It apparently helped to have friends up the ladder.

The moment Mids had found out about the bounty, he went to his Aunts, the Dark Queens. They had been just as horrified as he was, and contacted Wonder. Wonder had written them with what he knew. While he never got full details of what happened afterwards, Mids confirmed that the Dark Queens contacted their charges in Oracle City and forced them to officially drop the bounty and let Pal go.

However, Oracle City only partially followed orders. They did retract their armies, and public bounties. They instead started privately hiring Rogues, and locked down Oracle City against everyone except a few they could confirm full safety (AKA trade supplies).

Luckily, most Rogues knew better than to tango with Blood. And many Adventurers did as well. Wonder soon found himself ostracized out of the Adventurers’ Guild, however. It hurt his heart in ways he couldn’t even describe, and he almost contacted the Beholder to get him and his family off of Hoseki. The only thing that made him stay was Rose calmly pointing out that Oracle City may follow. So either way, they now had to deal with Oracle City.

Today, Wonder was taking care of the newest additions to his Taming group when Sakura walked up. She said, “Dad…?”

Wonder smiled. “What’s up, baby girl?”

Sakura said, “…what do you think I should become?”

Wonder said, “Uh… what?”

Sakura rubbed her neck. “Ever since… we came out to rescue you, I’ve been… debating things.”

Wonder said, “Oh, we’re talking career? My only condition is nothing evil and what makes you happy.”

He shook his head and put the Beast away. “Baby girl, my last world did nothing but tell me what I should be. Many of them very impossible for me. I’m not gonna put those kind of limits on you.”

Wonder sat on a bench and patted next to him. Sakura sat next to him. Wonder said, “But I know about not being sure where to go. I didn’t have my true calling until I got to Hoseki. And even then, when we finally leave, I’m gonna have to realign things.”

Sakura said, “We’re really leaving?”

Wonder nodded. “I know no where’s perfect. But I’ve been facing a lot more of what I faced in my last world. People hating people for no good reason. Deciding things that are outside one’s control is still one’s fault, so torturing them. And when you try to fight back, it doesn’t stop, and they keep you from fighting back.”

Sakura said, “…Dad, what happened to you?”

Wonder blinked. He sighed. “I earned that question. I don’t like talkin’ my origins, but… Earth isn’t a pretty place. Out of people like me, I got lucky. I got a family who protected me and loved me. But even then, there were underlying rules. That’s why I could never be my true gender. I was born a girl. And once my family was fine with me being pansexual—that means I can be attracted to anyone despite their chosen gender—I knew that if I revealed myself to be a guy, it would be bad.”

He tapped his head. “You’ve seen Daddy be a social dum-dum. My brain was also born different. I could probably quote you a million facts about Transformers, Pokemon, and obviously My Hero Academia. Yet when it comes to social cues, or any sort of manipulation, I blank. Or fall for it too bad.”

Wonder shook his head. “Everything around me told me that I wasn’t accepted. And I was mistreated in the workplace for it, and my birth-gender. My first boyfriend cheated on me. And whenever I tried to fight back, it was well, you’re neurodivergent, or well, you’re a girl, suck it up. It never got far. And even when businesses did ‘their due diligence’… it never made things better. Someone else would mistreat me or make sure I’d never be able to make life better for myself. Baby girl… I cannot tell you the horrors. The fact I was able to break up with said first boyfriend was a miracle.”

He sighed. “And don’t get me started on the news. Of all the cases where the clearly guilty party got out. Just because he was friends with the judge, went to the same church, or just paid his way out. The news sometimes pretended it was wrong, but in reality? The fact that there was now a rapist, murderer, or general bad guy was walking out and no one was stopping him made it clear that ‘victims’ were just meant to be society’s toys.”

Sakura was pretty pale by this point, so Wonder ended it. He said, “I was trapped. My only escape was games, books, the whole shebang. There, I could be who I wanted to be. Justice, proper justice, could be served and stay served. Right was right, people could be accepted and find friends and love, etc.”

Wonder sighed. “I found my true body here in Hoseki. And it’s still more accepting than Earth. The fact I married a man would be enough for me to get slowly tortured to death on Earth, and even the law authorities throw a party for it. Yet here, it’s celebrated. Heck, we have two Queens!”

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He chuckled, but grew serious. “Maybe if it was just me, I’d disappear into the woods and never be found again. But I have you, Izuku, and Kat. I have Rosescent. Then there’s Majin and Pal now. I’m never letting you all face that pain and terror I grew up with.”

Wonder smiled, stroking Sakura’s head. “But enough of the horror stories. What are you thinking of becoming?”

Sakura giggled, then hugged Wonder. She whispered, “I love you, Daddy.”

Wonder smiled, and hugged her back. “I love you too.”

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

Izuku’s Turn

“Your father is a strong man.”

