Chapter 9: The Requests

Author's Note: The last scene is based on The Wiz film.

Also, in the alternate setting, some, not all, of the characters are supposed to be a little OOC because it's an alternate universe. For example, the original Hater doesn't show his fear like this Hater does, and the original Peepers couldn't stand to even be around Wander. Okay, I'm done. Enjoy!

They took the single elevator and went up to the highest level. There, a long, dark, chilly hallway lead to another pair of double glass doors. As they slowly and cautiously tip-toed to the door, indigo blue flames illuminated the hall from each side, and an unsettling, resounding hum grew louder with every step they took together.

After the fifth pair of flames, Hater began getting cold feet. "I-I don't know know about this, guys! Isn't there another way?" He tried to sound bored, but his stuttering revealed his cowardice.

Peepers shook his eye. "No. Um, right?"

Wander shrugged a little. "That's what Princess Demura told me." His wide eyes were glued to the twin doors. "I just hope he's not... too evil."

Even the king was intimidated. "Evil, you say?" He inquired. "How evil?"

"Um, guys?" Everyone else turned to Hater. "We sooo don't have to worry about that. Besides, I'm like, obviously, as evil as they come, and my awesome evilness will totally obliterate his!"

"Pft." Hater clenched his fists and let green lightening spark in Peeper's skeptical face. "Ahem. I mean, y-yes. Yes, y-you are, sir."

"COME FORWARD!"

Hater released yet another high-pitched squeal and hopped into Draykor's arms, who dropped him in shock and fear. "T-Tell me when it's over!" The once proud overlord resorted to hiding behind Wander and Peepers.

After Hater quieted down, they all tightly grabbed each other's hands and reached the doors. Wander bravely knocked the door, and they slid open, revealing Major Threat's lair.

The lair was massive, spacious, and dark. The only thing they could see was the enormous fire pit in the middle of the room, the size of a small ship. Vivid blue flames as tall as Mooplexians danced in this pit, hypnotizing the five newcomers. But just when they felt comfortable enough to breathe, an artichoke green face with horns and cold, penetrating eyes appeared in the flames.

"Oh my grop," Peepers gasped. "Look at that! Look at that!" Wander and Sylvia grasped each other's already sore hands. Draykor began perspiring, and Hater looked anywhere but at the furious face. All of them were shuddering, clinging to one another for dear life.

The materialized face spoke immediately. "I am the terrible, awesome Major Threat," the wizard declared haughtily, "the powerful and unconquerable. I have crushed planets to dust, and I am the master of telekinesis, gravity, and flames!"

To demonstrate the extent of his powers, the violet gem on his forehead glowed, and the flames rose. Then, purple lightening bolts surrounded the guests. Hater would have created a force field to protect himself and the others. But by the time the idea came to his mind, the lightning storm ended. Finally, a strong, invisible force lifted them off the ground and then quickly dropped them.

"Who are you?" None of them said a word. "WELL?! Shall I address you individually like children?! Very well..." His sharp eyes picked a target. "You with the hat!"

Wander froze, but Sylvia gave him an encouraging pat on the back, and he hesitantly stepped closer. He took off his hat and kneeled respectfully.

"I am Wander, your terribleness, the... lanky and... not-so-unconquerable. We have come to -" The flames flickered some more.

"SILENCE!" Terrified, Wander hastily returned to the others, peeking over Hater's shoulder.

"I know why you misfits have come," the wizard sneered arrogantly. "All of you have requests, so I've heard, except the she-horse."

"Zbornak - " Sylvia cursed herself and curtsied awkwardly. "Uh... your terribleness."

"Whatever, horse. Come forward, your majesty." Draykor obeyed, bowing gracefully. "You came all this way from your teeny tiny planet for love, hmm?"

The beastly king trembled under the hardened, insensitive gaze. "Y-Yes?"

"How sentimental... and PATHETIC!" Blue flames and electricity almost burned Draykor to a crisp, but he luckily flew out of the way just in time.

The dragon king was an ambitious and prudent ruler. He was not used to such ill treatment and stood his ground, his wings flapping violently. "How dare you! I am a king! I will not stand for such disrespect! And no matter how terrible, awesome, or powerful you may be -"

"May be? MAY BE?! Either you are ignorant or foolish because everyone in the universe knows of my immense power and wrath! And if you're not careful, you cajoling fool, you will push me to unleash my wrath upon you! And that's just what you are, you cajoling, whimpering, dragon!"

Draykor hung his head and stepped back, accepting defeat, while Hater whistled in approval.

"I love this guy, but he's so scary!" The skeleton whispered to Peepers.

"And you, eyeball!" Peepers walked as if he were walking the plank and bowed lowly.

"Y-Yes?"

"You want a taller and stronger form, you insignificant creature?" The wizard chortled darkly at the idea.

Peepers gulped. "Uh... Uh-huh. Is - Is that reasonable, great wizard?" His answer was a feral growl and an electrifying hit to his bum.

"YOW!"

The wizard appraised Hater as Peepers scampered back to his companions. "And you, Lord Hater! You want to be evil like me?!" The entity bellowed with laughter. "GOOD LUCK!"

The wizard's mocking laughter, his own trembling and dizziness, and the several pairs of eyes on him sent Hater to his knees, with his head hung lowly and his eyes burning with fresh tears.

Wander knelt beside Hater and patted his back. When he first met each of his three new friends, Wander knew that Hater lacked the most self-confidence. Peepers didn't need a whole galaxy's submission to strengthen him like Hater did; Peepers simply felt underestimated because of how he looked. Meanwhile, Draykor was obviously confident enough to the point that he could love and find love in a healthy, romantic relationship. Hater, on the other hand, acted so arrogantly and self-absorbed that relationships, Wander assumed, were pushed aside or, sadly, unattainable to the overlord.

