Ben 10: Alternate Alien
Chapter 2: The Party
Ben was scrambling around the apartment in a hurry. In fact, several were, as small white aliens.
Ben had used Echo Echo to make five other versions of himself to get a certain job done today.
Today was Lumi's 3rd birthday. She had the appearance of a 4 year old, but was 3 years old in human years. The first one Ben would share with his little girl. So he was working as hard as he could to get the place ready for guests.
Ben had bought his daughter three gifts, and had set them up on a table where all of the presents would go.
Near that was a table of sandwich ingredients, chips, soda, juice, water, and a veggie plate.
There were streamers and such around the house, and Ben was currently just making sure everything was in proper order. Lumi was nearby, sitting on the couch, watching the TV while her father worked.
She was watching a show from the early 2000's, where five teenagers with superpowers saved the day.
Ben wouldn't let her watch the horrible reboot of this cartoon.
One Echo Echo was sweeping the floor.
Two were stacked atop one another as they dusted shelves.
One was straightening picture frames around the room.
Three were in the kitchen, doing the finishing touches on the birthday cake.
One of the Echo Echo's had just finished cleaning the bathroom as the watch timed out, merging all of the short aliens back into Ben.
Ben, "alright, the guests should be here any minute now for the party. You excited Lumi?"
The little alien's wings fluttered in excitement.
Ben, "I'll take that as a yes."
As Ben rubbed his daughters head affectionately, he heard a knock at the door.
Ben, "speak of the devil."
Ben went over to the door, opening it up to see Rook and his family there. Rook Shar was in her usual plumber garb, whilst Rayona was in a nice yellow dress, holding her two year old son, named Young One.
Ben, "Rook, Rayona, Shar, great to see all of you."
Rook, "it is a pleasure to see you Ben. We brought presents for Lumi."
Ben, "thanks. Leave them on the table and make yourself at home."
The guests all filed in. Rayona went over to the couch, and placed her son on the couch next to Lumi.
Rayona, "Lumi? Would you like to play with Young One?"
Lumi, "yes please."
Rayona went over to Rook at the snack table as the kids began talking.
Lumi, "hi."
YO, "hello Lumi. You are four now, right?"
Lumi, "yes."
Ben grew a little wide eyed, "huh, Young One can already hold conversations?"
Rook, "children of our species mature very fast."
Ben, "that much is obvious."
Rook Shar, "so, Ben, how is the life of a parent treating you these days?"
Ben, "it's tiring, but worth it."
Rayona, "it is, is it not?"
Another knock came to the door.
Ben, "oop, sorry guys, I'll be back."
Ben went to the door and opened it to reveal his parents, as well as his aunt and uncle at the door.
Ben, "hey guys."
Sandra, "Ben! It's great to see you! We brought gifts for our grandbaby!"
Ben, "c'mon in. Set the presents on the table."
The four new party guests entered, each with their own presents.
Ben had introduced Lumi to his parents, and his aunt and uncle the first week he had her. They were all very surprised. Not only that Ben had a kid, but that he was being much more responsible with his duties as a father. They were proud of Ben, and grew to love the little girl.
The party went on for a few more minutes, with the adults talking to one another, and the two kids having their own little conversations on the couch.
Soon, another knock was heard at the door. Ben went to the door, and opened it to see Gwendolyn, Kevin and Zed, the dog they adopted from Kyber. They had gifts in their arms.
Kevin, "we didn't miss the party, did we?"
Ben, "nope, come on in guys."
Gwendolyn was happy to see her parents at the party.
Zed has wanted over to the kids. Lumi began petting the dog, scratching it behind the ears, making its leg thump on the ground.
Kevin, "so, who else is coming to the party?"
Ben, "well, Grandpa Max is coming. I invited Grandma Verdona and Sunny, but I doubt they'll be here. Lucy is coming, since I know she'll love entertaining the kids. Julie and Herve sent some cards with birthday money since they couldn't make it. And I invited Tetrax, but I doubt he and Eight Eight are gonna sh-"
They heard a rumbling noise outside.
Ben, "huh, I stand corrected."
Ben went over and opened the door, showing Tetrax's ship had landed in the park. At the same time, Lucy had arrived with Grandpa Max. Verdona and Sunny had flown there. Verdona in her Anodite form, and Sunny in human form. And finally, Azmuth had actually shown up on a small floating pad.
Ben had a smile on his face as he greeted his friends and family. He greeted each of them. Max and Lucy each with a warm and welcoming hug. Verdona with a handshake. Sunny, (reluctantly), with a hug she was too eager to give. Azmuth with a nod of the head. Tetrax and Eight Eight with handshakes.
The adults all came inside, greeting the other guests, and each of them making sure to say hi to Lumi and Young One. Especially Lucy, who would rather hang out with the kids and dog than the adults.
Ben had invited Helen's team, but they had plumber business to attend to, so Max had brought their gifts for them.
