Chapter 4: The Pipsqueak

"Wow!" Wander had a bottle of orbble juice in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. "How did this hat knew I was thirsty? This is so cool!"

"It is something," Sylvia agreed, glancing at the hat. "Sooo... You're from another galaxy, eh?" Sylvia chuckled lightly. "You never cease to surprise me, Tumble - I mean, Wander."

Wander blushed and frowned at himself. "I'm sorry I scared you earlier, Syl."

Sylvia grinned lazily at him. "Don't worry about it, buddy. I understand. It's a little weird that I'm your sister in this, er, alternate universe." She used her tail to ruffle the fuzz on his head. "But with you being so goofy and adorable, I can definitely see it."

She even acts like Sylvia, Wander thought wistfully. I can't help it that I miss my actual sister, can I?

"You're my adoptive sister," Wander clarified. "Your mom adopted me."

"Really?" Sylvia fought the urge to grin. "And are there three dopey, aggressive brothers and a paranoid, sour-faced grandmother and a hilarious dad thrown into this happy trail mix?"

"Uh-huh! How'd you know?"

Sylvia laughed a little and craned her neck to look at Wander. "Lucky guess."

Wander replayed her question in his head and frowned at himself again. "Sylvia... where I'm from... your father..."

"Tell you what, buddy." She stopped in her tracks. "I'll tell you about this galaxy, and you can tell me about yours." Sylvia already knew how heartbreaking it was to lose a loved one. Her mother in her galaxy passed away, and she did not want Wander to feel guilty over something he could not help.

And if Wander was anything like Tumbleweed, he was prone to try to carry too much weight on his shoulders for the sake of others.

Wander smiled hugely and donned his hat. "Sounds stupendous! You first!"

He even talks like Tumbleweed, Sylvia mused before telling Wander about her galaxy. She told him about her childhood and her former job as a racing zbornak. She told him about how fame became overbearing and she settled down to live with her kin. She also told him about how her mother passed away several years ago and how her father has managed the fort.

"And then I met Tumbleweed," Sylvia continued. "Who looks eerily just like you." She went on to list all the nastiest villains and the best heroes in the galaxy. Finally, she told Wander what her and Tumbleweed did for a living.

"So you guys help all kinds of people from all kinds of planets?" Wander squealed like a fangirl and draped his arms over Sylvia's neck. "Awesome!"

Sylvia snorted. "It's all fine and dandy until your counterpart almost gets us both killed." She glanced pensively at Wander. "Seriously, Tumbleweed's just like you."

"And my sister's just like you!"

"Well, what about your galaxy?" Wander then told her all about his galaxy and his family. While Wander was talking, Sylvia spotted a peaceful-looking planet full of cornfields and headed for it.

"Hmph. Mom always gets defensive for little guys. No offense."

Wander smiled. "None taken." He was so glad that Sylvia was around to help him, even though it wasn't his Sylvia.

Sylvia landed on the planet. They were surrounded by cornstalks. "Now where are we?" They both heard shrill shrieking and saw cerulean blue space crows guffawing at something near them.

"What's going on?"

Wander gasped in fright. "Oh my grop! It's a sentient scarecrow being mangled by a gang of crows! Let's go, Sylvia!" He hopped off of her back and raced to the crows, with Sylvia trailing right behind him. They saw a poor eyeball with a small body on the ground, and the massive crows were jeering and harassing him.

Sylvia and Wander paused to stare at the victim. "Huh. That's no scarecrow -"

"DO I LOOK LIKE A SCARECROW?!"

While Wander tried to get to the center of circle formed by the crows, Sylvia began wagging her fists around and threatening the gang.

"Scram! Shoo! Pick on someone your own size!"

One pecked at Sylvia's face, but he soon realized that was a big mistake. Sylvia immediately gave him a black eye, scaring the brave crow's friends and sending all of them flying.

After they flew away, Wander knelt down to the monocular being. "You okay, little guy?" He asked gently. But that only made the eyeball aim his gun at him.

"Halt!"

Wander simply slapped the gun away and picked him up. "You're so familiar and cute!" He searched his hat and gave Sylvia a camera. Picture time!"

The eyeball began to panic. "No! No! Not the flash! NOT THE FLASH!" Sylvia took the picture anyway, and Wander got an odd sense of déjà vu.

"AHHHH! MY EYE! You will pay for - "

"What are you blinking about?" Sylvia snapped. "Look, we're sorry about your eye, but we just saved you from those crows! Couldn't you act a little grateful?"

The stranger just placed his helmet back on, which had a long, yellow lightning bolt on it. "I was doing just fine until you two came along and interfered. I was handling their childish aggression perfectly."

