The further into the bowels Wander went to , the quieter it became. He turned to a corner.

Wander's footsteps echoed across the corridor. He had left Hater in order to find Awesome. But, having never been on Awesome's playground before, he quickly became lost. Wander sighed. At this point, he'll never find her. As he walked down the hallway, he noticed the stained glass windows on the left and right walls. Most seemed to depict Awesome conquering a villain, or him just standing prominently with dramatic party lights in the backdrop. One in particular caught his eye. He was standing valiantly, just like in the others, but there was someone familiar lying down and leaning against him. Sylvia. The picture sent a chill up his spine. He didn't want to consider the possibility Awesome had extreme obsessions with him and Sylvia.

"Eugh." He continued to walk, but turned when he heard footsteps behind him.

"Hey, you!"

Oh no. He gasped.

He turned to see Sylvia. She was frowning, which confused him, she held her hands on her hips, he smiled widely.

She was right there.

He was going to run up and hug her, but resisted when he saw the strange getup she was wearing. It was so girly, so...unlike her. Wander just ignored it and began to walk towards her.

"Sylvia! I'm so happy I found-"

"What are you doing here?"

Wander was taken aback by her harsh statement.

"Wh...what do ya mean, Syl? It's me, Wander! Your best friend! I came here to save you!"

Sylvia grunted. "Since when was I your friend?"

Wander froze.

"And besides, Awesome has got all I need. Don't need anyone like you around." She snapped her fingers at him,

"I've never met you before, you must be stupid into thinking that everyone you meet is automatically your friend, you're so naive!"

"S-Sylvia, what do you mean?"

He thought he was imagining things, but there was a pink glow to her eyes, and they weren't cheery or happy, they were angry, as well as unfamiliar. He knew the look in his friends eyes; energetic, strong, and happy.

He didn't see any of that right now.

Sylvia rolled her eyes.

"Listen Furnicle, let me keep this nice and simple for that little brain of yours. I am not your friend. I was never your friend. Awesome doesn't need junk wandering about his ship, so leave."

Wander stopped to catch his breath. Sylvia just laughed.

He caught that.

She called him a Furnicle...how did she know that?! Wander put that thought aside for later, he had to get her to snap out of it.

"Sylvia, you have to know and remember me!" He begged.

"What am I supposed to remember? All I know is that you're a little snot and so weak!" She mocked.

Wander began to whimper. He had to pry it open, the best friend that was in there somewhere. He fought to not let her words break him. She was starting to have fun with this. Awesome loved picking on the defenseless and those that were less cooler than him. Those traits of his, she liked and loved doing herself.

"Hahahaha! Look at you, you're so pathetic it's hilarious!"

Wander bent over on his knees, tightening his fists, trying to hold the feeling in his chest to scream out and call her name.

"He was right. You really are as weak and useless as he said-"

Wander then punched Sylvia in the face.

Sylvia stumbled backwards, rubbing her cheek in pain. It happened so fast. He rolled his body and stood back up,

"I'm sorry to do this Sylvia! But I had to!" He cried.

"AAaaow, Wander! That hurt! That's twice you've punched me now!" She glowered at him.

" Twice ?" He paused.

Why would she say that? But she also said his name! That meant the blow worked on her.

Sylvia held her head in agony and confusion.

"Why, what have you done to me?! Why do I keep seeing you in my head!? She grunted louder.

"Sylvia, you have to remember! It's me, Wander!"

Immediately he thought of something to try next; he pulled out his banjo. He didn't sing, but played tunes she would remember.

But that made it worse.

"WHAT IS THIS?!" She screeched. "WHAT ARE THESE MEMORIES?! THOUGHTS?! AUGHHH, STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT!"

She buckled backwards continuing to cradle her head..then began angrily breaking all of the windows, causing glass to fly in every direction. Wander, who had been standing in confusion and terror, crumpled down in pain as glass cut his skin in multiple places, and on his right cheek.

Sylvia fell on her knees, panting, then glared at him;

"I'll kill you!" Sylvia's eyes glowed brighter with pink.

She punched, kicked, but missed. She was being relentless as always.

He knew he had to fight back. For her sake, at least.

He made cartwheels whenever she would jump and try to fly a punch at him, using his natural reflexes as his advantage, he didn't feel pain since he left Hater's ship which was a plus.

