Silence reigned.

Wonder was getting challenged to a Pokemon battle?

Wonder looked over the captured Tribe. He then realized that the first one did not leave his wolf. He still sat on it and looked extremely prideful.

Wonder did calculations. The only battle-available Beast he had was Garados and a flock of bunnies that were on lend from Izuku. The rest were sentient Recruits or non-battle Beasts like the Milso Mice. Only Izuku had the bulk of their combat Beasts. And Garados wouldn’t do good in the ice cold weather.

Wonder asked, “Why?”

Rose said, “Wonder. The Lightwraith Tribes are a species that live and breathe battle… and despite how they treat their children, honor. He thinks you are a worthy opponent and wants a fair battle.”

Wonder said, “Rose. You know my repertoire. He has a fairer battle against Izuku than against Garados.”

Rose said, “…Wonder. You can’t refuse this.”

Wonder said, “Whyyyyyyy? I’m not subjecting my one Beast to a battle he’ll lose! Even if he can handle whatever Beast this other guy’s got, he can’t handle the cold.”

Crisis walked up. “Sir… I can fight.”

“I’m not sending you in like a slave, Crisis. And I’m a little worried his Tribe may try something, so I need you to keep an eye on Sakura and Izuku.”

Wonder returned to Rose. “Rose. Why should I do this?”

Rose said, “Think of it like this. You’re a Beast Tamer. This is your debut battle. If it gets out that you refused your debut battle, you’ll never be allowed on the Battling Circuit.”

Wonder said, “I’ll never be allowed on the Battling Circuit if I lose! Even if I’m technically allowed, I’ll be bullied so bad, by the people and community and culture… and I’m nevergoing through that pain again!”

Wonder glared at the Tribe’s Tamer, his rage starting to well. He said loudly, “Challenging a challenger you know is not equipped to fight so they may be bullied into suicide is the most dickhead, Katsuki Bakugo Bully move ever! I cannot believe you even know the phrase honor.”

Wonder saw with delight all the Lightwraiths’ faces pale. Rose did an O of surprise, and then smiled in delight. Sakura said, “Bad guys.”

Izuku said, “Um… daddy? The wolf pack says there’s a bear over the dune too.”

Wonder said, “Let’s go take care of that, then head back to the Guild.”

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

“Excuse me.”

Wonder looked up and nearly jumped. It was the same Lightwraith from earlier… and his wolf. Wonder had to wonder if it was a trend.

Wonder crossed his arms. “Oh joy, it’s you again. What do you want?”

“A match.”

“Again? Buddy, you’d get a better battle against Izuku. And considering how your Tribes tend to treat ‘defects’, I’d rather throw you into the Beholder’s Pits!”

Wonder adjusted his coat, then trudged back towards the camp. “Besides, I heard the Knights let you go. Shouldn’t you be going to secure the safety of your Tribe or something?!?”

“You act as if I am the leader.”

“Errrrrr, you were kinda acting like it on the battlefield?”

To give the Lightwraith Tamer his credit, he thought on it and nodded. “I see. No, I am simply the best out of our warriors. It is our Elders who lead our Tribe.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Wonder said, “Then go be with them! Don’t go bothering a win that you’re gonna try and bully into suicide so you can kill my wife and daughter.”

The Tamer winced. “You have little trust in our kind.”

“They were both abused by your kind due to things they could not control. Yeah, I have very little trust! I’ve seen personally how shit like that works out! And I promised I would not let that happen to me or my family ever again!”

Crisis saluted as they approached the camp. It had been a few days since the Milso Mice Taming, and they all took advantage of it. Once they stocked up on supplies, they headed out to find wherever Crisis had emerged from. They had set up camp for the night, including the RV-Box, which was now basically a tiny cabin.

“You are one of honor.”

Wonder said, “I’d like to think so. Though trust me, I do have deadly instincts.”

“Then you should not object to a Battle.”

“Grrrrrrrr. Let me put something clear. My speciality seems to be Recruiting. I don’t have anyone to battle with. So challenging me is basically trying to make me sign terms and conditions to be mentally tortured for life!”

