Title: To Be Free
Rating: T
Genre: Romance/Humor

To Be Free

Part 1: Trust

Ben sighed, drooping slightly in his seat and twiddled his pencil. Who cares where those two darn train leaving at the same time got to where, when? That's what the service desk was for. If algebra got any more boring, his may explode. He could see it now, 'The Great Ben 10 Found Dead by Algebra Homework. Go to 10B for rest of story.' Oh, how the mighty have fallen, the people would exclaim. His teacher would cry in woe for ever giving him that deathly piece of paper that brought down the innocent hero! Children would cry tears of gold and his parents would-

"Ok, not more cold pizza during homework." The brunette muttered and discard the old pizza into the bin, stopping his insane train of thought. "Julie doesn't kid when she says I have a wild imagination."

Sitting up, Ben stretched and cracked his back. He glanced at the clock which flashed '10:47' in blink, red numbers. He groaned and bent back over his work.

"Ten and a half alien attacks, six smoothes, and four classes of homework do not fit in one day. Especially when you miss said classes thanks to said aliens." He stated tiredly. "Sure, it's all fine and dandy then but when they give you the homework it's all 'Great, here, do work you haven't even been taught! Good luck, oh, and we have a test tomorrow!'" Ben ranted while waving his arms. Giving out another sigh, he reached out for his phone. "Gwen can help, she's all smart and stuff." He paused. "'Smart and stuff'? That pizza really has a lasting effect."

He was just about done dialing the girl when the ultimatrix gave a sudden shock, causing him to drop it.

"Ahg!"

More shocks and spurts of electricity shot from it when it suddenly began glowing, shooting out pictures of his different aliens, one by one.

He stared in shock as it flicked quickly through them. "What is it doing…"

Wildvine.

Benwulf.

Humongosaur.

Grey Matter.

Swampfire.

Jetray.

And finally it stopped on-

"Ditto?"

The pictured glowed there for a moment before the ultimatrix shook and shuttered then finally gave out a blast. Ben yelled as he was sent flying, crashing roughly against his TV.

A strange, 'alien' voice called out.

"Ditto!"

Blinking away the stars, he looked up and gasped. "W-what? Ditto? How did you get out of the ultimatrix?"

The small alien grinned and waved a finger. "If I told you, where would the fun be in that?"

"Well, I guess I'll just have to figure that out later." Ben quickly got back on his feet, hand on the ultimatrix. "Now we can do this the hard way or the easy wa-"

"Or my way!" Ditto chortled out as he duplicated and tackled Ben. The extra's held the struggling boy and the ring master grabbed his wrist.

The brunette yanked his wrist in attempt to keep if from the aliens grip. "Hey! What are you doing?"

"You'll see!" He responded, gripping it tightly. Hastily he began twisting and pushing the small machine. Sparks once again began to erupt and it glowed brightly, blinding the teen.

Then, another shout.

"Echo Echo!"

Ben's eyes shot open as the Ditto's shot back to the main one, freeing him. His hand quickly flew back to hit the ultimatrix.

"I don't know what you're doing but I guess we'll just have to-"

"I don't think so!" The small white alien called out. "Echo ECHO!"

Shooting back again, the wall's reverberated with sound and busted, sending dust everywhere and cloaking the two aliens. There was loud shuffling and talking but he couldn't make it out through his dizziness. Groaning in pain, Ben pushed himself up and coughed as in entered his lungs.

"Just gr-great!" He bemoaned. Finally hitting his wrist, he morphed. "Stinkfly!" He called out. His wings began beating quickly to clear the air. He glanced around his room. Nothing. "Oh just *perfect*."

He looked over at his window.

Open.

And he most certainly had it closed before hand.

"Double perfect!"

The two ran off, grinning wildly. The distance between them and the house grew, and before they knew it the house was completely out of view. Stopping, they caught their breath and smiled at each other.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Echo Echo asked cautiously, looking over her shoulder.

Ditto laughed as the other alien bounced on her heals. "Of course! What, are you doubting my genius?" He playfully put a hand over his heart. "I'm hurt, Echo Echo!"

Rolling her eyes the best she could, the smaller alien gently slapped his hand. "You know what I mean." She stated. "What if Ben really needs us? Or what is Aggregor comes after us? This is just dangerous. That's all."

"Naw, everything will be great!" He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Just think about it! We can do whatever we want now! We could go get some of that human product called ice cream or see those 'drive-in-movies' or go exploring and see everything we've wanted to see!"

Echo Echo seemed to perk up. "Even go to human music shows?"

"Even music human shows!"

"Then… I guess this could be fun." She said, slowly smiling.

"Not could, will!" Ditto's big hand took her little one. "And we'll do it together, ok?"

Her smile grew. "Ok."

"You trust me?"

"I trust you."

"Good." He beamed and began pulling her along. "I know the perfect place to go first."

"And they just disappeared?"

