Lonestar88: Yes and no.
BlackXANA: Maybe in an OMACK or bonus chapter.
Blake-Strider: Hey, I love those references.
The specific theme I used was Don't Loose Your Mind, a theme used for Kamen Rider Mach in his DeadHeat Form and I also had ML-E use his catchphrase.
mgasmsms: Yes we do. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Mighty TAB X: This was written shortly after Para-DX was introduced.
Here are a few reviews answered by Ghost:
thecrabmaster: Well, only if he allows it.
mgasmsms: Yep, we like our cliffhangers
jasongd: You'll have to wait and see
Blake-Strider: Well...One of us is a HUGE Kamen Riders fan *points to Grey*
Lonestar88: Read on, readers. Read on.
BlackXANA: Thanks for the review and nice Argus Filch quote
Guest893: Yeah, Scout's a good kid. ML-E might be a future champion and you'll have to see what Krystal says here.
Co-Writter: GhostKaiser23
Artist: GhostKaiser23, he goes by Hangman12 on Deviantart. Either look him up, or go to my profile to see links to all of his official work for this story
Disclaimer: Cartoon Network owns Ben 10
Authors Note:
Well here we go! The end of this arc of Krystal's Harem which came up unexpectedly!
... yeah, you all might find this weird but the point of this arc was supposed to be entirely character focused. Hope you all liked it! Next week is Review Corner and then it is back to James' Harem!
And at the end of that arc... CROSSOVER TIME!
Also I am sorry everyone, but this will be the ONLY fic I can upload this week. Been busy
Krystal's Harem
Chapter 21: Game! ON!
"K-K-Krystal?" ML-E gasped as she saw her older sister, her eyes widened in shock and fear
"Hey." She frowned
"W-What're you doing here?" She looked at her, backing up and into the booth.
"Nothing." Krystal shrugged "I just thought I saw a naughty little girl who should be asleep running from the house wearing a cape and followed her."
"Oh...Sis..." ML-E shrunk down, she wasn't Queen Mach any more...She was now ML-E Tennyson, Krystal's little sister.
Krystal sighed and got on her knees, pulling ML-E's caped hood back revealing her face "What's wrong?" Krystal asked, talking about the entire situation.
"I...I...I snuck out...And...You're gonna hate me." ML-E frowned
"I don't hate you." Krystal frowned "I could never have you."
"Really?" ML-E asked
"Really...And not to condone this, but you're kicking butt out there." Krystal answered. ML-E smiled happily, proudly at that "BUT...You're going to explain this after. Okay?" Krystal spoke
"Okay." ML-E nodded
"Now it's time to kick butt." Her sister smiled, adjusting her hood back up
"Alright, sis. I'll kick butt." ML-E answered, heading back to the stage, where the last contestant was waiting. ML-E sighed, shaking her body lightly as she got back into 'gamer mode' and took hold of one of the two controllers, both now being silver
"You two now have to speed run through these two games. While also collecting the highest score." The announcer spoke "Quickness and skill. Begin!" He called
"DOREMIFA BEAT! DANGEROUS ZOMBIE!" the two games called, making the crowed cheer
'Okay. Rhythm game first.' Krystal thought as she was ML-E get ready as the arrows began to fall
ML-E and the other contestant were making sure they were hitting each of the buttons. Getting the highest points they could. About three minutes in and the game had ceased.
"Game End." The game spoke
"The next game: SHAKARIKI SPORTS!" The announcer spoke as the game changed.
'Oh...I get it...By having different games, it throws people off and forces them to adapt. Clever tactic.' Krystal thought, though ML-E showed no sign of slowing down nor having trouble with adapting to the new game. The two where preforming trick after trick with their video game avatars, racing all over the arena. The crowd was getting pumped up; both the contestants were making great tricks on screen.
"Game end." the game spoke ending that score and switched to a different game: Jet Combat.
"Oh hell!" The contestant snapped.
