Wander over Yonder Season 3-41

Queen Entozoa was a moderate success on the villain leaderboards before her true form of a plasma-like eel demon was condemned to the body of a sandwich. Queen Entozoa had muscular henchmen with crystal balls for heads and it was with these thugs she conquered planets and one day, the planet of Atena fell in her crosshairs.

Sheltered inside one of her purple mudskipper-shaped ships and seated comfortably on her command throne, Queen Entozoa prepared her introduction.

"People of Atena! Cower in fear for it is I! Queen Entozoa!" Queen Entozoa's planet-sized hologram announced loudly in the skies of Atena. "Surrender your arms and kneel before my glorious crown!" the hologram demanded as a number of Entozoa's ships hovered in the skies. Heavily-armed Beefeaters then descended to land in the middle of the Atenan city of Apellopolis before beginning their destructive march.

"Submit to Queen Entozoa's rule!" one Beefeater exclaims. "Surrender or perish!" another shouts as his laser rifle blasts holes through walls. "Queen Entozoa's mighty crown will reach all corners of the galaxy!" one screams while waving Entozoa's flag of conquest. "Resistance is futile!" one shouts blasting cars to scrap metal. Streets and buildings were struck as Entozoa's forces advanced causing thousands to flee in terror.

"Queen Entozoa is attacking!", "Run for your lives!", "Somebody save us!" Atenan citizenry cried out.

"Is there no warrior who can stand in my way?" Queen Entozoa's hologram challenges. "No? Then march forth my loyal minions! Subjugate this planet! Make it mine!" she shrieked before her challenge was answered: some of her troops are suddenly hit with hot blobs of lava knocking them back before cementing them in place. "Who dares!?" Queen Entozoa screeches.

An Atena warrior with feminine figure and clad in dragon-themed armor, the yellow, lightning bolt horns adorning her helmet denoting her membership to The Heroes of Atena, lands with a loud crash.

"Invaders! Begone from my home or I will dispose of you all myself!" this newcomer demands.

"Wh-who are you!?" a Beefeater squad leader gasps as he struggled against the magma clinging to him.

"You can call me the end to Entozoa's reign!" the Atena defender proclaims.

"Insolence! INSOLENCE!" the insulted queen screams. "Go forth my loyal servants! Blast this disobedient fool apart!"

Numerous Beefeaters all open fire only for the Atena defender to block them by lifting blocks of magma rock out of fresh cracks on the ground, and the Beefeaters are quickly cemented to magma blasted out of other cracks.

"Failures! Weaklings! Imbeciles!" Entozoa screams as her forces were so easily overwhelmed.

Before the invading queen could send more of her conquering armies, several squadrons of Atena Air Force units strike: assailed by Atena's crescent-shaped fighter ships, violent explosions rock Entozoa's ships causing extensive damage.

"GGRRRAAAAARRRGGGHHHH!" Queen Entozoa screamed frustrated Atena was quickly proving too tough of a nut for her armies to crack. Another crash is then felt on Queen Entozoa's own ship. "Wh-what was that!?" she questions alarmed before a wall in her command room explodes and several of her henchmen are defeated by blasts of sticky magma. "AAAAaaaaahhh!"

Queen Entozoa had been descended upon by the same mysterious hero in the dragon-themed armor, the hero's magma arm stretching and seizing the invading queen to hold her firmly in place.

"Invader! A word of advice" the hero says, "Atena is not for conquering and we Atenans have always prided ourselves in defying all who attempt. Now it is your turn to learn that lesson!"

The frightened Queen Entozoa, so used to success, had never been closed in on by adversaries so when the horned hero grasped her with large magma hands, her heart almost skipped a beat.

"L-let me go! LET ME GO!" Queen Entozoa cowered.

"In the name of The Heroes of Atena, I place you under arrest" the hero says layering on more magma but before finishing, Entozoa's command throne quickly transforms into an impenetrable escape pod securing Entozoa within it. The Atenan hero crafts a mighty blade out of her magma but before getting in a swing, the escape pod plunges into the floor and is seen flying out of the ship and away from Atena. Entozoa's damaged ships pick up this escape pod mid-flight and retreat hastily.

"You may have won this round but I will return! I will return and have MY REVENGE!" Queen Entozoa screamed as her forces retreated with her.

Though Atena's attackers escaped, Atena was left unconquered thanks in part to the hero in the dragon-themed light armor. The hero would return not long after to cheering Atenan crowds.

The video was paused.

