"Hey Dominator. I've gathered up some Dombot remnants I think you'd be interested in" a text from Ripov read.
"Hello Ripov! Great to hear" Dominator texts back happy to hear from the bounty hunter. "We can send bots to pick up. Just let us know where to send them."
"Awesome. I'll send coordinates shortly" Ripov texts back. "By the way, please stop me if I'm prying but I heard you recently got some great news."
"I have. Wander and I are going to be parents."
"Congratulations!" Ripov texts alongside an animated pic of fireworks exploding. "I'd love to see the baby pictures once the baby's here."
"Haha! You're not the only one" Dominator texts in response. "I'll be sure to text you pics."
Ela, Dominator's mother also made sure to text her daughter.
"Dania, I'm not one to listen to the galaxy's ever-imaginative rumor mill but there's some info I can't ignore" Ela texts.
"Is it that I'm pregnant?" Dominator texts.
"Are you?"
"I'm pregnant, mom" Dominator texts feeling proud. "Wander and I are going to be parents."
"...Dania, I wish I was there right now. I'd hug you so tight" Ela replies.
"Could you come over?" Dominator asks.
"It could be arranged" Ela texts. "I'll let you know. I'll definitely be there to see the baby. You can bet on that!"
Dominator could only beam at her phone once this conversation was done. She put her phone away before getting back to a more pressing matter: the many MANY paparazzi that had been stuffed into the Domship's jail cells.
"Just one picture. C'mon!", "You gotta tell us when the baby's due!", "Names! Baby names!", "Do we know if it's a boy or girl yet!?", the many paparazzi in the jail cells seemed to both beg for and demand.
"These guys care more about getting their big scoop than the fact that they're currently jailed" Sylvia remarks astounded. "If we give you a tiny bit of info, do you promise to beat it right after?"
"We promise" a paparazzi with shades says with right hand raised, his left hand behind his back crossing fingers.
"Baby names would be nice" another paparazzi suggests. "Ooh! Baby names! Please!", "Where's my recorder! My recorder!", "Tell us! Boy or girl?" some in the jail cells start letting out frantically like starved inmates begging for scraps.
"Sylvia, give these types a meter and they'll take a lightyear" Dominator says with arms folded while Wander browsed a wedding dress catalog he kept hidden from Dominator behind a book on interior decor.
-=episode title=-
THE WEDDING DRESS
-=episode title=-
"Awaiting orders, Lord Wander" Knight Dombot Sputnik asks.
"I say we give them a chance" Wander suggests.
"I say we don't" Dominator says.
"Gonna side with Dee on this one. These guys are a little too insistent for my liking" Sylvia says.
"Well, looks like I'm outvoted" Wander shrugs.
"That means you ilk have to beat it!" Dominator barks at the captive paparazzi. "And if you show up again, I'll make sure you never leave" Dominator says while brandishing ice and magma claws.
"Wow! We're being threatened by Lord Dominator herself!", "Got it on video!", "If we live to tell the tale, think of all the press!", "We'll be famous!" the paparazzi respond to Dominator's threats.
"This is one reason why I can't stand these pests. They have the thickest of skulls!" Dominator condemns pinching where the bridge of her nose would be.
Someone standing behind the three clears his throat before stepping forward.
"Allow me" HammerHead director says before approaching the jailed paparazzi. "Salutations old friends."
"Hey, it's HammerHead Director", "Whoa, it's really him!", "What movie is he filming today?", "If he's here then some major talent could be nearby too" was among the chatter that broke out suddenly but was impressively silenced when HammerHead raised his hand to seize the paparazzi's attention.
"You are all in violation of HammerHead Productions llc's intergalactic copyright" HammerHead aims at the once-raucous, now-stunned silent gossip hounds. "Wander and Dominator are now associated with HammerHead Productions and if I find any of you messing with my talent, I'll sue each and every one of you so hard, you'll be cleaning up my cousin's jockstraps to pay off the court loss and legal fees."
