NOTE: New chapter here! Hope you guys like hypnotism, because this'll be the last time you see it.
If you have any questions about the story, feel free to ask in the reviews. I'll my best to answer them in the author's notes before and after the chapters.
Review and Enjoy!
Chapter 39: Persona Madness
Yukiko held a couple of bags in her hand as she and her family were walking out of the Mega-mall-opolis. Next to her, Gwen was joyfully reading off the details of the mall from her booklet. "Five hundred stores, seventy-two restaurants, forty-eight movie screens, and an indoor roller-coaster!"
Yukiko giggled at her cousin's excitement. "I can't believe there's a store bigger than Junes. Seems so surreal to me."
"This is why you need to get out more, Yukiko. So many bigger and exciting things exist outside of Inaba!" Gwen exclaimed.
"Like, aliens?"
"Eh, not as exciting."
"We could just spend the whole summer here! This mall has everything!" Ben dropped to his knee to praise the mall.
BWEEEP!
Alarms started blaring as soon as Ben finished his statement. The Tennysons saw a group of robbers running out of a store with Mall Security chasing after them. "Including their own police force," Max said.
Ben cracked his knuckles. "Looks like the Rent-a-Cops could use a little help. Ah~ A hero's work is never done." Activating the watch, Ben transformed into Wildmutt.
The Vulpimancer hurried after the security officers. He jumped past them into the parking garage after watching the thieves escape into it. Wildmutt plowed right into the thieves, only to see not robbers, but two elderly people. Confused and having a slight case of deja vu, Wildmutt watched the elderly couple stance up for a fight.
Not wanting to hurt them, he could only stand there as the two elders showed athlete worthy agility and kicked him directly in his face.
OP: Ancient Romantic by P-Maru Sama
Ancient Romantic!
(U! Ha! U! Ha!)
(U! Ha! U! Ha!)
A rotating shot of the Omnitrix comes into view before latching onto Ben's wrist. He's seen standing with Yukiko, Gwen, and Max in front of the Rustbucket.
For a split second the landscape around them glitches out as purple lighting cracks the sky above.
The miracle of humankind that I met at once was a loss if neither Edison nor Watson knew (Loss!)
Ben stands on top of a broken spaceship, staring out at the clear blue sky above him.
Below him was Yukiko, who stood in the shadows of the ship. Her eyes transfixed on her tarot card.
Mr. N was surprised at such a situation since the earth was created (Unexpected!)
Gwen walked past the two, her eyes focused on her spell book. She shut the book instantly, her eyes glowing with blue mana.
Max stood in the back and in his hands was a broken picture frame.
The ancient civilization and the school playground that I ran yesterday are all connected.
The scenery changed to Inaba. Yukiko is seen running through the town with the rest of the Investigation Team.
SHATTER!
Yukiko was now running around with the Tennysons. Ben, happily leading the charge with the Omnitrix ready.
SHATTER!
Yukiko was now covering her face with her hands, her back turned to the audience. Ben stood in front of her back with a traumatized expression.
SHATTER!
Older versions of Ben, Yukiko, Gwen, and Max appeared. Each one had their backs facing the audience as if not wanting to face the truth.
The invitation to unravel the true nature of this romance is an initiation from ancient times.
Ben sat inside of a blue limousine. In front of him were both Igor and Maragret, the attendant holding a large blue book in her hands.
Sitting next to Ben was Yu, whose tarot card expanded into a blinding flash of light.
All members! Go in! Aye-aye!
Ben charged into battle first, slapping down the dial and transforming into Four Arms. Gwen came in next, hands glowing bright with mana. Yukiko summoned Sumeo-Okami, unleashing waves of fire. Max joined his grandkids, his own personal blaster ready to battle.
Let's dance in such an era! Dancing all right!
Yu appeared next with his sword drawn. Izanagi jumped out from behind him, his blade sparking with white electricity.
Naoto Shirogane dropped down in front of him with her gun pointed at the screen. Her Persona: Yamato-Takeru appeared next to her in a flash of light.
Rise Kujikawa descended downwards gracefully, with her eyes closed shut. Her Persona: Kanzeon had appeared behind Rise. Placing a red-colored headset over her user's eyes.
Rehabilitation! Introspection! I'll do it one after another! The past and the future are all mixed together!
An older version Four Arms charged in, clashing his fists against a more monstrous and older version of Vilgax.
Yukiko and Charmcaster stood side by side before a static shock hit them both, causing their eyes to swap colors.
Collapse! Situation! Hurry up!
