THE ARTIFACTS

Author's Notes: Okay, originally, it was called "The Secret". But it didn't hit me right. I'll stick with this instead. I want you all to be intrigued enough to read it, but I want it to make sense. ;) Unfortunately, this gives it away. Anywho, go…READ! XD

Before leaving to tell the story, Wander and his family called the Stellarian police to get Hater's ship and apprehend him and the Watchdogs. After that, they headed to Wander's childhood home.

The first thing Lenia learned about Wander's parents was their names. They didn't like being called sir/madam or mister/missus. Wander's father was called Barker and his mother was Lulu.

Lulu was a peachy colored Stellarian and was so ecstatic to have her son back that she refused to let go or stop petting his furry head.

Finally midway through the story, Wander couldn't take it anymore and excused himself to go to the bathroom. When he came back a short while later, he sat on Lenia's other, available side, putting his mother out.

By the time the story was done, Barker had much to consider.

Windy was asleep against Wood who was being a good big brother by combing his fingers through her fur soothingly. It was after eleven and Wood then offered to take Windy to bed while Wander went to show Lenia his old room.

"This is it!" Wander said, gesturing to the semi-clean, but also semi-dirty, room. "I guess they left it alone after I was kidnapped. Woulda been nice ta come home ta a clean room, am I right?"

He walked in and took off his hat, placing it on the table next to the bed.

Lenia smiled. "I'm glad you have your memory back."

Wander nodded, smiling tiredly. "Me too. It was…strange and even irritatin' not knowin' where I came from. I knew there was somethin' I didn't know, I just…didn't know what. I'm glad I remember now."

He turned to his girlfriend as she came close and wrapped his arms around her. They leaned in, preparing for a kiss when they heard a throat-clearing in the doorway.

Jumping apart, they looked to see Lulu glaring at them.

"Now I know I didn't teach Lenia the lesson, but you should know it now that you have your memory back. First comes love, then comes…"

Wander blushed before pleading, "Aw Mama, come on! It was just gonna be a kiss!"

But Lulu wouldn't have it, "Oh sure. First comes love, then comes MARRIAGE! If you want something more out of your relationship, you gotta be married first. Don't you forget that, sweetie pie, okay?"

Wander nodded silently, the blush increasing.

When she was gone, Wander looked back at Lenia. "Sorry."

Lenia shrugged. "So what's the age limit or whatever for marriage around here?"

"Funny you should ask that!" Wood answered. "I heard Mama say that she wants Wander to marry you soon so she can have grandchildren. Pfft!" He began laughing as the lovebirds' faces heated up.

"Did she really say that?" Wander asked.

"Yup," Sylvia confirmed, walking in. "I heard it too. Barker is talking to her about it now. He said he wants to watch Lenia as a test to make sure she's worthy. I'm sure she'll pass."

Lenia crossed her arms. "Are you saying you want me to be mated off with Wander, Sylvia?"

Sylvia looked away and shrugged. "Maybe."

Lenia turned to Wood. "What about you?"

"Maybe." Wood said simply, but smiled.

The next morning, Barker told all of his family, Lenia, and Sylvia to come with him. They were going to the center of town to speak with elders, he said. He also told Wander to bring his hat and Lenia to bring her Star Amulet.

Based on their discussion the night before, Barker said when they entered the Town Hall; there might be something that would soon require Wander and Lenia's attention and power.

When they entered one of the rooms at the end of the hall, one of the four elders stood up and spoke.

"Ah, Barker, so you've brought your long lost son, Wander. And he has the Star Hat, I see. Has he been able to use it effectively?"

"Yes, Lester. I've brought Wander. And based on what he's told me, he has. But I'll let him demonstrate instead."

Wander looked up at his father. "What? You mean I have to pull something from the hat?"

His father nodded wordlessly.

Wander took off the hat and reached in, pulling out the hammer.

His father, his family, and the elders gasped as Wander lifted the enormous wooden hammer above his head.

"The Star Hammer, with the ability to put up a force field and absorb the powers of other weapons." This elder eyed Wander. "How did you pull it out? Many of other Stellarians from different generations have tried to pull it out of the Star Hat and failed because…"

"…because it was not meant for them!" Lore finished, appearing beside Wander, though projected from Lenia's Star Amulet.

