Chapter 8: Nel's Secret Revealed
Disclaimer: Bleach and Ben 10 do not belong to me.
Nel's Secret Revealed: Nnoitra and the wrath of Ben 10
Harribel froze when she could no longer feel Ben's reiatsu. Could it be that Ben...? No. She refused to believe that Ben was dead.
Did Ben meet up with the boy named Ichigo Kurosaki? No, last time she checked, they were encountering the Privaron Espada, and the girl named Orihime was still in her chambers. So what was going on?
With no other choice, Harribel went straight to Aizen. After she told him the situation, he replied:
"I am already aware. It is of no importance to you."
Harribel found herself utterly speechless at Aizen's statement. How could he say about Ben? Unless…Aizen was involved in Ben's disappearance!
"It is clear that once Ben encounters Ichigo and his friends," Aizen went on. "He will join up with them. And Ben's powers are far too unpredictable and too diverse to let Soul Society have."
Anger slowly started to build up within Harribel. How could Aizen allow that to happen to her own Fraccion? Ben only had the best interests of everyone at heart. He was nothing like the Shinigami. Aizen had no reason to harm Ben in any way.
"I know you are mad, Harribel," Aizen said, looking at her. "It is rather surprising that you of all people would have such emotions. But I know the cause of this unexpected development. For Ben has done the impossible. He has won you over. That boy deserves more credit than he is given,"
Harribel felt as if she had been stabbed through. So now the truth came out. Aizen never cared about any of them.
Aizen smiled at her. "I know you desire him, Harribel. That you would do anything for him. Possibly even betray me for him. Ben Tennyson is worthy of my respect."
Harribel felt completely betrayed. She wanted nothing more than to cut this man down where he stood. But it seemed Aizen was able to predict what she wanted to do, because suddenly she found herself brought down to her knees by Aizen's spiritual pressure. Despite her efforts, Harribel could not get up.
"Your loyalty was once to me, Harribel. Now it has moved on. I hold that boy's life in my hands. If you treasure him so much, you will continue to obey me. Defy me, and I will make sure that he suffers for your disobedience."
Harribel knew that she was in check mate. If she tried to do anything, Ben would suffer for her. And she couldn't let anything happen to Ben.
"I will serve you," Harribel said in her bass tone. But inside, all she could feel was defeat.
Aizen smiled as he got up, lowering his spiritual pressure as he did so. As Harribel got up, Aizen walked over to her and tilted her chin so that she would look at him.
"Ben is rather lucky," he said bringing his face dangerously close to hers. "You are quite beautiful, Harribel."
Harribel looked at the man she once respected above all others, but now she was felt nothing but disgust. With no other choice, she left the room. And no sooner had she left did Ulquiorra enter.
"Ben Tennyson truly amazes me," Ulquiorra said in that emotionless tone of his.
"Doesn't he?" Aizen agreed. "He has managed to turn my 3rd Espada against me."
"Nonetheless," Ulquiorra continued. "How was he able to do it? His powers? His resourcefulness?"
Aizen smiled at Ulquiorra. "No, Ulquiorra. Harribel has fallen in love with Ben."
"Love?" Ulquiorra asked. "A mere human emotion? I am disappointed in Harribel. She was the only one of my fellow Espada who I truly respected. She was not the type to allow something as worthless as love to affect her."
"But the fact that Ben was able to turn her against me is by no means a small feat," Aizen went on. "You were correct is assuming that Ben is a great threat. In more ways than one."
"What do you intend to do with him?" Ulquiorra asked.
"Szayel came to me with a promising proposition," Aizen said to him. "I still have a use for Ben Tennyson."
"He can't do that!" Apacci yelled.
Harribel had returned to her chambers and told her Fraccion about the recent events.
"Why would Aizen-sama allow this?" Mila Rose asked. "Ben has done nothing wrong."
"Aizen has made it clear that we truly are nothing of importance to him," Harribel said quietly, but the anger still burning within her core. "He sees us as nothing more than tools to achieve his own end."
Sung-Sun looked at the ground. "Ben never treated us like that." She said quietly. "Ben always cared about us."
It was rather strange. Arrancar often saw emotions as weakness. Ulquiorra was the biggest follower of such a concept. But that was probably because nobody bothered to show compassion to each other in Hueco Mundo. It was a kill or be killed land. And that all changed once Ben had shown up. His compassion and willingness to help others had a major effect. How could Aizen allow anything bad to happen to a person who saw Arrancar as more than just monsters?
"Harribel-sama," Apacci said quietly. "Does this mean…"
Harribel nodded. "I must find Ben." She said. "We need to get him out of here."
"But if Aizen-sama finds out," Mila Rose tried to point out.
"I do not care what Aizen does to me now," Harribel stated firmly. "Even if I am to die, I will die content knowing that Ben is safe."
Her three Fraccion looked at each other and then back at Harribel.
"We will help you, Harribel-sama," Sung-Sun said firmly. "We will do anything for Ben."
"Now," Apacci said. "We just need to find Ben. I just hope he's all right."
Ben spat out more blood as Nnoitra's fist smashed into his face.
"Stop it!" Nel cried. "Leave Ben alone!"
After Nnoitra had attacked Ben and Nel, he and Tesla brought the two to the inner desert of Las Noches. But they brought the two to the very edge of the dome. That way it would be a long walk back to Las Noches' inner levels.
"Shut up!" Nnoitra snapped, kicking Nel in the stomach.
The act caused Ben to thrash wildly, making Tesla have a harder time keeping him still.
"Hurt her again and see what happens!" Ben roared as he struggled to break free, so Tesla used his foot to pin Ben down.
"Tesla," Nnoitra grumbled. "If you can't keep a stupid human steady, what's the point of you being my Fraccion?"
"My apologies, Nnoitra-sama," Tesla said as he struggled with Ben. "This boy is proving to be more resilient than I thought."
Ben glared at Nnoitra as he struggled. "Coward," he spat at him. "You don't have the guts to fight fair cause you know you'd lose again."
Nnoitra's response was a jab to the gut. Ben yelled in pain and fell to his knees. Nel began crying more for her friend.
Nnoitra had to grudgingly admit that he was impressed. This measly human had been able to withstand his blows.
His spiritual pressure is acting up somehow. Nnoitra realized. It's…it's shielding his body! It's acting like my Hierro! But how could it be?
"Tell…me…something, Nnoitra," Ben said weakly.
Nnoitra frowned as he looked at Ben. "What?" he asked.
"You called Nel the former third Espada," Ben pointed out. "She's just a kid."
At this, Nnoitra's face lit up gleefully. "Right. You couldn't have known since she doesn't remember a thing."
Nnoitra looked over at Nel, who was cowering away from him. He sneered at her. "She used to be the third Espada. It annoyed me so much that a woman was a high ranking Espada. Every chance I got I would challenge her but she always defeated me."
Ben smirked. "Obviously she would." He said despite the fact that he still doubted this whole story.
"Then I finally beat her," Nnoitra bragged. "Cracked her mask and reduced her to a child form. According to Szayel at least."
Ben snapped his head at Nnoitra. "Szayel? He was in on it?"
Nnoitra laughed. "That's right!" he mocked.
Ben was struggling to contain the rage he was feeling. So that was why Szayel had acted that way when he saw Nel. Szayel was going to pay for helping Nnoitra hurt Nel.
"I'll deal with her later," Nnoitra said as he turned his attention back to Ben. "Right after I deal with you. You were able to hurt me and humiliated me. You made me a joke even among my fellow Espada. Some people were talking about me handing my position over to you! I will make you suffer for everything you put me through!"
He began slamming his foot into Ben's stomach over and over again. But Ben was too angry to care about the pain. He was going to find a way out of here. And he was going to make Nnoitra pay for hurting Nel.
Nnoitra realized that Ben wasn't reacting to his blows. Ben was simply looking at him with hate filled eyes.
This is ridiculous! Nnoitra practically roared in his own mind. Even if he did somehow acquire a Hierro, there's no way his could be this durable already!
"You're stubborn, Ben, I'll give you that," Nnoitra said.
"I will beat you, Nnoitra," Ben told him. "And I'll make you pay for hurting Nel."
