Penny sat in the car as Kevin drove out of Bellwood and down the road, the speedometer never going below sixty miles an hour. Kevin only slowed down when the car approached Las Soledad army base.
Like back home, the base wasn't being used by the army anymore, but it didn't seem like the Highbreed were using it either Kevin slowed down at the gate, rolling down the window. He held his plumbers badge out towards the sign. A high-tech scanner came out scanning the badge. Then, there was a beep, and a hidden ramp opened up.
Kevin drove down the ramp. Once they were down in what looked like a hangar, two other cars were the only vehicles in the room. The ramp closed behind them.
"Looks like everyone's here," Ben said.
"Let's not keep them waiting," Gwen commented.
Everyone got out of the car and walked towards a door "this isn't anything like back on my earth," Penny admitted. They walked into a meeting room with a long table, a computer behind it, and a mini-fridge in the corner.
"What's the 911 about Ben," a girl asked. She had pale skin and brown hair in a pixie cut. She wore a band shirt with a purple plaid skirt and a white belt with a plumbers badge on her hip. She sat back in her chair, her boots on the table. "I'm kinda dealing with a situation."
"Let me guess Luna, an Ectonurite who looks a lot like Danny," Gwen asked the girl. Luna raised an eyebrow, shocked.
"Yeah," she answered, sitting up straight, "he killed one of my clones. So I had to guard Danny and the others."
"Clone," Penny asked, wondering what this girl meant.
Even if she was kind of tired of clones
"Luna's grandma was one of Echo Echos species," Ben explained.
"Sonorosian Ben," Luna corrected. She glowed green, and suddenly two other Lunas were sitting on either side of her "good for multitasking, like keeping an eye on your hospitalized buddies when they're in different parts of the building," Luna explained, looking down at the table.
Ben Gwen, and Kevin all looked upset as well "where are the others."
"Kim and Ron are with Tim," Luna answered, pointing to the left "he's not taking things well."
"We're here," a familiar-looking redhead in mission gear said, followed by a brown-haired boy who looked like twelve, maybe thirteen, with buck teeth wearing all black except for a pink hat on his head.
And trailing behind them was Penny blinked.
Was that Ron
It looked like Ron, but something seemed different he was a few inches taller. His hair had black streaks like tiger stripes, and his canine teeth seemed pointier.
All three of the newcomers to the room looked at Penny with anger "what's she doing here" the kid said, his blue eyes suddenly glowing red.
"What are you talking about," Gwen asked.
"Ben, Kevin, Gwen, don't let her escape. Luna, get the Null Void Projector," Kim said, slipping into a battle stance.
"Look," Penny said, stepping back and getting closer to a confused Ben, "I don't know what you think I did or who you think I am, but this is all a big misunderstanding."
Ben opened his mouth. Hopefully, he would say something to diffuse the tension in the room when Ron leaped clear across the room, pulling his arm back, ready to punch straight at Penny.
Before Penny could try and dodge, Kevin had turned into concrete and snatched Ron out of the air holding him back.
"Cool it, Ron," Kevin told Ron, "now."
"Let me tell you something, Penny Proud Kingpin of LA who makes deals with the High Breed," Ron said, "the Ron don't know how you got in here, but the Ron man is going to open a can of butt whooping on you so hard your grandkids won't be able to sit down."
Oh, terrific Penny now understood why this version of Ron looked so different.
"You're part Rath," Penny said, having seen Ben's Appoplexian form before and knowing how crazy agro the species was
And how dumb they were
Compared to Rath, Bebe and Cece were geniuses, and they were in preschool.
"Let me tell you something, Penny Proud Kingpin of LA the Ron has no clue who Rath is, but if this Rath guy were here, then the Ron would whoop his butt just like he's going to whoop yours."
"Ron, I mean, it cools down," Kevin said, throwing Ron back "she's not the Penny Proud you're thinking of"
Kim and Tim looked skeptical "uh-huh, and Kryptonians aren't all elitist snobs," Kim said sarcastically, pointing at Penny "guys, she's dangerous and cruel. Her right-hand Sludge Puppy Lacienega Boulavardez nearly drowned us the last time we ran a mission in LA."