"Stop...! MOVING!" She bellowed.

"If I do, you'll regret it, Sylvia!"

"Don't call me by name as if we're friends!"

That hurt. He suddenly, lost the will to fight back any further. It brought back memories of that night..her hateful self emotionally tormenting him. Was this the mirror self? Or the real Sylvia all along?

Without paying attention, she punched him. He lifelessly flew across the hall, making a skid.

The banjo was on the floor next to him, scratched from the glass hitting it. Wander was crumpled on the ground, cut, shaking, and bawling his eyes out.

Sylvia landed on the ground, breathing heavily.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Her scream echoed and bounced on the walls.

She glared up at Wander, and froze when she saw him.

She remembered now.

The pink light in her eyes vanished.

"Wander-?!"

Trembling, Sylvia walked up to him, and picked him up. He didn't seem to notice, and continued to cry.

"What happened, Wander? What's going on here?"

He was in too much turmoil to answer and continued to cry. Sylvia looked at her surroundings, light shown through the broken windows where the stained-glass was before, now the pieces of it were scattered onto the floor. She had no idea how she got here.

"Wander! shhh, shhh, it's alright, buddy, I'm here!" She tried to gently quiet him down.

Then it came to her. She remembered she was the one who punched him in the face. Said all those terrible things to him, glass cutting all over himself.

A painful cramp grew into her chest and he grinded her teeth together in extreme remorse. She held him tighter and brought his head close to her face and cradled it. She began to sniffle and cry with him. A moment later he stopped. She looked at his face, it seemed he passed out, but tears continuously flowed down his face.

She let her legs fall, sitting on her tailbone. She began to cradle again and his breathing pattern softened and was back into a normal rhythm. Her thoughts of self hate picked at her, but she didn't care, Wander was in such a state of distress because of her, he was more important than anything else right now.

Until she heard a voice,

"See what you did."

She weakly looked around, and the glass on the floor caught her eye, she saw her reflection in many of the pieces, but her mouth moved on its own.

"This is what happens when you put yourself first before others, you and Wander both end up hurt." Her reflection's eyes narrowed and she frowned with heavy disapproval.

She knew who it was.

"What are you doing in here?" She huffed.

Her reflection scoffed.

"Idiot, I've been with you the whole time. I saw everything, from Awesome poisoning you.. to you freaking out at the windows."

"You must be fun at parties." She said dryly.

"I wish I could say the same about you, you caused a lot of trouble out there for people."

Her reflection blurred and showed her original one. She had gone.

Repressed guilt showed on her face, and gulped.

Sylvia set Wander on her lap, he remained still, undisturbed. She gazed at her hands and the clothing she wore, and made a disgusted grunt.

"Awesome.." She growled.

She ripped the jacket she had on and wrapped it around her best friend, who bled slightly from glass sticking out of his fur and skin. The next thing she knew she needed to do was to get out of here.

She took his hat and put her hand in, pulling out what they would need. She looked at it and gasped with glee.

"Thanks, hat. This is our ticket out of here."


Hater was becoming more angry that he couldn't land a punch to shark loser's face, with each swing he put more malice and electricity.

"HOLD still so I can destroy you!" He yelled, annoyed.

"Then do it already." Awesome replied in a bored tone.

"GRAHH!"

Why was this so hard? Why is Awesome so annoyingly good at dodging? last time he was with him he picked on Peepers and was able to strike him without any problems. But that was just when he didn't have his guard up. His eyes lit up with the idea.

"I'm hoping I can tire you out, so I can find Sylvia-"Awesome stopped and shut his eyes,

Hater slung a string of bolts towards him, seemingly like he was about to reach his target, but missed..for a moment Awesome thought he was hit, but felt nothing.

"Ha, that was even lamer than lame, you aren't such a great shot!" He mocked.

"I wasn't aiming for you." Hater said calmly.

The electricity had gone and circulated into the swimming pool just inches from where Awesome stood, and it as well touched the ceiling. Hater picked up a water bottle and threw it at him.

"What're you- woah, woah!" Awesome fumbled with it and caught it, but the cap was unscrewed and it splashed into his face.

"Time to be shockedand amazed, loser." He snapped his fingers.

Awesome realized one second too late to what Hater was doing. His brain felt fuzzy and the next thing he felt was the stinging feeling of electricity. Hater ignored the screams Awesome made and grabbed his best friend and tucked him into a ball, Peepers held on, both shut their eyes and covered their heads, and ducked for cover by a knocked over table.

