Wander over Yonder Season 3-50
-=the shopping=-
"...Cinnamon sticks. Whole black peppercorns. Brown sugar. Allspice berries" Dominator read from a shopping list Wander had given her. She did so while pushing a shopping cart along a supermarket aisle. "Some of these, I've never heard of.. Ya wanna help momma shop?" she asks her daughter Luna who was standing inside the shopping cart.
Luna, at the age where she learned to walk not too long ago, nods with glee.
"Awesome! Help momma fetch the cereal box up there" Dominator asks picking Luna up to grab said box. "Almonds and granola. My favorite! You like that one too?"
Luna nods before Dominator places her back into the shopping cart and proceeds towards the next aisle. There, three other shoppers spot Dominator coming and are quick to rush out of sight.
"Hashbrowns! Sign us up!" Dominator says fetching two bags of said food after spotting them in the frozen food aisle. "Don't know how your dad does it but he knows how to fry these babies up to a perfect crunch!" she says handing the bags to Luna who then fits them fine in the shopping cart. "That's one of the great things about grocery shopping: works up an appetite!"
Arriving at the line to the butcher, Dominator works her way through a small crowd to pull a paper tag for the queue.
"98" Dominator reads her tag before showing it to Luna. "What number's the line on?.. 76" she reads from the display above the butcher's counter. "22 away, pssh! That sucks!" she says aloud before turning around to find the crowd gone. "Hey. Where'd everyone go?.. Whatever."
"9-98" someone from behind the counter calls out.
"Oh! Luna, that's us!" Dominator tells her daughter before approaching the butcher's counter.
"H-hello ma'am! H-how can I help ya?" the butcher, an eel-like alien, asks nervously.
"Hi! Just need a fresh cut of some of your fine cheeses here" Dominator says pleasantly.
"R-right away ma'am!" the butcher confirms as his and Dominator's eyes fall on what looked like hours-old cheese. "N-not to worry! L-let me get you fresh cheese!" he goes on tossing aside the older cheese to bust out a fresh supply.
"Wow! That's fine customer service!" Dominator says.
"Only the b-best for you, D-Dominator!" the butcher says trying not to tremble too harshly.
A little later, Dominator pushed a full shopping cart towards check-out. Approaching a line, shoppers quickly rushed off one after another either to another line or wherever it took to get away from the green villainess.
The store clerk at the cash register tried her best not to just run away: seeing Dominator caring for a child perhaps helped convince the clerk she was not in danger but it wasn't easy talking casually with the galaxy's former destroyer.
"W-was everything to your liking here at 'Shop-Easy'?" the clerk asks while scanning Dominator's items.
"Can't complain" Dominator shrugs while tending to Luna's hair.
"G-good to hear. Good to hear!" the clerk says calmed by the mother-daughter dynamic on display. "Th-that'll be 198 galactic credits" she says bravely.
"198 credits?"
"Gaaah! D-don't hurt me!" the clerk suddenly begs before taking cover behind the counter. "I-I don't price these things! I j-just handle customers! I swear I meant no offense! T-talk to my manager! I'm sure he prices these things, not me! He even refuses paid leave! Destroy him! Not me!"
The frightened store clerk hears no response out of Dominator at first.
"Here's 200" Dominator says placing payment down on the counter. "Keep the change."
The store clerk breathes a sigh of relief watching Dominator exit the store. Outside, Dominator is approached by another store clerk.
"Hello ma'am. Would you like help loa-D-D-DOMINATOR!?" the store clerk gasps. "AAaaaaahh!"
After the clerk flees in fear, Dominator stands idle for a quiet moment and then looks at her puzzled daughter.
"See that, Luna? Momma's still got it!" Dominator says grinning while clenching a magma fist. "That means if someone messes with you, Momma will RIP them a new one!" the villainess growls with glee.
Both depart the scene once groceries were loaded up into their ride not long after.
-=the worry=-
Wander and his son Jack were both relaxing in a Gardenia park on a day with perfect weather. Jack sucked on his pacifier while playing in a sandbox with Wander beside him carving up interesting patterns on the sand.
"J... A... C... K!.. That spells Jack! That's you, son!" Wander says using a stick to write on the sand. "Let's try spelling other things: M... O... M... That spells mom. That's Dominator... D... A... D... That spells dad. That's me! S... O... N... Son! That's also you!" Wander says pulling Jack into a loving hug.
Wander then gasps.
"You know what'd be fun?" Wander asks. "Building ourselves a little city!" he says reaching into his hat to pull out shovel and bucket. "Let's start with a little school and the little children heading there to get an education" Wander says sculpting school children and school buildings out of sand. "And here we have happy city folk heading to work to make a living" Wander says sculpting more people heading towards other sand buildings. "And all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Let's build a nice little park for people to relax in after a hard day's work."