A familiar looking creature appeared dressed in shadows, its purple eye glistening with malicious fury.
The feelings of hundreds of millions of years are romantic over!
Three new aliens appeared on the screen. A Frankenstien's monster, a werewolf, and a mummy all stood in front of a large satellite. Above them the sun transformed into a massive purple eyeball.
March! Send! Do in! Do in Love! There is one love in any era!
The Rustbucket was speeding towards the satellite with its boosters activated. The Tennysons inside were determined to stop whatever was about to happen.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, you can see!
Chie, Yosuke, Kanji, Teddie, Nanako, Rise, and Naoto held each letter as they flashed across the screen.
H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, you caught!
For the last remaining letters were each held by Ben's aliens as they flashed across the screen.
Ancient Romantic!
Yukiko fell through the air, unable to stop herself. Ben reached for her as fast as he could, his hand only inches from her's.
(U! Ha! U! Ha!)
(U! Ha! U! Ha!)
Wildmutt bounced across the ground, reeling back from the attack. He flipped himself back up and attacked the elderly, no longer deciding to hold back. However, they proved to be much more agile than he expected, quickly overpowering him with quick strikes. He was struck from all sides before getting kung-fu kicked into a pillar. Growling at his opponents, Wildmutt prepared to attack back. Until the cops arrived in their vehicles, aiming their guns at him.
When he turned back to the old thieves, they were no longer present. "They must've let loose some kind of rabid dog to cover their tracks. Get him!" An officer ordered.
Wildmutt quickly jumped over the cops, surprising them, and sprinting out of the garage. Luckily for him the Rustbucket pulled up in time to let him in. Max stomped on the gas pedal to escape the police, who were still chasing after them.
In an attempt to stop them, the police blocked off the road, forcing Max to drive straight into a pole. With their guns ready, the police entered the RV to apprehend the criminals. Only to find the Tennysons inside.
"Uh? Looking for something officer?" Ben asked. All the officer could do was stare at the Tennyson kids.
Since the Rustbucket needed repairs after the incident the night prior, the Tennyson kids were exploring the mall while their grandfather was back at the Rustbucket. Yukiko had used this opportunity to drag her cousins around for clothes shopping. Ben had found it utterly boring, but since he behaved himself, Yukiko felt that it would be fine to treat him to something.
Gwen shifted the clothes bags in her hands. "So, any idea what happened last night?"
"What about last night?" Ben asked.
"Uh, about you messing up and getting the Rustbucket trashed!" Gwen reminded him.
"Oh right. Forgot about that," Ben said uncaringly.
Yukiko looked back at her cousins. "It'll be fine, Gwen. The mall is paying for the repairs. Giving me much more time to find more outfits for you two!" The heiress' smile was radiating. Ben had to cover his eyes to block out Yukiko's light.
"Ugh, remind me why we needed to do all of that shopping?" Ben asked.
"You have worn the exact same outfit since this trip started."
Ben looked offended. "This is my iconic outfit!"
"Yeah, with the iconic pizza smell coming from it," Gwen added. She turned her attention away from Ben when she spotted something eye-catching. "The Amazing Sublimino, Master of Hypnosis' Last Day?" She read the sign. "Cool! Let's check it out!"
Ben rolled his eyes. "Jeez and to think we almost missed him."
"C'mon, Ben. It might cheer you up," Yukiko said, following after Gwen.
"Our definitions of fun are very different," Ben responded as he followed the girls into the performance hall.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Presenting: Sublimino, the Master of Hypnosis!"
POOF!
A puff of purple glittering smoke popped onto the stage. Coughing could be heard as the hypnotist walked up to the microphone. Sublimino was a small man with receding blonde hair. He was dressed in a black vest and white pants, with a long red coat. He wore a pair of sunglasses, covering up the scar going down his right eye.
Sublimino stumbled over his own coat, managing to catch himself in time. "Behold Sublimino! I am about to take you on a journey through the mysterious realm known as: The Mind!" He announced. The audience didn't look that impressed, except Yukiko, who was the only one to clap her hands.
"Any volunteers?" Sublimino asked the audience.
Ben groaned. "Oh, give me a break. Only someone with half a brain can be hypnotized."
"I've been hypnotized before," Yukiko recalled past battles with her friends.
"Like, I said. Half a brain," Ben's remark earned him a slap on the head.
Gwen, who was holding the new camera she bought last night, smiled deviously. She grabbed Ben's hand and raised it up. "Hey, here's a volunteer for you!"
Ben pulled his arm back. "As if! Forget it!"
