beep Boop disguised more like a harmless drone, and a disguised Dominator as all four explored one of Atena's great cities, the city of Apellopolis, named after great Atenan hero Apello.
"How you holding up under that hat?" Sylvia asks Dominator.
"Not bad" answers Dominator dressed in a purple, knee-length button up dress and sporting a large summer hat and reflective glasses. She had also wiped away her trademark black drips from under her eyes. "The breeze feels nice."
"Wow! What awesome lava lamps!" Wander directs at the attendant of a small stand selling what looked like lava lamps.
"What's a lava lamp?" asked the attendant, an alien resembling a kangaroo. "We sell lamps, orange fella" she said warmly.
"Sorry, we're sort of new here" Sylvia adds walking up beside her orange friend.
"Oh, well welcome to Apellopolis" the attendant says.
"Thanks" Wander returns. "I'd like to buy a lamp!"
"I can help with that" the attendant says before showing off all her lamps, all adorned with beautiful symbols. Wander chooses one with the symbol he found prettiest, one featuring eagle-like creatures, and the party moves on.
"I wonder what this symbol is?" Wander said as he admired his purchase. "It certainly looks pretty!"
"It's a coat of arms" Dominator answers after a close look. "Coat of arms of a historical, villain-fighting battalion!"
"Oh" Wander emits. "Well at least they're fighting villains" he thought to himself.
"Whoa! What's this?" Sylvia asks looking into a workshop where Atenans were pouring glowing, molten metal into casts.
"It appears to be metal work" Beep Boop assesses.
"Beautiful metal work" Sylvia adds admiring beautiful metal pieces of sword and dagger blades, spear tips, spiked ball and chains, heavy maces, and spikes for clubs among other weapon components.
Wander came close to asking if they made anything that wasn't a weapon before noticing the store was called 'Only Weapons'.
After this, the party continued on through the city of Apellopolis catching sights of glass workers crafting battle ships and siege towers and such out of hot glass; walked by a hoagy delivery truck labeled 'Heros for Heroes' being driven by a stocky individual with a bandaged, spherical head; entered a restaurant that sold colorful-looking rocks called 'mouth bombs' that crunched satisfyingly loudly when chewed; and caught sights of the diverse many that called Atena home.
The populations of Atena were many and varied: among others, there were Packians, rhino-like Atenans that prided themselves on the upkeep and adornment of their nose horns. There were also Klargians, giraffe-like Atenans that dressed like samurai and wore armored rings around their necks. There were Temanats, Atenans that looked like turtles, fashioned themselves like ninjas, and regularly painted art on their shells to inspire bravery. Then there were Nefais, the green-skinned, freckled group Dominator belonged to. Many of these prided themselves on their hair, the girls often growing it long to fashion into braided ponytails.
"Wow! What a statue!" Sylvia gasps snapping photos of a giant statue of the city's hero, Apello. The statue was one of a Packian wielding sword and shield; wearing bulky, spiky armor; and the same horned helmet that Lord Dominator wore.
"Apello! The hero of Apellopolis!" Wander read from the plaque at the foot of the statue. Also at the foot of the statue were gifts left there by other visitors.
"It says here that he fought against Mandrake the Malfeasant many years ago and helped save the planet!" another statue admirer, a friendly purple alien, happily informed Wander.
"Oh really?" Wander returns. "How many heroes are there on this planet?"
"Tons!" the purple stranger impresses. "In a galaxy filled with villains, villains hoping to destroy or conquer our planet, we need all the heroes we can get!"
"That's super neat! Thanks for the info!" Wander thanked.
"Sure thing little orange dude! Now could you help take my picture with the statue?" the purple alien asked Wander.
"Help? Sure!" Wander was more than happy to say. Wander then snaps several pics of the stranger and the statue. The stranger soon left to blend in with many others also admiring the statue and taking pictures.
"This planet practically worships its heroes from the look of things" Sylvia comments some time later.
"Yep!" Wander agrees before Sylvia notices Dominator's relative quiet.
