Maiden- So, this is my first Ben 10 fic ^^ It takes place soon after the series finale of Alien Force. And i'll go ahead and appologize for any BenxJulie fans because Julie isn't Ben's love choice this time around...if you wanna know who is, read on and see! Not BenxGwen!
Ben 10; Ultimate Alien
Holding Out For A Hero
Chapter 1- Don't You Wanna Stay?
She was cold. Freezing, numb, icy, whatever you wanted to call it. Gwendolyn Tennyson clutched her arms in a pathetic attempt to warm her body. Even the added protection of her boyfriend's jacket did nothing to aid the poor girl. A distress signal had gone out near the edge of town, apparently some DNAliens were snooping around abandoned warehouses. No doubtably looking for any remants of the plumbers equipment that was evacuated out of the area last month. And the Omnitrio were, of course, the three who had responded to the call. Who else would, after all? There were no remaining Plumbers in the area to take it, so the job befalls the three teens.
"Next time you decide to go Big Chill, please don't do it when it's pouring rain!" Gwen grouched at her cousin. The emerald eyed boy only grinned stupidly and scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Kevin chuckled at Ben's embarrasment and wrapped an arm around his girlfriend. Though Gwen was still cranky about becoming a Gwen-sicle she smiled at Kevin's touch.
"C'mon, the car's not too far from here." Kevin stated, motioning for the two Tennysons to hurry up. A mere twenty minutes later, the trio came to a stop in front of Ben's house, but what surprised them was Julie Yamamoto standing in his doorway. Ben quickly got out and ran up to her, expecting a hug or kiss from his long time girlfriend. But when he was within touching distance, she stepped back, her gaze avoiding his.
"What's wrong?" he asked, immediately on edge about her actions
"I'm leaving, Ben." Julie replied in a choked whisper.
"Leaving?"
"My parents are moving us back to Japan." Julie managed. Her voice shook and cracked. She took another step back when Ben reached for her, to comfort his girlfriend
My dad thinks it's too dangerous for me to be involved with you, seeing as you are an intergalactic hero." Ben was silent all thoughout Julie's words, a cold pain settled in his chest as he stared at the girl whom he'd been in love with for months. "I'm sorry Ben...I tried to talk them out of it...or for them to leave me behind...but my father gave me no choice. I have to go, but I promise i'll return someday." her obsidian eyes glistened with tears as she kissed him one last time.
"Please." he choaked. "Take Ship with you... if any crazy alien crashes Japan, I want to know, at least you'll have him to protect you."
"I will." Julie said, and with that, she was gone. Gone for good. Ben was afraid, because even with her promise, ice had begun to settle around his heart at losing her. Suddenly, he felt as cold as Gwen had been earlier.
The following day was just as cold and rainy as the last. Fitting weather for Ben's grey mood. He'd not come out of his room since Julie had said goodbye. His mother, worried for her son's health, called Kevin and Gwen to take him out and get his mind off the japanise girl. Neither teen was entirely sure how to help Ben, but they were ready to give it a try and help the boy.
"That's rough, buddy." Kev said halfheartedly, sipping a smoothie after Ben told the grim tale. He, Gwen and Ben sat at a table outside Mr. Smoothie, talking about Ben and Julie's breakup.
"She didn't have a choice, Ben." Gwen comforted, her voice softer than usual. She, unlike her boyfriend, was making more of an effort to help her cousin cheer up. "She's still a minor so she has to do what her parents tell her."
"But she didn't have to leave. I could've protected her." Ben mumbled, stirring his untouched smoothie moodily.
"You're only one person, Ben. You can't protect everyone. Julie isn't a plumber and she dosen't have powers of herown."
"But she has Ship. The two have worked together fine in the past."
"True, but think about it if she didnt have Ship or he was taken from her? Then what?" Ben chose not to answer. Gwen rose from her seat and hugged her cousin from behind, knowing he needed the embrace. "Thanks, guys, but I just need to be alone right now."