Jack watched his father really get sucked into his work and by the end of it, Wander had built a nice little city with plenty of buildings and people all sculpted out of sand.
"Well son? What do you think?" Wander asks.
A curious Jack approaches a building to admire his father's work briefly.
"Ya like it, son?" Wander asks.
With little warning, Jack then slaps the sand structure causing it to collapse. Wander is quickly horrified by this as his son claps his hands and giggles from his mischief. Like a kaiju terrorizing a city, Jack continues punching buildings and stomping on miniature, people-shaped sand sculptures: he swipes at a library, steps on a school bus, flattens a series of homes, and slaps down a skyscraper.
Wander was speechless as nightmare scenarios of his son growing up to be a planet-destroying villain visit him.
"Oh no!" Wander dismays.
"Everything okay buddy?" Sylvia speaks up approaching, a box of baked goods in her hand.
"Syl! I'm worried!" Wander alerts before explaining how Jack had destroyed Wander's sand city and citizenry.
"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about" Sylvia assures. "He's just a little kid and they're just sand sculptures. Kids play kaiju monster all the time."
"But what if it's a sign?" Wander worries. "A sign of things to come?"
Sylvia summons her Sylver Lightning and the three take off.
"I'm sure he'll be fine" Sylvia says as she initiates auto-pilot. "What do you say we put him through a test?"
Sylvia lines up a series of objects: a firefighter's hat, a doctor's outfit, a replica of Dominator's horned helmet, Wander's own hat, a drum set, and a suit and tie. Jack was then set down in front of these items.
"Look Jack" Sylvia invites, "look at all those neat things over there! Don't you wanna play with them?"
Jack approaches the little line up and examines the firefighter's helmet to Wander and Sylvia's delight. He then tosses it aside to Wander and Sylvia's great worry. He shows no interest for the doctor's outfit or suit and tie. He then takes Wander's hat and puts it on.
Wander was ready to sing seeing his son in his own hat: Jack almost looked like Wander's twin under it. The first verse of a joyous song locks up in his throat however when his son replaces the green magical hat with the iconic Dominator horns.
"Nooooo!" Wander lets out in dismay.
"I-I'm sure he's trying Dominator's helmet on because he's seen her wearing it before" Sylvia quickly reasons.
"Y-yeah. That has to be it" Wander agrees uneasily picking up his green hat.
A beeping sound rings out from the cockpit.
"Oh! It's Dee!" Sylvia says responding to the beeping.
All look out to see Dominator in her full armor. She is let in shortly after.
"How's my little nomad?" Dominator greets upon seeing Jack charge for her. Little sounds of joy escape Jack as Dominator picks him up into a motherly hug.
Wander's heart melted at the sight of his wife and son embracing so warmly. Surely a son who loved his mother that much could never grow up to be villainous, Wander hoped.
"Dee, how'd it go?" Sylvia asks.
"Reservations were booked" Dominator answers disappointed. "Gotta wait a week for openings... Wander, what's that look?"
"Looks like he's falling for ya a second time, Dee" Sylvia says in admiration.
"Falling for me a second time?" Dominator asks amused.
"For a fifth time" Wander says dreamy-eyed. He shakes off his stupor to say "actually, I was a bit worried earlier but it's all okay now."
"Worried about what?" Dominator almost interrogates. She wanted to quash anything that might trouble her better half.
"Wander was worried Jack might grow up to be a villain" Sylvia adds plainly.
"Silly notion, huh?" Wander says awkwardly.
"Not silly at all. The blood of great warriors flows through his veins!" Dominator boasts striking a pose with Jack.
"...Buddy, I sense you're still worried about it" Sylvia says tapping at her smartphone. "Let's try this."
Sylvia shows Wander an illustration of a sad puppy and Wander's eyes glisten.
"S-Syl, what a sad picture" Wander mutters saddened.
Sylvia then shows the same picture to Jack and Jack tears up as well while emitting the beginnings of baby sobs.
"No no no" Sylvia soothes while withdrawing her phone. "It's okay. It's just a picture" she says caressing Jack's hair.
"He's a little softy like you" Dominator directs at Wander. "How could he ever grow up to be villainous?"
"...Good question" Wander says accepting Jack into his hugging arms.
Dominator still suspects a continued worry in Wander however.
"Wander, look at what you did with me" Dominator says pulling her husband and son into a warm embrace. "I was destroying the galaxy before meeting you and now we're raising our son. If you can pull that off, we can raise a good son. Easy."