"And before anyone says anything, we're all aware of the irony of a sludge puppy being named Swampy," Tim added with a deadpan, "but still, she needs to be taken down."
Ben finally stepped forward "no, she doesn't look this version of Penny Proud is from another earth, one where she's apparently NOT a crime lord and needs our help getting home."
"It's true I read her mind, Tim. She's not who you think she is," Gwen vouching for Penny "do you or your friend have a problem with that, Tim."
Tim didn't argue. His eyes turned blue, shaking his head, "no."
"Okay, I trust you, Gwen, so what's the sitch? Why bring us here," Kim asked. She took a seat next to Luna, Ron, Tim, Ben, Gwen, and Kevin, who all sat at the table.
Still, five spots left 'probably for Danny and the others Luna mentioned were in the hospital,' Penny thought.
Ben looked to Penny "it's your story; Penny, mind filling us in."
Penny nodded, and she explained everything about how she met Danny through a blind date, hiding her relationship with Danny, the Nighlocks, finding out her boyfriend was a superhero getting kidnapped by clones of her boyfriend who were mostly mindless, but three of them were super cool the earth getting held hostage by Vlad getting amnesia the island of peanut people fighting an evil clone of herself that was who knows where
Got back together, got attacked by clones that this time wasn't mind-controlled and was just straight-up evil, got thrown through a portal, locked in a cage, broke out ran into Ben, who took them here where she found out her doppelganger was crime boss in LA with Lacieniga as her lieutenant
"Did you say, peanut people?" Kevin asked skeptically, "like aliens who looked like peanuts or people made from the DNA of actual peanuts."
"Peanut clones," Penny answered, "how is that the part you're tripping over."
"Our life is weird," Ben answered, "we're fighting a covert war against a group of aliens who want to wipe us out and use our planet as a military base against Krypton and their empire."
"Let me tell you something, Penny Proud, who is not a crime boss, the Ron man, would love nothing more than to kick high breed butt off the Earth" Kim elbowed Ron hard "uh, sorry, Appoplexian temper when I get riled up, I punch first and ramble in the third person."
"It's cool, dude," Penny said "look, I didn't fight in this war on my earth, but it sounds more serious here. Couldn't you call the Plumbers or maybe get help from the Kryptonians."
The expression about the enemy of my enemy being my friend was true.
"Krypton won't help us to them. We're a planet of primitive savages and disgusting half breeds," Kevin said "they'd and their precious emperor Kal El would love if we were gone"
Luna nodded "the Plumbers won't help either without evidence that the High Breed is here on Earth," she said, "it's like against intergalactic law or something."
The others nodded, all looking frustrated at how this war was going and how they had their problems, and now Vlad and Rook were messing with their earth.
Right now, Penny wanted nothing more than to punch Vlad in his nose. Well, that wasn't true.
She'd love to see Danny, her Danny again.
I'm sorry," Penny said, "that Vlad decided to come here and is messing with your world."
Ben shrugged "you don't have to apologize, Penny. As you said, it's not your fault. It's Vlad's."
"And I'm sure there's some weary we can help you make a portal to your earth," Gwen said, looking to Tim "between Tim and me, we're sure to find a spell to get you home."
Throughout the conversation, Tim had been quiet.
"What ya thinking, little dude," Luna asked.
"Tim," Kim asked, sounding slightly worried, "is it your friend."
Tim shook his head "doesn't it seem a little continent, Penny" Tim asked, "that when you broke out, you didn't run into any guards that you just happened to be a block from Mr. Smoothie, aka the source of Ben's addiction."
"I'm not addicted to Smoothies," Ben muttered, but everyone gave him deadpan looks.
Kim put a hand on his shoulder "babe, I love you, but you're so addicted."
From Ron's pocket came Rufus "uh-huh addicted."
"Anyway, as I was saying," Tim said, "it sounds too easy, almost too easy, almost as if" Tim looked behind Penny. His eyes glowed red, and fire shot out around his eyes. He snarled, "it's a trap," he shouted. Then, leaping up from the table, he muttered something that sounded like magic before he shot off a powerful stream of fire.