The shocking lessened and Awesome fell over, seeing stars in his vision, every joint and muscle was stiff and painful.

"I'll make you regret this, Hater." He meant to sound threatening but instead, it came out dizzy.

"Is it over?" Peepers squeaked anxiously.

Hater had his face turned enough to peek out, and frowned. Meaning he wasn't able to finish him off completely.

"Not yet."

Awesome stood up, with a wobbly posture, breathing heavy.

"You come in here, crash my party, and have the decency to stop me from having fun with Sylvia, you're the worst." He hissed and coughed.

Hater stood up, setting Peepers on the floor as he watched. Hater glanced at the partiers who witnessed the whole scenario, scared.

"Why are you guys still doing here, it's not safe! We don't want losers like you dying because of me." He glared at them.

They only flinched at his voice and hardly budged.

"I'm telling you to leave! This guy is a jerk," Hater pointed out, "He wants you here because he's a pathetic loser with no life!"

"That's the idea."

"Huh?" Hater looked at Awesome again.

"Do you have any idea how boring life gets, no one wants to be with you. The only way to do it is with your own form of control, like I convinced Sylvia to."

"What're you talking about?" Hater furrowed his brows, he wasn't ready for the answer, and he knew he wouldn't like it.

"I love her." Awesome's face softened, sadness and admiration glistened in his eyes.

Hater silently gasped. He then somewhat understood, and why he went to huge lengths in kidnapping her.

"Oh my." Peepers sighed with shock.

"That's why...I must control her. Her, and my life is meaningless without each other, she's just as in love with me as I am."

Hater angrily breathed in an inhale. Peepers heard it. It made him nervous, he knew Awesome was messing with a ticking time bomb.

"With my special recipe of orrble soda, I have all the people I need to party for a lifetime." He said happily,

"No more of her Wander friend, just her and me, I'd do anything for her-"

"ENOUGH!"

The dance floor shook with extreme intensity, making people watching slip and fall, a green barrier surrounded only Awesome and around Hater, pushing out Peepers. The sudden force out made the one eyed commander bounce on his head, dizzying his vision.

"ACK!- bounce- "ARGH!"- bounce. He stopped and fell on his chest, finally seeing what had happened.

Hater's hood covered his face, making a low growl.

"What you've done is for your own ego. Knowing Wander, it would make him lose his marbles. From what I've gathered, Awesome.." He stepped forward, electricity flickered and popped with more and more ferocity,

"You made someone be with you, because you're lonely and pathetic. You tried to make her love you back..!"

Awesome cowered and froze, fearing for his life. He'd never seen him in a state of anger like this before and regretted all the times for ever calling him weak and lame.

Hater revealed his eyes. But they weren't angry.

They were sad.

"If there's one thing I've ever learned that stuck to me.. is you never make someone fall in love with you.."

...He could hear Dominator's laugh echo in his head, the cheery, mean-spirited, yet charming chuckling. It hurt the way she laughed right into his face, mocking him. The day his whole world came crumbling to a painful crash...

"And that's exactly what you did, forcing Wander's only friend in the galaxy turn against him, no doubt; I'm not surprised if he's crying right now because of you."

Peepers face watched with shock and astonishment. He'd never witnessed his leader standing up against his enemy like this. He became a whole different person again.

"So what about it? IT'S the only way to have fun!" Awesome talked back.

Seeing how his confession didn't help, it was useless. At this rate, there was no change in Awesome's heart or selfish attitude to make him regret what he did to everyone.

"You're hopeless." Hater quietly shot back, "You can drown in your own pool, I don't care."

Hater released the electricity, dying out. He turned with a solemn expression, and walked away.

"That's it? All that jazz you put out and you're not going to finish me off? You're the lame one here!" Awesome shouted angrily.

Hater ignored him. He'd been through worse than being mocked. Nothing could hurt worse than Dominator trampling on his feelings.

"Let's get out of this dump, Peeps. We need to look for Flab-dresser."

"O-oh, u-um, right!" Peepers stood up and followed.

"Tch, wimp." Awesome muttered.

Both of them were about to go through the entry doors, but were suddenly hit with them and against the walls with a SLAM!

"I FOUND YOU, jerk face!"