Nnoitra laughed his head off. But then something caught his attention. He looked off into the distance.
"Well, well," he said. "Someone just beat Gantenbainne."
Ben's attention was caught. "Gantenbainne? What happened?"
Nnoitra smiled. "Nothing you'll ever be concerned with." Looking back at Ben, he said. "I'll deal with you later. In the meantime Tesla, you deal with him. Just make sure he's not too damaged when I get back. I want to enjoy my time."
"Hai, Nnoitra-sama," Tesla replied as Nnoitra walked away. Instantly he released Ben. Ben struggled to get up but Tesla punched him and sent him sprawling.
"Stop it!" Nel yelled angrily at Tesla. "What did Ben ever do to you?"
"I will make him pay for hurting my master," Tesla said.
"Why?" Ben wheezed. "Why do you serve that guy?"
"Nnoitra-sama is my lord," Tesla replied. "Anyone who insults him must suffer."
But at that moment, Nel stepped in between Tesla and Ben. She raised her hands as if trying to shield Ben with her body.
"Nel," Ben said weakly. "Get out of here."
Nel shook her head at Ben. "No," she said firmly. "Nel won't leave Ben."
Ben looked up at Tesla. "Tesla, let her go. She has nothing to do with this."
"Nnoitra-sama said I was to deal with you, Ben Tennyson," Tesla told him. "If Nelliel-sama prefers to protect you, then I will take her down."
Ben glared at him. "You lay one finger on her and I'll rip you apart!"
"As I told you before," Tesla said. "I obey my master."
Ben tried to activate the Ultimatrix, but Tesla had been warned by Nnoitra to never give Ben the chance to use the device on his wrist. So Tesla used Sonido to reach over and slash Ben across the stomach. Ben yelled in pain as he clutched his now bleeding stomach.
"Ben!" Nel cried out to him. She glared at Tesla and then actually charged at him.
"Nel!" Ben cried. "No!"
Tesla raised his eyebrow at Nel's futile charge. With an unemotional expression, he raised his sword to finish her off.
"No!" Ben cried out again.
Suddenly a new voice rang out of nowhere.
"Beautiful Charlotte Cuulhourne's Lovely Cutie Fanatic Aquatic Dynamic Domestic Thunder Punch!"
Ben had little time to say anything as something slammed into Tesla and sent him sprawling into the ground. He and Nel were completely baffled, but Ben recognized that type of attack from only one person.
"Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Attention please!" the voice continued. "Beautiful Charlotte Chulhourne's here to save the day!"
Ben's jaw dropped when he saw Charlotte standing there in one of his "stylish" poses.
"Charlotte?" he wheezed out.
Instantly Charlotte was at Ben's side. "It's okay, Ben." He said gently. "I'm here to help."
Nel was still thrown off by Charlotte's appearance. It was either a gender confused man or a very ugly woman. "Help?" she asked.
Charlotte looked at Nel. "Yes, little one," he told her. "Ben saved my life once despite the fact that we were enemies. I am paying my debt to him."
Ben tried to get up, but fell to his feet as he clutched his stomach.
"Stand still, Ben," Charlotte said. "You're too weak to move right now."
"Nel can help!" Nel cried all of a sudden. She quickly ran over to Ben. "Nel can make everything better."
Ben smiled weakly at Nel as he slowly rubbed her head. "I'm sorry, Nel." He said. "But kisses aren't going to help me here."
"Nel knows that, silly." She said. "Nel's gonna heal you!"
Before Ben could say anything else, Nel jumped at him. Then, she shoved her hand into her mouth. Raising an eyebrow was all Ben and Charlotte could do as Nel looked as if she was reaching for something in her mouth. Afterwards, she removed her hand out of her mouth and sprayed Ben with some kind of liquid. Ben was completely covered. Both he and Charlotte were too stunned to speak.
"Nel….did you just throw up on me?" Ben asked, grimacing.
"Nel drooled on you," Nel said cheerfully. "Has healing powers."
Ben raised an eyebrow at her. He was about to say something when he noticed that his body was slowly starting to feel better. Not enough for him to run or really fight, but at least the pain was lessening.
"Wow," Ben stated. "Your drool really does have healing powers." He smiled at Nel. "Thank you, Nel."
Nel smiled. "Nel will do anything for Ben."
But Charlotte noticed something. That little vomit could not be healing Ben this effectively. Somehow Ben's wounds were being healed by something alongside Nel's vomit.
Since when did Ben have regeneration in his human form? I thought he could only do that when he was Swampfire.
Tesla got back up to his feet, glaring at Charlotte.
"How did you know where we were?" he asked the other Fraccion.
Charlotte pushed his thoughts aside to smile at Tesla. "I overheard Szayel and Nnoitra scheming to deal with Ben. Szayel made a device that created a field which prevents the reiatsu of anyone within it to be sensed. But since I already knew about it, I rushed to save Ben."
"About five minutes ago would've been nice," Ben laughed weakly.
Charlotte raised his blade. "I will deal with Tesla," he said. "Just get out of here, Ben."
Slowly and painfully, Ben reached for the Ultimatrix. Tesla tried to attack him but Charlotte blocked him.
"Attacking someone who isn't your opponent is very ugly, Tesla," Charlotte mocked.
"My battle is not with you, Cuulhourne," Tesla said sternly. "Get out of my way."
Charlotte smiled. "I'm afraid it would be ugly of me not to repay my debt to young Ben. His beautiful heart needs to live so that it may beat for all who need it."
Ben managed to activate the Ultimatrix and slammed it down. In a bright flash of light, Ben transformed into a being that looked a like a blue raptor wearing black clothing over his torso. Ball like objects were at the bottom of his feet and his head was covered in some kind of helmet and visor.
"XLR8!" the new creature yelled. "Wow. I had no idea that I could use this form again." Then it clutched its side weakly.
"Ben!" Nel cried, running over and hugging XLR8.
"I'm okay, Nel," he reassured her as he picked her up. He looked back at Charlotte. "Thank you, Charlotte."
"It's okay, Ben," Charlotte said, giving the thumbs up before slashing Tesla. "Now go!"
XLR8 nodded at Charlotte. "Hold on tightly, Nel." He told her.
Instantly Nel held onto XLR8's neck.
"Gack!" XLR8 gasped. "Not that tight!"
"Sowy," Nel said as she slackened her grip. Nodding, XLR8 took off in a blue blur at surprising speed. But it was with effort. While transforming had lessened the pain of Nnoitra's blows, XLR8's body still screamed in pain with each super fast step he took. In fact, the pain made XLR8 move slower than Ben remembered. But he had to get Nel and himself out of here. He was too weak to fight Nnoitra in his current state. He had to find Harribel as soon as possible. Soon, the inner levels of Las Noches were in sight. They were gonna make it!
But then a beam of energy blasted the ground, causing sand to fly everywhere and knock XLR8 backwards off his feet. Shaking his head, XLR8 looked to see what the cause of the blast was. Hearing footsteps, XLR8 turned around. His stomach felt full of lead as he saw Nnoitra walk towards him.
"Well, well," Nnoitra said grinning. "A new form, Ben? Pretty fast from what I saw."
But Nnoitra was a little bit worried. This was a form that he had never seen Ben use. This meant that Ben possibly had more forms that no one in Las Noches had ever seen. Not even Aizen.
Wobbling to his feet, XLR8 placed himself between Nnoitra and Nel. Nnoitra just smiled that annoying smile of his at the sight.
"So you still protect her, Ben? Despite the fact that she's been lying to you?"
"Nel never lied to me!" XLR8 snapped. "I don't care what she is or anything like that. I told you I was going to make you pay and I am!"
Even though he was injured and weak, he didn't want to take a chance with Nnoitra, since he didn't know all of the Espada's powers. He was going to have to make a stand here and now.
Nel looked at XLR8 in wonder. Ben was injured, but he was still willing to throw his life on the line for her. "Ben," she said in a soft whisper.