"Someone talking about me?" Emperor Awesome finally steps forward making his presence known.
"And I warn you, he works up a sweat cutting up dance floors!" HammerHead threatens.
"Too much information" Sylvia distresses.
The collective attitude and demeanor of the paparazzi immediately shifted a whole 180.
"Our sincerest apologies Mr. HammerHead!", "We swear, we had no idea it was like that", "We promise if you let us go, we'll never bother your talents again!" the paparazzi apologized. "Now please let us out", "We wanna get out!", "Let us go!"
"They're all yours" HammerHead says stepping back.
The prisons are opened and the paparazzi scatter away with some hailing space cabs, others deploying jetpacks to get away, and quite a number of others piling into space buses.
"That was impressive. Gotta say" Sylvia admires watching the fleeing gossip seekers.
"Working in Jollywood means having to deal with those media types on the regular" HammerHead says tidying up his already-tidy outfit. "Anyways, I've recently wrapped up production on a hectic movie set. A little rest and relaxation is in order and I've heard amazing things of this 'relaxatorium'."
"Say no more!" Wander says eager to help before leading HammerHead and Awesome to a room inside Gardenia's relaxatorium.
"Oh, this is most excellent" HammerHead says lying atop a bed made of bubbles.
"Oh yeah, the talk was on point. Bubble therapy is pretty sweet!" Emperor Awesome says relaxing atop a bed of his own.
"Consider this payment for the help with the paparazzi" Dominator says.
"Hey Becks, room for one more" Awesome says making room beside him.
"Yeah, I don't think so" Sylvia waves off. "Hey Wander, Dee, let's explore the rest of this Leisurian city."
"I'm down. Let's go" Dominator says, "but not before keeping an eye on these two."
Two Knight Dombots, an 'Iron Knuckle' and 'Sputnik', enter the room to keep an eye on the two sharks.
"Talk about buzz kill. What threat could we possibly pose?" Awesome challenges.
"Don't like it? Beat it!" Dominator snaps. "Come on Wander."
"Coming Dominator!" Wander sings in response.
"Hey, before you go" HammerHead speaks up halting Wander, "if you ever need someone to film the wedding, give me a call" he says handing over a business card.
Wander nods after looking the card over. He then stores the card away in his hat.
Dominator and Sylvia began an exploration of the Leisurian's resort town in the middle of construction. Wander tagged along while a million ideas swam in his head regarding the wedding he wanted to have. He wanted to surprise Dominator just like she surprised him with her pregnancy. So lost in thought was he that while Dominator and Sylvia explored the city around them, he was completely surprised when Dominator picked him up and sat him on her lap.
"Wander, smile. We're getting drawn" Dominator says wrapping her arms around him, her head resting atop his.
"We are?" Wander asks before looking straight ahead to find a Leisurian artist drawing the two. "Oh! We are. Hello!"
"Greetings" the Leisurian replies while sketching away. "Talk around town is you two are parents in the making?"
"We are" Dominator says readily.
"How lovely! Congratulations!" the artist says while Sylvia stood behind the artist impressed by the artist's work.
"Thank you!" Dominator and Wander answer in unison.
"Sorry, did you need us to sit still?" Wander asks.
"It helps. You can move about if you wish just not too much" the artist answers. During the drawing process, Wander spots a shop that specialized in wedding dresses among other clothing articles. He had to figure out a way to get to this shop without Dominator noticing.
"Finished" the artist declares before he presented the expecting couple a lovely piece of Wander seated on Dominator's lap. In Wander's arms was an infant that had Dominator's green skin and white hair but also Wander's white sclera. The baby's irises consisted of white dots inside black rings inside of pink rings.
"This is fantastic!" Sylvia acclaims.
"You went above and beyond" Dominator joins in while Wander was speechless.