Sylvia had kicked open the doors, one leg up. Her pink comb stood out more spiked than ever.

"Oh, Becks, how're you doing?" Awesome greeted her.

She just snorted at him.

"I'm doing great, ACTUALLY, and it's payback!"

She wasn't in her outfit from before. Her saddle was on her back again, and her reigns.

"Um, Sylvia?" Wander popped his head from behind, still wearing her jacket from before.

"Huh?"

"Remember what we talked about?"

She blew her lips.

"Yeah, but I want to kick his butt so bad!" Sylvia whined.

"I know, but force isn't the answer, I'm just as upset as you are." Wander said tenderly.

"Yeah." She sighed and closed her eyes.

She was still tormented of the pain she inflicted on him, and the pain her captor put on both of them. But at least she was allowed to get one good hit on him after this next move..

She brought out the thing that would help them escape given by the hat.

"LIGHT em up!" She cheered.

A bright red flame-thrower in her hands, she held it proudly.

"NO, don't! If you do that-!" Awesome ran to stop her, and pounced,

But she moved and ran to get closer to the fire-sprinklers, she would've done it at that moment if Awesome hadn't grabbed her reigns and Wander, he let out a frightened yelp,

"Ack! Awesome, what're you-" Wander pleaded,

"Get off of her, you scum!" He hissed and spat in his face, and slapped him.

Wander cried in pain and he was tossed across the room, hitting a wall.

"WANDER!" Sylvia cried in horror, still holding the thrower, then dropped it.

Enraged that he committed such a vile act on her best friend she lurched at him and grabbed Awesome by the neck, and held onto the back of his head, screeching.

"YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID!"

It was more than enough to make her eyes turn dark red, her instincts taking completely over and she began clawing at his eyes and face.

"Sylvia!" Wander yelled, this time with anger.

His call for her brought her back to her senses. He was on his side, legs tucked and bent on the floor.

"He's not worth it, you gotta to let go of him." He rubbed the place where he was struck, his voice steady but firm at her.

"But, Wander-! He-!"

"I KNOW what he did!" He yelled angrily, on the verge of tears again.

The display of disapproval and anger made her frozen.

"But if you continue to hit and show hate, it will never end for anyone!" He pleaded, and bearing his teeth.

His voice hit throughout the room, the onlookers continued to watch, confused, or either affected by his pleading. Sylvia let it sink in, his words of convincing her to restrain was stronger than the grip on Awesome's neck, which was choking him. She didn't notice or cared if he suffered at this point.

"An endless cycle of hatred could destroy the galaxy faster than Dominator killing planets in one go."

One string of tears fell on Sylvia's cheek, her face half hidden.. she resisted herself from letting her fist hit him.

She released.

Immediately Awesome coughed and gagged trying to catch the missing air in his lungs.

She stared at him for a moment, grimacing. She spit on his feet, then turned away.

"Let's go, Wander." She made a tone almost inaudible.

Wander stood up, and brushed off the debris from his fur. But he couldn't brush off his worry for Sylvia...

It was going to get worse.

Sylvia suddenly moaned and fell to the floor on her knees.

"..AGGH! What's going on!" She cringed in pain

"Syl?" Wander made his way to her.

"Grr, she could've knocked,"

Peepers and Hater had managed to peel themselves off the door, missing the whole thing.

"I think, I may have thrown up a little, sir." Peepers said dizzily.

"Nice to know," Hater groaned, he was about to say another sarcastic thing but was interrupted.

"What's wrong with her?" Peepers pointed out, confused.

Hater gasped in shock.

Sylvia's screams of pain hit everyone's ear in a way.. it made them gobsmacked. Wander patted her back, trying to comfort her suffering. Her body and skull felt like it was on fire!

"Sylvia! What's wrong?! Tell me!" He cried, perturbed.

"Get...away...Wand-" She struggled to warn him and speak.

"Why, I can't just leave you!"

"Get away.. FROM ME!" She yelled with animosity that struck him in pain; mentally and physically.

She pushed him off hard, and on the spot where his old wounds were, that time he felt them. He was nearly knocked out from the pain of them being hit.

"Wander!"

It was unmistakable at this time Hater was worried for him. He went to him and held him up.

"Are you okay?"

"I-no, I'm not." He grunted.