Nnoitra was about to laugh when XLR8 was a blue blur of speed that ran right up to him and began barraging him with kicks to his face. Normally such kicks wouldn't even annoy him. But due to how fast XLR8 was kicking, it was really starting to become a bother. Nnoitra swung his arm to strike XRL8, but XLR8 dodged the attack ease. He ran behind Nnoitra and slammed a kick into his back. It didn't hurt Nnoitra, but he was starting to get annoyed at this pesky form. He swung his Zanpakuto but XLR8 just dodged it again.
"You're not very fast, are you?" XLR8 asked mockingly. He had often noted that Nnoitra never really used Sonido like some of the other Espada did.
He then began running circles around Nnoitra, causing a sand tornado to form around the fifth Espada. XLR8 thought he had gained the upper hand, but then Nnoitra's arm struck out and managed to slam into the side of XLR8's face. He was sent soaring through the air until he landed on the ground.
"Is that the best you got?" Nnoitra asked mockingly. He knew that Ben could just transform into a different form. But he didn't care. This time, he was ready for NRG and Way Big.
"Not even close," XLR8 snapped back at him. He reached for the Ultimatrix symbol and slammed it.
Nnoitra took a fighting stance, expecting NRG, Way Big, or just about any of the forms he had seen Ben used. But what he saw completely baffled him.
"What is that?" Nnoitra couldn't help but ask.
Standing there was some kind of man fish. He had grayish, scaly skin and was fairly muscular. He wore no clothing except what appeared to be some kind of long, black loincloth. He had bulbous eyes and an angular sticking out of his forehead. The characteristic that stuck out the most was his large and vicious looking jaws.
"Ripjaws!" the creature roared in a guttural voice. Then it looked at itself. "Aw man. Not this form. Not now!"
Suddenly, Ripjaws fell on his knees and began gasping as if he couldn't breathe.
"Ben!" Nel screamed. "What's wrong?"
"Water," Ripjaws said weakly. "I need water."
Nnoitra laughed his head off. Ben had turned into a form that was completely useless! Laughing, he slammed a kick into the fallen Ripjaws. Still laughing, the fifth Espada began stomping on him over and over.
"Stop it!" Nel screamed at Nnoitra. "Leave Ben alone!"
"Shut up!" Nnoitra yelled at her. "I'm not gonna kill him. Aizen-sama would punish me for that. But I am gonna put this piece of crap in his place."
Ripjaws weakly lunged forward and clamped his teeth onto Nnoitra's leg. Grunting in annoyance, Nnoitra began shaking his leg to try and throw Ripjaws off. Despite being wounded and dehydrated, Ripjaws' bite stayed true. Furious, Nnoitra brought his Zanpakuto slashing down, creating a nasty gash down Ripjaws' side. Ripjaws transformed back into Ben. Ben fell to the ground in a heap, clutching his once again bleeding body. His breath came out in rasps of pain.
"Ben!" Nel cried again.
"See, Ben," Nnoitra laughed as he continued to kick Ben again and again. "This is the worthless piece of crap that you really are!" He started laughing again as he pounded Ben.
Nel's emotions were bubbling inside of her. Ben was such a wonderful person. How could anyone hate him? How could Nnoitra just hurt Ben? Why couldn't Nel be stronger? Ben always protected her, so why couldn't she protect him?
"Stop it!" Nel screamed at the top of her lungs. "Leave Ben alone!"
Suddenly Nel was engulfed in a strange smoke that suddenly erupted around her. Nnoitra froze as he looked towards the smoke. Slowly and weakly, Ben turned his head to see what had happened to Nel. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped when the smoke cleared.
Standing there was a tall and beautiful woman with greenish hair, but still had the same scar and red line across her face that Nel had. Her mask fragment had changed as well. It now resembled an antelope skull on top of her head. Ben found himself blushing when he noticed her unexpectedly large chest and instantly focused on her face instead. Though he was embarrassed when he noticed that the rags Nel wore when she was little just barely covered her body now. In her hands was a katana in a green sheath. Its guard looked like two crescent moons back to back.
Was this really Nel?
Nnoitra snarled at the woman. "So you've returned to that form, Nelliel." He said.
Nelliel said nothing as she suddenly vanished, appeared right in front of Nnoitra, and slammed a kick into him. The blow sent Nnoitra soaring backwards into the sand. Quickly, Nelliel disappeared and then reappeared next to Ben.
"Ne…" Ben started to say when Nelliel put her finger on his lips. Ben's face lit up at the close contact.
"Don't say anything, Ben," she said in a mature, soothing voice. "You've done so much for me. Now it's my turn to return the favor."
Gently, Nelliel scooped Ben up and used her Sonido again. Once they were a good amount of distance, Nel put Ben down gently.
"Are you okay?" Nelliel asked Ben.
Ben grunted in pain as he tried to sit up. Instantly Nelliel gently pushed him back down.
"Please don't try to get up, Ben," she said.
For some odd reason, Ben thought that her voice sounded more like a cooing sound. Instantly Ben began to shake his head. He was going into forbidden territory with thoughts like that.
He looked up at the woman before him. "Are you really Nel?" he asked.
Smiling, the beautiful woman nodded. "Yes, Ben. I'm still me." She said to him. "This is my true form. I never thought I'd become like this again. But I am glad. I can't bear to lose you, Ben."
Ben felt his brain have a total meltdown. The little girl that he had always hugging and playing around with was actual this beautiful woman? He felt his face light up when he remembered whenever little Nel said that Ben was hers and that she loved him. Did she mean…
No you idiot! A voice in Ben's head screamed. She loves you like a brother. That's all! Get your mind out of thoughts like that!
Ben continued to tell himself that as he tried not to stare at Nelliel. But his body froze when Nelliel suddenly covered him with that healing vomit she had used on him before.
"I know this is uncomfortable, Ben," Nelliel told him. "But please bear with it. I promise you that it does have healing powers. Now that I am in my true form, it will heal you faster."
As she looked at Ben's wounds, her face became extremely sad. "I'm so sorry, Ben." She said in a quiet voice.
Confused, Ben raised an eyebrow at her. "For what? You didn't do anything."
"Exactly," Nelliel told him. "If I hadn't allowed Nnoitra to trick me all those years ago…"
"Years?" Ben yelled. "He did that to you years ago?"
Nelliel nodded. "Nnoitra was the eighth Espada back then. He would always attack because he didn't believe that women should be higher than him. He never won. Then he and Szayel took my Fraccion, Pesche and Dondochakka…"
"They're your Fraccion?" Ben asked, his jaw hanging open at this revelation.
"Yes," Nelliel said. "Nnoitra and Szayel forcibly ripped off my Fraccion's mask fragments and lured me into a trap. I thought I was fighting Nnoitra, but it turned out to be a fake. The last thing I remember was the real Nnoitra coming from above and attacking me. After that, I was the little girl that you met."
Ben's mind was still reeling from all this. It was just incredible. Nel was actually a powerful and beautiful woman. Until those two jerks Nnoitra and Szayel did…
Ben was going to make them pay for ruining Nel's life.
"But how did you get turned into a little girl in the first place?" Ben asked.
"With my mask cracked, my reiatsu must've been leaking out," Nelliel guessed. "So I became this child form to make up for it."
"Wow," Ben mumbled. It reminded him of the time he had fallen into the Fountain of Youth when he was ten years old.
"But there is one thing I'm happy about," Nelliel said softly. "I'm glad I was able to meet you."
Ben's eyes were wide open now. And they got even wider when Nelliel began to scoot closer to him. "Um…Nel?"
"Ben," Nelliel practically whispered. "There's something I have to tell you."
"Life form properly restored. Damage detected. Commence scanning life form."
Both Nel and Ben slightly jumped at the mechanical sounding voice. It took both of them a moment to realize that it was coming from Ben's Ultimatrix. Curious, Ben raised his arm that the Ultimatrix was attached. No sooner had he raised his hand did a light shoot out of the Ultimatrix and start scanning Nelliel. The female Arrancar just stared wide eyes as the Ultimatrix scanned her. After a moment, the light was gone.
"Scans complete." The Ultimatrix said. "This life form has suffered serious damage."
"Uh, Ben?" Nelliel asked. "What did it do?"
"It scanned you," Ben explained. "It must have noticed that the damage you suffered from your mask."