"Dominator's right. We've been through tougher challenges" Sylvia says joining in on the hug. "I'm sure you and Dee will raise Jack to be a fine fella. Just like you!"
Wander then feels his son join in on the group hug.
"You guys are right" Wander says. "Maybe I'm just paranoid."
"Buddy, nothing wrong with worrying about family" Sylvia assures.
"You're right, Syl" Wander accepts.
Dominator then thinks for a bit before tapping on her phone.
"Check this out, Jack" Dominator says showing Jack a video of a building undergoing a controlled demolition. A starry-eyed Jack lets out joyous sounds. "Cool video, huh?"
Wander eyes his wife confused.
"Just wanted to see if he inherited more than just my eyes" Dominator explains. "I don't wanna raise a total softy."
"Good like you, tough like Dee" Sylvia remarks. "Perfect combo."
Wander looks at Jack and Jack looks back bright-eyed. With fresh peace of mind, Wander smiles and then hugs his son tight.
-=the warriors=-
On the planet of Atena, Dominator's mother Ela looked over her grandchildren carefully on a wide open field. Jack, Luna, and Dex looked back just as intently: Jack anticipating a fun challenge, Luna admiring Ela's lovely braided ponytail, and Dex feeling nervous.
Also not far away was Ela's daughter Dania who most of the galaxy knew as Dominator. With Dominator was her husband Wander and excellent friend Sylvia.
"Dania, I trust my grandchildren are being raised to be fine warriors" Ela inquires with authority.
"They're on their way" Dominator answers.
"What does that mean?" Ela asks with eyes narrowing. "You've been teaching them self-defense, yes?"
"Of course!" Dominator says.
"We know lots, Mama Ela!" Jack is quick to claim. With hands forward, green energy starts snapping to life in his palms. "Yeah! Ya see?" Jack says as electrical currents start to hop back and forth between both hands.
"Looking good" Ela acclaims.
"I know, right!?" Wander bursts out abruptly. "Sorry, I'm just so proud" Wander says with hands covering a broad smile.
"Nothing to be ashamed of, buddy" Sylvia assures beside Wander.
"But is it good?" Ela adds inquisitively as she summons a magma blade and stabs the ground loudly.
"Cool" Jack says admiring the weapon.
Ela flicks her sword upward sending a chunk of ground up into the air. With another swing, her sword elongates into a whip to crack at the chunk shattering it to dust.
"Wow!" Luna and Wander are impressed.
"Liked that?" Ela asks.
"Yeah!" Jack says readily.
"Good. Now show me what you got" Ela says tossing another chunk skywards.
"Haaa!" Jack exclaims aiming an energy blast at the chunk which then also shatters.
"More incoming!" Ela warns tossing more targets skyward.
"Bring it on!" Jack says blasting away with green beams of energy. "How was that?" he asks after many obliterations.
"Wooo! Go son!" Wander exclaims excitedly.
"Very good" Ela approves. "Now see if you can hit me" she challenges readying her sword.
"I can hit ya!" Jack boasts.
"No hesitation! I like that!" Ela says.
"Take this!" Jack shouts sending an energy bolt.
Ela swings her sword one-handed deflecting the bolt away. Jack stares in awe.
"That it?" Ela questions.
"No, here's some more!" Jack launches more and Ela expertly deflects one after another.
"This is too easy" Ela mocks.
"Grrr!" Jack growls conjuring up a heavier bolt. This bolt is launched and Ela deflects once again.
"Ooh, that one was heavy" Ela says feeling greater pressure against her blade.
"Hah! Hah! Hah!" Jack exhales sending bolts as heavy as he could muster.
"Whoa! Had to use both hands to deflect those" Ela says after her arms strain to steady her blade against the bolts.
"Grrraaahhh!" Jack shouts sending two heavy bolts at once. These are deflected too but only after Ela's posture gets serious.
"...What's the matter? Tired?" Ela asks a Jack out of breath.
"N-no" Jack says breathing heavily. "Just don't want to hurt you so th-that's enough."
"Of course" Ela says amused. "Luna, wanna give it a go?"
Luna jumps slightly surprised by her grandmother's call to action.
"Me?" Luna asks.
"Yes. You" Ela confirms.
"Will you braid my hair like yours after?"
"Of course, dear" Ela answers as Luna and Jack swap places.
"Ready Luna?" Ela asks.
"Ready!" Luna confirms and Ela sends a chunk of rock flying upwards. It crashes down shortly after.
Ela looks over to find her granddaughter carving up a little ice sculpture alongside her father, Wander.
"Didn't feel like blasting the rock?" Ela asks.