"What's the matter? Afraid you don't have half a brain?" Gwen baited him. Ben took the bait just as she knew he would. Yukiko watched Ben climb onto the stage and silently hoped that nothing bad would happen.
Ben stood on stage with an elderly couple next to him, Sublimino pulled out a golden pocket watch from his coat. "Now, clear your minds. Focus only on this pocket watch as it swings back and forth. Your eyes are feeling heavy, you are falling into a deep sleep!" Ben and the elderly couple just stared at him confused. Neither his words nor watch were having an effect on them.
Sublimino put the watch away and pulled out another one, pressing the button on the side of the watch, a golden wave of kinetic energy was blasted at the three. Their pupils shrinking as the mind control effect took over, their eyes closed, and they fell into a deep sleep.
"Oh! It really did work!" Yukiko clapped her hands.
Gwen chuckled darkly, pressing record on her camera. "Major blackmail time."
Sublimino put both watches away, so that he could address his volunteers. "Now, you are in my power. When you open your eyes, you will all become newborn babies." Responding to his voice, all three began crying like infants.
The audience erupted into laughter, Yukiko being the loudest amongst them.
"Now, you're all chickens in a barnyard!"
"BWAK! BWAK! BWAK!" Ben and the elderly danced around like chickens.
Yukiko and Gwen continued to enjoy the show as Max joined up with them, confused as to why his grandson was making a fool of himself. "Uh, why is Ben acting like a chicken?"
"Hypnotism, Grandpa. I didn't think it would actually work, but once again this trip has left me surprised," Yukiko giggled.
"And Ben dancing around like a doofus is an early Christmas gift for me," Gwen replied.
Sublimino was ready for the closing act. "You are a ballerina." He addressed the old man. "You're a ferocious grizzly bear." He ordered the old woman. Ben was the last one that he had to address. "And you are an alien."
In response to his master's wishes, Ben activated the Omnitrix, alarming his family. "Okay, fun's over!" Max exclaimed.
Yukiko dropped her bags and sprinted onto the stage. "Ben!" She grabbed him and ran behind the curtains just as he transformed. Sublimino, enraged by his show being interrupted, pulled back the curtains.
"You are ruining my performance!" He yelled at her.
Yukiko hid Gray Matter behind her back. "S-sorry, my little cousin had to…uh…run to the bathroom! He has a very weak bladder when performing on stage!"
Sublimino seemed to have bought it, closing the curtains back up. Yukiko sighed in relief and looked down at Gray Matter, the alien stared right back at her. "Take me to your leader. Your will is my command."
Yukiko raised an eyebrow, remembering that Ben was still under hypnosis. She raised her fan up and brought it down onto Gray Matter's head with all of her strength.
"OW!" Gray Matter cried out. "What was that for!?" He yelled at her.
"Oh, it still works. Just like the TV World," Yukiko smiled, pleased by the results.
"What are you talking about? And why am I Gray Matter?" He asked.
"Come on. That's enough fun for today," Yukiko carried him away from the stage and back to their family.
Max continued to fix up the Rustbucket; he could hear Ben's cries of embarrassment as Gwen continued to play Ben's hypnotic experience on repeat.
"This is so embarrassing!" Ben was close to pulling out his own hair.
"I don't think it was that bad," Yukiko said from the back. She was hanging up all of the new clothes she had bought inside the closet.
"Of course, you don't! You were laughing it up at my expense!" Ben exclaimed.
"I don't see the issue. We do that every day," Gwen teased him. "And we can add this to our summer collection."
"Nope!" Ben snatched the camera out of her hands. "This is one part of the summer I don't want to remember!" Ben attempted to erase the footage.
"Give it back!" Gwen tried to take it back from him. The two pulling it back and forth in an attempt to over power the other.
Yukiko quickly pulled the two apart before their fight went too far, taking the camera away from Ben. "Like, I said before, that's enough fun for today. You both need to calm down before someone gets hurt."
"SHE/HE STARTED IT!"
"That's enough!" Max entered the Rustbucket, glaring at the two. "It's been a long day and we could all use some rest." He gently took the camera from Yukiko and placed it in the cabinet. "All of you get ready for bed."
Ben clicked his tongue. "Just leave me alone." He hissed at Gwen.
"Doofus." She hissed back.
Yukiko sighed. "Why does it feel like they always take two steps back every day?"
The next day, the Tennysons were continuing to explore the mall since the Rustbucket still needed repairs done. Yukiko was contemplating if she should use this day to buy souvenirs to send back to Inaba. Until she noticed that Ben was stumbling in his walk. "Ben?" She gently wrapped her arms around him as he started drifting off to sleep.