Nelliel thought about it. "But why didn't it scan me when you first met me?"
"Maybe you being in your child form prevented it from working right," Ben guessed. "Now that you're in your true form, it was able to scan you properly."
"Do you wish to restore this life form to original state?" the Ultimatrix asked.
Nelliel raised an eyebrow at the Ultimatrix. "Ben?" she asked, clearly not understanding what the Ultimatrix meant.
"It's asking me if I want it to fix you," Ben told her. Nelliel's eyes widened.
"Can it fix me?" she asked, excitement was small, but evident in her voice.
"I don't see why," Ben admitted. "From what I've been told about Arrancar, the mask fragments are pretty much a part of them. I'm pretty sure that the Ultimatrix can fix it."
"Would you please, Ben?" Nelliel asked nervously.
"Sure," Ben told her. "Ultimatrix, begin…"
But that's when an explosion reached their ears. Nelliel got to her feet and spun around to see Nnoitra charging straight at them.
"Found you!" he yelled gleefully as he raised his Zanpakuto.
Ben groaned. Just once he wished that he could get something done without a bad guy getting in the way. "It's Hero Time!" He yelled. He reached for the Ultimatrix.
But all of a sudden, Nelliel grabbed Ben's arms and put them down at his sides.
"Just rest, Ben," she said softly. "I'll deal with Nnoitra."
"But…but…but…" Ben tried to say. He didn't want Nnoitra to hurt Nel again.
"It's okay, Ben," she said to him. "I won't lose."
At that moment, the back of her shirt slightly rose, allowing Ben to see a large 3 tattoo on her back. His jaw dropped. She really was the third Espada before Harribel.
Without another word, Nelliel grabbed her sword and charged at Nnoitra. The two's Zanpakuto collided with each other. Instantly Ben thought that Nelliel's was going to shatter. But instead his jaw dropped when Nelliel was able to use hers to push Nnoitra's giant weapon back. Suddenly Nelliel used Sonido and slashed Nnoitra across the chest. Blood spurted out of the new gash on his stomach. Furious, Nnoitra tried to slash Nelliel, but she was able to kick his weapon away with her bare foot. Ben found himself glued to the sight as Nelliel dodged all of Nnoitra's attacks while continuing to slash him up.
By now, Nnoitra was getting frustrated. It was bad enough to him that Nelliel had to come back. But to find out that she was still good against him after all these years was downright insulting. He was stronger than her. He had to be!
Refusing to give up, Nnoitra stuck out his tongue and fired a yellow Cero blast. Ben thought Nelliel was going to use her Sonido to dodge it, but his eyes widened when he saw that Nelliel was simply standing there and starring down the Cero as it came towards her. He was about to shout out her name when Nelliel raised her hand in front of the Cero. It stopped just as it came in contact with her hand. Then Nelliel opened her mouth. Much to Ben's complete and utter amazement, the Cero actually went into her mouth. But no sooner did the Cero go into her mouth did Nel shoot it right back out. But Ben noticed it was different. Nelliel had added her own Cero to the blast.
Now I know who Szayel was comparing Upchuck to. Ben thought as he saw the doubled Cero slammed into Nnoitra. A massive explosion erupted. Sand and smoke scattered everywhere. Ben just felt frozen to the spot.
"Wow," was all he could say.
Nelliel remained impassive as she turned around to look at Ben. Ben felt goose bumps cover all over him. Was Nelliel mad at him about something? But that all changed when Ben found himself in a bone crushing hug.
"Ben," Nelliel said softly. "How was I?"
Ben was too busy being paralyzed. One: because this beautiful woman was hugging him closely. Two: he was pretty sure that Nelliel had just broken his spine.
But something caught their attention. Both looked at the spot where Nelliel had blasted Nnoitra. Once the smoke cleared, they could see him still standing. His clothes were messed up, but he himself didn't look all that damaged.
Nnoitra sneered at them. "Cero Doble," he said. "Your signature skill, Nelliel. Did you honestly think that would work on me? Do you have any idea how many years it's been? How stronger I've become?"
Ben glared at Nnoitra. "You're a coward, Nnoitra! Just cause you don't have what it takes to win in a fair fight!"
Nnoitra snarled at Ben. "Stay out of this, worthless brat!"
"Look who's talking!" Ben shouted back. "You're the one who's a brat since you're throwing a fit because there's people better than you!"
"No one is better than me!" Nnoitra roared.
"Then how come I was able to beat you twice?" Ben asked with a smirk. He raised the Ultimatrix. "How about a third time?"
"Ben," Nelliel said. "Please leave him to me."
Ben shook his head. "No," he said firmly. "I'm never gonna let this guy hurt you again. I said I was gonna make him pay for hurting you and I am."
Nelliel felt herself feel as light as air at Ben's words. "Ben…" she said softly.
"How sweet," Nnoitra laughed. "Makes me want to throw up!"
Ben rose to his feet, all previous damage done to him apparently gone.
"Thanks for healing me, Nel," Ben smiled at her. "I really appreciate it."
Something's wrong. Nelliel noted to herself. Ben shouldn't be healed this fast. How did he…?
Ben activated the Ultimatrix, a look of anger on his face as he faced Nnoitra. "It's Hero Time!"
He slammed the Ultimatrix down and turned into Rath. Rather than waste words, Rath let out a roar and charged. Grinning, Nnoitra raised his Zanpakuto to slice his opponent up. But Rath saw it coming. Quickly, he scooped up some of the desert sand and threw it in Nnoitra's face. As Nnoitra struggled to get his vision right, Rath took advantage of this to put his clasp his hands together and bash them against Nnoitra. The blow sent the fifth Espada flying backwards. Rath followed up his attack by pouncing on Nnoitra. The two struggled for moment before Rath grabbed Nnoitra in a headlock.
"Let me tell you something, Nnoitra Jiruga!" Rath yelled. "Nobody messes with Rath's friends without getting a beating!"
Furious, Nnoitra managed to grab Rath and throw him off. He slashed with his Zanpakuto but Rath rolled out of the way. Getting extremely annoyed, Nnoitra stuck out his tongue to fire a Cero blast.
Rath instantly knew that he had to think fast. He quickly touched the Ultimatrix symbol. Nnoitra didn't know what to expect. For all he knew, Ben was going to transform into some kind of new form. Or he could use NRG and Way Big, since those were two of his best. However, there was the chance that he would turn into another useless form like that one called Ripjaws. (No disrespect to Ripjaws, it's just that he's useless in dry areas.)
But the form that greeted Nnoitra was one that he hadn't seen Ben ever use before. It looked somewhat like a big humanoid jellyfish. It had bluish skin that resembled the color of water with white spots all over its body. It had a total of six tentacles. Two of those tentacles were the creature's legs while the other four was the creature's arms. Despite having legs, the creature didn't really need them since it was levitating above the ground. It looked at Nnoitra with green eyes.
AmpFibian!" the creature yelled.
Nnoitra grit his teeth. Another form that he had never seen Ben use. Just how many forms did this guy actually have? Deciding not to care, Nnoitra fired his Cero. But AmpFibian moved out the way with ease. Nnoitra glared at AmpFibian and tried to raise his Zanpakuto. But AmpFibian beat him to it.
"Wanna know what that giant scythe thing makes you?" AmpFibian asked Nnoitra. "One big lightning rod!"
The jellyfish-like creature raised his upper tentacles. Before Nnoitra could do anything, AmpFibian fired bolts of electricity at him. The electricity surged through Nnoitra's Zanpakuto and electrocuted Nnoitra himself. Nnoitra howled in pain as the electricity filled his entire body. Desperately, he swung his Zanpakuto upward, hoping to slice AmpFibian through.
But much to Nnoitra's shock, AmpFibian became transparent like and Nnoitra's weapon went right through him. Nnoitra's eye widened. This form had intangibility powers like Big Chill!
"Nice try," AmpFibian said smugly as he raised his tentacles again. "This is for Nel!" This time he electrocuted Nnoitra with an increased wattage.
Nnoitra snarled at the pain.
"How does it feel, Nnoitra?" AmpFibian asked. "I can hurt you as much as I want and you can't do anything to stop me. The same thing you pulled on me. What goes around comes around."
