What If… Ben 10's Parents Gave Him a Worse Punishment?
a Ben 10 franchise fanfic inspired by What If…?
by DecaTilde
Chapter 1 - House Arrest
Ah, the Tennyson house in Bellwood, home of the city's greatest hero and his alien-warding team, consisting of his cousin who can use magic and a former enemy of his, now turned best friend, who can absorb materials. However, we have arrived at a time after Carl and Sandra, the hero's parents, have found out about the device he was using and what he was doing.
Inside Ben's room, Carl and Sandra have forbidden him from not only using the Omnitrix, but also, during his punishment, the phone and using Myface, a social networking website. The family was having a very serious discussion.
"You don't understand," Ben said. "This is a matter of life and death!"
"The only life we're concerned about is yours!" Carl replied. "You're staying right here!"
Ben looked away from them and out the window.
"Don't look out there," Sandra added. "Look at us!"
Ben had just had it up to there with them.
"I'm sorry," he sternly replied with an angry look on his face. "I love you guys. You're awesome parents. You raised me by example and time after time, I've seen you put other peoples' needs first. I can't obey you now without disobeying everything you've ever taught me, about life, the world and responsibility."
With that, he prepared to use the Omnitrix again in front of them.
"Ben," Sandra began, "we forbid you to—"
"So when I get back," Ben interrupted, "punish me however you want. But right now—" He activated the Omnitrix. "—I have a friend who's in trouble."
He turned into his Vaxasaurian powerhouse, Humungousaur, broke the ceiling and ran through the window, breaking the whole wall.
"Sorry," he said, realizing what he just did. "I'll fix that later!"
As Humungousaur ran, Carl and Sandra couldn't believe what their son just did.
"He just walked out on us!" Sandra said. "What are we gonna do?"
In your universe, Carl and Sandra reluctantly chose to listen to and help Ben, even while he was punished. That would eventually lead to them accepting his becoming a hero to Bellwood and the world. But in this universe…
Carl had a very angry look on his face. He couldn't take this any longer.
"We're calling the police," he responded.
At the Eustacia Vye, which was an unregistered tank from the tiny island of Castoon, Kevin was busy fighting off the Highbreed Commander when Humungousaur punched him.
"Oh," the Vaxasaurian began to the commander, "that one was a little high and inside."
Kevin got up after one too many punches. "I thought you got sent to your room without supper," he said to Humungousaur.
"Enjoy me while you can," Humungousaur replied. "I'm gonna be grounded for the rest of high school."
"I was just getting him to spill his guts about his plans for…"
Before Kevin could finish, a highlight shone from above, followed by police car headlights around the tank. This got their attention.
"Benjamin Kirby Tennyson, this is the police!" the chief called using a megaphone. "Come out of the tank with your hands in the air!"
Humungousaur peered out of the tank, and within the crowd of police officers, he saw his still-angry parents crossing their arms.
"Oh, man," Humungousaur moaned.
Back at the Tennyson house, where construction workers were busy patching up the hole, Ben, back in his human form, sat defeated with an anklet on his left ankle.
"And no phone calls, no computer, no TV, no anything!" Carl reprimanded. "You are beyond grounded—you're staying home! No school!"
"But won't the classmates be worried about me?" Ben asked.
"We'll deal with the school later," Sandra replied. "But what you did was selfish and stupid! And it's a good thing those scientists came and captured that alien and put it to who-knows-where. But still, no going to school!"
Ben had finally had enough.
"This is unfair!" he shouted. "I knew that you'd somehow punish me, but I didn't think you would go this far! You're both terrible parents! Get out of my room and leave me alone!"
"We're not done here!" Carl replied.
"I said get out!" Ben shouted back, pushing his parents out of his bedroom. "I never want to see or speak to you again!"
And with that, Ben slammed the door in front of his now-distraught parents' faces.
…Carl and Sandra gave Ben an even worse punishment—house arrest. He wasn't allowed to use the Omnitrix or leave home. And because of Carl and Sandra, Kevin's mother and step-father had also found out, and he, too, was punished. Now the Alien Force was disbanded for the time being. But what Carl and Sandra did to Ben would later be something they'd regret, because, in other parts of the galaxy, a hero's fall meant his arch enemy's victory, as well as that of his doppleganger.