Hater acted a certain way, but Wander perceptively saw past that. He saw, deep, deep, deep inside, someone who needed to believe in him so he could believe in himself.

And strangely, Wander wanted to be that someone.

With these thoughts in mind, Wander frowned disapprovingly at the wizard. "You otta be ashamed of yourself! We came allll this way to humbly ask for your help, and this is how you greet us?"

"Oh, shut up, sunshine banjo face! The beneficent Major Threat has every intention of granting your stupid requests." He uttered his so casually, so carelessly, that Wander barely registered what he was saying.

Hater perked up. "Huh? Really?"

"But first," the wizard continued, "you must prove yourselves worthy. I don't just help anyone."

Smiling hugely at the prospect of finally going home, Wander returned to his usual, buoyant mood. "Sure thing, mister! What do you want us to do? Mow your lawn? Cook? Slyvia can give you a piggy back ride!"

"Bring me the helmet of the nefarious Lord Dominator."

"We'd have to kill her!" Draykor shouted desperately, dropping his entire royal, polished disposition. "That's barbaric and cruel!"

"And insane!" Sylvia added.

"And impossible!" Peepers squealed.

"Bring it to me," the wizard demanded unwaveringly, "and I will grant your requests. Now..." The flames flickered over the visage as it began to dissolve. "...Out of my sight!" Flames chased them out the doors, but Hater inquisitively poked his head back in with a query.

"But uh... What if she kills us first?"

"OUT!" Lightning struck the skeleton, and the wizard didn't have to say another word.

"Well, I hope you're all prepared to die."

After meeting and facing Major Threat, the five vagabonds stayed in the city for another hour or so, silently dawdling and mulling over their options. Their wandering lead them to a cute coffee shop, and they all ordered steaming cups of hot cocoa. And yet, no one bothered to take a sip.

Sylvia snorted at Peeper's negativity. "Why don't we just steal it? She probably has hundreds. Won't notice a thing."

Hater rolled his eyes and propped his elbows on the table. "No way! That's a stupid idea! Lord Dominator never removes his - uh, her suit, much less leaves it be! And I happen to know Lord Dominator has more than one helmet because I've faced her - Oh wait. I forgot. She's hot..." He ended his rant with a dreamy look.

Peepers glowered and balled his tiny fists. "Ugh! He's right! Before I got fired, Hater and I snuck on her ship and tried to wreck the ship's core with a frostonium ray."

"And that's how she has ice powers?"

"Yep, and that's how we found out she has one helmet, either locked in a very, very impenetrable vault or on her evil little green head."

Hater was still drooling beside Peepers, and Draykor resisted the temptation to smack the infatuated villain. "First of all, get a hold of yourself."

"Huh? What? Oh. I just said she's hot, man!"

"Draykor ignored him and turned to the others. "Second, this is idiocy! Madness! It's suicide!"

"But..." Wander spoke up quietly and timorously for the first time in hours. "It's my only way home."

Sylvia sighed tiredly and laid a gentle hand on Wander's shoulder. "Wander, I may not be the same Sylvia from your galaxy, but aren't I just as good?" She paused to see how he was absorbing her bluntness, but he only waited patiently for her to continue. "I can accept two Wanders. Heck, the old Wander disappeared after you came! He might be where you were, keeping your folks company." It was as much of a fat chance as their killing Dominator, but her little buddy needed that sliver of hope.

"Besides, look around. We'll keep you company. Won't we guys?" She glared daggers at the men, daring them to object.

"Yep!"

"Indeed!"

"Whatever," Hater grumbled, glancing at Wander to make sure he wasn't crying again. Not that I care, Hater reminded himself. It's just so annoying and... Grop, he could make anyone feel awful when he's sad! Even me! He subtly scooted a bit closer to Wander. What's his secret? Hmm...

"We can all roam the galaxy together as a family," Sylvia proposed. "And sometimes, we can even stay here. Can't we gang?" Everyone but Sylvia and Wander nodded. "Tumbleweed never missed a change to call every part of the galaxy home. It's what he always wanted." Sylvia hung her head at the thought of her little buddy. "We weren't as close as you are to your sister, but he... he was kind of like you before you met your family. So he made everyone his family."

Wander opened his mouth to apologize, but Sylvia shook her head and cupped his face in her hands. "Isn't that what you've always wanted?"

Wander didn't say anything for a minute, and Sylvia was about to ask him again when he gave her a bittersweet smile and replied. "Oh, Sylvia. You have no idea. Before all this, I would've definitely agreed with you and with Tumbleweed. I would've never dreamed of returning to the same old planet because I thought my folks wouldn't miss me, the nomad always getting into trouble and going off on some hectic adventure. And, it didn't feel like home when I was wasting my time wishing to be somewhere stranger or grander. But now..."

He looked out their booth's window, where the skies shone its innumerable planets and stars, twinkling invitingly. To Wander, none of them compared to the one place a wanderer could call home.

"Look at me." She gently cupped the nomad's chin. "You are no mistake. You're here for a reason. We met for a reason." She gave him another bright smile and stood up with him snuggled in her arms. "You want to go to my home, buddy?"

The nomad just looked at her like she was the greatest treasure in the galaxy and smiled a huge, adorable smile.

"Home..."

"I see that what I've left behind is more valuable than what any wandering can give me. I'm sorry, guys." With a new surge of confidence, he straightened up and gave his friends a resolute look. "But I'm getting that darn helmet because I need to go home. And you don't have to come with me if you don't want to but... Your help will always be appreciated, as it has been for as long as we've known each other." Wander smiled kindly, and the rest of the four couldn't help but smile in return. Even Hater smirked, and for a moment, all thoughts of Dominator disappeared.