"Right out my window."

Gwen raised an eyebrow. "And you didn't follow them, why?"

Ben rolled his eyes. "Because the were just gone. I looked everywhere and couldn't find a trace of them. That's why I called you."

"How'd they even get out of the ultimatrix in the first place?" Kevin asked, frowning.

Running a hand through his hair, he shrugged. "I don't know. The ultimatrix just started going crazy and then Ditto just popped up and began messing with it until Echo Echo came out."

"How helpful." Ben glared tiredly but said nothing.

Gwen looked over at the window curiously. "From what you've said, it doesn't seem like they were trying to hurt you."

"Sending me flying into a wall does hurt you know."

"Yes," She rolled her eyes. "But it seems like they only did that to stop you from going hero. Then they just left. Doesn't seem very vicious to me."

"I suppose." Ben said thoughtfully.

Kevin spoke up. "But they could just be planning an attack later. What if they're like Ghostfreak and are just good at hiding it? "

"He does have a point, for once." The brunette said with a smirk.

Flashing his fist at Ben, Kevin smirked. "I'll give you a point-"

"I don't think so."

Both boys gave the red head a curious look.

She sighed, brushing her hair back. "Just call it intuition. I just don't think they're out to take us down."

"That doesn't change that we still need to find them. I mean, who knows what they're going to do or who could get their hands on them."

Kevin spoke. "But how are we suppose to find them?" Gwen looked thoughtfully at the ultimatrix.

"I might be able to track them through it." She stated.

Ben glanced at it then back up. "That seems like our best bet."

Nearing her cousin, Gwen brought her hand over his wrist and both began to glow soft pink. Her eyes flashed pink before she shut them, concentrating. Images flashed through her mind.

Her eyes shot open.

"Well?" Kevin asked slowly.

"I know where they are." Unsaid words hung in the air.

Ben raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"Nothing. That's it." She replied, looking away.

"If you're sure."

"Come on, let's just go find them then." The ebony haired boy said as he made his way to the door.

Gwen shook her head. "No, let's get back home and rest, it's late."

"What?" Ben looked over at her confused. "We can't just let them run around out there!"

"They'll be fine." She insisted walking past him. "Just trust me. Besides we have school tomorrow it's already twelve. Did you forget that test, Ben?"

He flinched and looked away. "Noooo?"

"That's what I thought." She stated with a smirk. "We can go after them after school tomorrow. They won't start anything."

Give her a look, Kevin raised an eyebrow. "And you're sure of this, how?"

"Just trust me?" She asked looking between them. The two boys exchanged looks then slowly nodded.

"If you say so… But if anything goes wrong, it's on you're head!"

Laughing, she nodded. "Okay, I can deal with that."

"*This* is what you wanted to show me?"

"Oh come on!" Ditto laughed, rattling the swing. "This is what humans call a swing and it is fun! Like flying 'cept not!"

Giving him a look, Echo Echo stepped up to it. "So, how does it work?" She asked curiously.

He patted the small seat. "Sit, and I'll show you! It'll be load'sa fun!" With one last look, she did as he said, sitting on the swing and he walked behind her. "Ok, now hold on to the chains!"

"Ok…"

"And hold tight!"

"Got it."

"Anddddd, go!"

Echo Echo gasped as she was suddenly sent forward, the swing flying up. "Oh!" Her grip on the chain tightened as she went back. She then felt the other alien's hands on her back, sending her forward again as the chains rattled. "This is-!"

"Awesome? Cool? Funner then a barrel of monkeys?"

"Terrifying!" She gasped.

"Ok, not really the answer I was expecting."

"I want off!"

Quickly gripping the chains when she went back, Ditto stopped the set and looked at her. "What's wrong?"

She looked down, getting of the swing. "We don't have anything like this on my planet." She stated. "I'm not quite accustomed to going so high up. I'm embarrassed to say it was frightening."

Ditto made a small noise as he placed a hand on her arm. "I'm sorry. I didn't think it would be scary."

"It's alright."

Looking back at the swing, he tugged on her gently. "Say, just give it one more try."

She looked over, questioning. "What? But-"

"You trust me, don't ya?"

Echo Echo paused, then nodded. "I do."

"Then just try again, for me? Pleaseeeee?"

"Okay, okay." She said with a small smile. She gave the swing a nervous glance before sitting back down. "Now?"

"Now close your eyes."

"Why?"

He poked her playfully. "It'll be fun. Come onnnn."

She laughed, doing as he said. "Ok?"

"And don't forget to hold on."

She felt his hands on her back again, gently pushing her forward. She could feel the air rush by then go back, and he would push again. Back and forth, back and forth. The wind whistled. She felt herself lighten strangely. But she could only concentrate on the warm hands on her back and the air on her face.

"Is this any better, Echo Echo?"

She took a moment to register his voice before answering. "Yes, it's so much better."

