Wonder’s Turn

Wonder said, “Dammit… sweetie bell, you’re right.”

It was a few hours after Kat teleported them to safety. They were now on a dark beach, where the warm temperatures revealed they were nice and far away from Maximillion’s Arctic base.

Once they had all rested a bit, Sakura revealed what her thought process was. And what it ended up on.

Wonder said, “It’s the one piece of knowledge that all gods hide. Unless you get your eyes on the right someone… like a certain Knowledge God.”

Rose said, “You think Malchon has what he needs?!?”

Wonder shook his head. “No. Because unless Kat objects, there is still something here. No god has been born here, despite the evolution system. Or else we’d be having a much harder time with Maximillion.”

Izuku said, “…so gods cannot be born here.”

Wonder said, “Right. Gods can come in from the outside, but I’m betting there’s a safety system that keeps gods from being born. Especially if it was supposed to be an Afterlife at first. If Malchon wants godhood, he’d need to leave the Dimension or get the unlocks done.”

Sakura said, “Why not leave? He knows how the portals work.”

Rose said, “I don’t think anyone can leave Hoseki.”

Wonder shook his head. “The Beholder has jumped in and out a few times by this point. I don’t think it’s easy, but it’s doable.”

Wonder tapped the ground. “I’m betting it’s something I like to call the Narnia Effect.”

Crisis said, “What does CS Lewis’s books have to do with this?”

“In the first book, The Lion The Witch And the Wardrobe, Earth and Narnia moved at two different speeds. Narnia moved a shit ton faster than Earth, Narnia decades passing in a few Earthling minutes.”

Wonder held out his hands. “Every Dimension moves at a different speed. I bet Hoseki moves a lot faster than Earth. And it’s possible there are Dimensions faster than Hoseki.”

Rose said, “So Malchon would not only need a Dimension that allows him to evolve to godhood, he’d need a world at the right pace.”

Wonder nodded. “Right. And the multiverse is undoubtedly vast. Just like we get tried if we walk too long, I bet going so far in the multiverse is also exhausting.”

Izuku said, “So he also needs something relatively close.”

Crisis said, “There mustn’t be a Dimension that fits the bill within range.”

Wonder said, “So option 2: get the freakin’ locks undone.”

Rose said, “But… why?”

Wonder said, “I wish I knew. I also wish I knew how the King of Light, whatever his name was, fits into all of this.”

Rose said, “He could simply be Malchon’s mate. Lifemating sense ignores all traditional boundaries. Like you know~.”

Wonder blushed. “Heh heh heh…”

Izuku and Sakura both perked. “You’re married?!?”

Wonder said, “No! Wait. What are Hoseki laws on marriage?!?”

Rose giggled and kissed his cheek. “Since the Lifemating bond has connected between us, we’re legal. But you’re more than welcome to initiate the ceremony~.”

Wonder heated up so bad, he was amazed he didn’t explode or go on fire.

Rose sighed and leaned back. “But seriously. Since Hoseki has so many species that do not have a lifemate sense, you can get legally married. Trouble happens when a lifemate sense triggers when you’re married.”

Wonder said, “Yeeeeeeeah, I highly doubt that Queen B had any love in there. They probably didn’t have a bedroom life!”

He thought of something. “Wait… is divorce not a thing?”

Rose said, “Technically, yes. But you are talking the Queen and King. There is a lot of political fallback if the Queen and King divorce. Mids would have to sit on the throne for the duo to safely separate.”

Wonder said, “Blah… social scrap.”

He thought a moment. “Maybe that was what the thing at the Castle was about. An assassination attempt on the Queen so the King and Malchon could live happily ever after. And since we’ve destroyed that, they’re living in secret.”

Wonder groaned. “Now I feel like we’ve panicked over nothing.”

Everyone laughed lightly.

Rose said, “Problem is, we just don’t know. And Malchon is hiding from the Dark, so… yeah.”

Crisis said, “Maybe they’ve both left the Dimension.”

HEYO WONDER MEET ME OUTSIDE!!!

Wonder scowled. “He didn’t. He just messaged me.”

Everyone was silent.

Wonder walked out, closing the door behind him. The shields went up behind him, and he summoned his bow to be safe and glared around the area.

“OVER HERE, DADDYO!”

Wonder finally spotted the tall figure by the water. He carefully walked up. He couldn’t see tentacles, which was a bad sign. This could easily be an ambush.

“Malchon. What do you want?”

Malchon chuckled, and thankfully spoke at a normal volume, “Awwwww, sus? Then again, I’ll give you that, I’ve been very sus.”

Wonder said, “Extremely sus.”

Malchon got up and stretched out. “I’ll jump straight to the point. Let’s make a deal.”

Wonder blinked. “I… what?”

Malchon spun around, chuckling. “A deal! You’ve kinda proven you’re a problem, so… as the ol’ saying goes, keep your friends close, enemies clos’r!”