"Inverted controls." ML-E added
"Final game!" The announcer called
'You can do it sis.' Krystal thought with a smile
"JET COMBAT!" The game and the announcer called out
On the screens, were the two planes, that were falling into the sky without good controls, until they leveled out and started to go through the select goal rings. ML-E was controlling an orange plane, zooming around the battle field and unleashing a barrage of bullets as it flew
'Holy cow, ML-E...' Krystal thought as she saw her little sister literally blitz the opponent out of the air.
"GAME CLEAR!" the game called, flashing the words as victory fanfare played
"AND QUEEN MACH KEEPS HER CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE! AND SHE HAS BROKEN ANOTHER RECORD TONIGHT, WITH THE HIGHEST SCORE FOR JET COMBAT IN THIS COMPETITIONS HISTORY!" The announcer roared, everyone clapping wildly in victory
"Oh...Oh my god!" ML-E's heart was pounding a hundred thousand miles an hour.
"And for the prize: $10,000 and the championship trophy!" The announcer called out handing over the trophy and the prize money to her. "Would you like to say anything for your fans, Queen Mach?"
"... I'll be back for my third win!" She called with a smile, taking the prizes and pointing at them "And I'll take you all along for the ride!" She smiled, before she ran off at super speed leaving a cheering crowed
"Now, where're you going?" Krystal thought, following her sister.
"Home. With you." ML-E said, the two running side by side
"Great answer." Krystal answered as they headed back home. "So...$20,000...Quite the pretty penny. What're you going to spend them on?"
"Um...Don't you mean $10,000?" ML-E asked
"I can do the math. You won last time. That's $20,000." Krystal answered
"I...Haven't actually spent it. I've got it hidden." ML-E admitted. "If I spent that much money...Mummy and Daddy will be upset."
"Great answer." Krystal answered as they headed back home. "So...$20,000...Quite the pretty penny. What're you going to spend them on?"
"Um...Don't you mean $10,000?" ML-E asked
"I can do the math. You won last time. That's $20,000." Krystal answered
"I...Haven't actually spent it. I've got it hidden." ML-E admitted. "If I spent that much money...Mummy and Daddy will be upset."
"They won't be upset if you earned money." Krystal explained "But they WILL be upset at you sneaking out the way you did and how you are lying to them."
"Then...What should I do?" ML-E asked as they were nearing the garden to their house. "I earned the money fairly."
"I'll speak to them." Krystal sighed, her mind working "I've got an idea."
"You have? What is it?" ML-E asked in hope
"Surprise." Krystal grinned "Tell me, when's the next competition?"
"In the next couple of weeks." ML-E answered
"Okay. Stay quiet about it till after your next competition." Krystal nodded as they arrived home
"Been doing well, so far." ML-E answered and crawled back up the wall to their rooms.
"So... Tell me about three competitions." Krystal smiled
"Oh yeah! Well they are using those real games, all eleven. In fact we have them all. But they are hacked to change small things. Like position of items and enemies, the amount of frames in a jump animation, bonus mini items. Things like that. They randomise the games we play for each night and after each competition they re-hack the game. So say we have two competitions, and in both of them we play Jet Combat. The two times you play it, the game will be in some way different so you can't use your past skill. It is like playing a new game all over again."
"So that's why they have one or two gamer per genre, that's all they need." Krystal nodded as they got inside
"Yeah, exactly." ML-E answered, going under her bed and pulling out a drawer so that she can put her second trophy away and put her cheque away.
"Is that where you put secrets?" Krystal asked. ML-E nodded, smiling "Smart." Krystal commented. "What're you going to do with your winnings?"
"I...Well...I...I was thinking..." ML-E blushed
"What? What were you thinking?" Krystal asked
"Come on, you can tell me." She urged
"I...I want to be a gaming YouTuber." ML-E answered
"Really?" Krystal asked
"Yeah...I...I want to make people happy and do what I like doing." ML-E answered. Krystal nodded, hugging her "Thank you for coming." ML-E whispered
"Of course." Krystal nodded
"Don't tell mum and dad until I'm ready...Please?" ML-E asked gently
"I already promised, remember?" Krystal winked "And big sis never breaks her promises."
