Ben was sitting up in bed eating some fruit. He had been recovering a few days, but he was feeling much better now that those tyrants were gone. As he was about to bite into another piece of fruit, he saw Kusto looking at him through the window.
"GAAAAAAAAH!" Ben gasped.
"Good morning young Ben," Kusto said lowly.
"W-What are you doing here?!" Ben gasped out. "Are you here to finish me off?!"
"Stop being so dramatic," Kusto said, rolling his large red eyes. "I am a large and mutated To'Kustar. Don't you think I could have already eaten you if I wanted to?"
"Good point," Ben said, now putting down the fruit and looking at him. "So why are you here?"
"To say that I repaid my debt to you. You spared me in the forest so I spared yours in the battle. Now we are even," Kusto said, now turning to leave.
"W-Wait!" Ben said, making the giant turn and look at him.
"What is it human?"
"Why don't you stay here with us?" Ben asked.
"Ben…" Kusto said with a small smirk. "I may have saved you once, but that does not mean that we are allies or friends."
Ben gave him a frustrated look. "You don't have to pretend to be so tough all the time! Just stay already!" Ben said, now standing and going to the window to look up at him.
Kusto ignored him and began walking away. "Kusto! Stop!" Ben called, now reaching out and touching his arm. The large monster turned and looked at him.
"Leave me be!" he said, now narrowing his eyes. "My work here is done."
And with that, Kusto began walking off into the distance. Ben, for some reason, couldn't help but feel sad. Something about what Kusto did for them touched him. Without Kusto's help, they may not have won!
As Ben sat back down, he saw a bright and shining light appear. Within seconds, Azmuth came from that light.
"Good morning Ben," Azmuth greeted.
"Morning Azmuth," Ben smiled. "I can't believe that that battle is over!"
"Well we must always keep our eyes and ears open. Vilgax is cunning. Who knows what he would do if he ever escaped the null void."
"But he can't escape right?!" Ben asked in horror.
"Not with my device. But if someone opens it again with their own device, then yes he could escape." Azmuth said.
This made Ben run a shaky hand through his hair. Vilgax was bad enough, but if he returned?! He would for sure make sure Ben was dead!
"Do not worry so much Benjamin Tennyson," Azmuth said, noticing Ben's expressions. "For now, we are at peace. But I know that you have considered staying here and never returning to Earth."
"Yes, I want to live here now. There is nothing left for me on Earth," Ben said, now looking out the window into the distance.
"Why Ben? Earth was your home." Azmuth said, now eyeing him carefully.
"It once was." Ben said sadly, now sitting on the bed.
"Why are you so eager to leave and find another home." Azmuth gently prodded.
"I don't wanna talk about it," Ben said.
"Ben. We have to talk about it. Otherwise there would be no reason for them to keep you here. Even now, Vamps is believing that it is much better to send you back to Earth." Azmuth said.
"What?!" Ben said.
"Yes. He is concerned for your safety out here." Azmuth said. "Now tell me why you want to stay on this planet so badly. It is not exactly a tropical atmosphere." And with that, he pointed to the darkness and creepy looking aliens walking down in the town square.
"I know this place is creepy. But this is better than where I was living." Ben said, now sitting down and rubbing a hand down his face. "Azmuth, I watched my parents die in front of me. Aliens invaded our town and home. I wasn't strong enough to stop them. I tried to fight, but I was only 10 at the time so I couldn't do anything. The last thing that I heard from my mother was that everything was going to be alright. But it hasn't been alright!"
"I am sorry young one. It is difficult for one so young to lose his family." Azmuth said.
"And to make matters worse, aliens kept invaded and stealing our stuff until our house was totaled," Ben said, tears forming in his eyes.
"So you've been alone all this time?" Azmuth said.
"Yes." Ben said.
"So what made you connect with Vamps? He is a strong ruler, but he is not considered the family type of alien." Azmuth said. "And if I am not mistaken, he did try to convince you to stay on Earth."
"Yes, but…well…"
"What is it Ben?" he asked, now getting closer.