"There are fewer things in life better than satisfying your customer" the artist responds before Sylvia makes sure to pay him handsomely. "Getting paid is certainly nice too."
"This has GOT to go up on a wall somewhere in the Domship" Sylvia says while Wander stares at the piece.
"Y-yes it does" Wander says choking up. An idea hits him and he retrieves a coupon from his hat. "Ladies, I just HAVE to find the perfect place for this art! I've been reading up on interior decoration and I figure now's a perfect time to put that know-how to good use. Why don't you two treat yourselves to free pedicures and manicures while I get decorating?"
"Pedicures? Manicures?" Sylvia says eagerly. "Dee! Ever have those?"
"Can't say I have" Dominator responds.
"Oh, they're the best!"
"Well I heard free" Dominator notes. "That's certainly one of our favorite four-letter f words, right Wander?"
"R-right" Wander answers turning slightly red.
Dominator smooches Wander's lips before she and Sylvia set off for a nail salon. Wander stores the art away in his hat and heads for the shop with the wedding dresses at the window.
"If it isn't Wander himself!" the Leisurian store attendant greets surprised.
"Howdy Liza!" Wander returns after reading the attendant's name tag. "I'm here looking for a wedding dress" Wander reveals pulling out the catalog he was browsing earlier.
"What a coincidence! I happen to make 'em" Liza says. Wander points to a particular wedding dress in the catalog and Liza's expression turns somber. "Wander, it is with a heavy heart that I tell you this dress is currently unavailable."
"It can't be!" Wander emits in dismay. "Why is it unavailable?"
"We've run out of the special fabric that dress is made out of" Liza explains.
"But Dominator would look so beautiful in it" Wander protests. "I really had my eyes set on this dress and just have to get it somehow..." Wander thinks. "Tell me more of this special fabric."
"Do you intend to acquire this special fabric? It will not be easy."
Wander takes a deep breath and hardens his expression.
"My wife to be is carrying our child" Wander says with pride. "She will one day shoulder the burden of delivering our child into this world, a burden I wish I could shoulder with her but sadly, I can't. Despite that, she's going to endure so much to make me the galaxy's happiest father so I want to make her the happiest mother in the galaxy and I'm not going to let a little hardship get in the way! So you tell me what I have to do and I will do it!"
Liza's eyes widen with amazement. "Th-that was really sweet!" she admires. "Okay, you've inspired me. I will make the finest of wedding dresses if you can get me this special fabric. I must warn you however: acquiring it will not be easy."
"Tell me what I need to do" Wander orders, expression remaining firm.
"The special fabric comes from special wildlife on a special planet not too far from here" Liza begins. "The creatures on this planet may look pretty but they are anything but friendly."
"Oh, surely you jest. How unfriendly could these critters be?"
"All's I'm saying is take some mighty Dombots along for safety" Liza advises.
"Good idea" Wander agrees and some time later, he set off.
The planet of Dmnd looked like a jewel sparkling in the sun when viewed from afar and it was this planet Wander had been instructed to head for by Liza. He was approaching this planet rapidly riding inside a Knight Dombot named T34.
"Thanks again for tagging along, T34" Wander thanks his Dombot companion.
"Don't mention it, Lord Wander" T34 answers.
"Just Wander's fine by the way" Wander reminds as the two enter Dmnd's atmosphere and spot snow-white snow down below as well as scatterings of snow-covered trees.
"Wander, what is that below?" T34 asks.
"That down below is the whimsical wonder of winter's snow!" Wander celebrates. "Ever play with snow?"
"I'm afraid not" T34 says.
"It's so much fun! We can build igloos and snowmen and have fun snowball fights!" Wander celebrates as T34 lands gently atop thick snow. Wander hops out of T34 who was quick to probe the snow under his feet.
"Brrrr! It's really cold out here" Wander says shivering. "And sorta foggy too" he says squinting.
"Hop back in for warmth" T34 instructs reopening up at the top.