"Lore!" The elders bowed. "It is fortunate of us to finally meet you in…well, holographic form. How have you been?"

Lore smiled. "I have learned a great deal, being passed through the generations. And of the many things I've learned, one particular piece of information has grabbed my attention because it is very important. Each of the Star Artifacts is alive in a way. It chooses a successor. The Star Hat and Star Hammer chose Wander, the Star Amulet chose Lenia. Sometimes the successor can give it to another, but only if they already have another of them in their possession. Yes, there are others out there. But I have another piece of information. A legend was created by one of the Artifacts that all the Artifacts now follow. It goes like this.

"One male and female shall take it all. They are more pure of heart and more pure of soul. They will bring them back to planet home as whole. Or else all will be swallowed up and we will all be done."

He paused to let them take it in.

"I believe Wander and Lenia are the male and female. I've thought about it. They already both have at least one of the Artifacts. Even though they're not perfectly pure, they're better than most. No one is completely pure after all. This planet is the place they must bring them back to. And the last part is, if anyone else gets them and manages to use them somehow, we're all done for."

"So people can use them?" Lester asked.

"Last time I checked, the Star Artifacts could only be used by Stellarians." Lore shrugged, a weird glint in his eye. He knew something but no one pressed it.

Lenia cleared her throat, gaining everyone's attention. "Are there any evil Stellarians?"

Lore nodded wisely. "That is an excellent question. There are indeed evil Stellarians that call themselves the Dark Nomads because they were cast out of Stellaria years ago. They roam the universe looking for the Star Artifacts and anything they can use to gain power. The most powerful Dark Nomad that I heard of over time was called Noir. He has black fur and carries the contaminated Star Whip. He is the only one in existence known to have gotten and contaminated a Star Artifact, which is why I know so much about the contamination factor. Let me tell you…

"Yes, you heard me correct. The Star Artifacts can become impure and evil. I'm guess that since Noir was so evil, he thrust his will on the Star Whip and forced it to do his bidding. The original Star Whip could purify the area wherever it was struck and grab anything that its master wanted no matter what the master's skill was. So like the Star Hammer, it has two abilities. But the Star Amulet is a map and has guidance too, so it also has two abilities. Some of the Artifacts only have one, but they are more powerful or useful, like the Star Hat, capable of holding anything and weighing nothing."

"What does the Star Whip do now?" Wander asked.

"The Night Whip, as it's now called, has the ability to possess those in the area to do the master of the Whip's bidding. The second talent is the same, but it has a second affect. It will electrocute you with black waves of power."

Barker placed a firm hand on his second son's shoulder. "There's no way my son's goin' there alone."

Lenia stepped forward. "He won't be, Mister Barker. Sylvia and I will be with him the entire time."

Sylvia nodded. "You can count on us."

Barker snorted. "I'm not lettin' a girl my son's age and someone from another species go with my son." Sylvia snorted, crossing her arms. Barker glared before continuing, "I need to send someone better than that." The zbornak glared.

"Like who, Pops?" Wander asked.

"Me." He said simply.

No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't convince Barker that having him stay behind on Stellaria was a better idea.

"No, I'm goin' with ya! I won't have my son come back from bein' kidnapped and then leave me again so soon afterwards. I need ta spend more time with ya. Don't ya wanna spend more time with me too? Or…would ya rather make out with yer little girlfriend every two to four minutes?"

Sylvia snorted. "They don't nearly do it that often."

Wander glared at the zbornak and his father as his face reddened. "Ya know…you and Mama can lay off the whole girlfriend-make-out-marriage-yada-yada stuff anytime now. We get it! We'll behave, Pops." He grinned playfully up at his father.

Lenia giggled as Barker glared at the romantic duo.

"You are so on yer way ta bein' grounded, mister."

Wander sighed heavily. "It's times like these that I think we shouldn'ta come back here at all."

Lenia pat him on the head, his Star Hat currently beside him, the Star Hammer currently inside it.

Barker growled. "Stop that. He's not a pet, Little Blue Missy."