"You okay, Ben? You don't seem as peppy as usual?" Max asked him, concerned.
"J-Just a little tired is all…" Ben yawned out.
"Did you not sleep well last night?" Yukiko asked.
"...I don't know. I'll be fine. Don't worry," Ben removed himself from her arms to keep walking. Yukiko didn't seem convinced and kept close to him just in case.
The family noticed that one of the attraction rides had been busted up, so the mall police were investigating it. "Woah! What happened?" Gwen asked.
An officer turned to her. "Somebody stole the motor from the sea dragon ride. Probably some prank by some dumb kids."
"What kind of kids would need a motor?" Yukiko wondered.
"A…motor bike…gang?" Ben yawned.
"Highly unlikely," Gwen responded.
Another officer walked over with something in his hands. "What do you make of this?" He held up a crystal shard. Which looked distinctly like-"
"Diamondhead!?" The Tennysons mentally screamed. Three pairs of eyes immediately turned to Ben, who was quick to defend himself.
"What? I didn't do it! I swear!" Ben defended himself.
They didn't need to speak for him to understand that after all of the stupid stunts he's pulled in the past they weren't likely to believe him. Not even Yukiko took his side as easily this time. "Hey, I'm not the only alien in the galaxy, you know! This could just be like back in San Francisco with Kevin!"
"Choose your next words carefully…!" Gwen hissed.
Ben raised his hands up. "I'm just saying I didn't do it."
Yukiko placed a hand to her chin. "Then I guess this calls for an investigation!"
"What do you mean?" Gwen asked.
"Well, there was a break-in the night we first got here. Involving those old people that kicked Ben's butt-"
"No proof." Ben interrupted.
Yukiko continued on as if she didn't hear him. "Now we have another break-in, but this time a Diamondhead shard found at the crime scene-"
"Ben did it."
"No, I didn't!"
She ignored them again. "There's something strange going on in this Mega-mall-opolis and only we can solve this mystery!"
"Or we can leave it to the officials and continue exploring the mall-"
"No." Yukiko popped Gwen's bubble without remorse.
"You're really excited about this, Yukiko," Max noticed.
"Of course. Mystery solving is my thing," Yukiko smiled, proudly.
"So is burning down a kitchen…" Ben mumbled. "What's your plan then? Explore the entire mall?"
"Nope. All of the crimes happened at night, which means we can have a steak out!" Yukiko explained.
"Ugh. I'm too tired for this…" Ben shook his head.
Ben yawned loudly as he looked back up at the mall's clock. It was almost midnight; he and his family had been sitting inside of the Rustbucket waiting for something to happen for hours. His exhaustion still hadn't gone away and at this point he was forcing himself to stay awake. Glancing back up at the clock, maybe his family wouldn't mind if he closed his eyes for a few minutes.
Gwen was also less than pleased, but for a completely different reason. "Why do I have to wear this again!?" Gwen was currently dressed up in a blue petticoat dress with white frills that reached down to her knees, a large dark blue ribbon attached to the upper chest just below her neck, and a large light blue hat on her head.
"To fit the mood," Yukiko answered. She was dressed similarly to Gwen, except that her outfit was pink in color and the dress stopped right above her knees. Both of their new costumes resembled Sherlock Holmes.
"How are bright colorful outfits supposed to fit the mood of a steak out?"
"Their Sherlock Holmes theme! They even remind me a bit of Naoto-kun's outfit. Though Naoto-kun wore pants instead of a dress." Yukiko defended the costumes.
"I feel like you just wanted to dress me up in another costume!"
"No…"
"You're lying!"
As they argued, the clock struck midnight. A kinetic wave of energy swept over the entire mall and parking lot. Ben's eyes snapped open from his slumber and got up from his seat. His actions drew the attention of his family. "Uh, Ben?" Yukiko asked.
He ignored her, opting to activate the Omnitrix instead. "Uh, hello? Earth to doofus!" Gwen called out to him, but he still didn't respond to them.
FLASH!
Upgrade stood in Ben's spot, liquefying his body to leave the Rustbucket. "Wait, Ben! You can't just-" Yukiko couldn't finish before Upgrade left.
"Follow him!" Max ordered. The three hurried out of the Rustbucket to find Upgrade slithering his way through the parking lot and onto the roof of the mall. "He must be sleep walking." Max assumed.