On the brink of going berserk, Nnoitra began slashing wildly. But AmpFibian used his intangibility powers, leaving Nnoitra with nothing but air to slash.
"Fine," Nnoitra yelled. "If I can't hurt you, I'll kill your precious girlfriend instead."
AmpFibian's eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare!" he threatened.
Grinning, Nnoitra turned his attention to Nelliel. But at that moment something slammed into Nnoitra's back. It didn't do any damage to him, but it sure annoyed. He turned around to see Charlotte standing there.
"You?" Nnoitra groaned when he saw Charlotte.
"Charlotte?" AmpFibian asked. "What happened to Tesla?"
"Don't worry, Ben," Charlotte said. He figured that only Ben could be the strange creature floating in front of him. "He's only knocked out. My beauty was just too stunning for him."
Nnoitra snarled at Charlotte. "Tesla lost to you?" he asked in outrage.
"Of course," Charlotte replied. "Beautiful people like Ben and I cannot possibly lose to such hideous filth like you and Tesla."
That's when Charlotte noticed Nelliel standing there, watching these entire events take place.
"Oh my," Charlotte said as he looked at her. "Nelliel-sama? What are you doing here? Ben, is she your lover?"
A hint of red lit up AmpFibian's face as his eyes went huge. Nelliel was looking at the ground, a blush on her cheeks.
"I, uh, I uh," stammered AmpFibian.
Nelliel noticed this and her eyes went wide. Did Ben's stuttering mean he liked her? She managed to suppress a squeal of excitement that was bubbling up inside of her.
"It is alright, Ben," Charlotte said dramatically. "I bet it is a beautiful love story full of romance and passion."
"You're not helping!" AmpFibian snapped, the blush getting darker.
"Will you just shut up?" Nnoitra yelled, swinging his Zanpakuto in a huge arc.
Luckily, Charlotte and AmpFibian managed to dodge the attack. Nnoitra was getting really ticked now. He decided that it was time to get serious.
"Pray!" he yelled. "Santa Teresa!"
Charlotte and Nelliel's eyes widened. AmpFibian instantly knew what was happening. Nnoitra was going into his released state. Sand started flying everywhere as a massive wave of energy was unleashed. AmpFibian actually had to struggle against the wind to prevent being blown back. Once everything settled, AmpFibian got a look at his opponent.
Now, Nnoitra had four arms just as AmpFibian did. They were layered in material that gave them a skeletal appearance. In each hand was a scythe that resembled crescent moons. In fact, he even had curved horns that resembled crescent moons, as one horn was smaller than the other which was much longer and more curved than the previous one.
Instantly Charlotte, AmpFibian, and Nel entered fighting stances. Nnoitra grinned as he raised his scythes.
"No one can beat me!" he yelled, charging forward.
AmpFibian took the initiative and fired a massive blast of lightning. But the lightning did nothing as Nnoitra continued to charge at them. Charlotte tried to slash Nnoitra, but Nnoitra blocked his attack his upper right arm, then slashed him with his lower right arm. Charlotte fell back, clutching the huge gash he just got. If he hadn't tried to dodge at the last second, he probably would've been cut in half.
"Charlotte!" AmpFibian yelled. Angrily, he turned to face Nnoitra. "You're asking for it now, Nnoitra!"
Laughing like a lunatic, Nnoitra began to slash wildly. AmpFibian was able to turn intangible but saw that Nelliel had to dodge using Sonido.
"This is crazy," AmpFibian said to himself. "I better do something about those swords." With that, AmpFibian put some distance between himself and Nnoitra and touched the Ultimatrix symbol with one of his tentacles.
Everyone knew what the green light that suddenly flashed meant. It meant that Ben had transformed again. Immediately the three Arrancar turned to face the direction the green light came from. Standing there was a form that none of them had ever seen. Its body was yellowish with black stripes all over it. It had spiky shoulders with two toed feet and hands that looked like pincers or extremely pointy magnets. Unlike the rest of its body, its head was a round, metallic head with greenish eyes. The head was not connected to the body, but floated in between its spiky shoulders.
"Lodestar!" This new form yelled. It had a mechanical edge to its voice and its mouth didn't move when it spoke.
Nnoitra laughed maniacally. "You turn into whatever you want, Ben Tennyson!" he yelled. "NRG, Way Big, Swampfire, it doesn't matter! I'm the strongest! No one can beat me!"
"You know," Lodestar asked. "I am really tired of listening to your mouth."
Sneering evilly, Nnoitra charged forward. Charlotte and Nelliel expected this Lodestar form to jump out of the way. Much to their surprise, Lodestar took a fighting stance as Nnoitra got closer. But before either one could open their mouths to yell, Lodestar pointed his pincer like hands at Nnoitra. Green pulses began to emit from them. Nnoitra was too caught up in himself to worry as the pulses reached him. Suddenly, Nnoitra found that he couldn't move. For some reason, his arms refused to move as he wanted. It didn't make any sense. He still had feeling in his body, so why couldn't he get his arms to move.
That's when it occurred to him. It wasn't his arms that couldn't move. It was his weapons. Suddenly all four of his scythes flew out of his hands and towards Lodestar. Nnoitra, Charlotte, and Nelliel all watched wide eyed as the four scythes floated in front of Lodestar. They stopped and floated in the air in front of him. However, the scythes were pointing towards Nnoitra, as if waiting to cut him down.
"Too bad, so sad," Lodestar replied smugly at Nnoitra's shocked expression. "You just can't resist my magnetic personality."
Nnoitra burst into laughter, much to the shock of the three facing him. "Take as many as you want. I've got plenty!"
Suddenly black forms came out of his arms. Soon, Nnoitra once again had four scythes with him.
Nelliel looked at Charlotte. "This is Ben's fight," she said. "We'll just be in the way."
Charlotte nodded. The two used Sonido to put a good amount of distance between them and the two combatants. Charlotte gulped as he watched the two staring each other down. First prize would have to go to Lodestar since he couldn't make facial expression.
"Do you think Ben can win?" he couldn't help but ask Nelliel.
Nelliel smiled as she watched the two combatants ready themselves for the inevitable clash. "He's Ben," she told Charlotte with total confidence. "He can do anything!"
Lodestar and Nnoitra began their battle. But battle was too loose a term to describe it. More like sheer insanity. It seemed more of who could slice up the other one first. Nnoitra would try to slice Lodestar, only be blocked by one of the scythes that Lodestar had control over. Pretty much it was a simple slash and block maneuver with these two.
Lodestar knew that he was in a tight spot and decided to get creative. He used his magnetic powers to make the four scythes he controlled form a flat circle with the hilts pointing inward and the blades forming the outside. Focusing his powers, he made the circle spin rapidly like a horizontal wheel. Once he was sure that he made enough momentum, he fired the wheel of blades right at Nnoitra.
Nnoitra instantly saw the attack coming and raised all his blades to block it. Lodestar's scythes hit Nnoitra's head on. But the momentum had made the scythes' circle as powerful as a gigantic buzzsaw. They not only sliced through the hilts of Nnoitra's scythe, but slashed Nnoitra right across the stomach. Nnoitra staggered back, dropping one of his scythes to try and cover the wound. Lodestar reached out with his powers to make the scythes he just used plus the one Nnoitra just dropped fly over to him. The now five scythes floated around Lodestar as if to protect him from harm. Nnoitra glared at Ben as he created a new scythe to replace the one Lodestar took from him.
"It seems I'm the one who has the advantage," Lodestar stated, indicating the obvious difference in the two's number of scythes.
Nnoitra laughed. "Wrong!"
Suddenly from Nnoitra's shirt, two more arms burst out. They too generated scythes for Nnoitra to wield. Now he had six to Lodestar's five. Nnoitra charged forward. Knowing that it would be foolish to take chances with Nnoitra in his crazed state, Lodestar used his powers to send all the scythes he controlled flying right at his opponent. Naturally, Nnoitra blocked them with his own blades.
"Perfect," Lodestar commented.
Nnoitra looked at Lodestar in confusion. What was perfect? Suddenly all the scythes began to constrict and bend. Before Nnoitra could do anything, Lodestar succeeded in bending his weapons into metal ropes which he was now wrapped up in.