"Suuure. You were only screaming and bawling your eye out until we got here."

"Sylvia!" Wander scolded, standing with arms akimbo. "You're not being nice. He's obviously still a little shaken."

"I am not scared of those stupid crows!" The eyeball cried defensively. "I just... " His voice softened a measure. "I just wish I was taller... and stronger..." He glanced up at Sylvia. "Like her!"

Blushing, Sylvia averted her eyes. "Gee, thanks, buddy."

"Don't mention it." The stranger sighed heavily and plopped down on one of the grassy spots in the humongous cornfield. "I used to follow one of the greatest villains in the whole galaxy," he disclosed. "Lord Hater."

Sylvia scrunched up her face in disgust. "Why? He's such a brat and a big bully!"

"But I was his commander," the eyeball confessed. "It was my job. I felt like I had power and control..." His eye turned watery. "And that that was enough. But then, he kicked me out."

"Awww." Wander patted the stranger's small back and smiled sympathetically. "You want a hug?" He quickly shook his eye.

"No! Hugs are st-stupid... Stupid like ME!" He bawled and wrapped his tiny arms around Wander's belly, and Wander quickly reciprocated the embrace. And with begging eyes, he outstretched a hand to his perturbed friend.

"Come here, Sylvia. Please?" The zbornak huffed but complied, and the trio released one another.

Sylvia winced as Wander's eyes began to light up a certain way, a certain, clever way. She knew that once his eyes lit up like that, he had another goofy, insane idea that he was never going to let go.

"Hey! Uh..."

"It's Peepers."

"Peepers, why don't you come with us to see the wizard? Maybe he can make you taller and stronger!"

"A wizard?" The stranger looked at the duo skeptically. "Sounds like a scam!"

"No, it's not." Sylvia argued. "Princess Demura said it was the only way to get this guy - " She gestured to Wander. "- Home. Besides, what have you got here?"

The eyeball looked around for a minute before nodding slowly. She was right. He was simply wandering, homeless and unemployed, until the pair showed up and saved him. "It's worth a try." His eye shined a little more, and he hopped on Sylvia's back. "Let's go!"

They were back in space again, with Wander riding in the front and Peepers holding on to his waist. The trio flew in silence until Peepers asked a practical question.

"Which planet is this wizard on?"

"Uh..." Sylvia had no clue. Demura did not mention the name of the planet.

"Let's go ask for directions," Wander suggested. He scanned some planets before pointing to a planet full of flora, fauna, and misty rainbows. "Let's go to that one! Looks like there are some friendly peeps there!"

"But that one looks suspicious," Peepers disagreed, squinting at the planet. He spotted another, darker one and pointed to it. "Let's go to that one!"

Both Sylvia and Wander glanced at the dark planet in disbelief. Stormy gray clouds amassed. Lightning bolts struck the planet to its core. Jagged rocks littered the surface. In short, it was no picnic.

"Are you mental?" Sylvia hissed at Peepers.

"Let's just try it!" Peepers insisted. He did not like being wrong one bit. "Let's just see if anyone can help us. If not, we leave."

Wander shrugged and decided to take Peeper's side. "Why not, Sylvia? I mean, with all that rainfall I bet there's a nice fat lake we can swim in for a bit!"


The trio did not see a living soul on the nameless, barren planet until they came upon a black, Gothic castle with grandiose arches, flying buttresses, and stained glass windows depicting scenes of war and the fiercest dragons.

Wander decided to look around the courtyard, with a reluctant Peepers and Sylvia right behind him, when an old, hunchbacked croon revealed herself. She was presumably royalty, for a golden crown was perched on her evident, white wig. She had wrinkly, cyan skin and wore an elegant, black and magenta dress. Her teeth were browner than dirt, but her bright, fuschia eyes radiated with youth and a thirst for infinite power.

"Hello, sonny!" The elderly queen greeted Wander. "I am Queen Entozoa." She held out her wrinkled hand, anticipated a kiss from all three, but only Wonder smooched the aged knuckles.

"Hello there! Folks call me Wander. This is Sylvia, and this is Peepers. And we really love your planet."

The queen forcibly chuckled until she choked. "Why, thank you! I just conquered it!" Both Sylvia and Peepers held Wander back.

"What?!"

Queen Entozoa grabbed Wander by his shoulders, and purple mist emerged from the queen's chapped lips. Then, to the zbornak and eyeball's horror, the mist began to form into a face and speak.

"And now..." The spirit eyed Wander greedily. "I have a new, young vessel."