I do not own the Ben Ten franchise.
So And Then There Were None and And Then There Was Ben was an epic season premiere. Ben 23 is my favourite alternate Ben counterpart, so ta-da! A Ben 23 centred chapter. If you want to see more chapters focussing on alternate world Bens and Azmuths, let me know.
Also, if you have any ideas for a Christmas chapter for this series, fire them away. And no, it's not too early xD I absolutely love Christmas, so I'm pretty much already in the spirit.
Have a safe and candytastic Halloween!
What Matters Most
"Oh my gosh! It's Ben 23!"
Muffling a groan of annoyance, Ben Tennyson of the Twenty-Third Dimension slouched in the vinyl booth as an excited gaggle of teenage girls rushed over to him, pens and notebooks thrust out expectantly. He half-heartedly scribbled out his name multiple times on various sheets of paper, his signature as perfect as ever.
"Thanks," he said idly to their praises, and soon they were gone, leaving him alone.
Alone. He was always alone.
Funny, he'd never consider himself to be alone before. Fans would surround him daily, screaming his name and begging for an autograph. He was world famous, adored by millions. But out of all of those fans, he couldn't call a single one a friend.
"When did I get to be so depressing?" he wondered aloud, tearing off a piece of his gyro and shoving it in his mouth, chewing sullenly.
But over the past month, his mood had grown considerably darker. His public appearances grew scarce, and he no longer took joy from promoting his merchandise or signing autographs. When dealing with alien threats his showboating was more to appease the public rather than for his personal enjoyment.
Ever since his sixteen-year-old alternate counterpart left his dimension, Ben couldn't help but think about something he'd repressed ever since it happened.
The death of his Grandpa Max.
The void that had once been filled by money and fame was now as wide and gaping as ever. The twelve-year-old was left with his insecurities, his doubts, and his fears of what his grandfather would think if he could see how arrogant and violent he had become.
Ben shoved his tray of food away and glared at the gold and blue watch strapped to his left wrist. "I might have become a better person than I am now if it wasn't for you."
"You're certainly not the ideal model of the human race, but I wouldn't say you are horrible."
Startled by the sudden voice, Ben jumped to the other side of the booth he was sitting in, smacking his head against the wall. Azmuth stood on top of the booth, hands crossed behind his back.
"Oh, hey," greeted Ben awkwardly, leaning against the wall and his skinny-jean clad legs stretched across the seat. "Um, what's up?"
"I haven't heard from you in a month, and you've scarcely been out in public."
"Sorry about that." Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "I've just been taking a bit of a break. Cutting back on public appearances and all that stuff."
"Would your sudden isolation have anything to do with your previous comment?"
"Maybe," he admitted.
When the child did not offer anything further, Azmuth heaved a sigh. He was not fit for this, for dealing with emotional preteens. The child before him wasn't even supposed to have possession of his Omnitrix. But for some reason, he trusted the judgement of the alternate dimension Ben Tennyson, and apparently the teen trusted his alternate counterpart.
And admittedly, the Galvan would be lying if he said that he felt his Omnitrix was in the wrong hands.
"I know I am not your grandfather," Azmuth began. "But since he is not here to help you, I will do so on his behalf. But I cannot help if you won't tell me what's wrong."
Ben sat up and tucked his knees against his chest. "I don't think I'm gonna like what you're gonna say."
"Maybe not," returned Azmuth. "But it will be what you need to hear."
Bright blue eyes widened in surprise. Ben couldn't remember a time when someone refused to tell him what he wanted to hear. He definitely never had anyone tell him anything that he needed to hear. "Okay," he finally agreed.
He was tired of feeling so low, anyway. And if anything, at least this conversation would give him an idea on how their relationship would turn out.
"I guess I wonder how my life would have turned out if I didn't find the Hero Watch. I might have been…I don't know…"
"A more pleasant person?"
Ben flinched. "You're not gonna sugar-coat anything, are you?"
"You get enough of that from your agent," dismissed Azmuth. "You cannot deny that you are not the most pleasant person to deal with."
"Alright, so I'm demanding, arrogant and a bit self-righteous." Ben threw his hands up in the air. "But is that really who I am, or the personae I've developed for my public image?"