No, Wonder didn’t know how Malchon did the last pronunciation.

Wonder said, “I’m kinda flattered, honestly. But the fact you feel you even need a deal makes me even more sus. So this wasn’t just a case of lovers running together into the night?”

Malchon laughed, then shrugged. “Partsie. That’s why we haven’t gone pop-goes-the-weasel with the publicity act yet. But after your lil’ tit-a-tat with Maxy, I felt like we should have the pow-wow now.”

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Wonder took a minute to process. So Malchon took a chance to grab his mate and run. But it wasn’t the master plan.

Wonder crossed his arms. “So what’s the master plan, and how does it deal with me?”

Malchon waved his arm around. “The master plan is simple! Fixing all this shit!”

Wonder said, “…huh?”

Malchon chuckled. “You know, being a master at mistrusting people! People are shit. And the gods aren’t doing anythin’, despite this supposedly being a god’s direct realm!”

Wonder rubbed his chin. “I thought that was because, you know, a god invaded? That kinda causes issues.”

Malchon smiled. “You’re keepin’ up with the lore! Accurate… or at least that’s what I was able to grab. But our friendly Dark didn’t boot Light out fast enough, so it’s no longer an Afterlife. Or Realm, or whatever you wanna call it! So what takes root? Shit.”

For a second, his smile turned into a nasty scowl, but he recouped. “Answer me this: what’s the answer?”

Wonder said, “Get people to stop acting shitty. It’s doable.”

Malchon said, “You’re on the right thought path, but not quite there yet!”

He seemed to debate, and sat on a nearby rock. “Answer me truthfully: is Hoseki better than Earth? In the people = shittiness, of course!”

Wonder said, “Uuuuuuh… not having been here super long, I’m not sure my opinion is valid here. But I’d say in general, yes?”

“Right! Because people here are not quite tainted enough. Who are the people who aretainted? In general, of course!”

Wonder said, “Um…”

He thought back a bit. Kingsley, the Light Queen, Maximillion… “Power? Bad raising? From Earth?”

Malchon laughed at the last one. “OK, to be fair, the Light Queen probably did get her mojos from Earth. But you’re right! Kingsley you would have killed to protect your kids, but his social standing would have taboo’d you out. The Lightwraiths, who mostly adore power, are child abusers and nasty folk. Maximillion… uh… he’s just insane, but definitely one of the most powerful beings I’ve ever met.”

Wonder said, “Since you’re mated to a King, I’m not entirely sure that what I’m supposed to be getting out of it here.”

Malchon chuckled. “There are exceptions, of course. And a tibby-Tibet that I haven’t gotten to yet. Do you know why Afterlives are peaceful?”

Wonder said, “…wait. I think my brain’s bubbling now. You want to turn Hoseki back into an Afterlife!”

Malchon said, “There you go!”

“By snatching all the power for yourself. That sounds like a recipe for tyranny!”

Malchon said, “Except one factor! Godhood!”

Wonder wondered how crazy Malchon was.

Wonder said, “…look. Not saying there are good gods out there. I am friends with Dark (or I like to think so), and I have met one other through multiverse craziness. But you know there are plenty of bad gods out there. For all I know, you’re gonna be one of them!”

Malchon chuckled. “Do you have a choice?”

“Here’s the threats. We took a bit to get here.”

Malchon laughed. He said, “No, we’re back to the deal.”

He leaned in. “Let’s be honest… Hoseki needs an overwrite. That’s not gonna be pretty. And there are only so many people I can save.”

Wonder had his bow out immediately. Malchon said, “Hold on that thought! I’m not done yet!”

Wonder said, “You just admitted to planning to kill civilians! INNOCENTS!”

Malchon said, “Hey, sacrifices have to be made. Thing is, I can keep your family off the list.”

Wonder froze. “…what?”

“Your fam! The lil’ ones, Rose… and I might have to fenagle, but I think I can even pull Crisis and Mids through! Wait, Mids is already on the list, sorr-ee!”

Wonder forced himself to breathe. Malchon was hitting the weak spot. He’d never be able to live himself if his family died, even if millions of others died. But he couldn’t live with himself if his family was saved, and yet the blood of millions was on his hands.

Wonder had to close his eyes and thought. A mental image flashed in his eyelids…

And one crazy idea came to mind.

But just in case, let’s cover the tracks.

Wonder opened his eyes. Let’s finish the deal first. “What is the cost?”

“Stay out of my way!”

Wonder said, “DUDE YOU’VE SEEN MY LUCK!!!”

Malchon laughed. “While yes, you also went looking for it once you realized the possibility! I’m just asking you turn your ass around next time.”

Wonder groaned. Malchon had him there.