Izuku agreed, “That was never in dispute, Pal.”

Izuku sat next to the young Mage. He said, “Why? What do you See?”

Pal shook her head, then pointed out the window. It was cracked open for air, and Sakura and Wonder were talking. Pal said, “I just heard your dad’s origins. His time on Earth. It sounds… awful.”

Izuku nodded. “Agreed. Never going to that world. Not in a bazillion millennia.”

Pal nodded. “It… makes so many things make sense.”

Izuku said, “The constant fandom references?”

Pal giggled. “Not that. His determination to protect his family. You’ve accepted him as he is, and he wants to protect you in response. It’s… beautiful.”

She frowned, and Izuku knew she was thinking of Oracle City. It was a sore point between them. While Izuku understood and forgave, the thought still filled him with rage. His family was in danger because of Pal, after all. She could have sent a message with Kat or something.

But Izuku knew better. He knew he knew better. Pal didn’t like speaking of Oracle City. And while he knew she wasn’t psychically abused, he knew she was not happy there. He knew they did bad things to her. Sakura and Rose both ran from abusive homes for survival. Pal did as well, especially when she knew she was going to a loving, forever family.

But this cycle of rage and understanding was uncomfortable. Since Pal didn’t like to speak of her experiences in Oracle City, it was unconsciously decided not to speak of Oracle City when they were alone.

And yes, it was fucked.

Pal asked, “The original conversation made me think, though. What does the future hold for us?”

Izuku said, “I thought you knew?”

Pal gave him a light punch, chuckling. She said, “Very funny. No… all I have seen is our wedding day. Yes, your father insists.”

Izuku laughed. “Fair. I was wondering when he was gonna pop to question to Rose.”

Pal smirked. “I don’t need the Sight to know it’ll be when Oracle City burns down. He’ll take Rose to the most romantic spot he can find, and pop open a homemade ring and pop the question.”

Izuku laughed, thinking of the scene. It 100% fit Wonder perfectly. He said, “Fair… but then what’s the question?”

Pal said, “I mean, you’ve got awesome talent as a Tamer. And all your creatures love you. But is it what you want to stick with?”

Izuku said, “Oh yeah. I have thought of other options, but…” He shrugged. “I like Taming. It’s my thing. It makes me happy, even if I never have a Tamer Battle.”

He looked at Pal. “What about you? Have you thought about what you’re gonna do? You’re still early enough to study into a different Advanced Class.”

Pal nodded. “Yeah… I definitely don’t want to See anymore. I mean… I will if it helps us. But…”

She rubbed her neck. “I glib and joke, but I hate my gift.”

That… made some sort of sense.

Izuku said, “So no… Life magic, I think?”

Pal opened her mouth, then thought about it. “Eeeeeeeh, I’ll get back to you on that.”

She then nodded. “Honestly, what I always dreamed of was a life without magic. Just finding a family and living happily ever after.”

“Among undead sheep.”

Pal laughed. “You got that?”

“Not yet, that’s the next shopping trip.”

Pal laughed. Izuku smiled. The mental image was kinda cute.

Pal said, “That would definitely be nice. Especially if they were big sheep. I could crawl onto their backs and just sleep the day away.”

Izuku laughed at that mental imagery.

He then sighed and stood up. For some reason, despite the joy, it also made him angry. He knew why. Despite them laughing and planning a future, it was tainted by the fact it could all end. The next world probably wouldn’t have a place to raise Beasts. If their crazy plan didn’t work, Izuku could lose his father. And yes, Kat might be able to raise him again, but what if he couldn’t?

“Izuku. I’m sorry.”

Izuku froze. He looked at Pal. Pal was looking miserably outside. She said, “…I’m sorry. I never meant to bring the family in danger. And yes, I’m aware that’s no excuse. But… I didn’t. And I’m sorry I did.”

Izuku forced himself to breathe. He said, “Pal. I understand the situation. I do. And I believe I have forgiven you. But… I’m still angry. I’m terrified. And that isn’t going to go away overnight.”

He looked sadly at her. “You say you see our wedding. And I feel the lifemate sense tingling and connecting us, so I know it isn’t a lie. But unlike the Dads… this isn’t going to be an instant thing. I am sorry for that… but I hope you understand why it has to be like this. At least for now.”

Pal nodded. “Yeah… yeah, I do.”

Izuku said, “…I’m going to ask Dad to do a quick Taming trip before the sun goes down.”

“Answer’s yes, baby boy.”

They all jumped, and looked. Wonder had approached the window. He said, “This was two way audio, guys. Especially when you’re laughing.”

…oops.

Wonder nodded at Izuku. “I’ll meet you by the stables. Pal, Sakura, mind watching Kat until Rose gets back?”

Sakura and Pal said, “Sure.”