"Keep in mind that I don't know you very well. But from the encounters we've had over the past two years, I'd say that you are very much that person."
When Ben's face fell, Azmuth felt the need to hasten, "But that doesn't mean you are a horrible person. Everyone has negative qualities, and some allow those qualities to define who they are."
"But not me?" ventured Ben hopefully.
"Not you," agreed Azmuth. "I've seen many a vile person during my life, and you hardly measure up to them. You've used my Omnitrix for the purpose for which it was intended-to protect and to keep the peace. We'll ignore the fact that you've been fighting allies all this time."
Ben grinned sheepishly. "To be fair, I thought you were the evil monster alien haters."
"Which is why I'm allowing you to keep my greatest creation. Even though it was a misunderstanding, you still faced danger in order to protect the people of your town."
"Um…some that fighting might have been for the purpose of increasing my fame," admitted Ben hesitantly.
Azmuth rolled his eyes. "At least you are honest about it. But if all your fame had been taken away, would you give up the duties of being a wielder of my Omnitrix?"
"No!"
The answer came out without any thought, so sharp and full of passion that it startled the both of them. "No," repeated Ben, almost in awe. "I love the Hero Watch. I love being a hero. Even if I didn't have the fame, I would still help people."
"And that is what matters," said Azmuth with a slight smile. "Your grandfather would be proud."
Brightening, Ben grinned widely. He wasn't a horrible person-he was just a kid who enjoyed the benefits of being famous. He liked the attention, the money and the screaming fans. But he would always like helping people more.
"Thanks, Azmuth. I feel better now."
The Galvan nodded curtly. "Good. You're not going to get this melodramatic all the time, are you?"
Ben shrugged. "I dunno. Probably. I'm a preteen. Emotions run rampant through us, you know. Hey, how did you know where I was, anyway?"
Azmuth tapped the blue and gold watch. "This device can be tracked, you know."
Ben gaped comically. "So that's how you and your squad have been able to ambush me for two years."
"Don't know how you managed to elude us every time," muttered Azmuth. "You can't even see through one eye."
Ben self-consciously touched the strip of brown hair that covered his left eye. "I can see just fine! There's nothing wrong with my hair."
"It makes you look like a delinquent." Azmuth crossed his arms. "And your attire isn't any better."
A pout formed across the boy's lips. "Hey, I'm hip! Do you know how few people can pull off this look?"
"You wear more jewellery than most Earth females," continued Azmuth, critically surveying the amount of gold the child sported. "I don't even know how you can walk in those pants."
Ben groaned and fell forward in the booth, resting his face against the vinyl material. "Are you always gonna dump on me like this?"
Azmuth smirked. "Most likely."
Blue eyes peeked up at the Galvan. "I think you're gonna drive me crazy," he said with a small grin.
"Funny. I was thinking the same thing," said Azmuth dryly.
But he could not stop his own smile from surfacing. Despite their continuous battle over the last two years, there was something about the boy that he liked, though he wouldn't admit it.
"You wanna go get a smoothie?" asked Ben.
Azmuth arched his brow. "I was under the impression that there were no smoothie shops in Bellwood."
"Well, there wasn't. But after that alien dude brought his Mr. Smoothy here, I decided to open up a few. They're actually getting decent business. Plus, those fruit drinks aren't so bad."
"I suppose I can spare a half-hour to waste with you," said Azmuth idly.
"And where else would you go?" asked Ben in amusement. "You don't have to chase me anymore, so there goes your day job."
Azmuth rolled his eyes. "My home planet, of course. It's been a few years since I've stepped foot on Galvan Prime."
Ben's grin faltered. "Oh."
"Don't get emotional again," said Azmuth in exasperation to his downcast look. "We do not live in the Stone Age. The Omnitrix functions as a calling device. My number is programmed into it. But don't abuse it. I'm a busy Galvan."
Cheered up by the prospect that he would be able to contact his new mentor whenever he wanted, Ben stood up and took the small alien into his hands.
"I'm totally gonna abuse it," he said happily. "Hope you have unlimited calling privileges."