Upgrade continued his mission until a spotlight from mall security's helicopter was aimed at him. "Halt! In the name of mall security!" The helicopter's guns were aimed right at him as a warning. Not wishing to be stopped, Upgrade sprinted across the rooftop with two more helicopters coming after him. The Mechamorph smacked one away momentarily but was still surrounded.
"Ben, wake up! You're sleepwalking!" Gwen yelled.
"It's no use, Gwen. He can't hear you. He probably has no idea what he's doing," Max said.
Yukiko pulled out her fan. "Maybe I could knock him down from there?"
"Too risky. You might hit the helicopters and draw unnecessary attention," Max stopped her as well.
"You mean more than wearing bright outfits in the middle of the night?" Gwen raised an eyebrow.
Behind them multiple police vehicles pulled up to stop Upgrade. "You two stay down here, I'll see if I can get up there!" Max exclaimed, running to find a way to the roof.
The helicopters opened fire on Upgrade, forcing the mechamorph to liquify himself. His family watched with bated breath as Upgrade reformed himself and fused with a helicopter. Now with his own chance of fighting back he opened fire on the other two helicopters. The police below attempted to stop him with their guns but were easily dealt with by Upgrade.
The Mechamorph defused with the helicopter to merge with the clock. Using the clock's hands to pull the machine from its socket. He now used the hands as propellers to keep himself afloat, resembling some kind of squid.
"Time sure flies when you go alien," Gwen quipped.
"But time isn't capable of flying," Yukiko didn't get the joke.
"No, that's not-" She couldn't finish since Upgrade took off from the mall and into the city. "Where is he going?"
"I have no clue," Max frowned.
"Ah~!" Ben yawned. "Oh man, what a weird dream-" He said before realizing there was something off about his environment. Instead of waking up inside of the Rustbucket, he was sleeping on a forklift right in front of the RV. Not watching where he was putting his hand, Ben lost his balance and fell off the forklift, luckily for him he landed in a pair of arms.
Yukiko's arms to be exact. "Uh? Yukiko? What happened?" He glanced at her attire. "And why are you still dressed like that?"
Instead of answering his questions she brought him inside of the Rustbucket. He saw both Max and Gwen sitting at the table, watching the news. Ben looked up at the TV and the video being played made him jump out of his cousin's arms.
The news was currently replaying the footage of Upgrade's attack on the mall last night. "Despite last night's bizarre attack and other burglaries, the mall's representative had this to say: This is an isolated incident. The mall is open for business, shopper's safety is our number 1 priority."
"I don't remember any of this! Why would I go alien then steal bizarre stuff like rollercoaster motors and a big clock?" Ben asked.
"Well, sleepwalkers are in a hyper dream state. Nothing makes sense in a dream," Max explains.
"Yeah? Well, most sleepwalkers don't have a watch filled with alien heroes at their control," Gwen pointed out. She was also still wearing the costume from the previous night.
"Gwen's got a point," Max said. "We're gonna have to keep you awake and away from people until we can figure out your midnight strolls." As he said that Ben drifted off to sleep.
SMACK!
"OW!" Ben gripped his head. "What was that for!?" He yelled at Yukiko.
"We gotta keep you awake, Ben. Any means necessary, right, Gwen?" Yukiko turned to Gwen, who was smiling mischievously.
"Yes. Any means necessary. All for Ben's health, of course," Gwen cracked her knuckles.
Ben groaned heavily. He felt as if the universe was really out to get him.
The rest of the day consisted of Ben attempting to fall asleep, only for his cousins to thwart him every time. Either by hitting him across the head, pouring ice down his back, pushing him off his bunk, spraying him in the face with an airhorn, putting Mystery Food X next to his face, lighting his pants on fire, or just throwing water into his face.
Ben was breathing heavily on the floor, more exhausted than when the day had started. He glared at his cousins, who were standing over him with more pranking items ready(Which were all his by the way). "Y-you guys are enjoying this aren't you?"
"What could possibly give you that idea?" Both asked simultaneously. Ben glared at him, planning to get them back once this was all over.
Hours had passed and their plan was looking worse by the minute. None of the Tennysons had the strength left to stay awake to keep Ben awake. Yukiko had fallen asleep at the table, while Gwen was trying her best. "Yukiko…it's your shift-" She attempted to shake the heiress awake but failed to do so. Promptly falling asleep right next to her.
From on top of the clock tower stood Sublimino, his pocket watch in hand. "Awake my slaves. Awake and serve your master Sublimino!" He sent out a kinetic blast to the entire parking lot.
Ben woke up again, transforming into Heatblast. His actions barely disturbed his slumbering family until they heard the door shut.