Gwen and Kevin nodded and let Ben take off as Jetray; both knew the teenage intergalactic hero needed time alone. He landed a couple blocks north of Mr. Smoothie and continued on foot as his normal self. Ben had no idea where he was going, but he had to find some way to take his mind off Julie; so he walked on, hoping for a distraction. His opportunity seemed to instantly appear; Just as he'd passed an allyway, an eerie yellow glow caught his eye. He followed it, hand on the Ultimatrix just in case. However, what he saw completely caught him off gaurd: A group of DNAliens collapsed in a boneless heap on the ground. The teen hero looked around for the source responsible and followed sounds of struggle a few feet to the left. There, in the shadows, was a creature battling another DNAlien. Ben couldn't see exactly what it was fighting, all he could make out was wings, feathers and what looked like, a female silouette. The presumed girl won the fight, kicking the defeated alien seveal yards away from her.
"Go home, little boy." the creature spoke. Ben was now certain this thing was female, judging by the sound of it's voice. "This is no place for kids."
"Heh, that may be true, but i've been told i'm quite a stubborn kid." The girl turned around, two beautiful and glowing gold eyes caught Ben's own. Ben was both insulted by these words and entranced by these eyes. The girl- because now that she was facing Ben and he could see it was an Alien girl -had long obsidian hair. An odd shimmery blue black color that shone even in this light, against a pale complexion and those piercing honey-colored eyes.
"Little boys who play with fire get burned, you know..." The woman said to his prior words.
"And girls who are too tough never find good men," Ben retorted. The girl's eyes narrowed and she clicked her tongue, as well as the talons on her hands. She had humanoid hands, but they ended in bird claws, as well as her feet. Black wings spread behind her now that she wasnt struggling. They were such a black-silver mix that Ben thought they looked like a clear night sky full of stars. She was beautiful, Alien or not and Ben had to admire her. "Need some help?"
"What part of 'Go home' did you not get?" The girl growled. Ben opened his mouth to send another retort back, but a new DNAlien appeared behind the girl and she flipped around to begin her fight anew. Ben slapped the device on his wrist, only thinking of the fight now. His body morphed into Spidermonkey and shot at another approaching DNAlien, ignoring the glare from the girl alien.
Once the two new goons were down and out, Ben motives back and glanced at the girl. She brushed back some hair from her entrancing eyes and scowled.
"I said not to help."
"I said I was stubborn."
"Annoying too. Should've known you'd be an Arachnichimp"
"You're just mad I had to help you."
"You did NOT have to do anything-"
"Fighting won't get you away from the DNAlien goons you know," Ben said leaning against the alley wall arrogantly. The bird-girl scowled and folded her arms." Can I get your name at least?"
"Veridian," The girl said, passively. Ben tilted his head in confusion, but followed as she began slinking around the alley away from where the alien goons had come from.
"Come again?"
"Veridian!" the girl cried in an angry whisper." Why do all humans have such trouble with names? Dad always said the language was silly... Mom never had trouble though... It's Veridian, VER-I-DI-AN! Got it?"
"How about I just call you Vera?" Ben asked." Much easier to say. Now, think we should get you back to my friends, then we can figure out why these guys are after-"
"I do not want your help," Vera said with another scowl. "I'm perfectly fine taking care of myself."
"Is it soo wrong for a guy to be concerned about a girl who's being hunted by DNAliens?"
"I'm not 'just a girl'. I'm a Wakha Kiya, we're natural fighters."
"Waka-what?" Ben asked, following the girl.
"Waka Kiya." Vera responded, grounding out her species in low syllables. "Are all humans this stupid?"
"I heard what you were the first time. I just wanted to know if thier was something easier I could call you. Your Waka-name thingy is hard to pronounce." Vera rolled her eyes.
"Just call me a Thunderbird. It's the english name for my kind."
"Thunderbird? Like the mythological creature?"
"Yes. But i'm far from mythological."
"I see...anyway, the name's Ben Tennyson."
"Well then, Ben Tennyson, why is it that you're following me?"
"Because I wanna know why those DNAliens were after you."
"They took something from me. And I want it back."
"What did they take from you?"
"None of your concern. Now, go back to those friends you were telling me about and leave me in peace." Vera then spead her wings and took to the sky, sailing a few hundred feet above Bellwood. Her feathery onyx hair fluttered behind her, amber coloured eyes closed in bliss.
"You can't get away from me that easily." came a voice behind her. Vera turned her head to see Jetray comming to glide along beside her.
"What the hell are you?" she snapped, annoyed that Ben decided to persue her. "First your an Arachnichimp, now you're an Aerophibian!"