Wonder ground his teeth. “I spent 30 painful years in that kind of life. Being told I was a monster. That my brain is defective. That all I deserve is the trash. That I’m nothing good for nothing but a rape toy, and if I tried to fight it, I would lose and end up homeless, guaranteeing more torture! And if I lose my first Battle, then I’ll be right back in that, and never be able to get out because if I try, I’ll be legally stuck and politically stuck, drained all of my money! And worse, people will hurt my family, blame it on me, and never allow us out!”

Wonder dripped mana in his words, “So. Never. The. Fuck. Again. Go. The. Fuck. Away.”

Wonder spun around and stormed towards the camp. He needed some hot coco, and a lotof cuddles.

“Wonder.”

Wonder growled, and felt himself buzz. He turned around. “What?!?”

The Wolfrider said, “My people, in fact all of the people of Hoseki, are not guilty of such crimes.”

Wonder said, “Ever meet an asshole named Kingsley?”

“Yes, unfortunately. I did not care for the man, though his sister seemed friendly and honorable enough.”

OK, that was fair.

And gave Wonder a source of intel. Maybe Lil could identify this guy.

Wonder crossed his arms. “I’ll agree that Lil’s a decent woman. But Kingsley is proof that people like the ones back home exist. Heck, even the former Queen of Light was proof! Better proof, in fact.”

“But unlike wherever you hail, they are one in a million. Billion. I apologize, I am not good with numbers. In fact…”

He walked his beast up, and pulled up his leg pants. Wonder froze. That leg was so dried up, so twisted up…

“Do I need to get a healing spell?”

The Wolfrider smiled softly. “No, thank you. I am in no pain, but my legs were born like this. They are useless.”

He put his pant leg down. Wonder got it. “So the wolf is your ride. Permanently. Huh, I was wondering the lack of wheelchairs around Hoseki.”

The Wolfrider shrugged. He said, “Wonder, you may not believe this, but I have many Beasts of many levels. I can fight you on fair grounds.”

Wonder said, “…I’m trying not to take you personally. I truly am not. And believe it or not, I do believe the people of Hoseki are legit folk. But these are habits hard to get rid of.”

He scowled as he tried to think of a compromise. “I cannot let you near my family. And right now, we are on a Quest. But the plan is to get to the Eastern Beach. There, my Beast can fight… and I may have a second one that can do battle.”

He smirked. “Poke battle you then?”

Finally, the Tamer smiled. “That is a Deal, Wonder Hyde.”

He turned his wolf. “I’ll wait for you at a town call Waveborne. I’ll probably be in the Beach Pools, so ask for a Highrise.”

“Deal, Highrise. See you there… barring total disaster, of course.”

Highrise nodded, and rode his wolf off.

“Yep, saw that coming.”

“MAMMA MIA!!! ROSE!!!”

Rose laughed. Wonder blushed. “…what? It will put us on even grounds. Hopefully.”

Rose said, “No, I know. But I was wondering when you’d get into Battling. After all, I have seen the skill you trained Izuku. You’re a natural.”

Wonder said, “Nah, I’ve just played games like Beast Taming since I was… probably literally 6 years old. I have practice, just not with the exact the Beasts of Hoseki.”

Rose nodded. “Fair. I’m guessing you’re gonna ask Lil about him, though?”

Wonder said, “No doubt on that. He seemed all right as a person, but he was extremely insistent, which makes me worried. And, eh… I kinda owe him for laying into him a new one like that.”

Rose rubbed his back. “Your world left its scars. But you allow it to make you stronger and kinder. You’re a true Hero.”

Wonder said, “You’re listening to the stories I tell the kids, huh?”

Rose smirked. “I’m wondering the dirty details you’re leaving out.”

Wonder laughed. “Actually, there isn’t any ‘dirty details’ in the source materials. But I could entertain you with some imaginings… when the kids are asleep, of course.”

Rose said, “Of course. Speaking of which, I think a tiny snowman is making her way towards us.”

Wonder laughed and went to intercept the toddler.