"Mom, is that really you?" a young Nefai boy named Ala asked his mother Ela. In their living room, Ala was seated before a large television with young sister Dania sitting beside him and mother Ela seated on a couch behind the two.

"A bit dramatized here and there but yes, I helped drive away that evil Entozoa Queen lady" Ela recalled with pride.

"Wow!" Ala gasped impressed. "Did they give you a prize?"

"Getting to defend our home was all the thanks I needed" Ela says humbly.

"Isn't that awesome sis? Mom was so cool!"

"Was?" Ela asks as Dania keeps quiet. "Is mom not cool anymore?"

"Yeah! You're still cool, mom!" Ala declares swiftly before running towards the dragon-themed armor displayed beside the television. Above the armor was the horned helmet the Heroes of Atena have made iconic. "Mom, can I try your helmet on?"

"Only if you clean your room" Ela offers.

"Mmmnnngh-" Ala anguishes. "Okay, I wanna see you wear it then" he asks.

Ela approaches to retrieve her helmet before putting it on.

"How do I look?" Ela asks.

"You look so cool!" Ala praises getting very close to his mother. "I can see myself!"

"I polish my helmet to a mirror shine if you must know" Ela reveals.

Dania had some time ago left for her room.

Inside her room, Dania approached her bed. Reaching under it, Dania retrieves a journal simply titled 'Dania's Book'. Dania turned past pages with titles such as 'proposed villain armor designs', 'villains I will dominate one day', and 'how I will get to the top of the villain leaderboard' before reaching a page with half-finished sketches. The sketches were of proposed Dombot designs, henchmen she hoped to one day build herself.

Dania did not share her brother's or any other Atenan's passion for heroism. Dania dreamed of being a villain, an ambition she kept secret until the very day she would run away from Atena in pursuit of that very dream.

-=episode title=-

THE GUILT TRIP

-=episode title=-

When Dominator's brother Ala arrived, he was in a lab coat like his father and had what looked to be traces of a mohawk on an otherwise professional haircut.

"Dad!" Divven and Tammy both let out once Ala had arrived. Alka and Ela received Ala similarly warmly. This all contrasted sharply with the manner in which Ala was staring at Dominator across the kitchen table.

"Nice of you to be back, sis" Ala says coldly while Ela and Alka busied themselves with their grandkids in the backyard.

"It's nice to be back, bro" Dominator says stiffly. "So you're a dad now? Definitely surprised me."

"You surprised me too. Didn't expect you coming back" Ala says. "Ever."

"Hello!" Wander was quick to greet. "It's a great pleasure to meet you, Dee's brother!"

"Hi, call me Ala... And you are?"

"Folks call me Wander!" Wander says bowing. "This here is Sylvia!"

"Howdy" Sylvia says with a simple wave.

"And this here is Beep Boop!" Wander goes on.

"Greetings" Beep Boop says.

"And who are you to my sister?" Ala asks Wander.

"I'm her very special friend" Wander describes with hands behind his back.

"He's my better half" Dominator adds before pulling Wander into an embrace.

"Ya don't say?" Ala says not expecting Dominator to be in a relationship with a little orange nomad in a big green hat.

"So. I see a lab coat" Dominator observes. "You a scientist of some sort?"

"A researcher for an engineering firm" Ala reveals.

"Dad too?" Dominator asks.

"Yeah. Dad too" Ala answers. "We used to work for the HoA but after you let the galaxy know you were Lord Dominator, they figured Lord Dominator's family to be security risks so we were let go..."

Wander looks at Dominator letting her know an apology was in order.

"...Sounds like I caused you guys a lot of trouble" Dominator laments. "I'm really sorry."

"Don't be too sorry. Dad and I love where we work today" Ala says to Dominator's relief. "Mom did lose something she treasured plenty though: her prized helmet."

"And Dee apologized for that to her mom" Wander was quick to point out, his cheek pressing on hers.

"That's nice of her" Ala says shrugging. "...You should have seen it though. Mom was crushed having to surrender her helmet. Very sad day."

"I wouldn't expect her to be happy" Dominator says ashamed, head in her hands. "What more can I do than apologize?"

"Not much" Ala answers. "The HoA higher ups decided long ago that mom was no more... They couldn't overlook her daughter being THE Lord Dominator, destroyer of planets. It's a miracle they let her keep the rest of her armor..."

Dominator became lost in thought before defending "it's not like I ever attacked this planet."