"What can I say? I'm a man of many faces." Ben teased, scooting closer to the Thunderbird girl. "Now, mind telling me why you're here and what those DNAlien's took from you?" Vera's gold eyes bored holes into those of Jetrays, but sighed when she figured she might as well tell him. She landed on the street below with Jetray following close behind, transforming back into Ben upon landing.
"My mother's engagement ring."
"What would those stupid things want with a ring?"
"It's made of Ambergris. A very rare type of amber gemstone. The wearer is forever granted good luck, good health and happiness. My homeworld is the only source of this stone and thier isn't much of it left. So whoever stole my mother's ring wants it for thier own personal gain."
"I'll help you find it, then." Ben replied, flashing a smile. "My cousin can probably track the ring through her powers. She's 1/4 Anodite." Vera nodded in agreement. "So...uh...can you...like transform into a human? Like in the mythology stories?" A smirk played at Vera's red hued lips and nodded again. With a flash of black light, a normal teenage girl stood before him. Her hair was still it's unique obsidian colour, but it was actual hair, not feathers like it was before. Her skin had darkened a few shades, giving her an exotic look. She wore ripped and faded jeans underneath a short red and black plaid skirt. Her top consisted of a black and red tanktop with red silk ribbons going up the front and on her feet were black converse. Vera was absolutely gorgeous in Ben's opinion, but what caught his attention right away was those beautiful amber eyes of hers. He blushed as he realized he'd been staring.
"What's the matter, Tennyson? See something you like?" she asked rather smugly, taking off on foot down the street. Her soft chuckles music to the teenage boy's ears.
Kevin sat slouchily in Gwen's desk chair, his fingertips drumming boredly on the desk behind him. His onyx eyes flicked to the redheaded girl laying on the bed. A physics book placed before her, her emerald eyes scanning every word carefully.
"Remind me again why you're studying and i'm just sittin here bored as hell?"
"Because I have an exam tomarrow. And you were the one who wanted to spend time with me."
"Yeah, cuz I thought we'd be doing something more interesting than this." Gwen's green orbs looked up at her Osmosian boyfriend, a wicked smirk playing at her lips.
"And what, pray tell, were you expecting?" Kevin's glance has wavered into space, so he didn't see Gwen's smirk. Only shrugging his shoulders in reply. With a flick of her wrist, Gwen had Kevin strung up by her magenta coloured mana, hanging upside down.
"Wha-what the hell!" Kevin all but screamed, now fully aware of just how wicked and sinister Gwen could look. She chuckled somewhat darkly as she approached him, grabbing him by his shirt and hauling him forward to kiss her hard. They continued this for a few minutes until a knock at her door broke them apart.
"Gwen? Kevin?" called Lilly Tennyson, opening her daughters door to see Gwen standing beside a still upside down Kevin. "Ben is here to see you." Lilly smiled, laughing inwardly at the Levin boy's predicament. Upon seeing his best friend strung up by the likes of his cousin, Ben burst into laughter.
"Ha! I didn't know you had a bondage fetish, couz!" he snickered.
"Cann it, Tennyson." Kevin growled as Gwen released him. "Whatcha want?"
"I need some help." Ben then stepped aside, revealing Vera who was standing in the doorway.
"Who's the babe?" Kevin asked, his eyes roaming over the Thunderbird's human figure. Vera's gold eyes flashed dangerously at the Osmosian.
"I'm Veridian Amber Lakota." she voiced smoothly. "But Ben has nicknamed me Vera since he's too simple minded to understand my first name."
"Nice to meet you, Vera." Gwen smiled, outstretching her hand in a friendly mannor. "I'm Gwen Tennyson, Ben's cousin. And that's my boyfriend, Kevin Ethan Levin."
"I understand you're part Anodite?" Vera asked, seeing Gwen nod her head immediately. "Then I need your help. I know that Anodites are supposed to be able to track almost anything if they have a sample of the object's mana." Gwen nodded again. "Could you find my mother's engagement ring?"
"A ring?" Gwen and Kevin asked in unison.
"What's soo special about a ring?"
"The ring's jewel is a Ventus Avias ambergris."
"Are you serious?" the Levin boy asked astonished. "That stuff is ultra rare and super valuable. Just how did you get your hands on something like that?" Vera rolled her eyes and focused her powers. In a flash, she'd reverted back to her alien form.
"I'm a Thunderbird."