"Not up for talking?" Sylvia asks Dominator.
"I'm trying to keep a low profile" Dominator answered.
"What for?" Sylvia next inquired.
"I don't think people would be happy to hear Lord Dominator is paying a visit so... Anyways, let's head somewhere more private. You guys like hot tubs?" Dominator asks.
The four enter a building advertising 'lava baths' and watch a small tub inside get filled with lava.
"Don't be such scaredy cats" a bikini-clad Dominator challenges after hopping in.
"Well excuse me, Dee" Sylvia returns, "Wander and I are just used to magma threatening to burn us to the bone."
"Understandable" Dominator replies.
"Lord Wander, hot tub at optimal temperature for your maximum comfort" Beep Boop informs.
With caution, Wander and Sylvia finally join Dominator in the lava bath.
"See? Not so bad" Dominator says.
"Whoa!" an amazed Wander emits cupping some lava in his hands.
"This feels good" Sylvia comments.
"Right?" Dominator says.
Floating on his back, Wander was enjoying a little swim while Sylvia stared Dominator down.
"Alright Dee, let's get down to business: maybe it's just me but you've seemed uneasy" Sylvia observes.
Dominator breathes in then breathes out.
"...I ran away from this planet and now that I'm back, I sorta don't know what to expect. From my parents most of all."
"Syl ran away from home too, Dee" Wander reveals floating by. "Sylvia and her family are on excellent terms now!"
"You ran away too?" a surprised Dominator asks.
"Yep!" Sylvia confirms.
"Wow. Why'd you leave?"
"Just got sick of home" Sylvia answers. "It's not like I left them destitute or anything. Was thinking maybe with me gone, my brothers would finally make themselves more useful around the house!"
"What was it like going back?" Dominator asks.
"Rough around the edges but you work through things" Sylvia advised.
"Oh!.. Good to hear..."
"Now why did YOU leave?" Sylvia asks back.
"...It was my dream to become a villain" Dominator reveals. "I wanted to become the greatest villain in the galaxy."
"Hahaha! Mission accomplished I would say" Sylvia half joked. "You gave the galaxy a real run for its money!"
"...I did but that's the problem" Dominator laments. "I never told my parents or anyone I wanted to be a villain. That I wanted to compete on the villain leaderboards. You saw for yourself how much this planet loves its heroes and its history of resistance against villains."
Sylvia and Wander nod their heads.
"No one could ever understand me and I didn't need them to understand me!... I just wanted to leave everything behind and pursue my dreams. Now that I'm back, what could they possibly think? My parents, I must've ruined their reputation... Parents of the evil, galaxy-destroying Lord Dominator would surely become pariahs!"
"That sounds rough" Sylvia says after a quiet before Wander wraps his arms around Dominator.
"Seeing you so worried means you care" Wander reasons. "And I'm sure if you explain, they'll understand."
"I hope so" Dominator replies returning Wander's hug.
"And if there's anything wrong, the sooner we start making things right, the better" Wander goes on upbeat.
"...You're right" Dominator sighs. "...Let's just soak a little longer and then we'll get going."
"Get going to meet your parents!?" Wander asks trying to keep his voice low.
"Off to see my parents" Dominator agrees and Wander successfully stops himself from celebrating too loudly.
The trip to Dominator's home involved more walking through Apellopolis and the catching of more sights. A particular highlight was Wander, Sylvia, and Beep Boop spotting a group of warriors in the distance dressed in heavy armor and wearing the horned helmet Dominator helped make infamous.
"Yes, that's where Lord Dominator got her horned helmet from" Dominator confirms. "They're members of the Heroes of Atena and they all wear those lightning bolt horns" she explained before the four finally reach more residential areas. "I wanted nothing to do with them though..."
Eventually, the four arrive to a small plot of land surrounded by tall and heavy fencing. Through the front iron gates could be spotted a modest, one-story home at the end of a pebble stone pathway. This pathway lead from the gates to a wide-open patio and from there to the front porch.
"Well... Here it is... My childhood home" Dominator introduces.