ML-E hugged Krystal again with a happy smile.
*Time Skip*
It had been three days since ML-E's game competition and the two sisters had kept quiet about it. Though: Scout, Luna and Atem were still in the "it's a bit tricky" area in emotions. Scout was feeling better now, at least, and Luna...
Krystal sighed, knocking on Atem's door "Atem? Can I come in?" Krystal asked
"Sure." He grumbled
Krystal entered and saw that Atem was studying hard...Even though he didn't need to "Atem." She frowned... Before she got an idea, turning into her Thep Khafin form she had dubbed 'Cleo'. Atem ignored the flash behind him and looked down on his work "Atem?" Krystal spoke kindly in her Thep Khafin form
"Huh?" Atem blinked, turning around to face her
"Why don't you talk to me?" Krystal asked kindly with a gentle smile
"AH!" Arms yelled, jumping back with wide eyes
"What? It's me, your sister." Krystal answered
Atem was silent in shock, wide eyed and blushing a bit "K... Krystal?" He blinked weakly
"Yeah, I unlocked this new form a while ago. What do you think?" Krystal asked
"... You're pretty." He mumbled, making her laugh
"Thank you." She nodded "I thought us both being Thep Khafin's might make it easier to talk."
"I...Oh...Okay." Atem blushed and looked down.
"So, what's the problem? You've been acting differently for a while." Krystal asked
"Come on, sit next to me and talk to me." She urged, sitting onto the bed and patting next to her
Atem frowned...But he went over to her, sitting ready. "Okay." He tilted next to her, resting on her side
"What's wrong?" She asked "You've been distancing yourself from your siblings."
"It...It's what happened at school." Atem opened up. "The-The principal called me to his office."
"YOU got in trouble?!" Krystal gasped in shock
"N-No. Nothing like that. He...He said...With my good grades...I...I could be..." Atem answered, albeit awkwardly "I could skip a few grades."
"Skip...A few grades? You mean...the reason, you're being distant..." Krystal asked
"I've never been without them." He whispered "They'll hate me. So I... I'll be distant so they don't care."
"Oh...Atem..." Krystal hugged him "It's okay little one."
"What...What do I do?" Atem whimpered
"You tell them." She said simply, hugging him and rubbing his back
*Downstairs*
"Well I'm heading out again." Ben sighed
"Okay. Don't forget to be safe." Hope answered, hugging him
"I know." Ben smiled, kissing her
"Get home safe." Gwen added
"Promise." Ben nodded "I know I'm close."
"Good luck." The others answered, saying goodbye in their own way, hugging and kissing him. Ben nodded with a smile, going into the portal and in a blink of light, Ben vanished, going into a different dimension. Everyone sighed, nodding gently as Ben left one again
"We're on our own again..." Helen sighed
"He said he was close." Gwen encouraged
"Yeah...Yeah, he'll come home." Attea agreed
"Um...Mothers..." Atem spoke timidly as he and Krystal came downstairs.
"Hello my son." Isis smiled
"There...There's something I need to tell you. It...It's about WHY I've been distant from everyone." Atem spoke in worry
"What is it?" Isis asked
"I...I've..." Atem looked to Krystal and then back to his family. "I...I've been offered to grade jump, due to my grades." The parents gasped in shock at that
"We're so proud of you Atem!" Fifi smiled
"Yea, way to go." EightEight smiled
"I-Y-You are?" Atem asked in shock, flinching.
"Of course we are." Isis smiled, the mother's all hugging him
"But...what about...leaving my siblings? We won't be in the same years anymore." Atem answered
"You aren't in the same year as Krystal or James." EightEight pointed out "And you still love her, don't you?"
