“Izuku! Sakura!!!”

Thanks to the DEF boost, Wonder was shocked, but not harmed. Rose was definitely gonna have bruises, but she was all right thanks to her enhancement spells. Still, the impact had smashed them through the front of the carriage. The closet was ruined, and the door was bulged, but it was still there.

Izuku called out, “We’re all right, Daddy!”

Sakura whined, “Daddy…!”

Wonder got up, and shifted himself. “Clear the door!”

After giving his kids a minute, Wonder smashed into the door. It popped open, smashing on the ground. The carriage was a mess, but luckily no major damage. Sakura ran up and hugged Wonder tightly.

Wonder picked her up and hugged her. “It’s all right, baby girl. Daddy’s here…”

Rose walked in, rubbing her head. “I think we owe your friend some major thanks… what did he send?”

Wonder looked outside. It was dark, but Wonder saw something breathing there. “I am gonna take a wild guess and say a certain Decayon.”

Wonder sat down, rubbing Sakura’s back. He popped open the message box and sent to Kat: Thanks for backup.

Kat responded almost immediately: Of course. Is anyone hurt?

Scared out of our pants, and I think Rose is gonna ache for a while, but we’re all all right.

Wonder put the messenger away and hugged his daughter. Rose bounced. “Shit! The Myzune!”

She popped open top storage, and five chibis fell out. They bounced harmlessly on the floor. Wonder sighed out of relief. “Smart thinking, guys.”

Sakura whimpered, and whispered, “Why did Unca Kingsley attack us…?”

Wonder said, “People get greedy, Sakura. And when people get very greedy, they get mean.”

Wonder realized something. He brought up his emails. Kingsley was gone off the list, but Lil was still there. She had sent 10 messages, all warnings and check-ins. Wonder relaxed. “It seems like Lil doesn’t share her brother’s madness. That is a relief at least.”

He checked the last one from Lil: Are you all right?!? Are the kids all right?!? I saw you crash into the Decayon!

Wonder typed back: We’re alive. Let Kingsley know the next time I see him, he’s dead. LITERALLY.

Wonder put the email back and hugged Sakura gently. She was starting to calm with whimpers. Rose opened the main door and looked. “I think we’re gonna be here a while.”

Wonder said, “Probably a good idea. Kingsley will be busy.”

He used appraisal on the Decayon. He gaped. All of its stats were completely maxed out. The mana pool didn’t even fit on his interface.

“I doubt Kingsley is gonna be able to beat this one.”

Wonder looked at the kids, and smiled gently. “Since we’re in here for a while… I’d say let’s clean up, then we can have a special dinner to celebrate our lil’ Hero.”

Izuku blushed, but smiled. Sakura peeked her head out, and said, “Chips?”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

The Myzune cheered, “ZUUUUUUUNE!”

***************

“Shoulda known you’d come out and poke the beast.”

Wonder said, “Shouldn’t you be sleeping, Rose?”

He looked up from where he had been investigating the Decayon. Rose shrugged, wearing a nightgown. She said, “Not tired yet.”

She sat next to him. She said, “How about you? You’re usually the first to fall asleep.”

Wonder said, “Stress. Fucking stress made a comeback.”

He stroked over the scale-like patterns in the skin that protected them. “The Decayon is taking us with them, but we don’t know if Kingsley is following. And if he’s willing to attack the kids once, he’s willing for a take 2. I definitely can’t take him as a Tamer, and all my AGI can do is dodge. But all he has to do is aim for the right target…”

Wonder shuddered, running his hands through his purple hair. “Heck, I might even have lost you today. If anyone’s spells were just slightly less powerful…”

Rose put a hand on his shoulder. “Wonder. You saved us all. Don’t doubt that for a second.”

Wonder sighed, and nodded. “True… but what do we do going forward?”

Rose said, “Where are we heading?”

“North. Apparently the Decayon was heading towards the Arctic for the summer. Kat thinks he can arrange it where we get dropped off at a city called Icelon.”

Rose paled. Wonder said, “Rose…?”

“That is a city of Lightwraiths.”

Wonder said, “Oh shit… Sakura will go into full freak mode.”

He sighed. “I doubted that being a good move anyway. It’s a big enough city Kingsley might see it coming.”

Rose nodded, color coming back into her face. Wonder said, “Hey… can I ask?”

Rose shook her head. Wonder said, “All right. Hey… you got an idea where we can go?”

Rose shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Due to it being mostly ice, the North is mostly moving tribes. All fishermen and Arctic warriors… well, you and Izuku might get something out of it.”

Wonder chuckled. “If I wanted to be Misty from Pokemon! But joking aside… means that slipping out is going to be hard.”

Wonder growled. “Which means we have to take care of Kingsley. We’re gonna have to anyway, or he may be hunting us for the rest of our lives.”

Rose said, “You really think he’d waste his time with a small group like us?”

“He was there at our little throw down at the Light Capital. Even if he doesn’t think me a threat, Izuku has raw talent as a Tamer. And I’m not letting my baby boy grow up in fear.”

Rose nodded, shifting. “That is a point.”

She sighed. “We need to catch him off guard. And enhanced to the buck. But even then, I doubt your Garados can stand…”

“I’m not using Garados.”

Rose blinked. Wonder said, “He’s gonna stay with Sakura. He’s got a soft spot for her… probably because she basically saved him from a life of boring pet-dom. No…”

Wonder ground his teeth. “Kingsley is gonna break the Pokemon Trainer Rules, so am I. I’m gonna hunt him down.”

Rose said, “You sure? Last time you killed, it was while actively protecting someone. This time, it’ll be premeditated.”

Wonder froze. He hadn’t thought about it. But he was protecting his family.

Wonder said, “This is to protect my loved ones. If it was just me, I’d just take the crap… and he’d probably not even care.”

Rose nodded. “Point.”

Wonder leaned back. “Ugh… we need a weakness of his. And sadly, revealing that he’s an introvert won’t do anything. People will call us the liars.”

Rose said, “And obviously, his sister cannot control him. We need a lover or parent.”

The idea flew into Wonder’s head wildly. He broke into a very big smile. Rose said, “Wonder?”

“I have one better. An ex.”

“Huh?”

Wonder smirked. “Kat. Kat’s Kingsley’s ex. I’m sure Kat will looooooooove to kick Kingsley in the ass.”

Rose said, “I agree, but… he’s dead.”

“And, let’s be honest, think the Dark is gonna refuse an excuse to kick the ass of a being who tried to kill one of his direct servant species?”

Rose thought, then smirked. “I think I know where you’re going with this.”

“Kingsley’s gonna need the Ghostbusters very, very soon. And I don’t think they’re gonna be available to call!”

Wonder stood up and stretched. “Thanks, Rose. I needed that chat.”

Rose stood up, kissing his cheek. “Kinda figured. Now about we head to bed? Unless you want to take advantage of this time, of course~.”

Wonder said, “Whatcha mean? I probably kept you up…”

He noticed something in the nightgown, and peeked. When his brain caught up, he went insta-hot. And dealing with a pain down in his pants himself. “Uh… Rose…?”

“Yes~?”

“Have I been using the right pronouns?!?”