The fire arced around Penny wrapping around something invisible that something turned out to be a wolf chameleon looking nighlock
"It took you long enough to deduce my prince's master plan," the nighlok said, "oh, how the mighty have fallen."
Tim growled, "shut up, demon."
The Nighlok scoffed, "I wasn't speaking to you mortal host; I spoke to the one with the power."
Red markings appeared on the Nighlocks body as he broke free of the fire "let's take this battle outside, shall we" the Nighlok said. Then, a red portal opened, taking everyone through it.
On the other side of the portal was La Soledad army base, but now it was filled with a massive army of Moogers and Nighlocks. Above their heads, red storm clouds completely covered the sky, black lightning arcing between them.
the Nighlock looked to Penny. "Prince Rook has no more need of you, Penny Proud," the Nighlock said, leaping at her "now prepare to die."
As the Nighlok swooped down, a blue portal opened between them. Out of the portal came a very familiar hunk dressed in a black hazmat suit with Snow White hair and glowing green eyes throwing a punch "stay away from my girlfriend, you were-dunce," Danny quipped, punching the Nighlock in the snout, sending it flying.
"Danny" Penny exclaimed, happy to see him because she knew it was Danny, HER Danny. She could feel it in her bones.
Danny turned to look at her "hey Penny, sorry it took so long. You wouldn't believe what I've been through"
Tears fell from her eyes as she ran into Danny's arm.
" it's okay, Penny. I'm here now," Danny softly told her.
Penny rushed forward, hugging her man "oh, Danny," she said, resting her head against the crook of his neck with her arms around his waist and his arms wrapped around her holding her tight against his chest. "I was so worried something would happen to you."
Danny laughed, and it was music to Penny's ears "a lot did happen to me," he quipped, "but nothing that was going to keep me from getting back to you."
Kevin rolled his eyes "oh, gag me, and it's like watching our Danny and Leni," he muttered. Gwen elbowed him in the ribs.
"I think it's sweet."
"And we all know that's how you are with Gwen, Mr. Tough Guy," Kim quipped before looking to the happily reunited couple 'or how Ben is with me.'
Tim cleared his throat, getting Danny and Penny's attention "hi, sorry to interrupt the tender, heartfelt reunion, but there's an army of demons over there."
Danny turned around, seeing the Moogers and the Nighlocks "so this is the Fruitloop's final move," Danny asked, "just a big army."
With all the effort Vlad had put Danny through making a deal with Roker, the Nighlock attacks in multiple worlds, it didn't seem like Vlad for his big plan to be a massive army.
No something else was going on.
Before Danny could wander there, a massive red hologram appeared over the army of an alien face with four eyes and no mouth or nose.
"Pitiful lower life forms, I am Reinrassig III, seventh son of the Noble Highbreed House of Di Ralla, the direct descendant of the Pure Blooded High Order of Rasecht," the alien said, "for too long, you mongrels have disrupted the plans to purge the galaxy of the Kryptonian menace, and for that, you shall be eliminated."
Oh, joy, the usual evil monologue, Danny thought, annoyed, having heard this monologue time and time and time again from Walker Skulker, Prince Aragon, Spectra, Freakshow, even the Box Ghost or the various bad guys whose butts Danny has kicked working together with other superheroes he met either through the dating service or afterward.
The only part that was kind of different was the part about the Kryptonian menace, but that was probably because Danny's never fought Lex Luthor or something.
"Is he at the part where we're supposed to surrender or die yet?" Danny asked Penny, having not really listened to the speech.
"Just about," Penny answered, having gotten used to evil monologues from her time dating Danny.
"However, know that we High Breeds are not above showing mercy even to inferior species. I shall give you all this choice, surrender and face your end with honor, or my army will destroy you," the alien threatened "you have one of this planet's minutes to decide."
Oh, thank goodness the speech was over. Danny walked over to this world's version of Ben. 'I'm pretty sure the compass said Earth 74' Danny thought, "Hey, I'm Danny. Thank you for taking care of my girlfriend for me."
Ben nodded. He looked to this world's version of Kim, standing next to a wilder-looking version of Ron. 'I guess some things can happen in more than one world,' Danny thought.
"From what Penny told us, if the situations were reversed, you would have done the same thing for my girlfriend," Ben said, shaking Danny's hand.