"Thanks buddy but I got this" Wander says before digging into his hat and pulling out an oversized green sweater with a yellow star on it. "Star Bella made this for me. Perfect for this winter weather" he says putting the sweater on. "Now check this out. Snow angel!" Wander says lying down and raking the snow with his arms and legs.
T34 tries to mimic Wander and has itself a seat atop the snow. He then sweeps at the snow with his three legs before standing back up again.
"Hey, you made a snow flower!" Wander says assessing the mark left behind by T34. T34 then reacts as if alarmed and withdraws missile launchers out of its body which it points at a gathering of trees off in the distance. "What's the matter, buddy? You see something scary over there?" Wander asks looking in the same direction.
"Lord Wander, stand back. Threat level at max!" T34 alerts.
"But I don't see anything" Wander says focusing his eyes through thick fog. He then spots a little rabbit coated in what looked like diamonds. "Ooh~ Well hello there ya cutie little critter!" he greets. "Now aren't you a sparkly little one! Don't be scared. We don't bite."
"Wander, please stand back" T34 insisted before extending a magma tentacle to restrain Wander.
"Now what are you so freaked out about? It's just a little rabbit and rabbits are our friends" Wander insists.
The little rabbit hops approaching.
"T34, this planet's wildlife sparkles like Liza explained" Wander recalls. "Ooh, I can already see Dee in her wedding dress now! She's going to look so beautiful!" he dreams.
The rabbit-like creature, as expected, had long rabbit ears and a fluffy rabbit tail and a twitchy nose and hopped about like a rabbit would. Save for its fur that sparkled as though covered in jewels, nothing seemed out of the ordinary and soon, other critters appeared out of hiding: a large sheep-like creature joined the rabbit's side. Then a squirrel climbed down from a snow-covered tree, a little bear and fawn came out of hiding, and a bird lands atop the cub's head.
All glimmered as if coated in jewelry.
"Oo~h, look at all these adorable critters!" Wander gasps. "And they all sparkle so beautifully!"
Wander was enthralled but T34 was having none of it. He fires several missiles at the critters and massive explosions engulf them beneath massive balls of fire.
"Gaaah! How could you do that!?" Wander exclaims but T34 remained steadfast for the ball of fire did not last. It soon cleared to reveal the lustrous creatures were fine. "Th-they're okay?"
"Wander, these are no ordinary creatures" T34 explains. "They are extraordinary creatures."
"Well no kidding" Wander says. "They're so shiny and with their help, I'm going to get my bride her wedding dress!"
The rabbit, the little bear, the fawn and sheep, the squirrel and bird; all their eyes began to glow an ominous blood red. Their collective features also suddenly turned menacing.
The rabbit's ears curved to resemble devil horns and its teeth did the same, the squirrel's bushy tail elongated into a spiked whip, the baby bear's claws extended out like knives. The bird's little beak bulks up looking like a long lance, the sheep's fluffy cotton body transformed into a messy tangling of barbed wire, the fawn grew spike-covered antlers.
All grew many times their sizes with vocal chords to match.
"RRROOOOAAAAARRRR!" the bear explodes at Wander and T34, putrid breath nearly blowing Wander's hat off and turning his orange fur purple for a brief instant.
"...An enemy is just a friend you haven't made yet?" Wander squeaks unsure.
T34 did not hesitate. He secures Wander inside of its spherical body and blasts off and away from the savage beasts.
"But we didn't mean any harm" Wander directs at his rescuer.
"Wildlife often operates on instinct, Lord Wander" T34 explains. "Do not blame yourself."
Wander attempted to reply but a mighty screech of a bird of prey drowns him out as the bird dives on the fleeing Dombot. The bird's talons swipe at T34 landing slashes on its hard body. T34 quickly heals and retaliates with a blast of magma but is also sent crashing down to the snow.
"Buddy, you okay!?" Wander asks following the crash landing.
"Must get you to safety" T34 struggles.