"He was the first alien I met that showed any kindness to me. True kindness. We had a rough start at first, but he was…nice to me. I was starting to think that maybe he could be…well…"
Azmuth watched as Ben trailed off and looked away. Now he understood. Ben wanted Vamps to be like a father or brother to him. He was looking for a family; one to heal the hurt from the one that he lost. Azmuth said nothing more, but he walked over to Ben and gently touched his leg.
"Benjamin Tennyson. You are a brave human, but you have also dealt with a lot of hurt. Considering all of what you went through, you don't seek power or wealth. Only a family." Azmuth said, now looking into Ben's eyes. "I have to leave now, but I will see you later."
"Ok. Bye Azmuth," Ben said, quietly. Azmuth nodded and disappeared into a ball of light. As Ben watched him disappear, he did not notice that Whampire was listening from outside the balcony. Without saying another word, Whampire flew back and found Vamps in a conference meeting with some of the castle officials. As Whampire flew in, Vamps looked at him in curiosity.
"Whampire? Is something wrong?" Vamps asked.
"When you are done Vamps, I need to speak with you privately." Whampire whispered.
Vamps nodded and continued with the meeting.
An hour later…
Vamps walked into Whampire's room and saw him pondering near the window.
"Whampire? What is it?" he asked.
"Ben." Whampire said, now turning to him. "Vamps, Ben wants to stay here."
"He cannot. It's too dangerous," Vamps said dryly.
"But Vamps, there is something you need to know," Whampire said. "Ben has no family. If anything he lost them in a very terrible way. He had to watch while his own family was killed. I overheard them."
Vamps was silent and he turned to look out the window. Whampire walked over to him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Vamps, I know that you are uncertain because of what happened before, but…"
"But nothing Whampire. The young human goes back," Vamps said sternly, now turning and seeing Ben walk and stretch on his own balcony. "He will not survive here and I will not allow another person under my charge to perish."
"Vamps, you did all you could before…" Whampire said.
"I don't want to discuss it Whampire," Vamps said, now turning to where they were eye to eye. Whampire was shorter, but he stood his ground.
"Enough Vamps! You have to stop!" Whampire said angrily, now grabbing his arm.
"No, you need to stop! How dare you even think about bringing another life on this planet after what happened here?!" Vamps snarled, now tearing his arm away.
"Vamps listen to me! Ben is different! He doesn't want to leave here!" Whampire said. "And he's old enough to make his own choices!"
"No he's not! He's basing all of this on emotion, not logical thinking!" Vamps said. "Our species are not meant to live together or coexist!"
"But he needs a family!" Whampire pleaded. "He needs us more than you know!"
"Have you completely lost your mind Whampire?! Do you not remember those same young ones who were brought to this planet and were destroyed because of Vilgax' invasion! Not one of them survived! Have you forgotten that WE were the ones who had to bury each of them to prevent Vilgax from torturing the bodies?! I HAVEN'T!" Vamps roared, now letting his eyes glow red. But Whampire did not move; he flinched under his brother's rage but stayed put!
"I haven't forgotten Vamps! But you need to realize that you are entitled to some happiness too! Especially if someone is practically begging you to be a part of your life!" Whampire said.
"I don't need…" Vamps started, but he was stopped as they both heard the door open and Ben walked in.
"I heard you all from a mile away," Ben chuckled a bit, now walking inside and seeing Vamps look away from him. "Vamps?"
No response.
"Whampire? What's going on?" Ben asked.
"Ben. I was just talking to Vamps about some things." Whampire said.
"I can tell." Ben said softly, now walking up and placing a hand on Vamps' shoulder. "Hey."
Vamps slowly turned and looked at him.
"Ben Tennyson. I cannot allow you to stay. I'm doing this for your own good." Vamps said, now looking at him in the eye and placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I understand Vamps." Ben said softly. "I'm ready to go back when you are."
Vamps nodded and looked out the window. "The next ship will leave at dawn. I will make sure you are on it."
Ben nodded and then turned to leave. Whampire stared at Vamps and then shook his head.
"You are making a mistake, Vamps," Whampire said, now walking out the door. "Both of you are by allowing this to happen."
Vamps simply turned and flew out the window. He did not think he was making a mistake at all. It was for the best for everyone.
Well...it appears Ben is going home.