"That may be but infamy is infamy" Ala says. "Dania, the lightning horns are sacred on this planet, worn by those who defend Atena. By Lord Dominator wearing the same horns, there was nothing short of great shock and insult for many Atenans."

Dominator looks at her brother and her brother looks right back.

"...There's gotta be a way for me to get them back" Dominator insisted.

"Well I'm not sure if it's possible" Ala says. "We could put the question to the HoA themselves."

"Then that's what I'll do: I'll go in person and apologize and ask. And when I leave this planet again, I don't want to leave like last time" Dominator reveals. "Next time, I want to leave a parting gift. What better gift than mom's cherished horned helmet? The helmet taken from her because of me?.."

"Dee, that's a stupendous idea!" Wander was quick to praise.

"Hey, you should make it a surprise gift too!" Sylvia suggests.

"And then we could have your whole family visit Gardenia!" Wander suggests excitedly.

"Brother" Dominator begins, "please don't tell mom what I've got planned."

"..Your secret's safe with me" Ala says. "I'm impressed by the way. You're taking responsibility."

"Lord Dominator left a mess throughout the galaxy. It's only right that Lord Dominator clean it up" Dominator declares.

Ala smiles. "Sis, I want to help in any way I can" he says and Dominator smiles back. "But right after a little more catching up."

"Excellent idea Mr. Ala-" Wander begins as Dominator nods.

"Just call me Ala" Ala directs.

"Right. Ala, we've got catching up to do! So! Dee and I would like to know what your hobbies are."

"My hobbies?.. I like punk rock and lava surfing" Ala replies.

"Punk rock! There's a nifty genre" Wander compliments. "And lava surfing sounds like tons of fun!"

"You certainly got a nice little mohawk going there" Sylvia compliments.

"This is nothing. You got a righteous mane yourself" Ala compliments back.

"Thanks!" Sylvia says.

"Dee, something tells me you liked punk rock when you were younger" Wander guesses.

"You could say I dug the scene" Dominator says straightening her own mohawk.

Wander gasps before asking "Dee, can we see your room?"

"I wouldn't recommend it. It's being used for storage" Ala says.

"Oh" Wander emits disappointed.

"I don't blame you guys" Dominator answers.

Just then, Alka enters the kitchen to ask "anyone up for some family badminton?"

"I thought you'd never ask!" Wander exclaims pulling a racquet out of his hat.

The last to join the game of badminton was Dominator spending some time looking up information on the HoA.

Later that day, Dominator got to work: with help from her brother, she arranged for escort to the capital city of Atena.

A van pulled up to the house, at the steering wheel was a Nefai woman wearing a ponytail slightly to the side of the back of her head and also sporting especially prominent eyelashes.

"Mom!" Divven and Tammy shout being the first to run up to and embrace the driver.

"Dania, this is my wife Jemi. Jemi, this is my sister Dania" Ala introduces.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Dania" Jemi says with a bow.

"A pleasure to meet you too Jemi" Dominator responds.

As Ala introduced Jemi to the others, Dominator could only wonder how much Jemi knew of who she really was.

"Have fun you guys" Ela directs at her daughter and departing company.

"I will mom. I promise to visit again before I leave Atena" Dominator assured.

Jemi and Ala rode in the front while Dominator, Wander, Sylvia, and Beep Boop rode in the back as Jemi took to knowing Dominator better.

"So Dania, what do you do for a living?" Jemi asks.

"She's studying" Ala quickly answers.

"Oh really? What are you studying?" Jemi continues.

"...Agriculture" Dominator answers exchanging glances with Wander.

"Ooh! What school?"

"On another planet" Dominator replies. "Sort of studying independently."

"The plant life we sow and nurture are our ultimate teachers" Wander contributes sagely. "They let us know when we do a good job and bad job" he says winking Dominator's way.

"Oh hohoho!" Jemi chuckles. "Very clever! Definitely the most honest teachers... What planet if I may ask?"

"A once-desolate planet we named 'Gardenia'" Wander says.

"It's really nice. We'd love for you to visit one day" Sylvia adds.

"That sounds like a lovely idea" Jemi praises.

"So. What's one of your favorite hobbies?" Wander asks warmly.

"Ooh, I love painting landscapes" Jemi reveals. "Would love to know of this Gardenia's landscapes."

"We'd love nothing better than getting to show you" Sylvia says.

As small talk went on, Dominator looked out her window to regularly catch landmarks celebrating Atena's heroic history, lightning bolt horns a constant motif. Such sights only made her want to get her mother's helmet back as soon as possible.

"How far away is Atena's capital anyways?" Dominator asks.