She heard him chuckle. "Then you gonna' open your eyes?"

"Open my eyes?" Echo Echo stiffened. "I guess I can…"

Slowly, she peeked on eye open. Then, the other.

She was soaring! The ground beneath her was moving swiftly back and forth. Smiling, she laughed. "It's not scary!" She declared gleefully.

Ditto grinned as he continued to push. "See? It's fun!"

"Like flying!" Echo Echo replied, remembering his words.

"You think you can fly on your own?"

The white alien glanced back, seeing her friend back away. "What?"

He grinned. "Swing your legs, it'll keep you going!"

"Okay…" She swung her short legs gently before picking up a slightly fast pace. The swing continued to go back and forth, giving her a delighted feeling. "I'm doing it!"

"Sure are!" He called back. There was a rustling of chains and before she knew it, Ditto was swinging with her. He gave her a large grin, which she returned.

Perhaps, Echo Echo wondered to herself, this wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Ben yawned and stretched as he walked slowly to his school. He hadn't got much a restful sleep, having been left to wonder what his two aliens were doing and why. There hadn't been any destruction or disasters over night and his parents weren't kidnapped. Everything seemed as it should be, so what could they have been up to all night?

A loud revving of an engine brought him out of his morning daze. Looking over, he saw Kevin pull up next to him with Gwen in the passenger seat.

"It's a bit of walk, don't you think?" Kevin called with a smirk.

Ben shrugged as he continued to walk with the car slowly rolling beside him. "I didn't get much sleep last night, with finishing my homework and studying and all that. I didn't trust myself to drive."

"Well, you want a ride?" Gwen asked as he yawned again.

"No, I'm good. I need to wake up and a car ride might just put me to sleep again."

Gwen rephrased herself. "We can grab a smoothie on the way."

-2 smoothies later-

"Why did you guys wanna' give me ride so much?" Ben asked between his slurping.

Rolling his eyes, Kevin responded. "Ditto and Echo Echo made a bit of fun last night."

This caught the younger teens attention. "Huh?"

"Well," Gwen spoke up. "Last night there were a ton of sightings of the two at places like the park, some fast food joints, the arcade, the drive in movie theater, and apparently, they hit up a small ice cream parlor."

"They are quite the fiends." Kevin stated sarcastically, smirking.

Ben frowned. "So what do you suggest we do?"

"Nothing, yet." Gwen said with a sigh. "I've still got a small track on them though, and they've made some distance."

"Huh?"

"Well, they've gotten two towns over from what I can tell but they haven't made in jumps in distance since then."

"And why would they have gone there anyways?" Ben asked, once again slurping his smoothie.

Kevin shrugged. "What would two little aliens do if they had free reign?"

There was a small pause between the trio.

Ben scratched his head. "I dunno."

"Thank you man o' thousand words."

He glared at the driver. "Well what would *you* do?"

"I'd eat."

'Which they did, obviously."

Gwen tapped her chin in thought. "Well, let's look at what species they are. Ditto's a Splixton and Echo Echo is Sonorosian."

"Splixton's are known for being a very peaceful race." Kevin chimed in. "They're mostly made up of farmers and stuff like that. But I don't know much of Sonorosians though."

"Well, that's not gonna help us." Ben muttered.

Gwen sighed as Kevin pulled up to his school. "Then I guess our best choice is just to track them down after school."

"So long as they aren't, you know, captured or something." Kevin stated with a shrug, causing his girlfriend to elbow him roughly. "Ow! What was that for?"

She glared but Ben cut her off as he got out. "He's right though, Gwen. The longer they're out there, the more dangerous it become. If Aggregor finds them, who know what he may do to them." He glanced at the school then back to them. I'm gonna ditch after the test. Meet me out here at one."

"Are you sure this is the right place, Ditto?"

"As sure as Wildmutt is wild!"

Echo Echo gave him a look. He grinned wider. "You said you wanted to go to an Earth music festival and I heard those elder humans talking about it, and so here we are!"

She looked around at the empty field, save for the large stage sitting in the middle. "But there's nothing here."

"Yet!" Ditto corrected. "They said it would be later. So we just gotta' play the waiting game!"

Turning back to him, she frowned. "It's kinda open out here though. What if someone sees us?"

"Don't worry, Echo Echo!" He said, patting her shoulder. "We'll just do some sight seeing then come back here when it's time. Nothing can go wrong!" Ditto stated ecstatically, wrapping his arm around her. "And our first stop will be that carni-thing those humans were talk about as well!"

"Carnival?"

"Yeah, that!" His grin seemed contagious, as soon Echo Echo reflected his expression. "Come on!"

Laughing, the two took off, unaware of the figure that lurked close behind.

A smirk played on the figures lips as the two small aliens disappeared from sight.

"My, my, a little Sonorosian and Splixton? Not a plethora of energy, but most useful in it's own way. You might as well have hand delivered them, Tennyson."

TBC