"AAaah!" Wander shouts as the bear charges the two leaping high up into the air to attempt a body slam.
T34 rolls out of the way just in time and the bear body slams only snow. This dodge sends T34 rolling down a snowy slope, Wander inside holding on during uncontrolled rolling.
Seeing this rolling, the sheep gives chase. With its barbed wire-covered body, the sheep rolls after the fleeing T34, the pointy tips of the wiring threatening to collide with the Knight Dombot and Wander sheltering within. Initially, T34 kept a good distance away from the sheep but the sheep slowly began to gain on its target.
The quick-thinking T34 fires a few magma blasts to redirect its rolling and dodge the roll from the barbed wire sheep. The barbed sheep rolls away as T34 slows itself down with his legs.
"Incoming!" Wander shouts as the fawn quickly charges at a T34 fresh from his rolling and its antlers crash into the Dombot. T34 is sent flying towards the rabbit that kicks the Dombot with its hind legs. The squirrel then whips the Dombot with its tail and T34 finds himself being tossed around as if it were a volleyball.
T34 blasts the rabbit with magma to encase it in molten rock, molten rock the bird is quick to peck away at. Magma blasts are sent the squirrel's way but the squirrel zig zags to dodge and rapidly approaches as the bear encroaches as does the fawn and sheep.
"Lord Wander, suggested course of action: retreat" T34 suggests firing several missiles at the bear, fawn, and sheep while readying its rocket boosters.
"...Actually, there's something we haven't tried yet" Wander says before hopping out of T34.
"Lord Wander!" T34 lets out.
"Better to beat 'em with kindness rather than with force" Wander says as the bear marches up to him and roars its putrid breath right into Wander's face. Wander grimaces at his foe withstanding the terrible odor at first. "Peee yuuu! Ya know there's nothing attractive about stinky breath" Wander lectures. "Pardon my rudeness but those teeth are hardly pearly whites. You my friend are in serious need of help!"
"Rrraaurr?" the bear emits in a pitiable sound as though suddenly embarrassed.
"Apologies, I don't mean to be so blunt but I'd love to help" Wander says pulling out an oversized tooth brush and starting a rigorous brushing of the bear's teeth. "Aha! As I suspected: you've got food stuck in between your teeth. Leading cause of bad breath" Wander says beneath the sound of teeth scrubbing.
As Wander worked, the bear's eyes shifted about looking at its partners who looked just as confused. This worsened when Wander shed his green sweater and climbed into the bear's mouth to really give the bear's teeth a good scrub.
"Boy oh boy, when's the last time you gave your teeth a good cleaning?" Wander chastises as the bear's cheeks bulged out in various directions before Wander climbs out and stuffs the mouth with snow. "Now chew and rinse."
The bear does as its told before finally spitting out the rinse.
"Mouth wash" Wander offers and the bear accepts, rinses, and spits out. "Mirror" Wander offers and the bear grins from ear to ear to boast a mouth full of shining whites. "Now how's that? Doesn't your mouth feel better?"
The bear roars at Wander much like before.
"Now that roar smelled lots better!" Wander praises. "A roar to be proud of! Now let's talk about those antlers" he continues turning towards the fawn.
"Wander, is that you!?" the sheep suddenly asks and Wander gasps.
"Shirley?" Wander responds.
"Yes! It's me! Shirley Sheep!" the sheep-like Shirley says as her barbed wire seemed to recede into her body. "I didn't recognize you with that sweater on. Guys, it's okay. Wander's a friend."
"He is is he?" the rabbit asks.
"Yes! Wander was there for me when my home planet was attacked by that skull and bones guy" Shirley recalls.
At ease, the six forest critters returned to their former, friendlier, cuddlier selves.
"Wander!"
"Shirley!" Wander almost sings.
Wander and Shirley embrace.
"Shirley, didn't recognize ya with such a puffy coat!"
