Chapter 11: Monstro
The quartet had returned to Traverse Town to ask Cid to install the new gummiblock they had found to set the course for the new world. When they entered the shop, however, he was not there, but near the balcony they found a child lying, with his hands to his ears and with his stomach down on the floor, when they approached to talk to him from one of Sora's pockets came the Jiminy Cricket that he put on his left shoulder and said:
Jiminy: Well, well, let me take a shot … Pinocchio!
He got off his shoulder and walked over to Pinocchio
Pinocchio: Oh. Hello, Jiminy.
Jiminy: What the hell are you doing here?
Pinocchio: Um… I'm playing hide and seek.
Jiminy: I can't believe it. And I who have been in pain for you, without even sleeping. For all… Pinocchio!
When he looked at Pinocchio's face he noticed that his nose had lengthened a little.
Jiminy: Pinocchio! Were you really playing hide and seek?
Pinocchio: Yes!
Jiminy: So tell me, what is this? (Pointing to the object he had beside him)
Pinocchio: It's a gift.
Jiminy: No lies! You know you don't have to tell lies. Lies have a long nose! Just look at your face …
Pinocchio: But if you want something, why wait? Why not take it?
Jiminy: Oh, dear! Who told you?
Ben: Definitely Leon. (In a joking tone)
Getting a laugh from Sora.
Jiminy: It is really true that if there is no me, your conscience, close to you …
Pinocchio: It's true! You are my conscience, Jiminy! I won't tell lies as long as you stay with me.
Then the nose wrapped in a small light returned to normal size
Jiminy: You have to be good to become a real child. You promised it to Geppetto, right?
Pinocchio: Oh! Do you know where my dad is?
Jiminy: Isn't he with you?
Pinocchio: Jiminy, let's go find him!
Jiminy: Wait! Outside there are dangers and temptations! I'm going to find Geppetto, you wait here. These people will help me.
Sora: Will we do it?
Ben: Well, if there is someone to save I will not back down.
Jiminy: Well, come on, Sora, Ben?
Sora: At least you could have asked us first …
Ben: Seriously you should first ask when someone is in danger?
The quartet after the new route was entered began to follow it, paying attention to the meteorites and shooting at the different ships ruled by the Heartless, but at a certain point out of nowhere they found themselves in front of what looked like a huge blue ball.
Donald: What is that !?
Sora: Wow, it's huge!
Then the gigantic creature as if swimming in the water approached the ship and passed over it.
Goofy: It's a fish ... A monstrous fish!
Ben: Absurd! How does it breathe in space, shouldn't it be a sea creature?
Jiminy: No, it's the whale! The whale among the whales, the queen of whales! Plus it's very ferocious!
Donald: Uaaaaa! Sora, let's run away! (As the whale came back in front of them)
But the whale threw itself on the ship with its mouth open
Sora: Nothing to do! It swallows us!
Ben now with his right hand on the omnitrix activated it by making the ring with the playlist of the various aliens appear, he got up from his seat and teleported himself outside the ship and then when he selected the chosen hero and the core came out, he pressed it and there was a huge emerald green flash surrounding him, however, when the whale swallowed the ship a second later a titanic hand that grabbed it, keeping it blocked.
Ben (???): Way big? Now we are talking! (Smiling)
Alien Bio….
Name: Way big
Race: To'kustar
Description: Way big is white and red in color and, true to his name, his size is titanic. thanks to his enormous size, he can crush anything smaller than him. He also manages to project a beam of energy from his hands. Way big uses cosmic rays and despite his size possesses a remarkable speed.
Planet: To'kustar are born and live in cosmic storms.
Weaknesses: Its enormous mass is sometimes difficult to control. (It only happens to Ben once)
Being large in size it is extremely easy to hit by the few weapons capable of damaging it.
His crest (in fact if touched he would remain paralyzed for some time).
Ben (Way big): Okay, overgrown fish stick, give me my friends back (Punching that sent it back a few inches).
