“Called it. Sorta.”

They finally found the base a week later. It was clearly in sight once you rounded a big hill miles. But it was totaled.

Wonder drove up his Milso Mouse right up next to the wall, and tapped. Extremely cold. “I’m betting years and years ago. Crisis may be the only antibody survivor.”

Rose rode around the remains on her side. “Agreed… only three walls and part of a ceiling remain. The good news is that it’ll make decent shelter for the night.”

Crisis said, “I fear I have been out too long. I apologize.”

Wonder said, “Not your fault, Crisis. We still got a decent…”

He suddenly heard a shrill noise and did a cutting motion. They all shut up. Wonder heard the shrill cry again.

Wonder said, “That sounds like a baby something. Rose?”

Rose said, “I’m clueless here, though I agree it’s a baby.”

Sakura said, “Brother or sister?”

Wonder fought laughter. He said, “We’ll see, baby girl. Stay with Mama and Crisis. Izuku…”

Izuku nodded, already heading towards the sound. Wonder followed him. “The pack picking anything up?”

Izuku shook his head, then froze. “Change that. They found what looks to be a nest in an outcropping. There’s… a baby dragon inside.”

Wonder said, “Huh, what a coincidence…”

They were soon over. Luckily the outcrop actually wasn’t super high, so they just went around and was there in moments. There was a rough nest of rock, ice, and snow. The dragon hatchling was only the size of a puppy, and seemed to be newly hatched. Its wings were flimsy, and its scales were wet. It cried out over and over again.

Wonder looked around. He didn’t even see signs of a parent. Wonder said, “You see something I’m not, Izuku?”

Izuku shook his head. “Nothing. The wolves say that the nest smells abandoned for years. Apparently dragon eggs can hibernate for years and years.”

Wonder said, “Then why did this egg suddenly hatch?”

Wonder looked at the nest, and realized something. He jumped down and walked closer to investigate. The baby clearly misunderstood, because it lunged for the warmth of Wonder’s arms. Wonder scooped it up easily. “Whoa! Easy, easy… hi, Icy Junior.”

CONGRATS GUESS WHAT YOU JUST DID!

Wonder said, “Your Unca Kat’s humor is getting worse by the second.”

Izuku put a hand over his mouth, obviously to stifle laughter.

Wonder summoned a baby bottle and started feeding the little one. He then looked closely at the nest. “…yeah, there’s runes here. This isn’t natural.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

He squinted, then remembered.

Mages towers were above ground.

Dungeons, the oldest staples of fantasy games ever?

Underground.

Wonder jumped up. Izuku said, “Daddy…?”

Wonder said, “Secret entrance, baby boy! There’s a secret entrance around here!”

The family spent until sundown searching for the secret entrance. But there was no sign of it. But luckily, also no sign of it being blown open and discovered.

That night, they set up the RV-Box in the safety of the ruins. Wonder spent the last bit checking the floor for a hidden switch. But there was nothing.

Wonder returned as Rose finished dinner. He asked, “Nothing?”

“Nothing. There’s probably a puzzle we’re missing… or pieces were destroyed ages ago in natural weather.”

Crisis said, “Or, very possibly, the entrance isn’t here.”

Wonder groaned. “True. We may be at the exit. Or the equivalent of a solar panel.”

Rose said, “A… what?”

Crisis beat Wonder to it, “A device that gets energy from sunlight.”

Wonder nodded. “Since a magic type is light, I’m betting a lot of stuff in Hoseki is solar powered.”

Sakura froze and turned. She peeked out the window. “Daddy…?”

Wonder looked out, and burst into smile. “Sharp eye, baby girl!”

The stones were decorating in a design of a flower. But only their magical lights were lighting it up.

Wonder looked, then nearly squealed. “Sakura! You evolved!”

Sakura blinked and looked at herself. She was suddenly a preteen like Izuku. She blushed. “Heh heh heh…”

Wonder blinked and quickly looked at the ceiling. “Uh… and need new clothes. JALA!!!”

The female Myzune popped from the ceiling. “MYZUNE!”

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

After a celebration, then sleeping in, the family went to check out the “flower”. Sakura’s sharp eye found what they were looking for. Under the snow right outside the ruins was a damaged switch.

Crisis said, “This has been destroyed from years of natural causes. I don’t think we’ll even get this to wiggle, much less trigger whatever remained.”

Wonder groaned. “The Antibodies may have starved to death. But if this Max guy really was smart, I doubt this is the only entrance. We may just be moving our asses somewhere else.”

Wonder looked at the stones. “…that flower has to mean something. A clue.”

Rose looked at the stones, and paled. “No.”

“That’s a bad no.”

Rose nodded. “…we’d have to go into Entricant.”

Wonder said, “Uuuuuuuuuh, dummy at geology?”

Rose said, “Entricant is… technically a Forest Spirit City. But everyone there is a rebel, only loyal to a Dark Mage called Echylon.”

Wonder said, “So a city of Villains.”

Rose nodded. “I heard there are rules protecting children, but we’d be in danger on every side unless we swore allegiance to Echylon’s Council. They are a warrior race to even rival the Lightwraiths, though thankfully without the child abuse and slavery.”

Wonder said, “Yet we may have to get in to get through the back door of a dungeon.”

He groaned. “Lovely… I’ll message Kat, and he can figure out that scrap.”

Wonder then froze. “Then… how did Crisis get out?”

Wonder looked around. He couldn’t let go of the idea that the dungeon was here, for some reason. And it looked to be true enough, the dungeon didn’t get destroyed…

Because Max was intelligent.

He’d prep for weather. Something was not right.

Wonder then remembered how only Sakura noticed the flower. Once she pointed it out, they all could see it. Despite Wonder checking that area 20 times, and the others as well.

Wonder looked at Sakura. “Baby girl… just one more spell.”

Sakura nodded, and walked over. She held up her hands, and shouted, “Repair!”

The broken switch sparkled… and was a switch.

That automatically switched itself.

Darkness fell over them all.