"Not bad. Pretty cozy-looking!" Sylvia compliments.
"My parents would thank you... I'm sure" Dominator says.
"Ya ready Dee?" Wander asked Dominator who still looked unsure.
"C'mon Dee! Get on with it! You're Dominator and Dominator dominates!" Sylvia pushed gently. "Isn't that right?"
Dominator breathes in before slapping her cheeks. "You're right... Let's do this!" she growls before pushing the gate open and marching up the pebble stone pathway. Just as she was about to reach the patio, the front doors burst open and two Nefai children run out, a boy with short hair and a girl with a short ponytail. The two were carrying what looked like action figures of Atenan heroes and seemed ready to play but freeze at the sight of Dominator.
Dominator and the other three were similarly frozen unsure of how to proceed.
"H-hello" Dominator manages to greet after removing her reflective glasses.
"Hello!" both children greet back simultaneously, their hands waving.
"Who are you, miss?" the boy asks.
"Yeah, tell us!" the girl adds.
"Uhhh, you can call me Dee" Dominator says.
"Hello Dee!" both kids greet at the same time.
"Hi! And these are my close friends" Dominator goes on looking back at her party only to find them distracted. "Guys?"
"Dee's your name now, is it?" a woman's voice is then heard from somewhere above.
Following gazes and the sudden new voice, Dominator looks up to the roof of the house to find a plainly-dressed Nefai woman standing there looking down. Dominator did not recognize her at first.
"Or is it still Lord Dominator? Maybe you prefer just Dominator?" the woman asked sounding like a stoic interrogator. "I remember it used to be 'Dania'."
"M-my name is Dominator but you can call me Dania. I don't mind... Mom" Dominator says.
Wander and Sylvia both gasp quietly to themselves as the woman jumps nimbly and lands before Dominator.
Now closer, Dominator and her party could see she looked almost like a mirror image of Dominator herself. This woman also had a full head of snow-white hair that reached down to her thighs.
"So why has the great Lord Dominator decided to visit today?" the woman asked leaning closer to examine Dominator's face as both children run to her side.
"...I, I wanted to see my mom again" Dominator says. "Also wanted to introduce you to some people who are very near and dear to me. And introduce you to them too, of course."
Wander, always the friendly one, immediately approaches.
"Hello! Folks call me Wander!" Wander greets the woman removing his hat with a bow. "May I ask your name?"
"Ela. Call me Ela" the woman answers with a bow of her own.
"And my name is Sylvia. It's a pleasure to meet you" Sylvia also greets after an approach. She too bows.
"Greetings. My name is Beep Boop" Beep Boop joins in.
"It is nice to meet you but I was not expecting guests today" Ela admits. "Please come in and excuse me as I scramble to ready tea" she says entering her home.
Regretting not having called ahead, Dominator didn't immediately proceed inside as others followed Ela in. She then felt someone stroke her palm gently.
"Still nervous, Dee?" Wander asked caressing the top of her hand.
"No. What gave you that idea?" Dominator asked wanting to put on a tough front.
"I don't know. I'd like to think I have a sixth sense about how people feel" Wander answered. "I also think your mom is glad to see you again" Wander says.
"...I hope so" Dominator answers becoming hopeful after Wander had correctly guessed how she as feeling.
The inside of Ela's home seemed mostly nothing out of the ordinary: there was a living room with a flat screen television and a glass case where a dragon-themed light suit of armor was on display, photos on the glass case confirming it Ela's. There were also bedrooms and bathroom but host to most activity at the moment was the kitchen.
Wander, Sylvia, and Dominator sat at a large table, Beep Boop resting on Wander's lap. The children too sat at the table.
"I'm sorry, I don't believe we got your names" Wander gently asked the children.
"My name is Divven" the boy answered.
"My name is Tammy" the girl answered.
"It's really lovely to meet you, Divven and Tammy" Sylvia says gently. "My name's Sylvia."
"Hello Sylvia" the two children greet.
"And folks call me Wander!" Wander made sure to tell the children.
"Hello Wander" the two children again greet.