"But what about- ..oh no.." Hater was looking at something, something that made him horrified.

He was staring at Awesome; he managed to stand again on his own, and stood behind Sylvia who continued to moan and hold her head.

"What's that he's holding?" Wander gaped.

Both saw him contain a circular item in his hands, it glowed purple and pink, it looked like a glass ornament, and inside it, a fiery red shaped heart.

"As long as I have this, and the bubble in her system, she's not going anywhere!" He declared triumphantly.

"You...!" Hater snarled angrily at him.

He never cared for Sylvia, and the fact she was friends of his most hated enemy. But seeing her writhe in agony by someone else of his own wants, sickened him to the core. This couldn't go on any further, he needed the both of them alive, so he could destroy them himself!

"Let go of her, you filthy-!"

Hater was about to attack, but was held back and smacked by Wander's hand.

"Why did you hit me-?"

Wander smacked him again on his mouth, making him jump a little. His hat covered his face and he frowned. He made a deep, guttural growl.

"Uh, Wan-"

He stood up, and walked over, ignoring the fact he was bleeding all over, and ignored Sylvia, which perplexed Hater. His sole focus was on her captor.

"Ooooh, I'm trembling! Ha! What can you do? You're all skin and fur, no way you can take me on!" Awesome teased.

"Don't make us repeat it," Wander hissed like a mad animal, "Let her go."

His fingernails grew into claws and dug into his skin...his hat sensed this, and flew off his head, his dangly fur blew in the air.

"Come on, you've got the scawwy look, but can you back it up?" Awesome kept taunting.

"As a matter of fact.." Wander hissed again, and looked at him dead in the eyes with his own. Green with black sclera,

"I think it's best you don't test me and let her go right now, before I get really upset."

Sylvia was able to hold herself up, since Awesome's reign was being distracted, and she could watch what was happening.

"No...!"

She was frozen with fear. Fear of Wander, and fear for him.


"Well, at least that's over with,"

At the top parking lot, Deena pulled out the keys to her car. Happy to be out of that horrid dance platform, and breathing fresh oxygen. The ship was surrounded by an invisible orbble bubble only she could smell. It provided the main oxygen supply for the area around her. She unlocked her car and sat in. She untied her fur clips, letting jaw length black hair fall after.

She let out an exhale of annoyance;

"Guess I report now."

Pulling out a cell phone she pushed one button for speed dial and it began to ring.

"What is your code to confirm identity of Deena Dawls?"

A cool, male robotic voice spoke on the other line.

"Dogs rule and cats are cruel," she recited clearly but with dry tone. She hated the password she was assigned to memorize.

"Confirmed, welcome Deena. Your boss will be with you shortly; have a nice day!"

"If only." She retorted.

After a few minutes of playing nonchalant music in agonizing silence, a new female voice appeared.

"What's your report?"

Deena took a deep breath and put her elbow up against the window.

"I've found them here. Both of them. Want me to send photographic evidence?"

"Affirmative."

She toggled a button on her jacket, it lit up a light blue and buzzed lightly. A hologram of Wander talking to her and another appeared of Sylvia. The audio was turned off because she didn't need to hear them speak and read their lips.

"Perspective of the current situation?" The other female asked.

"Not too good. The Zbornak seems to be in a dreamlike influence, she showed signs of migraines, amnesia, and dominant tendency."

"Your report has been recorded for documentation. What's the status of the Star Furnicle?"

"He was searching for the Zbornak. Doesn't seem likely he knows what's happened to her."

A pause at the end last for a few seconds.

"At this rate, if we can't get both of them to get back to Spearnight in one psychological piece, the galaxy will be under threat."

"I'm aware of that. If nothing changes in the next few hours, I'll intervene myself."

"Thank you. You, and they play a vital role to keeping it safe."

"Was it worth me fake crying? You should give me a raise." Deena giggled.

The other just sighed.

"Jokes aside, you did a great job. And I'm sorry the Zbornak put you through that."

"It's fine. Part of the job, I just hope she pulls through if Wander-"

"-Furnicle, might I correct you."

"Oh, right." She stammered.

"There's a good chance we could use his strengths to our advantage."

"Of course."

A pang of irritation stung her.

"He's not a groping tool, he's a creature with feelings, she wanted to talk back, but held it.

"Anything else you want to report?"

"Negative, ma'am." She hung up the phone.