He said, “Well then, two conditions. The first is obvious: don’t actually get in my line of sight!I get there might be times we cannot avoid it, but I’d rather not tempt my fate here!”

Malchon laughed. “that’s fair! And number 2!”

Wonder poked a finger into his ebony face. “2: you save the damned innocents.”

Malchon said, “Uh…”

Wonder did a zip it motion. “You’re turning it into an Afterlife. Afterlife is for the dead. IF THIS INSANE SCHEME WORKS YOU CAN DO IT DUMMY!”

Malchon opened his mouth, seemed to think about it, and whispered, “Oh shit.”

Wonder groaned. “I weep for this Dimension. I just… errrrgh.”

Malchon laughed. “Sorry, minor issue. After all, evolution to a god is one of the multiverse’s great secrets.”

“Also destroying a Dimension without actually destroying it.”

“Exactly! Bonus points!”

Wonder rolled his eyes. “I am going back. You keep your end of the bargain and I will try not to interfere unless you go totally insane. Or get in my fucking face.”

Malchon said, “Deal. Be seeing you around, Wonder-o.”

Wonder said, “Bye bye Extrovert.”

Wonder walked to his box, rubbing his eyes. Rose was standing at the door. “Does he have one volume?”

Wonder said, “I hope not. I’d feel for the poor ex-King. I presume you heard everything?”

“Only your end was missing.”

Wonder said, “Pretty much if he spares you guys and innocents, I’ll try not to waddle into his business. Did tell him it would be hard if he actually gets in my way, but…”

Wonder shrugged. Rose said, “Fair. Did he agree?”

“Yes. So at least your safety is guaranteed.”

Rose stroked his face. “You don’t trust him?”

“I’m not sure if trust is the right word. He kinda blanked that he’s gonna kill millions but turning Hoseki into an Afterlife.”

Rose winced.

Wonder said, “Exactly. I’m not sure if he actually means foul intent or not, but he… may not be as ready as he thought.”

Wonder groaned. “I hate to leave Hoseki, but it may be the only guarantee we have of surviving whatever shitstorm is about to hit.”

Rose nodded. “Got a plan?”

“Well, I owe a high-level Tamer a Pokemon Battle… Tamer Battle! Aaaargh, my brain! Anyway, we have to go to Wavebourne for that. But then… well, I don’t know where we’d need to go to find a portal. And I doubt Malchon will help with that.”

Rose said, “I’ll start asking around once we’re there.”

Wonder walked in. Izuku and Sakura looked up from where they had been attempting to listen in at the window. Izuku said, “Dad…”

Wonder said, “Hey, kiddos. So Malchon and I made a deal, but after what just happened, we may be leaving Hoseki.”

Both kids pouted, but nodded.

Wonder said, “I hate the idea too, but we have no choice. And Lady Luck may not agree to look on us long enough.”

Rose closed the door. Wonder smirked. “But I only said I wouldn’t interfere. Where’s the Myzune? I need them to send a message to a certain Mad Beholder… just the facts, of course.”

Everyone got the idea and smirked. Rose said, “Of course!”

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

Malchon’s Turn

Leo looked up as Malchon entered the small, hidden cabin. He said, “How did it go?”

Malchon smirked. “Much better than I thought! Look, no damage!” He spun around, chuckling.

Malchon snapped his fingers, changing to a robe. He then joined his lover. “And the price was less than I thought too! Just family and innocents!”

Leo seemed surprised. “Not everyone?”

Malchon said, “I know, right!”

He grew serious. “But, to be fair, Wonder has more right to be suspicious at people than I do. He’s transgender, neurodivergent, pansexual, after all…”

Leo did the over-the-head gesture. Malchon laughed. “Sorry! Simple: he wasn’t what people in his country or world considered ‘normal’. And when you’re not ‘normal’, well… bad mojo. And bad people don’t get punished like they should. Or buy their way out.”

Leo said, “Shit…”

Malchon nodded. “Exactly. So Wonder is probably like ‘bad pieces out, good and safe’.”

Malchon chuckled. “But my dumbass act threw him off.”

Leo said, “So he may nose in just because he thinks you’re stupid.”

“Maybe!” Malchon laughed, but stretched out. “But seriously, I doubt it. He adores his family and won’t risk them. I do think that unless I have to get directly in front of him, so to speak, he’ll stay out of our way.”

Leo said, “Where is he heading now?”

Malchon said, “Wavebourne. He has a challenge waiting for him there. And I doubt his honor as a Pokemon Trainer will allow him to skip that.”

Leo said, “And where do we need to go next?”

“Fasis.”

Leo froze. “The Lightwraith City?!?”

Malchon said, “Unluckily for us, that is currently where Lady Light is.”

Leo groaned. “I hated that place as a King. I cannot imagine what it’s gonna be like now.”

Malchon said, “You’ll just need to focus on keeping me from totaling that tainted city.”