"Still, I feel bad that you got pulled into the problems of my world," Danny said, looking at the Moogers who were waiting for the time limit to be up.
The kid with the buck teeth and the pink hat shrugged "it seems to me our problems are working together to be a giant problem," he said, taking off his hat. It vanished in a glow of red light.
The brown-haired girl who might be his sister looked at him, worried "you're seriously going to let him out, dude," she asked, concerned, making Danny even more sure that they might be related.
"We're outnumbered at least a hundred to one," Tim said seriously, his eyes glowing red "if I don't let him out, then the earth is doomed" sparks came off of his shoes and his clothes as his eyes began to glow brightly,
"Change," he said, his voice echoing a ring of fire sparked to life around Tim's feet.
"Change from the form of a man awake the might from fleshy mire boil the blood in the heart of fire."
The fire rose up, turning into a tornado of flame. As his voice got deeper, Danny could see a pair of red eyes glowing from the inferno.
"Gone gone the form of man arise the demon ETRIGAN."
The fire died in an instant. In Tim's place was a massive gargoyle-looking creature wearing red tights with black cuffs, pointed shoes, and a blue cape wrapped around his neck. The monster laughed, showing off a pair of fangs that looked sharp as swords, his eyes glowing fire engine red. He looked at Penny.
"Etrigan," Kim said, standing protectively in front of Penny, "she's not this world, Penny. She's on our side."
Danny got ready to fight in case this thing Etrigan was going to attack Penny because of mistaken identity."
Etrigan laughed. His voice rumbled deep like someone talking from deep within a cave "though Turner has summoned me in the midst of a bind to who our true enemy is, Etrigan is not blind," he rhymed.
Etrigan held out his hand. Penny's outfit began to glow, changing into a maroon jumpsuit with Dannys logo on her chest in black, a medieval-looking sword made of a pitch-black metal in her hand.
"Before, you were dressed for romance," Etrigan said, "but war is a different sort of dance; therefore, a change of attire was needed if you wished to survive the enemies coming fire."
Does this dude seriously rhyme all the time? Danny wondered
"Time is up," the Alien said, "what is your answer, surrender and an honorable end, or will you be eliminated by mongrel molecule by mongrel molecule."
"Here's my answer," Ben said, tapping his Omnitrix he transformed. "HUMONGASAUR" he yelled, roaring to the sky.
Etrigan stood next to him. Kim and the brown-haired girl stood on either side of Ben so did Gwen Kim, Ron, and Kevin.
"Let me tell you something, Reinrassig III, seventh son of the Noble Highbreed House of Di Ralla, direct descendant of the Pure Blooded High Order of Rasecht," Ron yelled, pointing at the hologram with a big confident grin on Ron's face.
"The Ron is going to personally grab you by the horn things on your head and throw you so far you crash land on Pluto."
Oh great, Danny thought, exasperated the Ron on this world somehow is part of Raths species.
"What he said" Kevin agreed
Reinrassig III glared at them with four eyes "insolent half breeds, you dare threaten ME I will crush you personally. DESTROY THEM" he yelled. The Moogers and Nighlocks shrieked in unison before they charged forward.
A green blast flies literally over Danny's head, hitting the ground and sending the first wave of Moogers flying back.
"Nice shot, boo," Penny complimented Danny. "I didn't know you made a doppelgänger already."
"I didn't," Danny admitted.
"Yeah, that was me," Buzz said, flying forward and landing alongside Danny and his girlfriend.
He wasn't alone either. Next came Henry Luke, Sam, Tucker, Dani, Black Cat, Green Ranger, Kitty Fenton, Ninja Danny, and two others he's never seen before, a version of him wearing a copy of Ron's mission gear with a purple aura around him and lastly a version where he was dressed in a black and white version of the Flashes costume.
"Hey, Frostbite," Black Cat said with a grin, "heard you were in trouble."
Danny smiled "yeah, you can say that"
Green Ranger pulled out his swords "we Fenton's stick together after all, right."
Alongside his clones and doppelgängers, Danny nodded in agreement with the ranger's words.
Then all together, Penny and the defenders of earth 74 charged into battle against Vlad and his Nighlock army.