"Wander, let me introduce you" Shirley Sheep says. "This is Fanny Fawn. This is Bob Bear. This here is Brenda Bird and this is Steve Squirrel. And this is Rita Rabbit."
Greetings are exchanged.
"A friend of Shirley's is a friend of ours. Sincerest apologies for earlier" Bob says. "With sparkly bodies like ours, far too many covet our fur and we thought you were hunters."
Eyes shift towards T34.
"No no, this Dombot is also a friend" Wander is quick to clarify. "This is T34."
"Greetings" T34 salutes. "Apologies for earlier. Threat indicators were reacting."
"Not surprising considering what we turned into" Squirrel Steve points out.
"So what brings you here?" Shirley Sheep asks.
"I'm hoping to marry someone very dear to me" Wander says, "and I'm here hoping for fabric to make her a wedding dress."
"Oh grop! Who's the lucky gal?" Shirley asks.
"Dominator" Wander says proudly.
"Dominator!?" Shirley almost gasps, her fellow critters similarly surprised.
"I've heard she'd turn over a new leaf" Fanny Fawn says.
"She has" Wander confirms to noises of approval.
"Wander, I'd love to help you" Shirley says, "but on this planet, I need my wool for warmth."
"..O-oh" Wander says disappointed. "Well, I understand. Nice seeing you again."
"Oh Wander, I hate seeing you disappointed like this" Shirley says looking around. "Wait. Your sweater. How's about a trade? My wool for your sweater?"
"A trade? But this sweater was a gift" Wander says considering.
"I promise to take care of that sweater and I can give it back once my wool regrows" Shirley says.
"Oh. In that case, yes!" Wander says upbeat.
Armed with an electronic shearer, Wander got to work which was not easy: Shirley's wool was tough but soon, Wander had stuffed the prized, brilliant wool into his hat before departing the planet.
"Don't be a stranger now", "Have a lovely wedding", "I'm sure you two will make each other very happy" were among the good-byes Shirley and her crittermates shared as Wander and T34 departed Dmnd.
"My goodness! This is so much wool" Liza remarks when Wander makes his return. "Hope getting this special wool wasn't too much trouble."
"Eeeh, nothing too crazy" Wander waves off. "Anything is possible when you have good friends" he says patting T34 standing beside him. "I just hope it will be enough."
"Wander my good sir, you have yourself a wedding dress" Liza says as she gathers her dress-making tools. "You wanna watch me put the dress together?"
"Ooh! That would be swell!" Wander acclaims and Liza gets down to work turning the shiny wool into shiny fabric.
In the middle of Liza's fascinating work, Wander pulls his phone out of his hat to find texts had come his way.
"Hey Wander, we went ahead and had ourselves a spa day" Sylvia's text read. This was followed by pictures of Sylvia and Dominator neck-deep in a mud bath, getting deep-tissue massages at the hands of dainty Leisurians, and wearing facial masks with the cucumber slices atop the eyes.
"Hey Wander, check out what mom wore to her wedding. Do you think I'd look good in something like this?" Dominator's text asked and a picture of a Nefai wedding dress followed.
Wander then experiences near-uncontrollable giggling.
"Something appears to be humorous" Liza observes.
"Dominator just sent me what her mom wore on her wedding day" Wander reveals.
"Oh dear" Liza dismays. "Do you still desire this dress?"
"Of course I do. Why do you ask?"
"Perhaps you wish her to wear a dress like that instead?" Liza asks.
"Why not both?"
"Both?" Liza repeats confused.
"I was hoping to marry Dominator twice and now she'll have a new dress for each time" Wander jokes.
"Ohohoho! Wander, you are too much" Liza says amid giggling of her own.
"Either that or she could swap dresses during the wedding party" Wander reasons.
"A fine idea" Liza says.
Author's note: I was going to describe Dominator's wedding dresses this chapter but best to save that for the day of the wedding. Once again, thanks for reading and for your patience!