Dominator almost re-introduced herself to the children but Ela intervened.
"Children, 'Calamity Calls' should be on right now" Dominator's mother says and the children gasp before dashing to another room. Ela then distributes tea cups.
"What lovely children!" Sylvia compliments as Ela pours tea.
"Adorable and very well-mannered!" Wander adds smiling.
"Thank you" Ela replies. "They're not mine if you're wondering. They're my grandchildren."
"Don't look at me! I'm not a mother" Dominator quickly defends.
"You're an aunt" Ela clarifies. "Your brother's a father."
"Dee! You have a brother!?" Sylvia almost gasps.
"I, I do. Yes" Dominator replies.
"Her brother Ala" Ela reveals. "She has a father also, of course. Alka."
"So four in the most immediate family?" Wander asks before sipping from his tea.
"Yes. Dania whom you call Dee; myself, her mother Ela; her father Alka; and her brother Ala."
"Dee, why didn't you ever tell us this?" Sylvia asks.
"We-well then you'd want to meet my family and I wasn't ready then" Dominator defends.
"Ya ready now?" Ela asks.
"I-I'll let you know when it's over" Dominator reveals.
"Well I for one think it's very nice to get to catch up" Wander declares.
"Wander was your name?" Ela asks.
"That's right!" Wander says eagerly.
"Who are you to my daughter?"
"He's my better half" Dominator was quick to reply.
Ela stares at Dominator and Dominator stares back.
"Her significant other" Wander says wrapping his arms around Dominator with a smile.
"...I see" was Ela's simple reply. "And you are a friend of hers?" she asks Sylvia.
"Yeah. We're good friends" Sylvia confirms.
"And this?" Ela asks looking at a disguised Beep Boop.
"Her personal computer assistant" Beep Boop answers.
"You've been up to plenty yourself it seems" Ela comments.
"...Aren't you going to ask me" Dominator speaks up, "about me leaving home?.. And doing some even more terrible things?"
"Some children do leave home sometimes. Most find their way back and you did just that" Ela says simply before sipping tea.
"I destroyed the galaxy!" Dominator says impatiently. "Were people here not angry at you or dad when your daughter is out bringing ruin to countless planets!?"
"I thought you were proud of those feats?" Ela speculates.
"I was!.. Was... But Wander helped me leave all that behind" she says as Wander grasps her hand to both support and comfort. "Now I'm just ashamed" Dominator says relaxing.
"...Good..." Ela emits.
"Anyways, you didn't answer my question: were people not angry when I became Lord Dominator?"
"People were angry. Yes" Ela finally reveals.
"Angry at you?"
"A bit" Ela remembers.
"I was afraid of that" Dominator says. "...What did they do?"
"At first, they showed sympathy to a woman whose daughter had disappeared without warning" Ela recalls. "The same sympathy disappeared once that daughter resurfaced as Lord Dominator."
"Of course it did" Dominator laments holding her head in her hands, Wander caressing her back. "...So what happened next?"
"I retired from the Heroes of Atena" Ela reveals stoically.
Wander and Sylvia notice Dominator seem to lower her head further at this answer.
"They made you retire" Dominator corrects sounding defeated, "and it must have been because of me..."
"It was bound to happen one day" Ela excuses.
"Mom, being in the HoA was your pride and joy!" Dominator recalls.
"My family is my pride and joy" Ela corrects.
"Okay, fine. A close second" Dominator accepts. "I-I'm sorry mom. I'm sorry I cost you your membership."
"Dania, it was so long ago" Ela attempts to quell Dominator's dismay. "Right now, we're back together. Let's celebrate that" she says as the sound of a door opening rings out. "That must be your father."
"I'm home!" a man's voice announced.
Too tense to move, Dominator waited for her father Alka to enter the kitchen. He finally did so revealing himself to be a Nefai with neat beard and glasses and was wearing a lab coat. As a male, he also had something of a chin which Dominator and Ela clearly lacked. He immediately noticed Dominator.
"D-Dania?" the man then whispered incredulously.