"I think I have this battle nearly wrapped up," Lodestar joked. Nelliel giggled at the pun. "There's just one final thing to do."
Lodestar reached the Ultimatrix again. Nelliel and Charlotte both gasped as Way Big came into the picture.
"This!" Way Big yelled.
Nnoitra didn't have time to react as Way Big brought one of his giant feet stomping down on him. Already he could feel every single bone in his body breaking. No. No! Not after all this time! He stuck out his tongue to fire another Cero blast. Way Big saw it happening and gave Nnoitra a two-fisted punch. Blood burst from Nnoitra, as he weakly glared at Ben with nothing but raw hatred.
"Do you see, Nnoitra?" Way Big boomed. "Do you see how helpless you are? You are nothing but a coward who can't fight fairly. Now it's time I knocked some sense into you. This is for me. For Nel. And for everyone else you have ever hurt! Body Slam!"
Way Big tilted forward and brought his whole entire body down on the fifth Espada. The result shook all of Las Noches to its core.
In fact, the quake was so powerful that Starrk had been woken up because of it. And that was saying something.
Starrk is in his bed, asleep, with Lilynette, until the quake happens, "What was that?"
Afterwards, Ben returned to normal. Slowly and dizzy, he wobbled to his feet. He looked over at his opponent. Ben didn't know if he was dead for not, though he did have a feeling that Nnoitra was just too stubborn to die. Shaking his head, Ben sighed.
"In the end, Nnoitra, you were just a sore loser."
"Ben!" Nelliel yelled. Instantly Ben found himself in a bone crushing hug. He grit his teeth as he felt what was possibly his bones cracking.
"I knew you could do it, Ben!" she cried happily. "I knew you could."
"There was never any doubt," Charlotte said dramatically. "So that was Way Big that Lord Baraggan told me about."
Nelliel finally let go of Ben, who immediately began gasping for air. "Come on," he said. "Let's get out of here before something else happens."
"I'll return to Lord Baraggan," Charlotte told him. "Be careful, Ben. Be careful, Nelliel-sama."
"You too," Ben and Nelliel said to Charlotte. Nodding, Charlotte used Sonido to go back to Baraggan. Ben was about to reach for XLR8 when he found himself picked up by Nelliel.
"Nel!" he cried. "What are you…?"
Nelliel smiled sweetly at Ben. "Hold on," she said.
Before Ben could say anything else, Nelliel used Sonido to get back inside of Las Noches. Ben realized that it was best to hold on to Nelliel like she told him. Soon, the two of them were back inside.
"Whew," Ben said after Nelliel put him down. "Glad we got out of there."
Nelliel smiled. "I'm glad you're okay, Ben."
Ben smiled at her. "And I'm glad you are," he told her. "I still can't believe that you used to be the third Espada."
Nelliel nodded her head. Then she looked down at herself. "Come," she said. "Let's see if we can find me some more suitable clothing."
Ben's cheeks turned red when he remembered that all she was wearing were those green rags. Since he wasn't able to say anything coherent, he kept his mouth shut and merely nodded. Then he remembered.
"Ultimatrix," he commanded. "Begin restoration process."
"Restoring now," the Ultimatrix replied. Suddenly a green light shot from the Ultimatrix and hit Nelliel. Once the light stopped, Nelliel blinked. To her, it felt like nothing happened. Then she slowly brought her hand up to her mask fragment. Her eyes widened when she realized that it was fully restored. Ben figured that she was going to hug him again in happiness. And he was correct.
"Thank you!" she yelled happily as she caught Ben in one of her bone crushing hugs. Apparently Nelliel had forgotten how strong she truly was.
"Ben?" a familiar voice shrieked.
Ben and Nelliel, who was still hugging Ben, turned to see who had just screamed.
Standing there with utter shock on their faces were Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun. While they had been searching all over Las Noches for Ben, they had felt a massive tremor hit the place. Fearing that something bad had happened to Ben, they had gone to investigate. But then, they had suddenly sensed Ben's reiatsu. Along with someone else's. And now they found Ben in the arms of some woman they had never seen. The fact that this woman was hardly wearing anything made them furious, believing that she had been trying to take advantage of Ben. But there was something about her that was strangely familiar.
Apacci was the first to act. "Who are you?" she yelled. "And what are you doing with Ben?"
"Wait, Apacci," Ben said after he managed to get out of Nelliel's arms. "It's Nel! This woman is actually Nel!"
Apacci and Mila Rose's jaws dropped as they looked at the woman in front of them. Sure enough, she had the same scar and red line as little Nel did. She also had similar colored hair and green rags on her body.
"Turns out," Ben said as he went on. "She used to be the third Espada before Harribel."
Now all three girls were in a state of shock. To prove Ben's words, Nelliel turned around and showed the massive three on her back.
"You…you're Harribel-sama predecessor," Sun-Sun said.
"But that's impossible!" Mila Rose exclaimed. "You were just a little kid!"
"Blame Nnoitra and Szayel for that," Ben said darkly.
"Nnoitra!" Apacci roared. She gritted her teeth. "Figures he had something to do with it."
"Szayel?" Sung-Sun asked. "Why would he be involved?"
"That's what I intend to find out," Ben said. "Now I just need to find him."
"Wait, Ben," Apacci said. "We need to take you to Harribel first. She was looking for you."
Ben blinked. "She was?" he asked.
"Of course, Ben," Sung-Sun told him. "She was worried about you." Then she looked at the ground shyly. "We were all worried about you."
Now Nelliel started to feel uncomfortable. She already knew that Harribel and her Fraccion had feelings for Ben. When she was in her child form, Nelliel had done everything she could to make sure that she was the one getting all of Ben's attention. Now that she was herself again, she didn't know what to do. She personally wanted to be the woman in Ben's life but knew that it was his choice. But she didn't know how she would feel if Ben chose someone else over her.
Nonetheless, Nelliel followed Ben and the three girls as they went to Harribel's chambers.
Harribel, who was deep in thought, looked up with a relieved look on her face.
"Ben," she said as looked at him. Slowly she got up and walked toward him. At first Ben thought that she was mad at him for something. Instead, she suddenly put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Ben froze on the spot. The main problem was that the hug had brought him in contact with a certain part of Harribel's body. And the fact that said part was only halfway covered. (It's the manga version of Harribel's jacket.) Ben felt his entire body go paralyzed and he tried to look in any direction but right in front of him.
"I am glad you are safe, Ben," Harribel murmured in a tender voice that nobody had ever heard her use before.
Harribel's Fraccion, while loyal to Harribel, were bothered that she had done such a daring move.
Nelliel on the other hand could feel jealousy build up inside of her. But she reminded herself that she hugged Ben first.
Harribel was soon aware of Nelliel in the room. "And you are?" she asked.
"Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck," Nelliel replied. "The former third Espada."
Harribel's eyes widened a fraction. This woman in front of her was her predecessor! Slowly letting go of Ben, she nodded at Nelliel.
"I am honored to meet the third Espada before me," she said curtly.
"And I am honored to meet my successor," Nelliel said with a smile. "I sense you are powerful. And I'm pleased to know that the third Espada is a woman again."
"That reminds me," Ben said as he slowly recovered from his hug with Harribel. "Harribel, do you know where Szayel is? I want a talk with him."
Everyone could tell that Ben wanted far more than a talk with Szayel. But Harribel had something else on her mind first.
"Ben," she said. "What happened to you?"
"It was Nnoitra," Nelliel replied. "He attacked me and Ben when we went to go see Orihime."
Harribel felt anger burn inside of her. She figured Nnoitra was involved somehow.
"Yeah, but I took care of him," Ben said proudly. "But I couldn't have done it without Nel and Charlotte's help."
"Charlotte?" Harribel's Fraccion asked. But Nelliel was too busy blushing from Ben's compliment of her.
"Yeah," Ben continued. "According to him, Szayel made this device that prevented anyone from sensing us."
That explained why Harribel and her Fraccion couldn't sense Ben's reiatsu.
"Ben," Harribel said in a quiet voice. "There's something we have to tell you."