Yukiko's head popped up, pushing Gwen onto the floor. "BEN!" She and the others quickly hurried outside to see Heatblast taking off into the mall.
"Hurry, before he does something dangerous!" Max chased after Ben.
"As if turning into a living bonfire isn't dangerous enough," Gwen rolled her eyes.
Heatblast melted the walls of the hardware store, allowing his elderly cohorts to steal the mall's treasures. His family arrived to attempt to snap him out of his sleepwalking. "Ben! Listen to me! You've got to snap out of this!" Max yelled. His grandson charged up a dangerously hot ball of fire.
Yukiko jumped in the way to disperse the attack. "Ben, it's us! Your family, remember!?" Her words fell to deaf ears. He shot a stronger wave of fire at the heiress, sending her flying backwards.
Gwen created a barrier to protect them from Heatblast's onslaught. "It's like he's under some kind of hypnotic spell or something…!"
Heatblast stopped attacking once the glass windows above shattered, armored policemen dropped down into the store. Gwen quickly dispelled her barrier as Heatblast's attention was no longer on them.
"You three! Get away from that thing!" A policeman forced the Tennysons to leave the store. They fired gas at the Pyronite, but it had no effect on him. Heatblast started firing off fireballs to get rid of the gas. It only took a second for the officers to realize that there were propane tanks out in the open. "Everyone out! Move! Move!"
BOOM!
The entire store exploded, fire and smoke spreading out to the parking lot. Max held both his granddaughters close to protect them from the explosion.
"Ben…" Yukiko whispered, concerned for her little cousin. The behavior he was exhibiting over the past few days had been strange. Their attempts to call out to Ben had failed numerous times and he was robbing stores without any control over himself. It was as if he was…
"It's like he's under some kind of hypnotic spell or something…!"
"That's it!" Yukiko gasped. "How could I have not realized it earlier?" Her realization caught the other's attention.
"What is it, Yukiko?" Max asked.
"I think I just solved this mystery and it's all thanks to Gwen!" Yukiko patted Gwen's blue hat.
"Uh? Thanks? But, how exactly?" Gwen asked.
"Let's wait till we find Ben then I'll explain."
The following morning the Tennysons were watching the recording of Sublimino's last performance on Gwen's camera. "That's it! Sublimino has been placing post-hypnotic suggestions in his volunteers, turning them into his army of thieves," Max said.
"At first it did seem like sleep walking, but Ben had been stealing from specific stores or locations in the mall. They weren't random either, he had to be taking them somewhere specific," Yukiko added.
"But the spell doesn't last long. He snaps out of it whenever the Omnitrix times out," Gwen said. Though, she was still confused about something. She and the others turned to Ben, who had fallen asleep. "But that didn't happen the first time. When he was Gray Matter, he wasn't still mind controlled. How did he snap out of it?"
"Oh, like this," Yukiko raised her fan.
SMACK!
"OW! I'M UP! I'M UP!" Ben shouted, annoyed.
"That's usually how my friends and I woke each other back up from mind control or sleep induced enemy spells," Yukiko explained.
"Could go a little easier…!" Ben hissed.
"We need to find Sublimino and fast," Max said.
"This was an isolated incident. The mall is still open for business. Shopper's safety is our number 1 priority."
Max groaned at the repeated statement he's been hearing since the first break-in. "Yes, you've said that already. But I'm saying your shopper's are in danger." Max tried to explain to the manager. Sadly, the manager just repeated his words again. "Okay, this is getting us nowhere." Max left the office.
After he left Sublimino stepped out from his hiding spot. "Well done. All the preparations are complete. It's showtime!"
Yukiko shook Ben awake before he could hit his face on the metal water fountain. "Ben, I know you're tired but you gotta stay focused."
"Mmm…Mom, I'm too tired to go to school…" Ben mumbled.
"I'm not your Mom, Ben. And this isn't a school, it's a shopping mall," Yukiko corrected him.
Max met back up with them, confused on why only two out of his three grandkids were present. "Where's Gwen?"
"Just getting a solution to Ben's sleepwalking problem," Gwen joined back up with a small bag in her hands. "If you can't touch the Omnitrix you can't go alien." Gwen pulled out a pair of handcuffs.
"Where did you get those?" Ben asked.
"Survivalists R US. They have a very extensive selection," Gwen cuffed Ben's hands behind his back.
Yukiko was very uncertain about this plan. "Uh, I'm not too sure about this, Gwen. What if we need Ben to transform?"
"What could go wrong?" Gwen jinxed it.