"Well" Luna begins meekly, "I like to make ice sculptures with my powers" she says continuing her carving.
"And I love helping!" Wander adds.
"But what if I was a big, scary monster!?" Ela says raising her arms mostly playfully. "What would you do?"
"Ummm..."
Raising her hands in a stance, Luna suddenly unleashes mighty arctic winds to blast Ela. Winds so strong, Ela has to stab the ground with her blade so as not to be blown away.
"Whoa!" Sylvia voices, "Luna, a little restraint!"
"N-no!" a shivering Ela objects. "K-keep going! G-give me th-the best you got!"
Feeling ice starting to form on the tips of her ears and fingers, Ela strikes her nails across the length of her blade to set it on fire. This fire blows back on her to counter the frigid air Luna was blasting her way. At one point, a white column of ice and snow threatens to swallow up Ela to the alarm of outside observers. Within the white column, a burning orange-red flame hugs Ela letting Wander, Dominator, and the others watching that Ela was not going to freeze to death.
"Kaaaah!" Luna finally exhales as her output suddenly dies down and she falls down to her hands and knees.
"Luna!" many exclaim running to Luna's side.
"You okay, sis?" Jack asks.
"I'm okay" Luna assures recovering quickly.
"Of course she's okay" Ela says, her blade still burning brightly. "She's a tough warrior in the making... Anyone wondering if I'm okay?" Ela questions.
"We know you're okay, mom" Dominator says flatly.
"Jeez! And I thought it felt cold before" Ela says with a chuckle. "Hello~" she then greets crouching down to Dex's level.
Dex does not immediately respond prompting Wander to run to his side.
"He's our youngest so he's a little shy" Wander says wrapping his arms around Dex. "Say hi, son."
"Hi" Dex breaks his silence.
"He's got your hair" Ela says caressing Dex's hair.
"Yes he does" Wander says with pride.
"Hey Dex, did you see your brother and sister just now?" Ela asks. Dex nods. "Didn't they look cool?"
"Yes" Dex says seeming slightly more comfortable as conversation went on.
"You wanna look cool too?"
Dex's expression turns uncertain.
"We can start small, if you like" Ela offers and Dex nods in agreement.
In short time, Dex is standing before a little ice chunk provided by Luna.
"Do it like we practiced, Dex" Dominator says half gently, half firmly.
Rolling up his sleeves, Dex brings his hands forward. With tongue out and flat against his upper lip, eyes narrowed, body tense, a small flame like that from a candle ignites between his hands.
"Slow and steady, Dex my boy" Sylvia says.
The small flame grows into a ball of fire, a ball of fire Dex seems a little wary of.
"You've got this, son!" Wander says trying not to get too loud.
Closing his eyes, Dex flicks his hands forward and the fireball flies to strike the chunk of ice melting it partially.
"Wooo! Go son!" Wander was quick to cheer. He and Luna then run to embrace Dex.
"Pretty good, right?" Dominator asks her mother.
"He closed his eyes when firing" Ela criticizes, "but he's young. I expect he will work on that in the coming days."
"Sure but I'm hungry" Dominator says.
"Me too!" Jack suddenly claims as well beside his mother.
"Say no more" Wander says.
Shaking his hat, Wander makes a barbecue grill fall out. Using her magma powers, Dominator creates a long table and chairs out of warm magma rock. Sylvia summons Sylver Lightning after tapping on her phone.
"I suppose there's a fridge in your ship?" Ela asks.
"Of course there is!" Sylvia answers proudly. "Can never be too ready" she says cracking open a well-stocked fridge.
Dex helps Wander light up the grill and it was only a matter of time before fridge contents sizzled loudly to stir appetites.
"Does that smell good or what?" Sylvia questions sharing the table with Dominator and Ela.
"Yes it does" Ela says before turning to her daughter. "Dania, consider me impressed. You got yourself a lovely husband and have given me some beautiful grandchildren!"
"Not sure I'd put it that way: I never gave them to you" Dominator says coolly.
"I'll take them by force, then" Ela says holding back a laugh as Wander handled cooking with Dex, Luna, and Jack breathing in the delicious smells.
"Dream on" Dominator says amused.
"I think you promised to braid Luna's hair" Sylvia reminds.
"Yes, I did!" Ela acknowledges almost apologetically. "Luna, you still want your hair braided like mine?"
"Yes please" Luna says quick to run to her grandmother.
"Teach me some ice powers after this" Ela asks. "They're neat."
"Yes Ma Ela" Luna says.
With Luna seated on her lap, Ela starts braiding her granddaughter's lovely hair. Though her grandchildren were not yet fearsome warriors, they were already perfectly lovable grandchildren.