Meanwhile, Aizen smiled as he suddenly sensed two reiatsu enter Las Noches. One was Ben's, meaning that he had defeated Nnoitra once again. The second was one he never thought he'd sense again. It was the reiatsu of his former third Espada Nelliel. This was an unexpected surprise. Though not an unpleasant one. Nelliel was far more competent than Nnoitra anyway. Though her more pacifistic nature was a slight problem. But not of much importance in the long run. And from what he sensed, Ben had been reunited with Harribel and her Fraccion. Now doubt they were going to ruin everything.
"I must say, Ben Tennyson," Aizen said to himself. "I believe that I have actually found a worthy opponent in you."
Ben felt as if his legs were glued to the floor. His mouth was hanging open and his eyes were the size of dinner plates.
Harribel had told him everything. She told him about how Hollows consumed human souls, she told him of how Hollows evolved to the next levels to Vasto Lorde. But more importantly, she told him about Aizen's true intention. She told him how Aizen was going to make a special key to enter the realm of someone called the Spirit King and kill him. She confessed to Ben that Shinigami protect people from being killed by Hollows and helped normal human souls go to Soul Society where they could live easier. All this and more did Harribel tell him.
Ben felt hurt and betrayed. Sure he doubted Aizen but he had no idea that Aizen was really THAT evil. That he was willing to slaughter thousands to put himself on top.
"Ben," Harribel said to him. "I followed Aizen because there was nothing else I could do. I was a Hollow, void and empty. Aizen had come and given me a purpose. I was willing to follow him wherever he wanted me to. But that all changed when I met you, Ben. Please believe me."
Ben looked up at her. She knew all about Aizen's true plans but had kept Ben in the dark all this time. Harribel could see that Ben has having a hard time believing her. Guilt filled her.
"You showed us the humanity that we Arrancar had long lost," Harribel went on. "You did not know of our true nature yet you were willing to throw yourself in harm's way for us. Aizen has shown me that he cares nothing for us. He is merely using us to achieve his own goals. He knew all about Nnoitra taking you and did nothing to stop it." She looked at the ground. "He was going to use you to threaten me. He knew that I was willing to betray him for you."
Ben looked at Harribel in wonder. She was actually willing to betray Aizen for him? Perhaps Harribel truly did care about Ben.
"Ben," Nelliel said softly. "We followed Aizen because we thought that he was the only person who cared about us. I always lived my life thinking that Shinigami and humans were evil. But you proved that wrong, Ben. And I don't regret meeting you."
"Same here," Apacci said with a grin. "You're the only man I'll ever hang around."
"You're the best, Ben," Mila Rose agreed.
"And we will happily give our lives for you," Sung-Sun finished.
Ben found himself utterly speechless. Did all five girls really care about him this much?
He smiled at them. "And I'm glad to have met you guys."
Relief and joy filled each of the girls as Ben forgave them. Harribel found herself intrigued by these emotions that she was feeling recently. Ben truly was something else..
"Ben," she said. "We do not have much time. That girl Orihime Inoue was forced to come here by Ulquiorra. A group of her friends have come here to rescue her."
Suddenly all four girls froze.
"What's wrong?" Ben asked.
"Aaroniero," Harribel said. "He was just killed by one of the intruders."
Ben just stood there for a moment, then looked at the ground sadly. Sure Aaroniero gave him the creeps but that didn't mean that he was glad the guy was dead.
"I remember Aaroniero," Nelliel said. "A creature with the power to eat other hollows and take their powers and abilities."
Ben turned to face Nelliel. "You serious?" he asked.
"He was, Ben," Mila Rose told him. "If you were a hollow, he would've eaten you."
Ben gulped. Now he knew why Aaroniero had wanted to hang around him so much.
"His opponent is alive, but just barely," Harribel noted. "One of them is about to encounter Ulquiorra. One was recently taken down by Nnoitra."
This got Ben's attention. Whoever got taken down by Nnoitra must've been the one who beat Gantenbainne. It must've been the one Nnoitra had gone to fight when he left Tesla to deal with him and Nel.
Two of the intruders are right now battling Szayel," Harribel finished. "Orihime is still in her room."
"Alright," Ben said. "We need to help them."
"Tell us what to do, Ben," Apacci said, pumping her fist.
Ben was about to say something, but then looked at Harribel. Since she was the strongest person in the room, aside from Nelliel possibly, he felt uncomfortable calling the shots.
But Harribel merely said. "Tell us what to do, Ben," she said. "And we'll follow you."
At those words, Ben realized what a strong responsibility had just been placed on him. But if he and his friends could stop Aizen, then it would be worth it.
"Okay," Ben said. "We need to help Orihime and her friends. Sung-Sun can you go get her? Just tell her that Ben sent you."
"Of course, Ben," Sung-Sun nodded.
"Mila Rose, Apacci," Ben said to her. "Help the two who fought Aaroniero and Nnoitra."
Apacci grinned. "You got it, Ben."
Mila Rose nodded in agreement.
"Harribel," Ben turned to her. "Could you help the one whose about to fight Ulquiorra?"
Harribel nodded. "It shall be done, Ben."
Ben nodded. "Alright, everyone. Be careful."
"What will you do Ben?" Sung-Sun asked.
Ben smiled at her. "Szayel and I have a score to settle."
Nelliel looked at the ground. Ben was still bent on avenging her.
"You don't have to do this, Ben," she told him.
Ben smiled at her. "I know I don't need to," he admitted. "I want to."
Nelliel felt her face light up and something started pounding inside of her. The other girls noticed this and they each felt a tinge of jealousy.
"Come on," she said. "But we need to hurry."
"Good luck, Ben," Harribel's Fraccion told him.
And so everyone went out in different directions. Since Ben had no idea where he was going, he simply followed Nelliel, who was using Sonido again. After about five minutes or so, Nelliel stopped in the middle of a hallway.
"What's going on?" Ben asked.
"They're right below us," Nelliel told him.
Ben grinned. "Then it's time to get the drop on Szayel."
He activated the Ultimatrix, selected his form, and then slammed the dial down. In a flash of light, he became Armodrillo. Placing his massive fists on the floor, Armodrillo unleashed his power. All of Las Noches shook violently.
In the floor below, Szayel sneered at his opponents while his own Fraccion were behind him. One of the intruders was a Shinigami with red hair that was put in a style that resembled a pineapple. The other fighter had white clothes, short black hair and square rimmed glasses. The Shinigami's name was Renji Abarai. The other was a being called a Quincy named Uryu Ishida. In the background, Pesche and Dondochakka were panting heavily.
Everything had just gone crazy. Renji had been training with his comrade Yatsutora Sado, better known as Chad, when he had learned that a group of Arrancar had invaded Karakura Town again. He wanted to help in the battle but was too tired from his training with Chad. So instead, Urahara had stepped in. There Renji and Chad had sat, not knowing what was going to happen. But soon, everyone had returned and told him the strangest story he had ever heard. Apparently the Arrancar had formed an alliance with some kind of shape shifter who had been able to take everything that the Shinigami team had thrown at him. And yet, the creature didn't even try to kill them.
But Renji had little time to worry about that when another report came in that Orihime had gone to Hueco Mundo. Renji wanted to help rescue her but Yamamoto had refused. Renji had been forced to come back with the reinforcements to Soul Society. But a surprise came when his captain, Byakuya, had allowed him and his best friend Rukia to go back and rescue Orihime. So, the two made it to Hueco Mundo where they had reunited with their pals Ichigo, Chad, and Uryu. They also met two Arrancar named Pesche and Dondochakka. According to Ichigo, the two bizarre Arrancar thought that Ichigo and his pals were lost Arrancar and had offered to help them to Las Noches. While the two freaked out when they learned Ichigo and his pals true identity, but soon relaxed when Ichigo promised that he and his pals weren't gonna hurt them.
Unable to control her curiosity, Rukia had asked the two if they knew of any shape shifters in Hueco Mundo. The entire group was shocked to learn that the two did know the shape shifter. And according to them, it was a human who went by the name of Ben. They said he had some kind of device on his hand that allowed him to turn into different monsters.