"Yes?" Atem asked in confusion, not getting what she was saying
"You don't have to worry about it. Alright? If you want to go up a few grades, it'll be alright." Isis answered
"Your brother and sisters won't care. They'd be happy for you." Selene explained
"Well...o-okay. I'll-I'll go up those years." Atem thought with a new determination
"Want us to be there when you tell your siblings?" Looma offered
"Yes...Yes please." Atem nodded
"Want to do it now?" Hope added
"I...Yes. Alright." Atem nodded, giving a quick gulp
"Let's do this." Krystal encouraged. The rest of the kids were in their rooms, doing their own thing: Luna was reading one of her picture books, ML-E was playing a game and Scout...Well...He was being cautious.
"Hey guys." Atem smiled nervously
"Huh? Oh, Atem...What's up?" The three asked, ML-E quickly pausing her game.
"I..." He stuttered "I... I'm going to be pushed ahead of you all. I'm... Being moved into a higher year at school."
"Y-You're moving up a year?" Scout asked
"Two." Atem said clearly
"But...that means...You'll be..." Luna spoke, trying to do the math.
"Two years ahead of you." He nodded
"Oh..." Luna frowned
"You'll be the best bro." Scout spoke honestly
"Yea!" ML-E grinned
"I...Th-thank you." Atem answered.
"No problem." Luna answered "...Hug?" Atem nodded, hugging her "Hmm." Luna smiled, her tail wagging lightly. She held Atem close, holding back tears
"Oh..." Their parents awed lightly. Soon they pulled back, breaking the hug
"Are...Are you okay, Luna?" Atem asked
"Yes." She whispered
"Atem...Y-You're gonna do great things." Scout spoke kindly
"Thanks." Atem blushed and smiled
"Yeah...Well...I...I better go." Scout frowned and headed back to his room.
"Huh?" Krystal frowned, following him upstairs
"What's wrong with Scout?" Atem asked in concern. Scout went inside his bedroom and quietly closed the door, but Krystal was there just before it latched shut.
"Scout...What's wrong?" Krystal asked
"K-Krystal? I...Hmm...It...It's something...I feel guilty about." Scout frowned, sitting on his bed.
"The thieving situation?" She asked
"Yes. I...I know I didn't do anything wrong but...We were friends...It...It hurts." Scout frowned
Krystal sighed and hugged him gently
"It's alright, Scout...It's alright." Krystal stroked his head "It's alright."
*Time skip, a few days later*
Krystal looked out of the window, seeing ML-E running off to the next competition 'There she goes.' She thought 'Could be a good thing to go check on her.' She walked downstairs, seeing the mother's there making Krystal smile "Come on, there is something big I need to show you all." She said to her mother's in excitement
"What?" Gwen frowned in worry
"ML-E snuck out. Come on." Krystal said
"She WHAT?!" Helen snapped
*With ML-E*
ML-E sighed as she pulled her cape on, waiting gently "Hey, Queen Mach. Welcome back. Coming for the hat-trick?" The bouncer asked
"Yes." She nodded
"Well, then: good luck." The bouncer answered, letting her in.
She smiled and nodded, running inside. It was a minute or so, where Krystal and her mother's came to the gate, ready to enter "Hey sir." Krystal waved
"Oh, hey. You're back...And you...Brought...Friends..." The bouncer gulped seeing Looma. "G-Go right in."
Looma cracked her knuckles, the family walking inside. Inside there were people like before, games and snacks being cold. People conversing around the different consoles and the stage. It was almost bigger than before...And it looked like people were placing bets on the competitors.
3-1 odds on Queen Mach getting a third consecutive win.