The whale regaining his balance, aimed his gaze on Way big who was in a fighting position, began to charge at him with his head to hit him in the stomach, but Way big, realizing what he wanted to do, simply gave her a slap that sent her very far between the stars, then remembering that Sora and the others were inside the whale I take this opportunity to devise a plan, pressing the emblem of the Omnitrix there was a huge emerald green glow surrounding it and after the glow disappeared from Way big was no no trace. The whale who was blinded by the emerald glow when she regained her sight was surprised not to find the titanic being that had attacked her and after a few seconds of looking for him she gave up and swam back into space with the thought of how she had managed to to disappear.
At the same time…
Inside the belly a gray ghost, with only one green eye and with collars on the arms, wrists, neck, waist and with the Omnitrix symbol on the chest in the center. He had entered the belly of the whale by passing it through the outside and ending up in place with various colors on the floor, walls and ceiling.
Ben (???): This was definitely one of my best ideas so far.
Alien Bio …
Name: Ghostfreak
Race: Ectonurita
Description: As Ectonurita Ghostfreak it looks like a ghost-like genius, while the original version presented in the series is closer to a classic ghost. Ghostfreak has a bare upside-down skull as a head, one eye, dark blue and gray skin, bare bones on certain parts of the body, and blue claws. Under his skin is a mass of black and white tentacles that can be used as auxiliary appendages or to scare an enemy. When first introduced, Ghostfreak have a second skin that gives him a mostly gray and white appearance while hiding his scarier features, giving him the likeness of an ordinary ghost. His second skin also allows him to be immune to sunlight. In battle Ghostfreak has a wide range of powers, the most important being invisibility and intangibility. Made of a variable density protoplasm, Ghostfreak can alter the chemistry of his body to pass through obstacles or allow light to pass through his body, becoming invisible. He can also make others intangible through physical contact. As suggested by his features, Ghostfreak can levitate freely and his physiology also allows him not to have to breathe. Ghostfreak skin covers his sharp claws and mighty tentacles that he can freely pull out to scare someone or move something. Finally, Ectonurites also have physical abilities such as telepathy and telekinesis, but the extent of these abilities are unclear.
Planet: Anur Phaetos
Weakness: Due to their perpetually nocturnal lifestyle, Ectonurites have become extremely photosensitive creatures. Bright light, especially sunlight, renders Ectonurites powerless and will cause them to be incinerated after prolonged exposure. The second skin cancels this weakness.
,
Ghostfreak when it returned tangible was about to press the emblem of the Omnitrix to become human again but was interrupted by the sudden hearing of voices coming from the right side of the belly. Activating the invisibility he approached the source, and when he arrived he found Riku, Pinocchio and the trio talking.
Riku: But, Sora, I thought you liked games. Or are you tired of playing now that you have the Keyblade?
Ghostfreak intrigued by the dialogue, he stood in the middle of the space that separated the two groups, and listened attentively.
Sora: Riku! Wh-what are you doing here?
Riku: I'm just playing with Pinocchio.
Sora: You know what I mean! And Kairi? Have you found it?
Riku: Maybe. Take us and maybe I'll tell you what I know.
Sora: Oh, come on!
Riku grabs Pinocchio by the shoulder and runs to the left of the belly quickly, followed by a few steps back from the trio. Sensing it was some trick, Ghostfreak with invisibility still active flew at Riku like a shadow, avoiding the Heartless that appeared from the shadows as they couldn't see him. When they reached another area of the belly Riku began to slow down and let Pinocchio walk alone as he headed to another area again, and when he was about to reach the next area of the belly, he heard a voice behind him.
Maleficent: Why do you still care about that boy? He abandoned you for the Keyblade and his new friends, after all.
Riku: I don't care about him. I was just playing around for a while.
Maleficent: Oh, really? Of course. Beware of the darkness of the heart. The Heartless prey on it.
Riku: Mind your own business!
Ben (Ghostfreak): You really don't care about him? Or is that what you want to believe?
Riku in hearing his voice panicked and began to look around to understand where he was coming from.
Riku: Who spoke? Show your self!
Ben (Ghostfreak): But I'm in front of you.
Ghostfreak deactivated the invisibility and faced Riku.
Ben (Ghostfreak): Do you really think about what you say?
Riku: These are not your business, Ben, rather think about going back to the three of them to help them.
Ben (Ghostfreak): Ben? I don't know any Ben, I'm a simply Ghosts!