"D-dad. I'm home" Dominator whispers back.
Alka wasted no time. He pulled his daughter into a powerful embrace surprising her.
"I-I'm so glad you're home" Alka strains to say.
"It's good to be back, dad" Dominator says with moist eyes. Ela then joins in on the hug.
Alka, Dominator, and Ela all exchange glances.
"D-dad. Mom. Feels like there's so much catching up to do" Dominator says before noticing Wander close to bursting into tears. Sylvia's eyes also seemed to be glistening.
"P-please! D-don't mind us!" Wander manages to say, his eyes almost ready to flood the place. "These are your moments!"
"Dad, this is Wander" Dominator introduces approaching the star nomad. "He is my significant other."
"A pleasure to meet you, sir" Wander says removing his hat.
"And this is Sylvia!"
"It is an absolute honor to finally meet you Mr.-" Sylvia says shaking Alka's hand firmly.
"Please, just call me Alka" Alka requests.
"And this is Beep Boop" Dominator says.
"I am her assistant and dear friend" Beep Boop says shaking hands.
"This is one heck of a home welcoming" Alka acclaims before approaching Wander. "Dania, so this is-"
"My better half" Dominator says and Alka closes in on Wander as though he were examining a petri dish.
"...Dania... I cannot approve of this one" Alka suddenly alerts.
The room suddenly went silent, the warmth in Alka's voice disappearing, his eyes scrutinizing.
"My daughter deserves nothing less than a real man" he continues sounding very stern. "Wander, are you a real man?"
"Yes sir" Wander says timidly. Dominator came close to intervening but Ela places her hand on Dominator's shoulder.
"A real man is not afraid to show his feelings. Are you afraid to cry?"
"N-no sir" Wander answers while most of the room slowly realizes what Alka was doing.
"A real man always seeks to help those in need" Alka declares.
"I-it never hurts to help!" Wander says rising.
"Very good... Lastly, a real man loves-" Alka goes on while pulling out a musical instrument, "the banjo!"
"I LOVE the banjo!" Wander declares pulling his own banjo out of his hat, his apprehension transforming into a smile.
"I prefer my home to be quiet. Make noise outside" Ela orders, Wander and Alka coming very close to striking string.
Wander and Alka dash outside to the front patio where they have themselves a friendly, banjo-strumming session.
"Kindred spirits, these two!" Sylvia remarks before she and Beep Boop join the side of the music-making duo, Sylvia's foot tapping away and Beep Boop putting on a little light show.
Watching from the front door was Dominator and Ela.
"Your father was always my better half. Definitely better at breaking the ice" Ela compliments. She then notices the manner in which Dominator was looking at Wander before pulling her daughter deeper into the house. "Dania, I have to know! Do you want to spend the rest of your life with Wander?"
"M-maybe I do" Dominator says turning slightly red.
"Do you ever see yourself marrying him one day?"
"Can we talk about something else?" Dominator responds reddening more.
"You would look so beautiful in a wedding dress!"
"Mom! You're annoying now!" a red Dominator condemns turning away.
"My brooding daughter ran off to destroy the galaxy and she returns in love with a little orange gentleman."
"...It surprised me too."
"How'd he do it?"
Dominator approaches the glass case where Ela's armor was displayed before noticing the horned helmet was missing.
"Even when I was at my worst, he never gave up on me... If not for him, I wouldn't even be here with you right now..." Dominator says recalling the bubble Wander used to save her from an exploding Domship. "Now I just hope I can do enough to repay him one day for all he's done for me" Dominator says, a genuine warmth in her voice.
"You have to fill me in on the details" Ela requests dreamy-eyed.
"I'd love to... But only if you tell me what happened to your horns. Were they stripped from you?" Dominator asks in part from wanting to change the subject.
"They were but like I said: it's in the past" Ela makes clear.
"Yes... The past."
"Your brother's coming to pick up his kids soon. Let's get ready for that reunion" Ela says starting for the front door.
"...Yeah" Dominator agrees giving the helmetless armor on display one last look before following.