From the ceiling of the mall, a massive clock descended into the main hall. "Greetings, mall rats. I am Sublimino, Master of Hypnosis!" Several screens were playing footage of Sublimino's face.
"Good job jinxing it, doofus!" Ben hissed at Gwen.
Sublimino grinned madly. "You are all about to take a journey. Through that mysterious realm known as the mind. No need to volunteer, now all of you will obey me! FOREVER!" The massive clock began to sway back and forth. "Your eyelids are getting very heavy. You are falling into a deep sleep."
Ben scoffed. "A giant hypno watch? No way that'll ever work." His arrogant remark was met with the clock releasing a kinetic wave throughout the entire mall, putting people to sleep. "Or maybe it will!" Ben and his family turned tail to avoid getting mind controlled. "Don't look at the clock! Don't look at the clock!" Ben dived behind a pillar to avoid the signals.
However, his family wasn't as lucky and were fast asleep on the ground. "And you guys say that I'm slow." Ben grumbled as he tried to find the key to the cuffs. "Gwen! Wake up! Where's the key!?"
Sublimino was more than pleased with the results. "All arise and obey my every command! Every minute of every day!" Ben watched helplessly as his family and shoppers all awoke from their sleep. "Now! Bring me all the riches of this place!" Sublimino ordered.
"Wait! Gwen, come back!" Ben shouted after she took the bag away. Everyone started robbing the mall as if it was second nature. Gwen bashed open the arcade machines to steal the inserted money, Max carted off jars of tips, and Yukiko melted several locks to safes, allowing her allies to grab the money.
Sublimino laughed victoriously. "First the mall, then all of America! There will be no stopping me!"
Ben looked around for anything he could use to undo his handcuffs, until he found a key maker's booth. Ben held the chains to his cuffs against the grinder, freeing himself. "You may control every last person-"
FLASH!
"-But what about a plant?" Wildvine exited the booth. He made his way to the upper floors of the mall, finding himself face to face with Sublimino. Though, the hypnotist was only on a screen.
"You there! Plant guy! Stop! Obey me!" Sublimino attempted to order him. Wildvine ignored him, trying to find where Sublimino was hiding. The hypnotist wasn't just going to let him do what he wanted. "All of you! Stop that plant thing!"
Wildvine made it to another floor before getting hit by a car. The plant alien maneuvered himself to lay right on top of the roof of the vehicle. His eye widened when he saw that they were about to crash right into a toy store. "Emergency break!" Wildvine pulled the emergency break, stopping the car, and sending himself face first into the glass.
Looking over, he saw another car quickly approaching. This time however, Gwen and Max were inside of the car instead with Gwen at the wheel. Wildvine latched onto the ceiling to dodge. "Hey! How come Gwen gets to drive!?"
He stopped joking around when their car was about to take a nosedive to their doom. "Grandpa! Gwen!" Wildvine stretched out his body, catching the car before it could hit the ground. He carefully lowered the car to the bottom floor. "Phew!"
"Agidyne."
"CRAP!" Wildvine hissed as a fireball smacked him right in the gut. Looking down he saw Yukiko pointing her fan directly at him. "Of course, I gotta deal with fire attacks as the plant guy!"
"Maragi." Another onslaught of fireballs was coming right for him. Wildvine dodged the attacks, slithering his body over to his cousin. He attempted to reach for her, but Yukiko's face sliced right through his arm.
"Gah! Why do I feel like you hold back most of the time!?" Wildvine pushed forward, regenerating that limb. Yukiko waved her fan about, slicing his arms repeatedly whenever he tried to reach for her. Wildvine growled in annoyance, he didn't have much time left to spend fighting Yukiko. "Gotta be some way to knock some sense into her?" Then he remembered something Yukiko mentioned earlier. "That's it!"
Wildvine took one of the grenades from his back and tossed it down onto the ground between them, an explosion erupted from the impact to create a smoke barrier. Yukiko coughed as the smoke entered her lungs, she looked up to see a green fist plow through the smoke.
POW!
Yukiko fell to the floor after the surprise punch to the face. The heiress groaned, rubbing her nose. "Ow! W-what happened!?" The punch had reawakened her from Sublimino's mind control.
Wildvine was glad to see she was back to normal. "No time to explain! Keep watch over Grandpa and Gwen while I handle Sublimino!" Wildvine quickly ascended up to the top floor of the mall.
Yukiko nodded his head in affirmation, standing onto her feet as Gwen and Max approached her. She held up her fan. "Sorry, guys. This won't hurt much."