Riku: Stop lying! We saw you transform into a giant turtle to defeat that royal vizier who had expressed wishes with your friend Genie.
Ben (Ghostfreak): I understand, so there's no point in lying again about my identity.
The omnitrix began to make the sound of the warning that it was discharging, and after a few seconds Ghostfreak was covered with an emerald green glow that when it went out restored Ben to human form.
Riku: Are you finally showing yourself for who you really are or are you hiding some other secret?
Ben: What can I say, I'm a real living enigma for everyone.
Riku: I knew from the beginning that there was something strange in you but I didn't have the certainty, but now I know that I shouldn't trust you.
Ben: It seems exaggerated to me.
Riku: Because of you, we lost our island, because of you we lost Kairi, and because of you the Heartless are attacking us. (Summoning the sword)
Ben: Don't blame me for things I didn't do, if everything that happens started when I arrived it's just a coincidence!
Riku: Coincidence? It doesn't seem to me, tell me which world are you from? Are you from the Heartless one? Did you come to our island to see if she could be devoured by your companions?
Ben: Stop it, you are losing your mind, I am not a Heartless, I am a hero and heroes save people and worlds, and if I wanted I could make sure to eliminate all the Heartless and the world they came from with a single heartbeat. Eyelash and close all locks without needing the Keyblade!
Riku: So you … you're not just anyone.
Ben: Now that I've told you, what are you going to do?
Riku jumped to reach Ben with the sword that was about to hit his head, but Ben doing a somersault forward came up behind Riku then grabbing his foot as he was returning to the ground, pulled him and made him lose his balance causing him to fall on his stomach to Earth.
Ben: Did you really think you could hit me? I've faced worse things than you, especially I took a self defense class to fight back whenever you try to hit me.
When Riku got up he got back into a fighting position to attack again but then in the middle of the space that separated the two opponents, Pinocchio passed by running out of the fighting area which was then followed by Sora and the others.
Sora: Riku! Ben? (Surprised to find them together) But what have you got? What are you thinking about! Don't you realize what you are doing?
Riku: I was going to ask you the same thing, Sora. (Dismissing the weapon) You just seem interested in running here and there with that Keyblade in plain sight. Do you really want to save Kairi?
Sora: I do …
Then they heard the screams of Pinocchio from where he had passed in the middle of Riku and Ben, entering they found in front of a huge Heartless that looked like a cage with Pinocchio inside and with 2 tentacles on the sides of the other head.
Riku: Are you ready?
Sora: No problem! Let's destroy it!
Ben: Ok, but let's be careful not to hit Pinocchio.
After the fight the Heartless with Pinocchio still inside his mouth using his tentacles hung from the ceiling and then spit Pinocchio out and dropped him into the hole underneath, but then Riku did the same thing that the Heartless did and Ben threw himself afterwards, leaving Sora and the others behind to follow Riku. Quite without thinking about what he had done he pursued Riku who had saved Pinocchio relentlessly and joined him in a new area of the Whale. When he reached him he heard a voice calling Pinocchio's name and when he looked down he saw an old man begging to have him back, Ben at that point understood that it was Pinocchio's father Geppetto.
Geppetto: Please! Give me back my son!
Riku: Sorry Grandpa, but I have something to do with this puppet.
Geppetto: He's not a puppet! Pinocchio is my son!
Riku: It's special… Not many puppets have a heart. I'm not sure, but maybe it can help someone who lost it.
Sora: Wait a minute. Are you talking about Kairi?
Riku: What do you care about her?
Ben: It matters because she's your friend, and I'm sure she wouldn't be happy with what you're doing. (Approaching Riku)
Riku: You again !? How did you follow me? (Turning to Ben and summoning the weapon)
Ben: What can I say… I'm good at chasing after someone who needs to be kicked in the butt to get back to reason.
Riku: You're such a fool, you don't understand that I'm trying to save a friend that someone has decided to leave to find new friends.
Ben: I understand, but as you can see, you're doing it the wrong way.
Riku: And since when is it up to you to decide if it's right or wrong?
Ben: It's not a decision, I'm just saying you can't sacrifice an innocent's heart to save someone else, there are other ways to do it and you… you chose the wrong one.