The adults all mingled for a little while until Lumi got a little restless with waiting to open her gifts.
So, they decided to eat the cake, and then open presents.
As everyone stood around the table, Sandra brought out the cake, (Ben had made it, so it wasn't vegan or alien based). Three candles sat on the top as everyone sang, "happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Lumi. Happy birthday to you!"
Kevin, Sunny and Lucy sang the version about looking and smelling like a monkey.
Lumi blew out the candles, freezing them, but thankfully not the cake. Soon, everyone was given a slice of either chocolate, or white cake, gobbling it down.
Once everyone had had their fill, (some more than others), everyone gathered in the living room for presents.
Ben brought all of the gifts to sit beside Lumi.
Ben, "alright Lumi, go ahead and open your gifts!"
Lumi grabbed the first one, from Kevin.
She opened it to reveal a necklace, made out of some really tough metal, and with a Taynadite crystal on it. Lumi loved it! Ben helped her get it on as she admired the little thing.
Ben, "this is a very nice gift Kevin. I'm surprised you thought of something this nice."
Kevin, "gee, thanks Ben."
Next was the gifts from Sandra and Carl.
Sandra's gift was a stuffed version of Ben's cutest alien, Ditto. The toy was a little more exaggerated then Ben's, being puggier, rosy cheeks with button eyes, and when you squeezed the hand it said, "goodnight everybody!"
(If you're an Animaniacs fan, you'll get the joke).
Ben, "remind me to make sure I get residuals for the use of my aliens and their catchphrases."
Rook, "a good idea for receiving a sizeable amount of money."
Lumi hugged the toy tightly.
Carl's gift was a set of blankets with a Nechrofriggian color scheme on it, for Lumi's bed. Max and Carl had asked the Plumbers to make it so they would regulate her body temperature at night.
Gwendolyn's parents had gotten Lumi wall stickers and another plush toy. This time of an Upchuck. Lumi hugged it, but surprised everyone by giving it to Young One!
Lumi, "I have a toy. You can have this one."
Young One, "thank you."
The two toddlers hugged, making all of the women, and even some of the men, aw at the gesture.
Next was Verdona. She had gotten Lumi a children's book that taught kids about Anodites and their history. Sunny had gotten her a pack of crayons and a coloring book, which everyone was surprised by how well thought of the gift was from Sunny. They had expected something more inappropriate from Ben and Gwen's cousin.
Rook and Rayona had gotten Lumi a small fuzzy blanket that was colored to look like Goop, complete with the gravity thing it used on the design, and a pillow with Upgrades color scheme to match. Rook Shar had gotten Lumi pajamas that looked like Plumber armor, and were designed for the little alien to wear, complete with holes for her wings.
One Young had made her a picture of a Nechrofriggian in a heroic pose.
Tetrax had brought in a big box that held a nigh indestructible tricycle. And to go with it, from Eight Eight, was a helmet that was designed to look like her own, in terms of the color and patterns on it.
Lucy had given her little clay sculptures of Ben's aliens she made. This included Alien X, Echo Echo, Humongousaur, NRG, Rath, and FrankenStrike.
Max had gotten her a nightlight of a Plumber badge for her room, since she seemed to be a little afraid of the dark.
Next were Helen's team's gifts.
Helen's was an XLR8 flag for her bike.
Manny had gotten Lumi Tetramand fists she could wear on her hands, (kinda like those hulk hands people could wear).
Alan had gotten her a HeatBlast beanie to wear during the winter.
Swift had given her a JetRay themed toothbrush.
Even Mazuma had sent her a gift. A pen with a little GreyMatter on top, hugging it.
Next were Ben's gifts.
The first was a little sculpture of Mr. Smoothy, for Lumi to put on her desk she could draw at along with all of the sculptures Lucy had gotten her. The second was another plush toy, this time of CannonBolt. It worked like a Popple, where you could turn it inside out to look like the aliens ball form. She set it next to her Ditto plushie after hugging it. And the third one was a DVD of her favorite show about a Cowardly Canine that lived in the middle of nowhere. Despite how weird and even scary the show could get, Lumi seemed to love it!
Lumi hugged her father, "thank you daddy!"
Everyone found the gesture utterly adorable.
Ben hugged his daughter, smiling at the affection she loved to give him.
Now it was Gwendolyn's gift. It was a smaller box, with a totem inside.
Ben, "uh, Gwendolyn, what's with the rock?"
Gwendolyn, "hold on, let her pick it up!"
Lumi picks the stone up. It had lots of details. It suddenly started to glow a deep pink. Lumi set it down quickly, when the stone grew, and slowly formed into a small stone creature. The ones CharmCaster used when she was a teenager.
It waddled up to Lumi, who began petting it like a dog.
Ben, "uh, Gwendolyn? What's with this gift?"