15-1 odds on someone beating Queen Mach
"Queen Mach?" Helen frowned
"Just wait and see." Krystal answered. "Drinks?" Gwen sighed, giving Krystal some money to get them all drinks as more and more spectators walked in
"Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for the tournament!" The announcer proclaimed through the announcement system
Everyone cheered, Krystal walking back over to her mother's as Rose in order to carry all the drinks "Oh, thank you Krystal." Attea spoke
"Cheers." EightEight added
"Here are our contestants!" The announcer called out
Just like last time, eight contestants took to the stage but no ML-E "Where is she?" Krystal thought to herself but then she remembered her sisters 'grand entrance' and snickered gently as the lights turned off
"And, now...The one you're waiting for, the youngest and quickest player here. Coming back for her three-time win: QUEEN MACH!" The announcer proclaimed
Suddenly ML-E's theme song started
"Wait...That's...That's the song James made for-" Helen spoke
"Yeah, it is." Krystal answered
Suddenly all the spot lights shifted to a platform. There ML-E stood, still concealed under her cape, as confetti cannons went off around her and the crowd cheered. And then the song shifted to the lyrical portion, James' voice singing through the speakers
"Don't trust, no matter how advanced,
A machine may be!
You know, it needs a human mind
To issue the commands!" James' voice sang over the speakers softly, a bit of an odd song to start as ML-E just stood there
"Even when the world is in despair over the perversity of times,
I'll show you we can save those who take the straight and narrow path!
Once hesitation sets in, someone else takes over,
Don't let history come to a crash!"
"Searching!" ML-E suddenly called, the image of a character from an FPS appearing on the game screen "Destroying!" She continued, the picture shifting to the K.O. moment of a fighter game "Both done... At Mach speed!" She called, clapping hard and making the crowed cheer and Gina bit wild
"DRIVE AT TOP GEAR!" James' voice sang strongly, the music quickening it's pace
"Every day you try,
Don't let your soul run on empty!
Keep a tank full of passion, let's take action!
It's the beginning of life, we are so Alive!
Shake off everything!
You can keep going, even if alone,
DON'T LOOSE YOUR MIND!"
"Queen Mach!" ML-E called sprinting down to the stage and skidding to a perfect stop "HAS ARRIVED!" She yelled and everyone cheered loudly as the song had a small guitar riff, Krystal clapping with the crowd as they began to clap in time with the beat of the song while the mother's where staring in shock
"Not bad, hey?" Krystal chuckled, taking a drink
"I...I didn't know..." Helen whispered
"Gamers...BEGIN!" The announcer proclaimed
"PERFECT PUZZLE!" The game suddenly said, shocking the players and the audience who had been there more than once
"Perfect Puzzle?" Looma asked
"It's a puzzle game." Krystal answered. "They've got to finish each puzzle within their respective time limits."
"We never had that game before!" A random audience member called
"That's why it's a challenge for our gamers." The announcer answered, while the players were having trouble to solving the puzzles
It was an odd puzzle game. Instead of matching three of a colour, you were supposed to make a spersific pattern of the colours using the picture on the side. It went against your natural instincts for a puzzle game but it wasn't slowing down ML-E, she was racking up points as she made match after match
"So ML-E has been here twice before?" Helen asked Krystal as she looked at the child she gave birth to
"She has, that's why she's 'Queen Mach'." Krystal answered "She's the gaming queen, very good. Defending her stance as champion for a three week streak."
"Wow...Your daughter's amazing, Helen." Looma spoke proudly
"Our daughter." Fifi smiled "But yes, she is amazing."
"Okay, the first round is over!" The announcer called out. "Here comes the second game!"
"KNOCK! OUT! FIGHTER!" the game yelled
"A fighting game!" Looma said in excitement and realization
On the screens were one on one players facing each other, each with a randomized character for each of them "Dang it." Some of the players groaned as they didn't know who was which until they pushed their buttons. ML-E narrowed her eyes in focus, not focusing on combos but making them up on the fly as she noticed the nuances of the game
"Wow, she's really racking up the points." Hope spoke, thinking that one character was ML-E's
"Wrong one mum." Krystal smiled, pointing at ML-E's... Which had a much larger score
"Whoa!" Gwen gasped "She's better than Ben at games."