Riku: Shut up! You don't know what it means to lose a friend who has always been with us, who has helped us, with whom we have shared funny, sad moments. (Saddened)
Ben: You're wrong I know what it means, in fact I have an acquaintance who did the same thing you are doing and ultimately failed to save whoever he wanted to save. But what I'm trying to say is that there is no need to continue this madness, you have a friend who has the same goal as you, the fact is that he has decided to take a longer path than yours. Please don't make this mistake, come with us, together we can save Kairi and get everything back to normal. (Reaching out his hand)
Riku was starting to leave Pinocchio resting him on the ground, but then he took him back under his arm and pointed the weapon at Ben.
Riku: Great speech, I was about to fall for it, but it's too bad for you that you don't want this to happen.
Ben: Riku?
Riku: How about making a game? Just you and me?
Ben: What kind of game are you talking about?
Riku: You will definitely like it very much. It is called The Hero, the Villain and the Hostage.
Ben: Ok… and how to play?
Riku: The rules are simple: I am the villain, the puppet is the hostage and you are the hero.
Ben: I had come to that too.
Riku: The villain's job is to keep the hostage with him and do with him what he wants and if I take him away with me I win, the hero instead has to save him and keep him safe and if the villain takes him back the game continues, the winner is whoever holds the hostage longer. Ah! And one more thing in this game you can't be helped by anyone. Did you hear Sora?
Sora: Riku! What do you want to do? Ben is at a disadvantage compared to you.
Ben: Don't worry Sora I'm not one who retreats when there is someone to save after all that's what a hero does!
Riku: Do you accept the challenge?
Ben: Okay, I agree! But only on two conditions.
Riku: And would they be?
Ben: First: You will tell us where Kairi is and how to get there. The second: You will tell us where the missing princesses are and where they are.
Riku: Okay, I agree! But know that I will do everything to make victory impossible for you.
Ben: I'm sorry for you, but the word impossible for me doesn't exist.
Riku: Ok, let's see if you can keep up with me this time. (Running to the other side)
Sora: Ben! Forget it, you can't win.
Ben: Sora, trust me I can win.
Donald: There are Heartless around, and if you're not careful they might attack you!
Ben: I just need to avoid them or in an extreme case take them down.
Goofy: But … but the only thing that can defeat the Heartless permanently is the Keyblade otherwise they will always keep coming back.
Ben: Trust me, know that when it comes to defeating bad guys and saving people I'm always in the front row, and then Heartless for me are just things that don't even exist for me. But now stop talking because it's hero time! (Running in the same direction as Riku)
Goofy: Where did I hear this sentence?
Donald: The creatures who come to our rescue say it every time.
Goofy: But Ben is never there when they come to help us fight.
Sora: It can't be!
Donald and Goofy: What?
Sora: Guys, as impossible as it may seem, hear me.
Returning with Ben
Ben looked around to understand where Riku was headed, but everything around him was the same from top to bottom, not knowing what to do later an idea came to him. He activated the omnitrix by making the ring appear with the icons of all the various aliens he had unlocked, when he found the right one he selected it and the core came out, when he crushed it his body was covered with an emerald green light for a few seconds and then when the light went out in Ben's place was a large orange dog-like creature with no eyes, ears, nose or tail, standing on all fours, with very defined teeth, and its lower jaw protruding from its mouth.
Alien Bio …
Name: Wildmutt
Breed: Vulpimancer
Description: Wildmutt appears to be a large orange dog-like creature with no eyes, ears, nose or tail. It stands on all fours and its movements are a bit simian. Its teeth are very defined and the lower jaw protrudes from the mouth. The various spines found throughout its body function similar to the tactile sensing whiskers and are not fur. Since Wildmutt has no eyes, it uses its sense of smell and hearing to navigate, aided by three gill-like nostrils located on each side of the neck.