SHATTER!
Wildvine crashed through the glass of the security room. "Show's over!"
Sublimino didn't look worried. "Trim that hedge!" Wildvine watched four elderly people walk into the room, each one holding a chainsaw. He evaded them by climbing onto the ceiling, then dropping his grenades onto them, the smoke knocking them out cold.
Seeing that his last line of defense was defeated, the hypnotist attempted to escape. Wildvine gave chase, wrapping his vines around Sublimino's legs. He held the hypnotist over the massive clock. Unfortunately, the Omnitrix timed out at that moment.
FLASH!
"AAAHHH!" Ben and Sublimino fell onto the clock's hands instead of to their deaths. Sublimino pulled out his pocket watch. "You! I will put you into a trance in which you will never recover!"
Ben grabbed onto the minute hand, rotating around the clock, and snatching Sublimino's watch. "Hey! Give that back, you brat!"
Ben just smirked and pressed the button to activate the signals. "Everyone! Wake up! You're all free!" His methods had worked, undoing all of Sublimino's mind control on the shoppers.
Yukiko had already smacked her family awake by that point, judging by the comically large red bump on Gwen's head. "You could've hit me a little softer!"
"You were fighting back too much! Sorry!" Yukiko apologized.
Sublimino watched in distraught as his plans crumbled in front of him. "No! No! It isn't fair!"
"Now who's the baby?" Ben mocked him. Sublimino tried to grab him and take revenge, but unfortunately for him he missed. The hypnotist fell to the bottom level, landing on a bouncy castle to break his fall before rebounding onto the hard ground. Sublimino attempted another escape, but a pink fan smashed right into his face, knocking him out cold.
"Looks like your time is up!" Yukiko quipped. She turned back to Max. "Did I get it right?"
"Yes, sweetheart."
"Yeah!" Yukiko cheered. "Pfft! Hahahahaha!"
Gwen looked up to the clock. "Good job, Ben…uh? Ben?"
All three looked up to see Ben sleeping peacefully on top of the clock. "C'mon, let's get him down," Max smiled.
"Ah~! He looks like a baby!" Yukiko gushed. She took out her phone to snap a picture of the sleeping Ben.
After the arrest of Sublimino and finally getting the Rustbucket up and running, the Tennysons were able to get back to their road trip. Ben had decided to keep Sublimino's pocket watch as another summer souvenir.
"Your eyelids are getting heavy! You are falling into a deep sleep!" Ben tried to hypnotize his cousins.
Max looked back. "Hey, Ben! What are you doing back there?"
"Nothing!" Ben answered. Once Max had his back turned, Ben resumed his mischief. Both girls closed their eyes. "You are now completely under my power!"
"Yes, master. Your wish is my command," Both said.
"Woah! It worked!" Ben grinned. "Now, get me some ice cream."
"Yes, master." Both girls got up to take the ice cream out of the freezer.
"This summer just got a whole lot better," Ben laughed. He put the watch away once Gwen and Yukiko were back with the ice cream. "Now, give it to me."
"Yes, master."
PLOP!
Gwen had dumped the ice cream onto Ben's head. "Hey!?"
"Ha! Sike! You want anything else, master-"
PLOP!
"Guh!" Gwen flinched as Yukiko dumped the other bucket over her head. "What gives!? I thought this was a prank on Ben!?"
"Pfft! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I-It's much funnier getting the drop on you both!" Yukiko continued to laugh at her cousins. The two grumbled, covering their ears to block out her laughter.
Chapter End
NOTE: Sublimino will not return. He should've just remained as a one-off villain and contributed nothing to the Negative 10. Might be a good time for me just to tell you that I'm changing the Negative 10 line-up slightly. You don't need to worry about it now.
I'm not too sure about other RPGs, but in Persona 5 I remember that the Phantom Thieves woke each other up from status ailments by smacking each other with a giant fan. I don't exactly remember if P4 did the same thing, because it's been a while. I decided to use that version anyway here.
Yukiko is not impervious to mind control. Ghostfreak was another soul attempting to inhibit her body, so this is a different case. I'm saying this just in case anyone wondered why Sumeo-Okami didn't interfere.
In this chapter Yukiko and Gwen are wearing different outfits. I don't do a good job explaining what they're wearing, so to help go look up Tantei Oprea Milky Holmes. Yukiko is dressed as the pink main heroine Sherlock and Gwen is dressed as the blue one, Cordeila.
I kinda spoil this next chapter with the opening, but either way you guys will hopefully still enjoy it.
Next Chapter - A Change of Face