Soon, everyone had reached Las Noches and entered to save their pals. They had all gone in different directions but Renji had found out that Dondochakka had followed him. Dondochakka said he was worried about his sister Nel, who he and Pesche and left in this Ben guy's care. Then after a twist of events, the two found themselves up against one of the Espada named Szayel Aporro Granz. Thanks to the room they were in, Renji was unable to use his Bankai and was pretty much helpless. Even with Uryu's unexpected arrival with Pesche, Szayel still had the advantage.
During the fight, Pesche and Dondochakka had sensed a reiatsu and referred to it as Nelliel-sama. They both tried to fight Szayel but proved to be little match for the twisted scientist. Uryu said that he now had a plan against Szayel, but that was interrupted when the ground started to shake wildly.
"What's going on?" Uryu asked. "An earthquake?"
"How should I know?" Renji snapped. "I didn't think this place could get earthquakes."
Pesche and Dondochakka looked at each other. There was no reiatsu being used to make the earthquake, which meant that only one person was causing it.
"You're in trouble now, Szayel," Pesche said tauntingly.
Szayel, Renji, and Uryu all looked at Pesche in confusion.
"He's here!" Dondochakka said in a sing-song voice.
"Huh?" Renji asked. "Who's here?"
That's when part of the ceiling caved it. Everyone looked up to see what appeared to be a green haired woman and a giant, yellow armadillo falling down. The woman landed daintily on her feet while the giant armadillo smashed the part of the ground he was standing in.
Szayel snarled when he saw who it was. Nelliel. So she had returned to her true form somehow. And the yellow creature standing before him had to be none other than Ben. Sure enough, the creature turned back to normal and Ben for all to see.
"Pesche? Dondochakka?" Ben asked when he saw them. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Ben!" the two cried. Suddenly both leaped forward and hugged Ben tightly. Then they noticed Nelliel. Instantly the two of them bowed.
"Nelliel-sama," they both said in serious tones. "We are happy to see you again."
Nelliel smiled at them. "Hello, Pesche, Dondochakka. Thank you for taking care of me."
"Will somebody tell me what is going on here?" Renji asked, completely confused.
"We'll explain later," Ben told him. He turned to face Szayel. "Hello, Szayel."
Szayel narrowed his eyes. "Hello, Ben."
"That's Ben?" Renji and Uryu both asked at the same time. They had expected this mysterious shape shifter to be hideous or intimidating. But an actual human? That they did not see coming.
Ben turned to face them. "Hey," he said with a wave of his hand. "My name's Ben. Ben Tennyson."
Despite their bewilderment, both overcame it and bowed respectively.
"Abarai Renji," Renji said.
"Ishida Uryu," Uryu said.
Ben grinned. "Nice to meet ya." He turned to face Szayel again. "Nice try with Nnoitra, Szayel," he said. "But not good enough.
Szayel instantly smiled and adjusted his glasses. "So you've found out the truth, Ben? That we're really the bad guys. I suppose you want revenge for me helping Nnoitra."
"For helping him hurt Nel, I do," Ben told him. Then he pointed to Uryu and Renji. "Plus, I'm gonna help these guys rescue Orihime."
Uryu and Renji were even more confused than usual. Everything was happening too fast.
"Everyone," Ben ordered. "Leave this guy to me."
Renji and Uryu were about to object when Nelliel stopped them. "It's okay," she told them. "He beat the 5th Espada. I think he can handle the 8th."
Renji and Uryu stared wide eyed at Ben. He beat the 5th Espada?
Szayel on the other hand wasn't affected by this news. "So you defeated that violent idiot," he said. "I may not be much of a fighter compared to him. But intellectually, I am far superior. Did you think I wouldn't be prepared in case you turned against me, Ben? This room was modified on all the forms that you have used. Even if you use that armadillo thing, it doesn't make a difference."
Ben wasn't bothered by this at all. After all, he didn't even use half the forms in his arsenal.
"Well," he said. "If I can't use my old forms. I'll just have to use someone else. And I think I know just who to use against you, Szayel."
Ben activated the Ultimatrix, selected the form he was looking for, and slammed the Ultimatrix down. In flash of green light, Ben had turned into appeared to be a large crab with a rather big head. Its mouth resembled clenched teeth just as Big Chill did.
"Brainstorm!" the crab yelled in a British accent.
Szayel laughed. "You intend to beat me as a crab? You insult me, Ben."
"I believe you will find battling an intellectually superior opponent extremely difficult," Brainstorm retorted.
Szayel's laughter was instantly cut short when he heard that. "What did you say?" he asked. Ben better not had said what he thought he did.
"Well I should think it is rather obvious," Brainstorm replied. "With my enlarged cranium and the superior intellect that comes with it, I am the one with the advantage in this violent method of superiority."
Szayel's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying you're smarter than me because your head is bigger?" he asked edgily.
"No, I'm stating that I'm smarter than you because my brain is bigger," Brainstorm explained.
That really got Szayel mad. His own Fraccion were yelling in anger that someone dared to say they were smarter than their master. This crab creature had to pay.
"Get back!" Szayel yelled to his Fraccion. "I will deal with this delusional fool myself."
"My dear Szayel," Brainstorm said. "I believe it is you who is delusional for believing that I will let you get away with harming the beautiful Miss Nelliel. Er, I mean…"
Joy swooped within Nelliel. Ben thought she was beautiful? Nelliel gave a soft squeal of delight.
Szayel smirked at this. "So it seems that Ben here has a little crush. It might be worth experimenting."
Brainstorm looked at Szayel. "If you so much as lay one hand on her, I will extremely miffed."
Szayel's smirk got even wider. "Then how about we skip straight to the next act." He drew his Zanpakuto. "Sip, Fornicaras."
"Bleh!" Brainstorm blanched. "Fornicaras? As in 'you will fornicate'? How revolting! My good sir, I understand that we are in the midst of a battle but there is no need for such vulgar language. Nor do I see the point of using such inappropriate language even in a battle."
Rather than say anything further to Brainstorm, Szayel raised his sword and shoved it into his mouth. Before everyone's startled eyes, Szayel suddenly began to expand like a balloon. Once his became the size of a boulder, he suddenly erupted. Everyone's eyes widened in horror when Szayel's lower body suddenly turned into a mass of tentacles. Suddenly, the tentacles began to recede and shrink. Brainstorm was soon able to see Szayel's legs stick out of the mass of tentacles. He was wearing some kind of layered clothing that looked like a dress. His upper body was covered had a tight, grey clothing with white sleeves from the elbows down. Hanging from the sleeves were long purple strands that looked like falling drops. Similar strands hung from his hair as well. His hands were now chalk white with purple finger tips. His glasses changed into a headband with fan like structures covering the sides of his head. His left eye had purple markings cover it with four vertical line below his eye. But the weirdest thing was the four tentacles that were sticking out of his back like wings. Like everything else on Szayel, these wings had strands similar to falling drops.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Ben," Szayel said to Brainstorm in a sickening breathless voice. "It is now time for the long-awaited conflict to finally begin." Then after a moment, he said. "No, let me rephrase that. It's time for the conflict to end."
Suddenly a black liquid burst out of Szayel's back and started to fly everywhere. Knowing that that liquid couldn't be for anything good, Brainstorm made his move. The plating covering his head opened up to expose his brain. Electricity surged as Brainstorm suddenly encased him and his allies inside a gigantic field of electricity. The black liquid slid harmlessly off. Before Szayel had time to react, Brainstorm turned the electric field into bolts of lightning that shot forward. Szayel yelled in pain as his body surged with electricity. The blast knocked him off his feet.
"Master Szayel-Aporro!" all his Fraccion yelled as they rushed to his side.
"I am sorry to disappoint you, Szayel Aporro Granz." Brainstorm said with a smirk. "But I believe I'm the star here!"
To be continued…
Next time:
Battle of the Brains: Brainstorm vs. Szayel
Oh, and in case some of you are confused, let me explain: Uryu was about to use his Sprenger move on Szayel when the fight got interrupted by Armodrillo. The reason Pesche and Dondochakka joined the fight early was because they recently sensed Nelliel's energy and wanted to help her.