Gwendolyn, "a kid's gotta have a pet. Hope helped me make it. It imprints on the first thing it comes in contact with, and is nearly indestructible. Lumi can take it with her, and it'll protect her."
Ben, "... thanks cuz. This is a great gift."
Ben knelt down to his daughter as she hugged the stone creature.
Ben, "what're ya gonna name him?"
Lumi, "I dunno."
Rook, "how about Kivi?"
Lumi, "Kivi?"
Rook, "yes. It is the Finnish word for stone, which is what the creature is made out of."
Lumi, "Kivi! I like it! Kivi!"
Ben smiled as his daughter hugged Kivi affectionately.
Azmuth, "now that just leaves my gift."
Azmuth handed the box to Ben, who gave a confused look.
Ben, "what is it?"
Azmuth, "open it."
Ben opened the box, revealing a small white and green watch with an hourglass symbol on the top.
Ben, "an Omnitrix?"
Azmuth, "it is a massive upgrade from the last one. It has the full body hologram function that makes it easier to pick each alien, it will not get the wrong aliens if she slams down on the dial, and it can stay on an alien for fifteen minutes at a time, rather than just ten like the very first Omnitrix."
Ben, "um, don't you think she's a little too young for this?"
Azmuth, "agreed. Which is why you will only give her complete control when she seems ready to wield it. For now, it can only disguise her to look human if she needs to, but I would advise making her comfortable in her Nechrofriggian form."
Ben, "well, okay. Thanks Azmuth. She's actually been asking if she'd ever get one of these."
Ben knelt down to Lumi.
Ben, "Lumi, do you know what I'm about to give you?"
Lumi nodded.
Ben, "good. Now remember, you will only be able to take on a human form when you need to, such as if you go out on your own as an adult. When I think you're ready, you'll be able to turn into aliens like me. Understand?"
Lumi nodded excitedly.
Ben, "when you do unlock them, I want you to be responsible with it. I wasn't as a kid, so I want you to be different from that. Do you understand?"
Lumi nodded.
Ben lifted her right hand, and carefully moved the watch over it. It attached to her wrist, and became stuck there like his own.
Lumi grinned excitedly as she admired the Omnitrix.
Azmuth, "when she is ready to use it, use the code: ten-eleven-zero-zero-three-three-one-eight-seven."
Ben, "can you write it down?"
Azmuth, "yes."
Ben looked at Lumi, "you wanna try the function that makes you look human?"
Lumi nodded.
Azmuth, "just tap the button on the right side two times to activate it. Do the same to turn yourself back to your natural form."
Lumi pressed the button twice. In a flash of green light, Lumi had changed! She now looked like a four year old version of Ben, but with hair that was streaked blue and black, the same green eyes as Ben and Gwen, and an outfit like her father's as a kid, except it was dark blue pants. Lumi looked at herself up and down, intrigued by her new appearance.
Gwen, "wow, she looks just like you Ben!"
Kevin, "nah, she's much cuter than you."
Ben, "gee, thanks."
Obvious sarcasm is obvious.
Lumi pressed the button twice again, turning her back into her natural form.
Ben turned to everyone, "thank you. All of you, for coming to this party. It means a lot to me. It makes me feel like I'm doing something right with Lumi. And I just wanna sa-"
There was suddenly a knock at the door. A rather loud one.
Kevin, "uh, did you invite anyone else to the party?"
Ben, "n-no?"
Max, "well, go ahead and answer it!"
Ben carefully walked over to the door as the person on the other side knocked again.
Ben opened the door to reveal…!
….
Reviews:
Jp721: most people want Hope to be the love interest, and while I do like the ship, I kind of want to do a ship that you don't see much of, (Looma, Attea, Helen aren't as common as Hope or Gwen).
Amanny: glad you like the first chapter. I know most people are voting for Hope, but I was really hoping Looma would win the poll.
thewittywhy: I'm glad you liked this first chapter. And I'm glad people like Lumi, since I enjoy writing her adorable antics. And if you see them as their Omniverse designs, that's fine. I just prefer the older ones. Also, I'm glad someone else voted for Looma.
….
Cliffhanger! Who is at the door? Well, tune into chapter 3 to find out!
I have chosen who the love interest will be.
It won't be Hope, since I'm set on a certain character to be in this role.
I'm sorry for those who voted for Hope on the poll.
But don't worry, I WILL do a one-shot for you Ben x Hope shippers, since so many people voted for her in the poll, so people won't be as disappointed. It's kinda like when I did the poll on my next story, and I was hoping Ben 10 would win, but the Bruce Timm DCAU won. I'm still gonna do a a story that is set in that universe, but I'm working on the Ben 10 story first.
I am going to be doing a new poll that will be unbiased, unlike my other polls.
"When Lumi unlocks her first 10 aliens, which 10 do you want?"
I'll do lists of 10 for each option on the 10 aliens Lumi will first get. It will be unbiased this time, so I won't go against the number of votes.