"An hour, hour and a half" Jemi and Ala answer at the same time.

Dominator anguished at the thought of trying to carry small talk for that long. Luckily for her, Wander was an expert at friendly, casual chatter.

One topic covered was fashion.

"This hat of mine is magic. Watch!" Wander says before pulling a rabbit plushie out of it.

"Ahahaha! Very clever!" Jemi reacts.

"A gift for you" Wander says handing the rabbit plushie over.

"Oh, why thank you!" Jemi says.

"Giving is its own reward" Wander says.

Another topic discussed was Sylvia's previous line of work.

"Yeah, I used to work as a bounty hunter" Sylvia confirms proudly.

"Ooh, that sounds exciting! And dangerous" Jemi says intrigued.

"It can be" Sylvia explains, "but that was part of the fun!"

"Weren't you afraid of running into dangerous people?" Ala asks.

"I was looking for dangerous people" Sylvia boasts punching her palm. "They're where the big bucks are!"

The conversation also landed on Beep Boop.

"This little guy is just a helpful little personal computer assistant" Wander says hugging Beep Boop.

"You mean it's not a Dominator bot?" Jemi asks.

The van is stunned silent for a moment.

"Dania, I just want you to know that your secret is safe with me" Jemi goes on.

"How did you know?" Dominator asks.

"Most people I know would recognize the eye drippings anywhere but without them, you look like any other Nefai on this planet" Jemi answers, "but then I spotted your mohawk which looks exactly like Lord Dominator's. That and you're hanging out with Wander and Sylvia and Beep Boop. I swear I've heard these names somewhere alongside the name of Lord Dominator..."

"WanDom Watch?" Sylvia guesses.

"I think that's it" Jemi guesses.

"...Well, I have no right to be angry at anyone" Dominator confesses. "I thank you for keeping it secret."

"No problem! The purple dress and summer hat are good disguise but I'd style the mohawk some to help conceal you more" Jemi replies before joining the back of the van to help braid Dominator's hair.

"How does she look?" Jemi asks after finishing.

"Dee, you look beautiful!" Wander compliments. "Not that it's surprising. Thank you so much Jemi!"

"Thank you" Dominator joins in.

"Anything for my sister in law" Jemi says.

Not long after, the party had passed a large sign welcoming all to "Volvagia, Proud Heroic Capital of Atena!"

"Looks like we're here" Sylvia notes as they entered a city where the streets were filled with partygoers.

"People look like they're in a great mood!" Wander notes happily. "Is it a holiday today?"

"It's Atena's 'The March of Heroes' celebration" Ala answers.

"March of Heroes" Dominator repeats.

"We've been to one before" Ala reminds. "When we were younger, mom and dad took us to one."

"Wish I could remember" Dominator answers guessing her younger self did not care for it back then.

"In a galaxy filled with villainy, Atena always makes sure to celebrate its heroes. The heroes that always fight off those who seek to conquer our home!" Jemi celebrates as Dominator spots a statue of a horned Atenan hero in the distance.

The party drove on deeper into the city where decorations were being hoisted up on buildings and street lights. Throngs of Atenans dressed as various heroic figures crowded the streets and sidewalks. Dominator immediately notes the numerous sets of yellow, bolt-shaped horns that were being hung up as decoration as well as ones worn by HoA members who were also serving as event security.

All five drive on past raucous festivities. Posters, fireworks, shirts and beach towels, replica swords and armors fashioned for celebrating Atenan heroes were displayed on shop windows. 'Heros for Heroes' trucks along with other food vehicles were speeding about seemingly to help feed the celebratory masses.

"Wow! Look at the size of those horns!" Wander lets out impressed by a heavily-suited member of security. "Ooh! Decorative horns!" he says buying a set of toy horns from a walking street vendor which he then places on the top of his hat. "One for you! And one for you! And one for you!" he says placing toy horns on Beep Boop, Sylvia, and Jemi.

"Whoa! Lizard tamers!" Sylvia gasps upon seeing some Atenans marching down a major street handling Lava Lizards on leashes.

Quickly, mothers in the crowds made sure to grab hold of their children to ensure they got nowhere near the reptiles. Even with bindings ensuring they could not open their jaws, the Lava Lizards flicked their forked tongues and caused many to clear the way.

"Atenan warrior, hero, Draken was known to be a famous Lizard tamer and fought alongside his trusty Lava Lizards to fight off the evil I Scream Man" Jemi lectures.

"Ice Cream Man! Sounds delicious" Wander says.