"She did play with him a lot when she was younger." Helen remembered "She basically inherited his skill and he trained her without meaning to."
"Oh, Ben..." Gwen sighed with a smiling sigh.
"Now the next game! SUMO SLAMMERS XVI!" The announcer called out
"... She's won." They all said as one
And true to their small prophecy, ML-E was whooping EVERYONE'S butt. Her skill with Sumo Slammers was unparalleled to anyone at the contest and it was soon over
"Here she is: Back for her third consecutive win in a row, Queen Mach!" The Announcer proclaimed. ML-E held her arm up, everyone cheering "Here is your third consecutive trophy and prize money." The announcer spoke, handing over the prizes "Any words for the audience?"
"... Don't loose your mind!" She called jokingly, quoting her 'theme song'
"That's all for tonight." The announcer called out
"Come on." Krystal urged, pulling her mother's away towards where she knew ML-E was going
"Alright." the mothers answered...except for EightEight who was looking at some toy gamer blasters.
"What's up?" Attea asked EightEight as the two stopped
"I'm just thinking...Ren will be approaching age. He needs to prepare." EightEight answered.
"You want to get him guns." She chuckled
"Yes. Not sure how Ben or the others will react though." EightEight nodded
"They're just toys." Attea smiled "Plus it's your culture."
"Yeah...Come on, we need to catch up to the others." EightEight spoke, leading the way back to the Tennyson mothers.
*with ML-E*
"Wow...Third win in a row. $30,000 won in three tournaments." She smiled. "I...I can get my start being a pro-gamer."
"Pro-gamer?" The familiar voice of Helen asked behind her making her freeze
"M-M-mummy...?" ML-E slowly turned around slowly and in fear seeing her mothers and Krystal
"Hey Mels." Helen sighed
"I...You...You came...Here...S-Sorry!" ML-E wanted to run away but her feet were frozen in place
...
Helen just hugged her silently
"M-Mum?" ML-E shuddered and gasped when she felt her mother hug her.
"You did amazing." She sighed
"I-I did? You saw?" ML-E asked in worry, feeling like she was in trouble
"Of course." Helen nodded
"I...I'm sorry...I...I just..." ML-E wanted to apologize, but with her emotions running high...It was hard for her to get the right words
"I'm so sorry." Helen urged "I wish you didn't feel like you had to hide this from us."
"I...I thought...You wouldn't approve." ML-E sniffed, getting teary eyed.
"I'm sorry you thought like that." She whispered
"I'm sorry too!" ML-E cried and hugged her mother, prize money and trophy in hand. The family smiled, gathering around hugging her "M-Mummies?" ML-E looked around and cried, feeling the mixed love between her family.
"We love you." Hope smiled
ML-E smiled and nodded, glad to know that they were okay with her being a gamer. She was happy her family didn't have her.
*Time skip*
ML-E was back home, showing her three trophies and the money she had kept safe under her bed. No more secrets between them, plus she was going to tell them about what equipment she was going to get with it. Gwen was setting up a display case for the trophies
"You won all this money?" Luna asked, looking at the cheques.
"Yeah, I did." ML-E blushed and nodded
"Way to go!" Scout cheered
"This is a lot of money, what're you going to spend it on?" Atem asked
"I'm going to buy some gaming equipment and the right editing stuff. Whatever's left, I'll save." ML-E answered
"Taking equipment?" Krystal blinked "But we already have EVERY game console."
"R-Right. Sorry, I just...Got ahead of myself." ML-E blushed. 'But...it's not JUST for me.' She thought, thinking of getting gifts for her family with whatever she had left.
Suddenly the portal outside turned on.
Two days early.
"D-Daddy?" The kids asked in hope.
Everyone went outside to see Ben walked out of the portal, a few silhouettes in the portal behind him "Hey everyone." Ben waved "... I found James." He smiled