Planet: Vulpin
Weaknesses: Wildmutt cannot speak. Instead, it communicates through a combination of barking and growling. Because of this, it is extremely difficult for anyone to understand it. Wildmutt's lack of eyes makes him completely dependent on his other senses (mostly olfactory). Wildmutt's senses are highly sensitive, making him vulnerable to anything that can overwhelm his senses, such as a high-pitched sound. Wildmutt has a soft spot against magic, as shown when Gwen cast a spell on him. When he becomes infected with a cold, Wildmutt's nostrils (on the sides of his neck) become blocked with mucus, rendering him unable to smell or hear and essentially making him "blind". Additionally, his fur discolors from his vivid orange to a pale yellow-orange tone, and his lips and claws turn from black to a sickly dark green hue.
Wildmutt sniffing the scent of Riku began to run to reach them and on the way he scratched and bit every Heartless he met on the way. When he reached his stomach he found himself on a platform surrounded with bodily fluids and platforms attached to the walls on one of which were Riku and Pinocchio. Wildmutt then jumped on the platform and grabbed Pinocchio with his mouth and then with another jump reached another higher platform so as to secure the wooden puppet for the moment.
Riku: In the end you arrived, I didn't think you would make it! But now I have learned that you have to expect everything from you.
Wildmutt speaking in vulpimancer language he explained that it would take less time to arrive, but it was a pity that they were inside a whale and therefore together with the smell of Riku there was also that of the various body fluids of the being that had bothered him.
Riku: I have no idea what you said, but now get ready to fight!
Wildmutt jumped on Riku's platform and then with a head sent him to the floor of his stomach taking care not to let him fall in the acid then reached Riku positioning himself on top of him and with his four legs immediately blocked his arms and legs preventing him from moving as he regained consciousness .
Riku: Get off me now!
Wildmutt replied yelling at him that it meant no
Then at that moment the trio arrived and looked at the scene before them
Sora: Riku!
Wildmutt looked at Riku but when he did Riku was no longer there, shocked he looked around and found him in the center of his stomach.
Riku: You won the game but know it's not over yet.
Then from the hole that was in the ceiling fell the caged Heartless that had trapped Pinocchio in the intestine, Riku taking advantage of the distraction opened a dark passage and disappeared inside, closing itself later. The Heartless threw itself in front of the quartet but they managed to avoid it by jumping on the platforms then attacked it en masse on the head that controlled the tentacles making it out of use, then they moved to the area of the body where the cage was, taking care not to be imprisoned. And hitting the weak spot which was understood to be a dark spot inside. Suddenly defeated around them there were many explosions that surrounded them.
Donald: Let's run away!
On hearing that word Wildmutt he recovered Pinocchio and then making the trio get on his back they left their stomachs and fled.
Meanwhile… in another place
Riku: So, Kairi is like a lifeless puppet now?
Maleficent: Precisely.
Riku: And his heart was …
Maleficent: Surely taken by the Heartless.
Riku: Tell me! What can I do?
Maleficent: There are seven pure hearted maidens. We call them: Princesses of the Heart. Gathering them together will open the door that leads to the heart of the worlds within which lies unspeakable wisdom. Thus, you will find a way to save Kairi. Now, I will give you a wonderful gift. The power to control the Heartless.
Riku was covered with a light green cloud that disappeared after a second.
Riku: Quick, Kairi. Soon!
In the gummiship
The quartet managed to get out of the whale with a sneeze and returned to space navigation. Although now the trio had many questions to ask their fourth mate who was not present with them.
Sora. Well! Why weren't you with us?
Ben: Well … it's complicated to explain.
Donald: Complicated? What do you mean?
Goofy: Ben… what do you mean?
Ben: Okay… I guess it no longer makes sense to hide it.
Trio: Hide it?
Ben: The thing is, I… have a bad sense of direction!
The trio on hearing him nearly fell to the ground for this revelation.
Sora: Really? Yet we also have maps to orient ourselves.
Ben: Mine is really, really bad!
Goofy: Goush! We didn't know.
Sora: Okay, anyway how about going back to Traverse Town to see if Pinocchio and Geppetto are okay?
Donald: Okay.
Goofy: Sure.
Ben: A great idea.
Then the ship set in motion and the group returned that way for the fourth time, even though Ben was very worried about the situation.
Ben: Sorry but I can't tell you the truth, doing so will increase the troubles and also with this turn of the situation we may not be able to save the worlds. (Inside himself)