"The I Scream Man, not Ice Cream Man" Jemi corrects. "Though he did fight wielding scoops of ice cream."

"Does not compute" Beep Boop comments as Wander giggles.

"Scoops of ice cream? I'm sorry, can you run that by me again?" Sylvia asks, eyebrow raised.

"That just sounds silly!" Wander laughed.

"And sticky" Sylvia adds as Dominator anguished.

Though Dominator didn't show it, it was all starting to eat away at her: her home planet of Atena was obsessed with heroes and heroism and the yellow lightning bolt horns Atenan heroes wore. She feared her mother was no different recalling how much Ela cared for her armor and helmet. She worried the devastation her mother felt when she turned villain must have been greater than she first thought. This all magnified her desire to get her mother's helmet back whatever it took.

"Ala, how much more 'til we get to the HoA offices?" Dominator asks getting anxious.

"We're here, actually" Ala says stationing the van at a large parking lot.

"Office closed for the day" Beep Boop reads moments later. "Closed for 'March of Heroes' celebrations."

"Ugh! Of course it is" Dominator laments.

"So what now?" Sylvia asks.

"We could go celebrate with the rest of the city" Wander says noting the darkening skies and beginnings of fireworks.

"Guys, please go on without me. I don't want to ruin that too" Dominator says.

"Ruin that too?" Wander voices puzzled.

"You sure, sis?" Ala asks with a hand resting on Dominator's shoulder.

"I'm sure. Today's been a long day for me so I'd like to just call it a day..."

"It's a long drive back home" Jemi says.

"I'll book a hotel" Dominator plans. "First thing tomorrow morning, we get back here opening hours."

"If that's what you want, sis" Ala says before driving his sister to a nearby hotel.

"Of course it's named 'Heroic Restings'" Dominator mutters to herself.

After hugging his sister, Ala departs with the others leaving Dominator at the front entrance. Dominator then feels someone grasp her hand.

"Wander?" Dominator finds Wander beside her. "Didn't you want to party?"

"I don't want to leave you alone, Dee" Wander says. "I'm your significant other after all."

Dominator picks Wander up and hugs him, Wander hugging back just as intently.

"Are you sure?" Dominator asks.

"I'm very sure" Wander replies.

"...Thank you..."

The two get a room and Dominator quickly collapses atop bed.

"Today's been exhausting: with hero this and hero that, horns here and horns there, it gets tiring being reminded of your mistakes" Dominator admits as Wander flicks on the television curious to see what Atena television was like. "So much has happened today. I'm ready to call it a day... I hope you've liked your first day here."

"I've loved it! Met so many new people!" Wander celebrates, "but the best part is you and your family getting reacquainted. Loved that more than anything! And as your family, I'm sure they loved that too."

"I hope so" Dominator says tapping away on her phone to update her mother on where she was. "Before I leave this planet, I hope I can gift mom her old helmet back. She loved that thing... She loved being a hero to this planet and I'd feel terrible if I left without at least fixing that."

"That would make a perfect gift" Wander says while changing channels.

With Wander on his stomach atop bed, Dominator pounces: she lies atop him, arms wrapping around, her cheek to his.

"Whatcha watchin'?" Dominator asks relaxed.

"Whatever is on... Oh look! Festivities are being televised! Maybe we'll spot Sylvia and the others?"

"Maybe" Dominator says ready to fall asleep with Wander in her arms.

"Whoa, who's that?" Wander asks spotting a large and heavily armored Packian Hero of Atena wearing very large yellow horns. This Atenan was flanked by other similarly large and armored troops.

"'Leader of Heroes of Atena' it says there" Dominator reads. "So he's the HoA leader? Maybe we'll meet him tomorrow?"

"People of Atena!" the heavily-armored HoA leader booms out to masses of partygoers, "from now on, I am no longer Leader Rocksteady. Henceforth, I am to be addressed as Lord Earlov!"

"Lord Earlov!" his flanks repeat.

"Earl of? Earl of what?" Wander asked.

"He said Earlov" Dominator comments being more interested in smooching whatever part of Wander was closest to her lips.

"We are here today to honor our brave soldiers! Our Heroes of Atena!" Lord Earlov announces indicating a tableful of fierce-looking Atenan warriors.

Lord Earlov continued booming as Wander lost interest and turned his attention to the affections from his significant other.

Author's note: I always wonder if I'm going too long or too short with different sequences. I have to remind myself that something reads faster than it writes.

More to come, thanks for reading!