Lenia lowered her hand, but still said. "Um sir, my name is Len—"

"Daddy, speaking of which, you said we could get a pet about two years ago." Windy said, coming into the room.

"I only said that so you would stop badgerin' me about it, Windy! Ya can get so annoyin' when ya wanna be!" Barker growled.

Wander hopped off his seat on the couch and ran to his sister as her eyes began to water. Windy greatly appreciated her brother's embrace and did her best not to cry. But the sniffles didn't go unnoticed by her father.

"What? What?!" Barker shouted at the little girl.

Finally Sylvia put her foot down. "You really don't get it, do you?"

Barker turned on her, eyes blazing. But the blue zbornak didn't back down a bit, much to the tall Stellarian's secret dismay.

"If ya understand it, then you explain it."

"She's a little girl with a fragile emotional spectrum. If you said you were going to get her a pet and then you just yelled at her and call her annoying two years later, well, that's bound to put a damper on anyone young lady's mood. She's hurt and from the way I see it, she's really fragile from having lost her brother, possibly the closest person in the world to her, in a single day, and still needs time to recover.

"What you are doing is the same thing. You are taking your anger out on everyone because you are angry that you lost your son and you don't want it to happen again. You are frustrated with the current situation – with the quest Wander and Lenia have been given – and you don't want them, or at least Wander, to go alone, especially without you. But you have to realize something, sir. He doesn't have a choice. And we will be with him. We may even find a few new friends along the way.

"The sad truth is, only a select few of us are going. And frankly, you will only get in the way. I've been watching all of your family, and some of your family will be going, which might break your heart. But I promise to protect them. Unfortunately, though, you are staying here with your wife."

Barker's eyes widened. "Who's going?"

Sylvia smiled softly. "I've talked to Lenia who asked Lore the same question last night, in which he answered and agreed. We asked: Who should go with Wander, if anyone? He replied: His own flesh and blood will be able to purify his soul should he need an extra hand. But remember that ultimately, only he can finish the job."

Barker's eye twitched. "I am…I'm his father!"

"And I'm his mother, why don't I go?" Lulu called from the kitchen.

Lenia and Sylvia shook their heads as the blue Star Nomad answered, "What Lore meant was that Wander's siblings would join him. Wood and Windy are the ones will be accompanying us on this journey."

There was silence that stretched on for what seemed like forward until Barker stood up, eyes full of rage. "NO!"

Wander released Windy, sprinting over to grab his hat, and pulled out the Star Hammer and thrust it in front of his father, to protect Lenia just as Barker revealed a steel knife from the kitchen. Not thinking, Wander turned to Hammer to the side with the Star just as the knife hit the wood.

The star glowed, soaking in the power of the metal and copied it into the wood. Seconds later, the Hammer was covered in a metallic glow. But it was still as feathery light as it could be.

"What…what happened?" Barker asked as he looked at the metal in his hand. It was the same. "Did it steal the metal or just copy it?"

Wander gently took the knife from his father and tested it. "It was just copied, Pops. Ya still have perfectly good silverware. But please, don't go after my girlfriend with this. Ya nearly gave me a heart attack."

Barker harrumphed. "We are not done discussing this. You hear me? We are not done." And with that, he stormed out.

"What's going on in here?" Wood asked, walking in. "I was busy playing video games in my room when I heard someth—oh my, whoa! What is with that hammer? It has metal on it now! How'd you do that?"

Wander glanced back towards the way his father left. "That can wait. Sylvia, Lenia, Wood, Windy, come with me. We need to discuss a few things."

A/N: Okay, so maybe Lord Hater is NOT a main character in this story. Okay, this is obviously very late, but I changed that in the properties section page. XD So anyways, I believe we are one away from the end Series 2 and the beginning of Series 3. And we have a new character introduced, Noir. His name means Black in French. XD I'm so silly, but at least my mom knew. Yay! Anywho, I'm not sure if I'm going to lead them straight to him, if he'll have more than one Artifact, and how many he'll have. Still working that out. I just got one of them now. Teehee! Okay, R&R! (Never mind, I just spent the last ten minutes coming up with ALL the remaining Star Artifacts and who they will belong to in the future. There are ten in all. Enjoy! This is gonna be fun!)